hotandsticky

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

But operationally it can work.

 

I flew AirAsia from Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumphur to Sydney in Nov 2019. I'm in a wheelchair.

 

AirAsia supvr., walking around the departure lines at Chiang Mai spottted me with wheelchair, she quickly asked if I was checking-in for the KL flight, I confirmed and within 2 minutes she had 2 young assistants on the spot with the AirAsia w'chair (mine was packed up to be checkin-in). They got me comfortable quickly and then to a more distant check-in desk and check-in quickly completed. She realized my Thai son and his family (his wife and 3 kids) were with me, she asked if I wanted to wait or go straight onto the aircraft? There wasn't a lot f time to spare so I said 'go the the a'craft now please'. AA lady tasked one of the young attendants to get me onto the a'craft, all done smoothly and politely and with care for my comfort. At KLIA an attendant waiting at a'craft door to take me to the AA lounge, staff at lounge very caring and polite. Back onto a'craft, hosties politely checked several time if I needed a toilet break etc. All meals excellent. Just before arrival at Sydney International a polite hostie asked me to remain seated for a few minutes. Two young attendants slipped into the a'craft as soon as the door was open. They knew where I was seated, they came over and politely explained the procedure and checked what luggage etc., I had. Ten minutes later one girl returned to my seat to explain my chair was being unpacked just outside the a'craft door. All done smoothly and politely. As soon as 90+% of the passsengers had alighted they started to move me slowly to the a'craft door and then carefully into my w'chair. They exlained the procedure well; one girl would stay with me and the other girl would get quickly to the passport arrival desk and get my passport ready to be processed, then she went (with a phto of the luggae stickers on my boarding pass) to retrieve my 2 suitcases. On arrival at passport desks a border force official quickly noticed me (by my p'port photo) and came over to return my p'port and checked if the AA staff were taking care of me OK. I confirmed YES. As soon as we got about 15 meters past the p'port desk the second AA girl was waiting with my 2 cases. During all of this the girl who stayed with me had asked if I had relatives or a car service booked to meet me at the a'port. I gave her the name and tel. no of the car service. She called them and they advised the car was caught in traffic and it would be arrving at Inter airport arrivals in about 20 minutes. AA girls asked if I would like to get a quick coffee and a snack. I said yes and we all had coffee and a snack. Car arrived, AA girls got me into the car made sure I was comfortable. All done.

 

The entire trip was pleasant and well organized; 10+/10.

 

Sure things have changed since because of Covid- 19, however when it's all operating again smoothly I would have no hesitation to use AA for same/any trip. 

To be fair, Air Asia do it better than SCOOT.

On 8/29/2022 at 3:08 PM, Excel said:

So why pay twice as much as necessary for a good agent ?

It isn't.

It is the same......"all in"...

7 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Does it look like London ?

Yes, and it says London on the sign. The flagstones look English.....

On 9/5/2022 at 3:55 PM, aussiexpat said:

I've mainly researched retirement but I believe that would be correct (example: if I  can prove 70k per month, 800k would not be required in bank for retirement)

 

65k for retirement, 40k for marriage based extensions.

You can throw the TM6 away.

COYR!

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Nothing ! Just that form. 

Amazing!

Those details are passed over the internet every day. Consider the comparison with, say, UK Visas where payment is made online to VFS at the time an application is submitted.

Couriering such a basic transaction seems like gross overkill - but may further alleviate the fears of the OP.

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

This is not correct based on my personal experience just last week.

The form is put in a sealed envelope, both I and the person processing the application had to sign across the seal and it was inserted with the application in front of me into a DHL envelope to go to the UK.

That is new - as far as I am aware.

What else was so valuable to also go in the sealed envelope?.

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

No. A good friend who owns property there, and visits often told me it is at about 25% of it's former self. Samui is at about 20%. 

Busier in popular areas - I would say 50/60% of normal low season. Much busier at weekends.

2 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

I'm in Pattaya now.  Lots of Thais on the weekends and lots of old men like me... ????

Sounds like a perfect formula ????

More old men, and perhaps more Thais, will come in high season

2 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

Once again, with all the issues going on in Thailand, why is this even news?

What issues?

A place to avoid.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Kind of like saying Mali is experiencing rapid growth. When you are comparing anything to near zero, growth is inevitable. The real question is, will the hotels and people in the industry see a profit? Are the tourists who come going to spend any real money? Can the industry be sustained, after massive sabotage and legendary timidity? Or has Thailand been forgotten? 

Have you been to Pattaya recently?

11 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Here I will repair the title based upon the increased global prices on flights and fuel and the increases to ones daily life back home:

 

Thailand Heading For A Busted High Season

I think you are wrong.

IMO there will be a high season that was busier than last year. Not sure that I would stretch it as far as 'bustling' but it will put rice in the mouths of workers in the tourism industry.

The increases in home country fuel bills etc are one reason to encourage snowbirds back to Thailand.

A friend is waiting for a decision on an application submitted on 20th June; that is just over 10 weeks.

I read of someone waiting 14 weeks but do others have knowledge of current processing time.

Simplistically, you email VfS with 3 dates/times and they will come back with confirmation of your appointment.

14 minutes ago, ThoMichael said:

I am not making any transfers now, but I do still have a bank account at Bangkok Bank. I could transfer $1,400 this week and also transfer 200,000 baht, and have my social security direct deposits start the October 3rd. Could I maybe do the combo method in mid October?

 

I thought 2 months of income deposits are accepted on the first retirement extension application?

No. Not to my knowledge..12 monthly transfers are required.

I have a similar issue in that I want to change next June from 800k in the bank to income.

I believe that to achieve that I will have to monthly transfers of 65k between now and my application next May

9 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Why do you need any letter from Social Security? Immigration do not care where the money is 'earned' as long as it comes into a Thai Bank every month and shows as a Foreign Transfer. Wise to Bangkok Bank works a treat.

$1400 is about Bht 50k when transferred.  So if you put Bht 200k in the bank, the total is 800k so should be accepted, as it is in my Imm Office in P'lok. 

....except that he will need to evidence 12 x monthly payments to a Thai bank at the time of his application. I don't believe that he is making any transfers at present.

5 hours ago, RedArmy said:

Not trying to undermine you brother in any way, just pointing out to the OP that should he arrive on or after 1st October, his visa exempt entry will be 45 days, just in case he was unaware of this.

Quite right, he is obviously not coming today, he is still thinking about it.

I have just topped up my William Hill betting account with £30 using my UK bank debit card. I had to supply my card number, expiry date and 3 digit security number.

Do I feel scared?

No.....and I don't see the transaction (albeit online) as anything different to supplying HMPO with the details.

2 minutes ago, chalawaan said:

  even get them a large bottle of their favourite beer, helps get the elusive female libido going! 

I have no problem  -  you must be doing something wrong!   ????