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Phuket Air Star
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Phuket Air - by Joanne Howlett
20
January 2005
My friend and I were on the 14th January flight from Bangkok to Gatwick, when the engine caught fire and
we had to land back at Bangkok. What a total nightmare! I would urge anyone thinking of
using Phuket Airlines to go with a reputable carrier, and to avoid flying with them.
Phuket Airlines in my opinion are a total shambles. Once we had landed back at Bangkok Airport there
was no organisation, no explanations, just total chaos. None of the staff had a clue what was going
on and how to handle the situation. We heard stories from other passengers about problems they had
experienced on the way out as well, mechanical problems, very long delays etc. They are just not
equiped to deal with big international flights. The reason they are so cheap is because they are so
crap! The planes are very old and have definitely seen better days. Don't risk it, pay the extra to
fly with a decent airline is my advice, you will feel safer and more confident and you will get much
better service. We spent out £400 on a new return ticket as we were not prepared to fly back with
them to London the following day. 13 hours is a long time to sit and worry whether their old plane
will make it or not. I know alot of other people on our original flight bought new tickets as well,
some were on our Thai Airways flight back to Heathrow. My friend has since contacted Phuket
Airlines here in the UK to take the matter further but surprisingly they aren't being
very helpful - Phuket Airlines - bunch of cowboys in my opinion.
Phuket Air - by Jane Duncan
17
January 2005
17/12/04-07/01/05 LGW-BKK. Our 3rd flight with Phuket Airlines and never again - the planes are a disgrace, faulty seats, lights etc
- the food is awful, the toilets backed up (I'll leave that to your imagination).
The first and second flights with them weren't too ba,d because the planes were only a third full - so
plenty of room and slept all the way. Got decent service when awake, but the third flight, with
being peak season was fully booked, and a nightmare - it is practically impossible to get a drink
even though the staff are really friendly, as they are so busy.
The fuel stop is a nightmare and the flights shouldn't really be sold as direct because they're not.
Check in at Gatwick is okay, but at Bangkok allow 2 hours at peak season - very disorganised which
leaves no time to go to duty free.
A friend of ours was on Bangkok to Gatwick 14/01/05 and 5 minutes out of Bangkok they had to return
and do an emergency landing - the engine was on fire. Apparently this also happened 3 weeks before
christmas. I'd rather pay more and feel safe and be able to get good service.
Phuket Air - by Christos Ioannou
13
January 2005
BKK-LGW Business Class - just got back this morning from this flight. The 747-300
really is showing its age, however they have done a great job refurbishing the upper deck. The seat
pitch at 58-60 inches is the most generous I have experienced in business class, and with
only 7 rows it feels very spacious. There are no seat motors so it's all manually operated,
but the seats are extremely comfortable, and the recline is excellent. Unfortunately the same cannot
be said of the standard of catering. I have travelled on eleven different airlines' long haul
business class, and the dinner served on this flight was the worst I have ever experienced in
business class - by a very long way. In fact I have had much better meals in other airlines' economy
class. Also only one white and one red wine was offered, both very mediocre, and no after dinner
drinks. The breakfast served on the second leg was of a much higher standard though. There was a
choice of 6 movies, but no menu, so that I had to ask one of the crew to write them down! The stop
in Sharjah to refuel was a real pain as it made the whole flight last 15 hours. So great seats and
polite service, but very poor food and wine.
On the way out there was a 17 hour delay due to technical problems. They knew about this the day
before but didn't bother to phone any passengers to let them know! We got transferred to the Thai
Airlines flight from Heathrow, which had great food and service, but the worst seats. I have
experienced in business class!
Phuket Air - by Martin Fenwick
12
January 2005
They are cheap and they are cheap for a reason! - 2 stories of incompetence -
First my brother took the LGW to BKK economy return in May 2004. Outbound no problem. Return flight
they dumped all the passengers in the middle of the desert (Dubai) and abandoned the flight, due to
supposed technical failure but later we discovered they had missed their landing slot at Gatwick.
Absolute chaos at Dubai airport and the one lady Phuket airline staff deserted her post and left
300+ passengers stranded. All the Phuket Airlines officials did a runner! No explanations given!
