new2here

I agree that in totality, US cards offer far more “perks” than any Thai card does.. but.. I tend to associate that with the reality that credit cards here don’t have the “reach” as in the US or other western countries…. plus there are far far fewer issuers here in Thailand.. and that means far fewer cards to choose from. In addition, the Bank of Thailand does regulate some aspects of the credit card space (ie maximum credit limits for example are subject to BoT regs) which also ends up shutting many lower wage workers from the credit card marketplace. For me, while i primarily wanted credit cards to start and develop my local credit file, i also find that there can be some decent promos (many are for dining out i’ve found) offered when paying via your locally issued credit card… but again, in totality, US cards far far surpass anything i’ve seen here (aside from an ultra-high card) as a regular offering in terms of perks” offered.

I did the same as you— when I decided that I would make TH my permanent home, I wanted to create and build my official credit profile (as maintained by the NCB) here. I asked my banker at BBL (I have BBLs Bualuang Banking) and she said that for a non-citizen worker (ie holds a non-B and work permit) the best way was via an unsecured** credit card, I did ask about unsecured personal loans, but was told a credit card was better as it was open ended and not fixed term like a personal loan. So, that’s what i’ve done.. I applied for, and was ultimately approved for unsecured cards from BBL, Kbank and Krungsri. Each one reports my monthly balances and payment history to the NCB. I also get a letter from each creditor annually which summarizes my activities for the year. Unlike the US, the NCB itself only acts as a data collection entity, they not create any “score” for borrowers- that’s up to each creditor and their unique risk analysis models in use for any selected lending situation. **(some banks may require you to deposit X funds into a deposit account which then becomes pledged against your card and can’t be withdrawn until the card is paid in full and account closed; these are still credit cards and are reported to the NCB as such)

It’s clearly an unfortunate situation. I agree that nearly all forms of insurance really do come down to “fine” print.. rightly or wrongly, unless it’s an expressly covered event, then it’s not.. that’s just how insurance works … and how it’s priced I might add.. Obviously, the more perils a policy covers and the higher the likely hood of a payout becomes, will naturally have a sizable impact on premiums…. so the more comprehensive the policy, the more likely a claim, the higher the premium and perhaps the tighter the underwriting criteria also becomes. unfortunately many policies aren’t written for the layman to easily read and understand- but to me, that’s somewhat a result of the litigation risk an insurer may be exposed to if they were to only release a “layman’s” policy wording and not one that is fully vetted by their legal counsel. I also agree that the proposed (but as far as I am aware, not yet actually implemented) B300 tourist tax*, is not designed, as far as I’ve read and seen details, to be a wholesale replacement for individuals buying their own coverage- but rather acts as a safety net - for catastrophic cases, has not been actually implemented, thus no relief from that end either. I have empathy for him and his family.. they’ve got a long physical recovery ahead, plus their financial obligations as well.

Clearly “crude” prices globally have fallen off their covid peak levels… however, carriers tend to watch and use the Platts fuel index as that’s specific to their commodity- Jet-A/A1 https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/ So, on that front, there’s a case to be made for downward pressure on fares.. But… I think the other major element that’s still keeping upward pressure on fares is “supply” … with load factors in some markets in the upper 80s plus, carriers see demand and their inability to add capacity is somewhat like leaving money on the table so to speak. I suspect that carriers do want to add capacity, but most are also acutely aware they adding capacity can drive down fares IF load factors don’t remain high to support the incremental costs. but adding capacity for some is also problematic as planes they put into storage can take weeks to re-certify for revenue service … and their crew and staff.. many who were furloughed or laid off, now have to be recalled… and like in many other fields, some of these previously employed airline staff, have found new jobs and careers, and don’t want to go back ..: so they have to hire “off-the-street” and for many positions, there’s a lengthy licensing and training period required before they are ready In totality, I DO think that the cut of the excise tax will help, but that’s just one piece of the pricing equation and in the longer term, not really going to have a MAJOR impact on bottom line ticket prices.

