

Thailand is open to international tourism
International travelers may freely enter Thailand if they can provide proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated visitors must present a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before departure. There is no Covid test on arrival or during the stay in Thailand. Health insurance is not compulsory but recommended.
64 nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program can enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. Foreigners may also apply for a Tourist Visa from the Thai embassy or consulate.
Transit through Thai airports is allowed as long as you remain in the transit area in the airport. Ensure that your connecting flight is booked on the same itinerary and ticket.
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Arriving in Phuket
- If you are flying to Phuket from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport — Phuket International Airport
HKT
. It is a busy hub, seeing over 16 million passengers each year. It has three terminals: Terminal 2 for international flights, Terminal 3 for domestic flights, and Terminal X for charter flights. The airport has a reputation for long and slow lines to pass the immigration, so it is recommended to have your arrival card filled out in advance. It is generally not necessary to book a hotel transfer in advance, as there are several options (often more affordable) waiting for you just outside the arrival hall. These include metered taxis, buses and minivans, and limousines that offer transportation from the airport to various tourist destinations on the island. The Phuket Smart Bus is the most reliable and affordable option, offering hourly trips from the airport to Rawai in the south for about 170 baht (5 USD / 7 AUD). The Orange Airport Bus service can take you from the airport to Phuket Town, from which you can transfer to a bus to the beaches and beach resorts.
These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Phuket. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
- Once in Phuket, take advantage of frequent flights between the major cities via domestic airlines such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Vietjet Air. To check flight schedules/prices and to book the tickets, visit their official websites — OTAs and flight search engines often don’t have access to the flight repository of smaller local airlines. They also often fail to update prices in the event of short-lived sales and promotions that airlines run from time to time. To not miss out on these great offers, visit Promo Radar which aggregates current promotions run by popular airlines.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Phuket can be easily reached with low-cost regional airlines (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Batik Air, Hong Kong Express, IndiGo, Jetstar, Jin Air, Nok Air, Scoot, Thai Smile, and VietJet Air.
These budget carriers offer flights from Phuket Airport at lower prices than full-service airlines, and they often fly to smaller airports that big players do not cover. However, the “no-frills” airlines may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support; you may not even get to choose your seats (unless you pay extra). With that in mind, they are a great option to save money if you have a stopover in Thailand and then fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries.

HKT
– situated on the northern part of Phuket island, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Phuket City and 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Patong. These distances equate to a 50-minute drive by car to either location. Expect to pay around 700 baht (20 USD / 30 AUD) for a taxi ride to Phuket City and around 900 bahts (27 USD / 39 AUD) to Patong.
Airlines flying to Phuket | Aeroflot, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France, Air New Zealand, AirAsia, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Azur Air, Bangkok Airways, BAtik Air, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Edelweiss Air, Egypt Air, El Al Israel Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, Finnair, Firefly, FlexFlight, Garuda Indonesia, Go First, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Iberia, IndiGO, Japan Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Jetstar, Jin Air, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airways, MIAT, Nok Air, Oman Air, Philippine Airlines, Qanot Sharq, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SalamAir, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sunclass Airlines, SWISS, Thai AirAsia, SAS, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Thai Summer Airways, TUI Airways, Tuifly Nordic, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, VietJet Air |
---|---|
Thai airlines | Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai VietAir |
Airports in Phuket | Phuket International Airport (HKT) — Phuket |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €800 – €1200 (from Europe) ✈ $700 – $1100 (from USA) |
Flight hacks | 40% — 80% off regular fare |
Airline promotions | See ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from February to April |
The cheapest time to fly to Phuket
The high tourist season in Phuket is from November to March with the crowds peaking in December and January. During this season, prices of flights and accommodation go up significantly. Try to be flexible and fly to Phuket in May through October when rains and humidity scare away most of Phuket’s crowds – these are the cheapest months that guarantee the greatest savings.
Plan ahead if you intend to take your chances with Phuket’s peak season.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Thailand uses only one time zone across the country – Thailand Standard Time (THA) or Indochina Time (ICT) – which is UTC+7 (GMT+7). As a result, clocks in Phuket are 7 hours ahead of London and 11 hours ahead of New York. Thailand shares the same time zone as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Western Indonesia. It does not have an associated daylight saving time.
