Departure Tax Up

[Rooo]

RESERVATIONS/TICKETING/ROYAL ORCHID PLUS: 1300 651 960

SYDNEY

Adm: (02) 9251 1922

Fax: (02) 9251 1106

MELBOURNE

Adm: (03) 8662 2266

Fax: (03) 9650 7003

BRISBANE

Adm: (07) 3215 4700

Fax: (07) 3215 4737

PERTH

Adm: (08) 9488 9200

Fax: (08) 9488 9260

AFTA Member Lic No 2TA000500 ABN 29001094895

Increase and new collection procedure effective

01 November 2006 for THAILAND

Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for International & Domestic travel

Issued 31 October 2006

Issue 09/06

Thai Airways International wishes to advise that International PSC in Thailand will be increased from THB500 to

THB700 and domestic PSC from THB50 to THB70.

PSC will be levied on all passengers departing from all airports in Thailand.

It is to be collected at point of sale under the tax code –TS- on all tickets issued on/after 01NOV06 for travel

on/after 01FEB07. Collection on the ticket replaces the current procedure of collection in cash at departure

point. PSC is interlineable.

Exemptions are:-

Domestic to domestic transfer within 6 hours, except where this is a return sector to point of origin, in

which case it is considered a separate departure and PSC applies

International to domestic or domestic to international transit/transfer within six hours (not leaving the

transit area) when ticketed on the same ticket

Infants under 2 years of age

We thank you for your continued support of Thai Airways International.

[Rinrada]

The MAIN Bits.

on/after 01NOV06.......... for travel......on/after 01FEB07.

Collection on the ticket replaces the current procedure of collection in cash at departure

[Soju]

Just to clarify things, being that notice wasn't so easy to read. This information is only specific to Thai Airways, though other airlines will undoubtedly announce similar measures.

The new 700 Baht tax goes into effect on Feb. 1, 2007, but THAI will start collecting the tax as part of the ticket cost as of Nov. 1, 2006 for all departures on or after Feb. 1, 2007. That means if you're departing before Feb. 1, there will be no additional tax collected.

Although it doesn't mention it, undoubtedly if you already bought a ticket for departure on or after Feb. 1, you will still need to pay the departure tax at the airport before you leave.

Unclear based on this notice is what is the situation with international-to-international transfers using separate tickets. Being they don't list an exception, it sounds as though you will be taxed in this case even though you never leave the airport. Under the old method, you were taxed only if you exited and re-entered through immigration. If your international flights are purchased as one single ticket, then there shouldn't be any tax added.

Air Asia has already been collecting the tax since last month.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Soju