Agreed. Until such time as the general public has a sizable shift in their collective thinking and actions - it will remain this way. I do think policing - be that better, more consistent and frequent enforcement would help, but i’ve long argued that you can’t really “police” your way out of problems like this.. it takes a collective shift in how people think and act for that to really happen and have a sustained change. ….. for now, as many of these events are (IMHO) seen, internalized or explained away as either “fate” or accidents (as opposed to what i call many to be crashes due to one or more controllable factors) there’s no real NEED to change the mindset… and so it goes on body after body

I agree.. I highly doubt that one of the leading drivers to travelers choosing to come to TH is, on large part, due to the much higher home heating and energy costs… I suspect that right now, we’re still seeing that “pent up travel demand” that’s finally been released… i suspect that’s more the driver that energy costs back home would be.

At the end of the day, “visas” really act as an administrative advance documentation check if you will.. think of it as a “pre” approval.. but… it is in in most all countries, the mere fact that a foreigner holds a legitimately obtained visa, does not then somehow automatically mean you’ll be admitted nor does it prohibit the local on-site immigration officials from verifying your eligibility for entry *at the time of your actual arrival* in the country.. It is what it is… and to be fair to Thailand, IMHO, not unique to Thailand nor a practice that’s not equally used around the world either

That is, in some small part, why there’s no real rush to fix things… IF/WHEN something happens, there’s commonly little “blow back” and the costs of whatever DOES happen, is comparatively small - to that of the costs to actually fix the issue I don’t think massive lawsuits is the solution mind you, but having a situation where there a very very low risk of real financial liability due to successful liability cases, is one contributing reason why a business may low prioritize these matters

While no one welcomes a fare hike, I’d reasonably expect that the the BTS operators expenses have also go up - largely like everyone else’s… it’s kind of a vicious cycle between rising businesses expenses/costs and rising employee wages … i also think that because the base fare, when expressed as an absolute number is - relatively speaking small- any increase, even 1 baht, then translates into a rather large percentage…. unfortunately because i’ll bet it’s simply not feasible to use a unit of currency lower than 1 baht ( ie 25 or 50 sarangi coins) this also limits how fine any increase can be applied.

True.. one can argue about the real-world impact the arrest (and what i’ll guess will be the ultimate deportation) in this case and the value in using X limited police assets to apprehend and process her… … but…. it’s also fair to note that (based only on what’s written here) there was in fact a violation of law.. and as such, the RTP would be wholly within the rights to take action… again, is there bigger “fish” to go after in terms of crime? of course.. but IMHO, that alone doesn’t then say that lower crimes - regardless of what they are - then somehow get a pass until such time as higher crimes are addressed..

I agree.. I can’t see the deceaseds choice to refuse medical treatment as somehow the fault of the property owner.. that said, what I would think is that the law would allow property owners to be able to protect their lawful property … but … that whatever means used may only be “reasonable and prudent” and only to the extent to stop the illegal taking. That to me would seem to be fair.

I don’t think it’s the baht getting stronger per se.. i think it’s more to do with how the market views the USD going forward. Given Chairman Powells’ comments I suspect the market sees the dollar at perhaps topping out as the signal seems to be smaller FOMC upticks of perhaps 50bp and not the much larger 75bps they’ve done. So, i suspect the THB/USD issue is more to do with movement in the USD than it is the relative strength or weakness of the THB itself

I agree.. but i also think that you’re just not going to find situations where wages - across the board - rise .. and do so without there being some form of a rise in consumer prices rising as well.

