Do any aussie or other expats living in phuket know which airline to use for a return flight to Perth booking on the internet, tiger air seem pretty reasonable if you book early enough and you depart and arrive on the same day, are there any other choices, we expect to be going in january 2010.

I got a price over the telephone from Virgin Airlines from Perth->Phuket->Perth early last week, leaving just before the holiday season and returning quite a few weeks after Australia Day, of $761, and didn't record the difference of destination and return fares. From Perth was around 180% return from Phuket, from memory.

January is definitely on-peak into (***or out of) Perth.

*** If I'd had the capacity (and inclination) to buy online with a credit card, Tiger was the first choice by far, but I called their office in Tullamarine or wherever repeatedly over two days and all that I got was the engaged tone, before and afternoon.

Tiger would be the likely best value for money, and Changi is a nice equatorial airport for a stopover out in the sun by the runway at Harry's Bar.

Thai International do a Perth - Phuket - Bangkok - Perth flight. Probably more expensive than Tiger, though.

Thai International do a Perth - Phuket - Bangkok - Perth flight. Probably more expensive than Tiger, though.

Yes i know i just returned from a round trip and always have used Thai airways but there prices are going up every trip, also last trip back left home in chalong at 4pm and did not arrive in Perth until 8am the following day not my idea of a fun trip when a direct flight takes 6 hours 15 minutes, tiger with a stop over in Singapore is a lot shorter time wise and a lot cheaper, if thai had direct flights both ways as they did years ago i would fly with them even though they are about twice the price of tiger.

you did not check JETSTAR ?

u should consider to have a look at Malaysian Airlines' website too as they often have great deals if u book online in advance....

you did not check JETSTAR ?

u should consider to have a look at Malaysian Airlines' website too as they often have great deals if u book online in advance....

Checked out jetstar the price is about the same as tiger but tigers flight schedule suites me better, i prefer to sleep at home not on a plane.

Air Asia HKT-KL then on to Perth.They have some good fares at the moment

Air Asia and Tiger are by far the cheapest. I think Jetstar only flies to the eastern states then back to perth, not direct (though I'm not 100% sure if they have changed since I looked last). I have flied on both tiger and air asia several times, then stopover in singapore with tiger is a bit longer (several hours), but the domestic kl airport with air asia is VERY unpleasant. I just booked a return trip from Perth to Phuket, including tax, upsize of luggage and all for AUD $530 - not bad.

Air Asia HKT-KL then on to Perth.They have some good fares at the moment

Definitely it is cheapest option these days!

This new Virgin Blue route seems to be the FIRST and ONLY one to have direct PTH-Phuket-PTH flights.

(Thai's return trip goes via BKK and all the other airlines have stopovers in Sing or KL.)

And they sell a premium economy seat for about AUD1,100 (33,000) Bht one way if you don't want to be squashed in cattle class.

This new Virgin Blue route seems to be the FIRST and ONLY one to have direct PTH-Phuket-PTH flights.

(Thai's return trip goes via BKK and all the other airlines have stopovers in Sing or KL.)

And they sell a premium economy seat for about AUD1,100 (33,000) Bht one way if you don't want to be squashed in cattle class.

It seems pacific blue operate the direct flights but you have to book in Australia not Thailand with the internet sites i have checked.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We’re really looking forward to adding another destination to our network and pleased to be starting by offering WA travellers a new direct flight to Phuket. The Virgin Blue Airline Group has made very clear our commitment to WA. We have been steadily expanding our Virgin Blue domestic and regional operations most recently with increased Perth - Port Headland services and now we are adding a new Pacific Blue route from Perth to Thailand.”

Virgin Blue have named the new route, Pacific Blue, but it is all the same company.

Rang them to ask why you cant get a ticket originating in Phuket - idiot woman couldn't give me an answer. Just repeatedly said "you can't do it"!

Virgin blue direct flights phuket to perth return are now available on the internet and there prices are good.