Duty-free rules
Thailand is serious about the duty-free concession. There is a limit for bringing in certain items. Alcoholic drinks such as wine, spirits or beer cannot exceed one liter per person, and you can carry only 200 cigarettes (or 250g of tobacco). In addition to personal items, you may also carry items in reasonable quantity up to a value of 20,000 baht (~USD 550 / AUD 810).
Anything above those limits must be declared – at the airport, head to the Red Lane to declare your goods.
Luggage storage at the Phuket airport
Phuket Airport offers Baggage Storage Services at the International Terminal on the ground floor, near the police counter. If you have somewhere to be before you can check into a hotel and need a place to keep your luggage, you can use this service for a small fee of 100 baht (about 3 USD or 4.5 AUD) per item per day.
Flights to Phuket fromUnited States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Phuket. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Phuket, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop.
- Phuket is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Phuket with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Phuket from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, ANA, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Phuket, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Phuket from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Phuket from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (February to October).
Flight hacking
Hacker faresto Phuket
Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
Avoid Thai public holidays
Prices skyrocket during holidays in Thailand – adjust your travel dates to avoid expensive tickets. Cheap flights to Phuket are non-existent during popular “red days” such as Songkran (12-15 April), Coronation Day (5 May), Vesak (26 May), Chulalongkorn Day (23 October), and New Year’s Eve (31 December).
Fly with Thai budget airlines
It can be time-consuming and uncomfortable to travel on overnight buses or trains in Thailand. Opt for domestic air travel instead, as it is usually cheap, easy, and convenient.
Most flight routes around Thailand are reasonably priced and short. For example, to go from Phuket to Chiang Mai in the north, it takes less than 2 hours on a non-stop flight, at the cost of around 2000 bahts (~60 USD or ~85 AUD) for a one-way ticket.
The cheapest flights can be found on Thai budget airlines – Nok Air, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Thai VietAir, and Thai Smile. These budget airlines offer domestic flights from Phuket International Airport.
Get Grab to move around town
Uber is no longer available in Thailand – it ceased business in April 2018 and has been replaced by its Asia alternative – Grab. It’s a good way for a cross-city journey: the cars are safe, secure and usually air-conditioned. Similarly to Uber, it has fixed distance-based fees, so drivers can’t overcharge you for journeys (as it often happens with local tuk-tuks).
Some busier cities such as Phuket or Bangkok also have GrabBike, where you can hail a ride on the back of a scooter to get to your destination cheaper and faster in congested traffic.
If you don’t have Grab Taxi yet, download it for your Phuket vacation and set up your account, payment options, etc before arriving.
Use the Thai Post Office to send your bag ahead
You can walk into a post office in any Thai town and send a suitcase ahead to your next destination in Thailand. Just contact your next hotel or Airbnb to notify them of the upcoming package delivery. Even a large, heavy suitcase should cost you no more than 300 Bahts (less than $10).
Flights to Phuket with stopover
Direct flights to Phuket are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Phuket. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Phuket with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Phuket will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Phuket from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Phuket — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Phuket are about 10-12 hours long. Only a handful of the largest European hubs have a straight connection to Phuket – among them are Helsinki (with Finnair), Zurich (SWISS), and Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Phuket include Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Finnair, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Phuket from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Phuket from these European airport hubs: LondonLHR
and ManchesterMAN
in the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRA
and MunichMUC
in Germany, ParisCDG
and NiceNCE
in France, AmsterdamAMS
in the Netherlands, MadridMAD
and BarcelonaBCN
in Spain, RomeFCO
and MilanoMXP
in Italy, BrusselsBRU
in Belgium, CopenhagenOSL
in Denmark, OsloOSL
in Norway, StockholmARN
in Sweden, ZurichZRH
in Switzerland, LisbonLIS
in Portugal, ViennaVIE
in Austria, WarsawWAW
in Poland, PraguePRG
in Czech Republic, and DublinDUB
in Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Phuket
Find the lowest prices for flights to Phuket Airport in Phuket from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
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Get 40% – 80% off airfares from Europe to Phuket:
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Phuket will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

Last-minute flights to Phuket. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Phuket almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Phuket is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Phuket, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Lost baggage prevention
Avoid lost luggage nightmares by removing old tags on your suitcases. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags can confuse baggage handlers and the conveyor belt scanners. They are one of the reasons so many bags miss their flight or get misrouted.