I suspect it is because there is simply little real-world consequences for doing so… such as giving false statements to law enforcement, falsifying official government documents etc. Ive long been a believer in the notion that laws without properly and consistently applied consequences are just guidelines or suggestions.

i agree.. while it is speculation, I do think charges such as fleeing the scene of an injury crash, should be a mandatory criminal charge, not subject to prior civil settlement.

i believe they use “block” time.. or the time the aircraft brakes are set at the gate, as recorded by ACARS or their onboard Flight Management System

I have been a witness in a case before .. I can attest that SO LONG AS your case falls within the law, then they will act.. Thai or not.. they don’t care .. To me the key is what are the facts… I was rather impressed …. they listened, took copious notes, copies of relevant documents.. it wasn’t an overnight process, but if i recall within about a month, after calling in both parties and their respective witnesses, a department case manager had ruled and their written decision - which is effectively a government order - was sent to both parties with an order that it had to be completed within 30 days i recall.

There can be a *few* situations where excess baggage is limited - I know this can occur with some central/south American destinations during peak holiday periods (which is usually flown with narrow-body fleets, thus making a bulk-out situation or weight restriction possible) but as the OP is assessing Trans-Pacific which is almost always flown by wide body fleet, there’s rarely ever a “weight” restriction nor “embargo” on passenger baggage. That said, it might be wise to proactively reach out to the carrier and double check I also agree with double checking with the carriers *cargo* arm to see if that might be an alternative.. do know the security rules etc for shipping air *cargo* are usually different than that associated with normal “accompanied” passenger baggage situation.

This is my experience too. They have almost consistently taken a copy of my then-valid extension and/or last entry stamp in addition to the photo/data page

Correct.. There is NO way for YOU to remain airside AND also have one or more of your CHECKED baggage exit the airport and be given to a 3rd party while you continue onward as a transit passenger. You would have to formally enter Thailand (that is clear Immigration) and reclaim said baggage and clear it thru thai customs. Only CARGO can be cleared for entry without an associated passenger as cargo moves independently of an actual ticketed/traveling passenger and is processed inbound by customs quite differently than passenger baggage would be.

this is the correct interpretation for STEBS bag usage.. for countries that subscribe to the STEBS bag program (most do, but not all and it’s not mandatory that any one country participate) they carry the “seal” so long as the bag - and the associated passenger - remain AIRside or in “sterile” status… once you exit that status and go “landslide” and thus are no longer “sterile” in terms of airport security, the STEBS bag no longer carriers any validity. Now, can any country waive this provision? sure, but according the STEBS rules - which for the most part are printed on the bag itself - this is what it is supposed to be.

yes. I have bought 12 cards - at once - the be used as xmas party gifts.. at the time of purchase they didn’t ask why, nor did i volunteer the reason. My passport was used for each card as the means to active it. later, after giving, each recipient changed the passport in person with me present.

The problem here is one of transparency .. it’s hard.. impossible.. for the entity that is essentially being implicated, to then turn around and try to self-investigate… that’s where having the ability to send in a truly independent, outside agency with enough implicit and explicit statutory power, to conduct the investigation is essential.. but that too can be problematic… in that one must accept that what this entity may find might be bad…

As i have read the rules, there is nothing that explicitly states who or what type of person/entity can do your medical certificate or who or what kind of entity is authorized by statue to do it. it really only states that it must be done by someone who has a current Thai medical license to do so and will of course, “sign off” on it. Ive always used MedConsult (6 years) - a private clinic which isn’t a formal hospital - and never had an issue but the certificate is hand signed by the Doctor who does have a current valid Thai medical license…. that said, as this is Thailand, what one office says and another says, can be worlds apart.

There IS a process whereby you can be effectively “readmitted” back into the Kingdom IF (as your example is) your flight is delayed and there is no other option to get you of Thailand out the same day or within a reasonable time period while you remain airside. It does require the airlines assistance and coordination with airport immigration (and customs) - but it can be done. It is quite rare, but i know it’s been done. Another example i can recall, is someone who - while at the gate - became too ill/sick to the point that they’re not eligible or safe to board/fly. Like the above, the medical center/doctors will coordinate with airport immigration (and customs BTW) to get your exit stamp cancelled and get you readmitted until you can fly again… again.. very rare, but it happens.