superal

Just done a quick search on Thai Air , Bangkok to Heathrow and on the 1st Feb 2023 a single fare in economy was 15275 baht or £375 approx . A return on the (out Feb 21 ) 21 March was 36305 baht or £867 . A single one way from the UK to BK on 21 March was £489 or 20500 baht . It use to be more expensive flying from BK to the UK on a single but now is the other way round it seems . Eva on same return was more expensive at 46120 baht or £1,120 , same return date as above

yes because known criminals who have been convicted of crimes and served a penal sentence are likely to have a visa refused in most civilised countries

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-announces-tougher-criminality-rules-for-eu-citizens

Apologies , as I thought I pasted both links but please read attached link that should appease . https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-announces-tougher-criminality-rules-for-eu-citizens

Confirmed government or ONS facts have credence and not journalistic conjecture from your favourite biased rag . Next thing will you be saying is the earth is flat or there is a bus on the moon ???? .

Under the E.U rules the UK had to abide in allowing criminals into the country . New laws have succeeded in deporting at least 1700 criminals from the UK . This was only possible because of Brexit and being free from the crazy E.U. laws . Many more criminals are being searched for . https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-foreign-criminals-and-illegal-migrants-removed This alone is one example of why Brexit was a good move unless you are a supporter of foreign criminals .

and where is your link to prove your statement and I do not want to see a journalistic link

Do any of the 7 fly outside of Asia ? certainly not to the UK . Also not forgetting that B.A. and Scoot Air have stopped flying the direct service from the UK to Thailand and EVA Air is now flying at a reduced service . In general all flight companies have raised their prices , especially nearer to the departure date , in a similar fashion to that of a cartel .

This is incredible but I have just read that some of the sailors could not swim .

You speak about the UK inflation well how about this , the E.U. inflation is 11.1 % and the UK is 10.7% . Also strikes within the public sector are not confined to the UK , they are across Europe , link below https://www.euronews.com/2022/12/16/workers-strike-across-europe-calling-for-higher-wages-amid-rising-inflation Let us not forget among the main reasons the British public voted for Brexit . They were to rid the UK of masses of foreigners who were able to access the UK under the E.U ruling of free movement of workers , which resulted in unqualified cheap labour that undercut local Brits wages and putting them out of work with some losing their houses . Only parties to benefit were the business owners and construction companies made up from foreign labour . For the UK to be able to self rule and ditch the Brussels bureaucracy . I would still vote for Brexit today . The UK will reform to growth in the near future without the constraints of the dreaded non-elected Brussels crowd . Great to be free from the United States of Europe and the ambitions of Macron .

I also speak fluent Thai but the trouble is the Thai people do not understand me ????

Well , like him or hate him , Trump is still a popular republican . Now whether it is him as the next POTUS or Desantis is another matter but Trump will be part of the republican government .

Does anyone know if the search for survivals found any sailors alive with their life jackets being worn that saved their lives ? Indeed the mind boggles as to question if there was a practised emergency drill for abandoning ship . Can only speak of the UK navy who are professional sailors who will be well inducted on emergency situations but I would think that most of the western world navies will be the same with an ample supply of life jackets and rafts etc . Abandoning ship drills are the fundamental basic procedures to cover all weather conditions . The loss of life on this scale to a countries professional navy is not acceptable and the tragedy needs to be investigated by an independent , unbiased panel . will that happen ?

Well the Ukraine folk are very much aligned with the Russian race . It has not taken long for them to become westernised . Also to apply for E.U. membership . When the dust settles the Russian folk will be able to understand the free world of the Ukraine people many of whom they are related to .

Your last paragraph could happen but the first paragraph , the Russian tale has many chapters to come and once the Russian people know the truth about recent events , including sanctions that will effect them , they may oppose their government and seek a change in the way their country is run and review the ways of communism which is isolating their country .