Domestic air travel from Phuket
Most domestic routes in Thailand are operated by local airlines. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, and Krabi from Phuket Airport, you’ll be flying with one of these domestic air transport companies: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Vietjet Air. In most cases, it is the best (the fastest, the most convenient, and the cheapest) way to travel around the country.
If you plan to fly domestically from Phuket check the latest prices here, then book your flight ticket online.
Flights to Phuket from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Phuket. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Direct flights and flights with one layover to Phuket are available from all major airports in Australia – SydneySYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, QueenstownZQN
, DunedinDUD
. - In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Phuket with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Phuket are AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Batik Air, Hong Kong Express, IndiGo, Jetstar, Jin Air, Nok Air, Scoot, Thai Smile, and VietJet Air.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Phuket. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.
Currently, the only direct flights to Phuket from Australia are offered by Jetstar Airways and Qantas. The cheapest option for around 9 hours long non-stop flight from Melbourne or Sydney to Phuket costs around 350 AUD one-way with Jetstar Airways.
Prices of flights to Phuket from Australia and New Zealand
Real-time economy class fares to Phuket from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.
Prices in Australian Dollar.
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Curated dealsfrom flight experts
Fly half-price (or less!) from Australia and New Zealand to Phuket:
“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?
Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Phuket now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Postpay, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.
BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans but have fees for late payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.
Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Phuket can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.
Hidden-city ticketing hack
Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.
It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.
How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Phuket.
Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades
A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Phuket, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, an airline will send you an email with a link to their website where you can place a “blind” bid. There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed, and your seat will be upgraded.
How to choose the right bid amount? Just check the airline website for the regular cost of a business class seat to Phuket, then subtract what you paid for the economy fare. Place your bid for around 10% to 30% of that price. The alternative strategy is to bid slightly above the competition. If, for example, the minimum bid is $500, try to bid $550-$600, as most people will offer the baseline amount required.
The more available business class seats the airline has on your flight, the lower bid can be successfully used. Check the airline’s daily schedule for flights to Phuket – if there is more than one flight on your chosen route (more available seats), you can safely bid close to the minimum required amount.
Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp™), Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Qantas, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Fly early in the morning
Early morning flights (6 am or earlier) are usually cheaper than other day schedules. It’s because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Use it to your advantage.
Moreover, airports are also less crowded, and there tend to be fewer delays if you fly early in the morning. Due to increasing air traffic, delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Phuket with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
Flights to Phuket from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Phuket look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Phuket will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Thailand and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
Asian airports with the cheapest flights to Phuket in 2023/24
Find the lowest prices for flights to Phuket from the largest airports in Asia — Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
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Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Thailand to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Thailand and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

How to book a superdeal to Phuket?
Every superdeal you receive from Air Traveler Club includes a link you can use to book a flight. It always directs you to the website that offers the lowest price. Sometimes it’s an airline website; in other cases, Google Flights or a similar flight booking platform.
This video explains how to use Google Flights to book a plane ticket.

Dealing with the jet lag
Jet lag affects people differently depending on age, physical fitness, and genetics. The most accepted rule suggests that you should allow one full day to recover from jet lag for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east and a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed when you traveled west.
The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. You can begin before getting off the plane: set your watch to the time in Phuket, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new time zone. Close the window shade when it’s time to simulate darkness. During your first day on the ground in Thailand, get outdoors, stay physically active during the day, and absorb sunlight.
FAQ: Flying to Phuket
Q: What are the cheapest months to fly to Phuket?
A: The cheapest months to fly to Phuket tend to be during the low season - May until the end of October (also known as the green season). As the weather is often cloudy and rainy this time is less appealing for beach activities Phuket sees fewer tourists and prices for flights and accommodations are cheaper.
September is statistically the wettest month of the year, and the best month to look for the cheapest possible airfares. There are usually numerous sales as the airlines try to attract customers in an effort to fill their empty seats.
