Phuket Air Crisis: Tours From China, Taiwan Turned Away

[alanmorison]

Phuket resorts now face the nightmare of having group bookings that cannot be carried out because no seats are available on flights to the island.

One resort complained today that large group bookings from China and Taiwan could not be confirmed because no seats on flights were available to Phuket.

Flights from Singapore were also booked out, a second resort reported.

Individual holidaymakers and families are also complaining in growing numbers that they are unable to get to the island.

Thai Airways, the national airline and parent of low-priced Nok Air, which ceased flights to Phuket from August 1 without a public announcement, was being blamed for the lack of seats on flights to the island.

Without a booking three days in advance, flights to the island have become chancy.

-- full report at www.phuketwan.com

[ovenman]

Without a booking three days in advance, flights to the island have become chancy.

I don't see that as being such the hardship as they are making it out to be. How may Taiwanese tours are being organized two days or one day before they leave Taipei for Thailand?

[flightcrew1]

Without a booking three days in advance, flights to the island have become chancy.

I don't see that as being such the hardship as they are making it out to be. How may Taiwanese tours are being organized two days or one day before they leave Taipei for Thailand?

I agree. I have 6 friends arriving in September and I was able to book a very cheap package through Thai Airways Royal Orchid Holidays. Air Asia Go Holidays had cheaper fares by about 1000 baht but decided on Thai as they not as strict with the luggage. Christmas the same which is peak time. Flights and hotels still available.

From what I have read most of the problems is booking at the last moment. Though I can see big group tours might have a problems negotiating cheap group airfares since they put there packages together months even a year or so in advance.

[tartempion]

Nok will resume flying to Phuke-it Saturdays and Sundays.

That's marketing shooting from the hip.

Maybe some management might realise if you cancel 80% or more booked flights you might lose money rather than make some?

When more people want to fly than seats available there might be some opportunities?

[donna]

in high season, there are a few companies who do charters our of europe. there isnt anything stopping the big chinese/asian groups from doing this too.

[ovenman]

Without a booking three days in advance, flights to the island have become chancy.

I don't see that as being such the hardship as they are making it out to be. How may Taiwanese tours are being organized two days or one day before they leave Taipei for Thailand?

I agree. I have 6 friends arriving in September and I was able to book a very cheap package through Thai Airways Royal Orchid Holidays. Air Asia Go Holidays had cheaper fares by about 1000 baht but decided on Thai as they not as strict with the luggage. Christmas the same which is peak time. Flights and hotels still available.

From what I have read most of the problems is booking at the last moment. Though I can see big group tours might have a problems negotiating cheap group airfares since they put there packages together months even a year or so in advance.

I'm going to Phuket later this month, had my air tickets for a while, bought cheap cheap flights from AirAsia. Just to measure the extent of this crisis, I checked my dates of travel on AirAsia's website a couple days ago. Much to my surprise, all of the AirAsia BKK-HKT flights and vice-versa on my dates of travel were still available, some as low as 499 baht base fare. This is for travel about two to three weeks from now.

[siam2007]

the shortage is mainly NEXT WEEK, when there is the Queen's-Birthday-Holiday and many people want to go for a short vacation. its nothing but normal that flights are fully booked during holiday periods (same thing will happen again for the long Chulalongkorn-Weekend at the end of October). after that, everything back to normal.... a storm in a teacup, that is....