After 5 hours of irate passengers spitting nails – an Emirates official grasped the nettle and re-
scheduled everybody back to Heathrow or Gatwick on Emirates flights. My brother was delayed around
8 hours. Story no. 2, - thinking maybe my brother had a “one off experience” I flew out same route
economy class £456, LGW to BKK in August. Outbound no problem, decent flight with average service.
Return flight I re-confirmed my flight 72 hours prior with booking reference. Reached BKK airport 3
hours before departure and 3 queues were about 50 metres long already! - and hardly moving. It took
an amazing 3 and half hours to eventually reach the desk as the staff were spending 80% of their
time on walkie talkies. By the time I reached the desk I was told by the check in girl that the
flight was overbooked and I couldn’t fly that day! – Charming! It’s now 2.30 am, I am dog tired and
no Phuket flights for 3 days! – They transferred about 8 of us to a nice hotel and put us on standby
for BA/Quantas. Yes, “standby” at peak holiday season! – no guarantee of getting home for 3 days ...
lucky B.A. had a seat the next night, back to Heathrow (not LGW) making my home train ticket invalid
to Sheffield. I complained by email to Phuket Airlines (their website is useless). It appears that
standby passengers were let onto our flight, whilst valid ticket holders like myself were denied
access. No reply by email, but did eventually receive a letter reply 3 months later. A long
convoluted generalised statement about overbooking problems and didn’t address the real issues. If
you want to save money and take a risk, go ahead and book - but for me
Phuket Airlines, nay
more!
Phuket Air - by Dermot Coy
11
January 2005
Just back from Bangkok. Direct flight over was good with good food. Stopover on the way back to
London was a real pain! Old jumbo which was quite noisy and made it hard to sleep. Poor choice of
movies/tv programmes shown. Passengers had no control over their personal lights on the way back
which was quite strange, so unable to read in the dark.
Phuket Air - by Geoff Dale
9
January 2005
LGW-BKK. Old Thai Airways 747, but service and food excellent. Had emergency exit seat but so few people on
flight 3 seats were possible for lots of people to stretch out.
BKK-LGW Old jumbo, emergency exit seat again but only 120 passengers!! I have never seen so many people
sleeping! They can't keep going with this loading. Again staff and food excellent. Fuel stop in
Dubai though. Paid £313 all in. Will travel again and hope for same luck.
Phuket Air - by Peter Birch
3
December 2004
LGW-BKK return - Club Class. Pleased with the service.
Aircraft are ex-KLM ,but everything was working, attendants first class and the food
good. Had to make a fuel stop on the outbound flight. Old aircraft and fuel stop has to be set against low cost.
Its your decision, but I will use again.
Phuket Air - by Jake Joseph
25
October 2004
London-Bangkok vv Business Class. Check in was great with no queue when
we checked in for our flight 90 mins prior to departure. As a small
airline they use the Aviance Lounge at Gatwick which although fine was
being used by some grotty Easyjet passengers who had obviously paid to
access the lounge. On the flight out the 747 300 business class seats
left a lot to be desired with very little recline. However, the cabin
crew made up for this with an exemplary service. Food was superb, and
again made even better by the wonderful cabin crew. On the return, the
business class cabin was a newly refurbished one with the best seats I
have ever experienced in c class. Although cradle rather than lie flat
I had the best nights sleep of the whole holiday. All in all, as they
are upgrade their cabin interiors I think Phuket Air are fabulous and
would fly with them again.
Phuket Air - by Irene Murphy
21
October 2004
LGW-BKK-HKT return. As you can see we had two internal flights - to
Phuket and back. Firstly I must agree with all other comments, food good, quick check in, offered exit seats with
legroom, staff friendly, but not very professional. Thai greeting, towels ok toilets very clean , and
not very good in flight entertainment. Then it comes to the 8 hour delay at Bangkok( after a 12 hour flight) on our domestic flight to
phuket. We roamed the airport aimlessly for 8 hours - not good. we were promised a transfer to Thai
Airways, which was not going to happen as the plane was full - bad news. Then they kept our cases at
the desk and said they would be checked in for us ( along with seven other passengers cases) but
when we got to Phuket we had no cases ( the other seven did) We waited until the next afternoon
before they arrived at our hotel - which really meant we lost a whole day of doing nothing. It gets
worse. We had to rearrange our Pick Ups at the airport. Then all this happened on the return flight
from Phuket to Bankgkok. 4 hours delay. Also the food was cold on both domestic flights. The flight to LGW via
Dubai was long and
hot - we didn't just refuel - but off and onloaded cargo which took nearly two hours
I'm sure. I timed
the return flight - 15 hours 1am to 4pm. I would never use them for domestic flight ever again, and
only if I couldn't get another flight would I use them for international flight. Would not recommend.