By the time Ukraine has finished with Russia there will be little to fear from Russia and in any case any war with Russia would be based on ballistic missiles launched from nuclear submarines . The UK withdrawal from NATO should have happened at the same time as Brexit .

Not a rant , it is in response to the previous post . I think you are out of your depth .

US $ were never mentioned by them but I did and they said only 1800 Thai baht

Correct , it should be $30 ( 1040 baht ) in Cambodia but recently both I an others have been hit with 1800 baht ( $51 ) at the Chong Chom border . I remember 4 or 5 years ago they would impose a surcharge if you were on a same day exit and not staying overnight , as was my case recently , as I only go for day visits .

This year there have been 41,000 illegal entrants to the UK via France , in small boats . You call that competence by the French police ? Brexit was not a government action it was the result of a referendum from the British public who had enough of E.U. ruling and the massive influx of foreigners . Just to rub salt in the wounds , the interrupted vaccine to the UK by the E.U. was never used because of Macrons view that it was unsuitable . Free movement of labour from the E.U. will never happen again . It is one of the reasons that people voted for Brexit as the UK was flooded with foreigners , some of whom were not lawful abiding . Finally , what is the point of NATO membership when they cannot respond to Russian aggression which was the reason for its formation but instead the NATO countries are acting on a singular basis and the UK at the forefront of Ukraine support , having spent over £3 billion , to not only support Ukraine but stop the threat of Russian advances into Europe and at the same time the NATO members / E.U. are stabbing the UK in the back .

A family could be 3 4 5 6 people ?

Can I remind all that the topic is not solely about Brexit . There is animosity from the E.U. along with a bitterness because of Brexit . Remember the diversion of the A-Z covid vaccine from Belgium intended for the UK ? The " turning of a blind eye " by the French police on rubber dinghy asylum seekers leaving their shores for the UK ? Of course Brexit has had an effect on the British economy but nowhere near the problems caused by the Russia/ Ukraine war . The Irish protocol etc . There will be a new trade deal with the UK and the E.U. and with the end of the Ukraine war , there will be a return to some sort of normality . The labour shortage in the UK cannot be resolved easily by foreign labour because the rates of pay are not high enough . In fact , UK companies who have tendered for contracts and won them have only themselves to blame if sufficient labour is not available because when putting together an estimate , procurement of materials and labour are the main consideration . Sorry to digress but the UK military are heavily involved in aiding the Ukraine in defeating Russia along with other NATO countries

Can you imagine if the I.O. challenged every incoming visitor for the 20k baht , what would happen ? there would no doubt be many returnees . How does it pan out for a family ? does everyone have to carry the 20k baht ? I have often arrived with next to no baht ( when flying at short notice ) but have used the airport ATM for small amounts and then later when away from the airport use the banks ATMs . At the departure airport ( normally Heathrow ) the only question they have asked is to enquire about my visa because I am on a one way flight . Then I point out that I have a 1 year visa . I have never been asked to show 20k baht . The departure airport staff have to ensure that I have compliance to enter the destination country or if I am denied because of failure to abide by their entry rules , the flight company are obliged to return me to my point of departure for free . Proof of finances should suffice in this increasing cashless world .

Number 1) , what is an exit ticket ? Air Asia in Hong Kong checked his passport and were aware of the visa exempt rule in Thailand which should have allowed him entry , however they never checked that he was carrying the 20k baht . When entry was refused the I.O. had words with the Air Asia desk telling them that they must return him free of charge . My friend had also lost his follow on flight to Buriram . A/A refused to compensate for the Buriram flight . So in total new flights from H/K and on to Buriram had to be paid for , all because of an over exuberant I.O. Have to say that my friend had done the same trip many times and did not expect any problems .

I have heard about the 20k rule before but not a hotel booking . Today many people do not carry too much cash and many use their bank cards instead . As I said before , my pal has good money and a top job in Hong Kong . If he was allowed , my friend could have raised the cash from an airport ATM but he was not allowed . How xxxxxxx stupid is that by the I.O.