Phuket International Airport

by airoli & FLYGVA
Airoli, who had arrived in Khao Lak at the 17th and I arrived by limousine at Phuket some minutes prior to 09:00 am and were dropped off at departure level. There is a separate security check for all luggage before you could enter the terminal. Some people were queuing in front of us but it was nevertheless only a short wait before we could enter the terminal and head to the Thai Business Class Check-In counters. Nobody was waiting there. We have decided to check the luggage only to Bangkok, because we wanted to try to get on an earlier flight. Check-In was convenient and we got our boarding passes and headed for the second security check.

Two more passport and one security check later, we found ourselves in the small, but quaint Thai domestic lounge, where a TV was blaring Thai commentary to some US football game. As conversation was impossible and nobody seemed to watch the box anyway, I decided to turn the volume down a bit. However, when I first tapped the volume low button, the speakers went all but silent and remained like that, regardless of which buttons I pressed to bring the volume back a bit. Naturally, I was embarrassed, but fortunately nobody seemed to mind.

The lounge had some Thai snacks as well as a selection of fruit juices and coffee. However, the sparking water I desired to quench my thirst was not in stock, all they had were a few carafes with still (tap?) water. So I tried a can of pineapple juice, but just nipped a bit on it, as I had been spoiled with all the fresh juices in Khao Lak and the canned stuff just didn’t live up to it.

20 May 2007
HKT – BKK
[Phuket International – Bangkok International]
TG 202 (Thai Airways International); Airbus A 300-600
Gate 7
10:00 – 11:25 [effective 10:00 – 11:25]
Economy Class
Seat 33 A

Boarding was called at 9:45 instead of 9:30, and our gate was conveniently located right in front of the lounge. FLYGVA was relieved to see that there was a priority boarding queue, which we joined right away as to reach our seats while there was still enough overhead space for our carry-ons. It was nice to fly on a carrier again where there are no gate agents scrutinizing every belonging for conformity with weight, size, color, brand and other absurd restrictions.

This flight was supposed to be operated by an A330, but we boarded an elderly A300-600 instead. While the seats were definitely adequate for this one hour hop (they even had headset outlets), the plane in general showed some wear. Boarding was completed in a record 15 minutes, about half the time it takes European airlines to board a plane half the size. The entire process was further sped up by the fact that push back started right on time at 10am, despite some passengers were still up and about and a good part of the overhead bins wide open. Every Lufthansa flight attendant would have a heart attack (“Nein, nein, this is verboten!”). As we taxied out towards my first take-off with Thai Airways, the impression of them having a slightly haphazard approach to regulation compliance was strengthened by the mix of blurred overhead projector video and manual exercise that went for a safety demo. About two thirds into that exercise, the captain made a “ready for take-off” announcement, the video was aborted, the engines spooled up, flight attendants ran for their jump seats, water dripped from the aircon onto FLYGVA’s shirt… and we were airborne!

Flying time was an hour, and had there been any doubt left that on Thai, the cabin crew is not primarily there for your safety, it would have quickly vanished once the in flight service kicked off. First came a cardboard snack box containing a puff pastry and some orange juice. Later, the flight attendants roamed the aisles carrying trays with coffee and tea pots, plus condiments. And just before descent, water and more OJ were offered. How refreshing to fly a carrier driven by the desire to please and not by rules and regulations alone!

As we descended into Suvarnabhumi, we were treated to splendid views of the City of Angels, as well as re-opened Don Muang airport. Thinking of how many times I went through that place gave me shivers, and despite its somewhat frosty look, Suvarnabhumi definitely seemed like a big improvement.

I kept holding on to that impression despite the fact that we docked at an international gate, and at the end of the jet way had to descend two flights of stairs before boarding a bus that took us to the right, domestic arrivals section of the airport. Bags arrived quickly, with the orange Star priority tags clearly making a difference.

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