Q: Can I fly direct to Phuket from UK?
A: No, there are no direct flights from the UK to Phuket - your journey will have at least one stop. The best option is to book an 11 hours 30 minutes direct flight to Bangkok from London (with Thai Airways or EVA Air), and then use the regional budget airline (Thai VietJet, Thai AirAsia, Thai Smile, Nok Air) to fly to Phuket (1 hour 30 minutes).
Q: Can I fly to Phuket from Singapore?
A: Yes, there are numerous options for direct flights from Singapore to Phuket, starting as low as 80 SGD with budget airlines such as Scoot or Thai AirAsia. The flight time is less than 2 hours.
Q: Why are flights to Phuket so expensive?
A: The flight prices to Phuket depend primarily on (1) which part of the world you are flying from and the airline you're flying with. Low-cost airlines such as Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, etc tend to have fairly priced medium-haul flights in the region, while premium carriers (Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Qatar Airways) offer much better comfort at higher prices.
(2) The time of booking. High demand + low supply = higher fares. Seasonality plays a big part here: if you travel during the peak season (high demand) and book a last-minute flight (low supply - not many tickets left), your flight to Phuket City will be costly. Air tickets for high tourist season can be even 2-3 times more expensive (!) than in the off-season.
A big contributor to higher fares on planes are (3) oil prices and the fact that airfares are pegged to the US dollar. These factors are passed on to travelers, making your flight ticket even more expensive.
The various (4) taxes imposed on foreigners and tourists by the governments have been a big part of the price increase in the last few years. You may never notice them directly, as they are often worked into airline tickets or the bill you pay at your hotel.
Last but to least, (5) business travelers can influence ticket prices for other passengers. The number of expensive Business Class tickets sold on a flight affects how much money the airline makes and, therefore, how much they charge for Economy Class seats.
Q: Which airport is best to fly into in Phuket?
A: Phuket has only one airport – all international flights to Phuket land at the Phuket International Airport (HKT) – located in the northern part of the island, around 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Phuket City and 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Patong.
Q: How much is the flight ticket from Europe to Phuket?
A: The price of your ticket depends on your city of departure, the chosen airline, the number of stopovers, the booking period, etc. Flights from Europe to Phuket usually cost between €500 – €700 for one-way, and €700 – €1100 for a round-trip ticket if booked at least a few weeks in advance.
Air Traveler Club can help you cut these prices by more than half.
Q: Which airlines fly directly from Australia to Phuket?
A: Only two airlines fly direct from Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) to Phuket City: JetStar Airways and Qantas. The cheapest option for around 9 hours long non-stop flight from Australia to Phuket costs around 350 AUD one-way with Jetstar Airways.
Q: When is the best time to book flights to Phuket?
A: Plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date. Even these reasonably priced flights in the low season sell out quite far ahead of the date of travel. It pays to book your ticket well in advance, as it will give you a good range of flight times and seat selection choices.
The best time to book flights to Phuket can vary among airlines, but the golden time usually falls between 2 and 6 months before the departure. So, January is the best time to book flights if you want to visit Phuket during the summer.
User Review
4.5 (877 votes)Flights to Phuket
Whether on a vacation of a lifetime or a business trip, flying to Phuket is not as easy as booking local travel.
Most likely you are looking at a long-haul trip — and every layover will add a few more hours if you choose not to take a direct flight. Choose your airline wisely, by reading the online reviews left by passengers who have already taken a similar route. Always look for their in-flight experience: seats (are they comfy and spacious?), menu (was it delicious with plenty of choices for different tastes and diets?), and the entertainment options available onboard (the quality of screens and headphones, the range of movie/music/tv channels on offer, etc).
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. Leave it too late and you might have to pay almost double the price, especially if you want to fly during school holidays and popular times like New Year's Eve. If you're not yet an Air Traveler Club subscriber, sign up now — we'll send you lots of discounted offers for free. Our members often save $500 or more on flights to Phuket!
Pros
- Plenty of airlines flying to Phuket
- Cheap tickets available
- Flight hacks available
Cons
- Long-haul flights can be expensive