Flying to/from Thailand (Covid Era)

[Gregjam]

I will chase up the repatriation flight for sure. Having checked on the Suvarnabhumi website and seen the same flight number as I have a booking for scheduled to land it does seem strange though.

[HHTel]

My daughter had a flight booked from the US a while ago. Confirmed then cancelled. That flight number took off as scheduled and landed at Swampy. It had been changed to a 'repatriation' flight. Probably commandeered by the government and of course the ticket price for a repat flight is 3 or 4 times that of a scheduled flight.

[Gregjam]

Having flown back from Australia on Qatar Airways I booked with them as I know they are operating real flights. They have a daily flight into swampy that is operating as confirmed on both the swampy website and flight radar. As HHTel says, it will come as no surprise if this is another money generating scheme. Now just to plan how to present this in a non offensive way to the bod who I need to get me the necessary certificate of entry.

[buksida]

Thailand’s flight ban might extend
he Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has hinted at the possibility of extending the international commercial flight ban according to the National News Bureau of Thailand.

It coincides with reliable information from sources close to Thai Airways International suggesting the airline will not start international services until December.

The comments were made by a high ranking THAI executive who told a travel association’s committee members it was “very likely that the airline would not be able to resume services in September.

The airline recently updated advance timetable information in booking systems worldwide that listed a resumption of services to more than 30 destinations.

Now due to concerns over the global Covid-19 situation the CAAT’s director-general said the kingdom should focus more on its domestic airline business as the government had earlier given the green light to local carriers and allowed the majority of businesses to reopen.

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/07/ ... ht-extend/

[PeteC]

THAI plans SOS flights to London

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/19 ... -to-london

Thai Airways International (THAI) has arranged three flights to London next month targeting students, business people and foreign nationals stranded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

THAI acting president Chansin Treenuchagron said on Wednesday the flights, code TG916, would fly on Aug 9, 16 and 23, departing Suvarnabhumi airport at 12.50pm and arriving in London at 7.10pm local time.

The flights will operate under tight public health safety restrictions and enforce strict social distancing regulations.

On board, flight attendants will conduct their work in compliance with public health measures.

Mr Chansin said only one-way tickets could be booked so far and the flights were intended for Thais returning to study in the UK, foreign nationals stranded in Thailand due to the pandemic, and business people.

The return flights from London are being arranged in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to bring home UK-based Thais.

Mr Chansin said those travelling on the special flights would be required by British regulations to go into self-isolation for 14 days upon arrival.

The flights represent an early sign of THAI moving to restore its operations after it suspended all scheduled flights in early April.

The struggling airline, which has filed for debt rehabilitation in the Central Bankruptcy Court, has repeatedly deferred its resumption of scheduled flights.

It is due to submit its rehabilitation plan to the court on Aug 17.

Until that time it continues to be covered by a ruling that temporarily prevents creditors from trying to recover their debts.

[GroveHillWanderer]

You can have a work permit and a seperate Thailand Elite card.
Regards

Other versions of the announcement that I've seen, just say Thailand Elite Card holders, which makes more sense.

[HHTel]

the flights were intended for Thais returning to study in the UK,

Why would a Thai want to return to the UK in the present situation?

[Dannie Boy]

If they’re studying, wouldn’t that be a good reason?


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[HHTel]

Schools/Universities are scheduled to re-open in the UK in September, but that's not written in stone. It will depend very much the situation at the time.

Personally, if I was a Thai, I would rather stay safe in Thailand and defer the education until times are better. No good doing your homework when you're sick or in hospital or worse.

[Gregjam]

Somewhat unsurprisingly my Qatar flight has been cancelled. Now to see if I can get on a repatriation flight which at present seems unlikely. As foreigners we are not very welcome at the moment.

[B6PTW]

You can have a work permit and a seperate Thailand Elite card.
Regards

Other versions of the announcement that I've seen, just say Thailand Elite Card holders, which makes more sense.

I take it you did not read the posts either side of the one you quoted.
Regards

[hhinner]

I think the only way is a repatriation flight as there are no commercial flights into Thailand for now. From what I've read elsewhere you can possibly get into business class on a repatriation flight.

[nil]

Schools/Universities are scheduled to re-open in the UK in September, but that's not written in stone. It will depend very much the situation at the time.

Personally, if I was a Thai, I would rather stay safe in Thailand and defer the education until times are better. No good doing your homework when you're sick or in hospital or worse.

More chance of a student dying in a road accident in the UK than Covid. And much more chance of dying of that in Thailand.

[GroveHillWanderer]

You can have a work permit and a seperate Thailand Elite card.
Regards

Other versions of the announcement that I've seen, just say Thailand Elite Card holders, which makes more sense.

I take it you did not read the posts either side of the one you quoted.
Regards

I certainly did, however I chose that one to reply to as the fact that the announcement is, as far as I can tell, not supposed to refer to workers with Elite Cards but rather holders of Elite Cards, it makes it a moot point as to whether you can have an Elite Card and a work permit.

[oakdale160]

Realistically, when will normal service in and out of Thai resume? Nobody knows, but its unlikely to be any time in 2020, Any other opinions.