Date: February 01st, 2010
Airline: Bangkok Airways
Flight : PG 279
Registration: HS-PGV
Aircraft: Airbus 320-200
Departure City: BKK Bangkok
Departure Time: 20:25
Destination: HKT Phuket
Arrival Time: 21:50
Scheduled Flight Time: 1 hrs 25 mins
Class: Economy Class
Seat: 6A

View Large View Medium

Photo © Nitinut-Chiangmai Aero Photos

View Large View Medium

Photo © Jens Breuer

View Large View Medium

Photo © Amorn PonJaroen


After an amazing stay in our favourite city we headed down to Phuket, first visit to that city for the both of us.
I chose to fly on Bangkok Airways as it is a nice carrier and the only one offering lounges for economy class customers.
After the taxi ride to the airport we headed to the counters and checked our bags in.

Check In counters



Bangkok Airways Ads


4 guards protecting the airport ? the customers ? the airlines ?





The lounge with its small selection of drinks and snack which was very nice. Much better than any other airline as they are most certainly the only airline in the world with a lounge for economy class.




Boarding gate


Bus ride to our remote gate had us go past this Bangkok Airways aircraft getting ready to depart too.


Our ride to Phuket



Plane was FULL ! loads of young french guys going to HKT for some fun and sun !
The cabin.


The safety demo


Inflight service was good, with sandwiches and there was a choice of cheese or sausage. The choice of drinks was very poor with either Tang like orange juice, water or coffee/tea.



We landed on time and went to pick up our bags and grabbed a taxi to our hotel, The Novotel on Patong beach


The hotel and Patong Beach. We both didn't like Phuket at all. Much prefer Chiang Mai. Mass tourism is really not our thing...












Next flight is Tiger Airways HKT-SIN

Happy Flying,

AF Cabin Crew

Hi AF Cabin Crew,

Another enjoyable trip report of yours. I can hardly wait for our Asian summer holiday.

Quoting AF Cabin Crew (Thread starter): The lounge with its small selection of drinks and snack which was very nice. Much better than any other airline as they are most certainly the only airline in the world with a lounge for economy class.

Two thumbs to PG! Somehow, I am curious about their business model on this one.

Quoting AF Cabin Crew (Thread starter): We both didn't like Phuket at all. Much prefer Chiang Mai.

So do my partner and I. We skipped Phuket deliberately in favour of Chiang Mai on our trip to Thailand.

Thank you for sharing.

Cheers,
Suryo

Ia Orana Akhmad

Quoting akhmad (Reply 1): So do my partner and I. We skipped Phuket deliberately in favour of Chiang Mai on our trip to Thailand.

One thing is sure, we most certainly won't ever go back there... Too many european tourists and we felt like the quality of the service was not as good as in Chiang Mai or Bangkok and we think it was most certainly because of the amount of tourists they receive and what they pay to go there. I mean it was mostly charter airlines from Europe.
We didn't like the fact that the beach was packed beyond belief, for us who come from French Polynesia where the beaches and lagoons much more beautiful, we really didn't enjoy HKT. Oh well, another pin on the map !

Thanks for nice pictures.
You made it look nicer than you say it was.  

Quoting AF Cabin Crew (Reply 2): One thing is sure, we most certainly won't ever go back there... Too many european tourists and we felt like the quality of the service was not as good as in Chiang Mai or Bangkok and we think it was most certainly because of the amount of tourists they receive and what they pay to go there. I mean it was mostly charter airlines from Europe. We didn't like the fact that the beach was packed beyond belief, for us who come from French Polynesia where the beaches and lagoons much more beautiful, we really didn't enjoy HKT. Oh well, another pin on the map !

Phuket is very crowded from December to April.
Local asians rather enjoys Phuket at this time of the year.
Weather is not so stable as during peak season, but normally still ok between the showers.
Hotels, beaches and restaurants are much less packed and prices better.