Phuket Air - by Steven Mathers
1
October 2004
I just completed an LGHW-BKK-LGW roundtrip on Phuket air and my feelings are mixed for sure
- checkin was swift and I was immediately offered and exit seat - empty flight out so I
actually had
that exit row to myself - food delicious but quantities somewhat meagre and left me ravenous in
midflight - I must echo the others by saying that the aircraft are not the most comfy and are really
showing their age - the IFE is a mess. Staff not to be faulted. The check in agent at BKK lied to me
for some reason, telling me that I would certainly have 3 seats to myself as the flight was half
empty [it was about 95% full in reality!] - the stop in Dubai makes the flight home almost
intolerable as we cannot get off [that is at least 15 or 16 hours in that thing!]
Phuket Air - by Gareth Duhig
12
September 2004
Gatwick - Bangkok return.Check in & boarding at Gatwick was a breeze no one waiting for either. On
entering the 747-300 & all the way to the rear each cabin crew member gives the traditional Thai
greeting. A bit late leaving due to a few missing passengers, these prehistoric aircraft are not
comfortable when stationary. There is no individual air con & no air moves around the cabin until
the aircraft is in flight. Quite a few of the pax were fanning themselves with the inflight
leaflet. Hot cloth towels were offered but were strangely dry. Drinks/peanuts & dinner of
green chicken curry or salmon fillet with rice - a chickpea salad & strawberry tart.
Plenty of offers of wine & tea/coffee. Flight both ways were not full so had
a 3 seat row
going & the last econ middle row on return. Legroom varies on the way I had about 32" pitch.
Entertainment is
via overhead screens. Drinks available throughout the flight & all service calls answered straight
away. The crew, very friendly taking time to talk to pax & to answer any questions. Coming back
check in at BKK a nightmare 4 desks open 60% full flight
but still took over an hour. Took off straight into a very bad thunderstorm. The plane rattled, rolled, dipped, upped & went all over the place for about an hour. The
crew sitting either side of me looked very nervous! Once everything was stable, the same good
service. Slept most of the way back. The plane refuels in DXB but no major hassles
- front &
rear door open so air moves through cabin, no problem if pax wish to stand by doors, again crew
happy to chat one was even helping a pax with stretching exercises. More drinks & sandwiches after takeoff & breakfast before landing at LGW.
Luggage took usual time for to come through. Not a bad airline - staff great but some of their
inexperience shows & they need to upgrade the aircraft.
Phuket Air - by R Taylor
30
August 2004
Flew London to Bangkok return , arriving back on 28 August. The plus point was the courtesy of their
cabin staff, very polite and helpful. There were three major minus points. Old planes, lights
not working so you coudn't read, small TV screens shared by many
passengers. Refuelling at
Dubai on the way back. Never mentioned when I booked. The flight back took a total of over 13
hours. When I reconfirmed, more than 72 hours of departure, I was told the flight was
full.
They sorted it out after an hour and I was OK but not what you need. I won't be using them again.
Phuket Air - by Chris Clarke
5
August 2004
I recently flew Air Phuket from Gatwick to Bangkok and return. I found
the staff to be very efficient and helpful. However the planes they are
using (old planes from KLM) are well past their sell by date. The noise
was terrible and half of the planes audio system's didn't work so it was
a long flight without any films etc. The drinks service left a lot to
be desired - one drink after take off and one drink with your meal was
the only alcohol allowed. On the return flight we had to stop at Dubai
for refuelling - had to stop on the plane for over an hour in a great
deal of heat. I for one (and a lot of other passengers) will not be
using them again.
Phuket Air - by Graeme Mounsey
4
June 2004
My wife is Thai and her home town is near Buriram in NE Thailand we have to fly Bangkok-Buriram when
we go there. Phuket Air recently took over the route from Air Andaman.
We were very impressed for a small airline much better than Air Andaman
Very smart cabin crew - good service. Served a small snack which was quite tasty for only a 45 minute flight.
They have recently started flying Bangkok to London Gatwick so would be interested to find out what
they are like long haul.
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