I am still constantly amazed as to the low prices that international flights from Australia to South East Asia have come down to!

As I am now into the planning phase of the next AsianItineraries series of itineraries, I am working out how I will most economically get to where I plan to start the trip - Phuket. A year ago, there would have been two options from Perth, Western Australia to Phuket, Thailand. They would have been by Singapore Airlines via Singapore, or Thai International, ridiculously via Bangkok. Thai would have been the cheapest, at about $1100.00 AUD, but would have involved an overnight stopover in Bangkok, and the costs associated with that ( taxi from airport, Hotel).

Yesterday, I researched a couple of the new Low-cost airlines flying out of Perth. Air Asia have been advertising quite heavily in our newspapers. An add yesterday caught my attention, offering one way to Kuala Lumpur from $199.00 AUD. I figured that would get me pretty close to Phuket,and I would check out if they fly onward to Phuket. Also, I figured I would find out how inconvenient their times where!

 But, low and behold, it all looked good!. Flights from Perth left daily, the $199 special was still available on all the days around when I wanted to fly (in about 6 weeks), and they did also fly to Phuket from KL. And the Internet special for the flight to Phuket from KL was $49.00 AUD including taxes!

This makes a flight from Perth, Western Australia, to Phuket, Thailand $248.00 AUD, total! That, I figured, was unbeatable!

 But NO! I then looked into Tiger Airways, the low cost offshoot of Singapore Airlines, and did a similar equation. With them, flying via Changi, Singapore, my total flight was $205.00 AUD!! Absolutely staggering!

Now I will decide which flights are at the more suitable times, and with the lesser layover time. At this stage that looks like Air Asia is considerably better, and it will be well worth the extra $40.

The second flight I am looking at is Bangkok to Kathmandu - that is not looking to good! Hopefully I’ll come across something good soon!