FlyingThai

41 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

They have a valid permission to stay from the Thai government, which may be extended further. Why should they leave a safe place and take the risk of getting infected?

Everything in life has a risk. I dare to say that the average foreigner in Thailand roaming around on a motor scooter (without helmet) is in greater risk of dying or being involved in a serious accident than returning to his clean, western home country during C-19 times.

People should get their head a shake, To suggest that it's unsafe to return to Australia, Germany, UK or U.S. is absolutely laughable. People have been using this Amnesty to make their previous 6 months more comfortable, nothing wrong with that. I don't see a problem for people to stay until the amnesty expires but let's call a spade a spade: This has nothing to do with safety and comfort matters aren't a basis to circumvent the immigration law.

2 minutes ago, PatrickC said:

 

Precisely this. The "we want to stay here and keep breaking the law brigade because Pattaya can not survive without us" will attack you now.

I can handle it. Bring 'em on! ????

Depends how much stuff you have, what these items are and how fast you need them.

Is it possible to transport them in passenger baggage in either 1,2,3 tranches/passengers?

Here is the link directly from Thai Customs. You mentioned "your new residence", what visa are you using to stay in Thailand? Check if that makes you an official resident in Thailand or just a visitor on extended stay.

As far as restrictions go that affect safety measures you should contact a logistics company that handles the container shipment.

I'd do the math carefully if it's worth it to move any type of furniture etc to Thailand. You might run into an issue with art and jewelry (diamonds, gold, watches) when it comes to customs.

1 hour ago, Zikomat said:

This is an obvious misinformation. What about previous amnesty? Those who left thinking it will not be prolonged made a big mistake (in case they wanted to stay longer). Anybody who wants to stay in Thailand for some more time should, at least, wait for an official announcement regarding what happens after 26 of September. 

Let me tell you what disinformation is:

Telling people to wait out until 10 days before an official government deadline expires and then possibly facing flight fares that are thousand of $ one way. Then you can hear all these deadbeats crying again how they can't afford to go home. Booohooo!

Again, you have no right to remain in this country without a proper long term visa. I think you misunderstand the legal definition of the term amnesty. It's not a title that permits you to stay indefinitely. An amnesty is tantamount to a pardon in the legal sense. Those who currently remain in Thailand after their stay permit expired are technically in breach of immigration regulations (the law). The amnesty only shields them from prosecution.

30 minutes ago, PatrickC said:

 

Also important in this argument is that these illegal "tourists" will not have proper medical insurance here, so if something happens to them they will burden the hospital system. It is right and proper that they leave Thailand now before they create a problem for the country.

 

Any medical costs would far outweigh the tiny amount of Baht they contribute.

I wouldn't go that far. Plenty if not most of those currently staying under the visa amnesty have either a proper travel insurance or the means to afford their procedures to be paid in cash.

There is no increased excessive risk of default payments than in the past when there were millions of tourists in the country, some of which indeed didn't pay. Most of the truly destitute individuals however have already been washed out by the general panic and "come back home" calls of their embassies.

And in regards to these defaults on medical bills I'd argue that the hospitals rip off most if not all foreigners who come in for treatments and procedures. Even the best private hospitals in Bangkok have dual pricing for Thai/Foreigner unless you slap them with a local insurance card where everything will be billed directly. Their scam pricing more than pays for those few people who slip away without paying.

1 hour ago, wasabi said:

One thing that is interesting from the flow chart above is - at least for the time being - health insurance is now required for Thai Elite members entering Thailand whereas it never was before. While health insurance is wise to have as an Elite member I do not want to have to go through the additional logistics of proving I have said insurance to enter Thailand. Ideally this requirement drops off once the Covid quarantine goes away too. For reasons such as this I have no intention of leaving Thailand until this pandemic is over which I understand could still be years away.

What logistics are you referring to? My insurance sent me the letter on the same business day.

Or don't you have insurance at all right now?

21 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

I tried to get a flight refund from an Australian Visa card. They said they do not contest flight purchases during Covid.

File a complaint with the Financial Regulator in Australia and Consumer Protection. They will set the bank straight because you're covered under the cardholder agreement.

Aetna Platinum 5 Mio THB Coverage (worldwide except USA) without deductible.

You can pick between OPD and IPD combinations.

A lot will depend on your age and pre-existing conditions. Even Diabetes is a big no go for many insurances here.

I honestly don't get posts such as the OP.

It was well documented here and elsewhere that Thailand Elite won't give you immediate entry to Thailand and at least since their last announcement it has been suggested that it's for existing VISA (not membership) holders only. The visa can only be affixed in Thailand.

Who would pay 500k Baht before all of this is sorted?? Why???

For what did you send the passport out of the country? To renew it because it was full?

1 hour ago, azaazo9 said:

Yes, but you have to spend a month qarantine, two weeks in Singapore, and two weeks in Thailand. Also this option is very expensive.

Why would you need to serve a quarantine period in Singapore? Applying for the visa in Singapore means you're already there because you can't enter unless you're a resident. And nobody would be as insane to leave SG and then coming back, even if permitted by the government.

11 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Meh.

 

I haven't seen any credit card companies processing chargebacks for TG tickets. Chargeback is different from a refund --> credit.

 

 

 

Amex refunded me all my TG tickets and that decision is now final. Took 60 days for everything to clear through various stages of the chargeback process. My Amex card is issued in the U.S.

I heard Grace from TVC is "free" again and ready for service. ????

Kidding aside, not sure if a lawyer can really do a lot more here than an agent.

Worst case an agent can bribe you out of the situation you're in [and passes the fee on to the customer]. Something a legitimate lawyer isn't going to do.

The school can apply for the visa change now since there have been modifications made to the regulation. The HR department should know this if the school is any good.

9 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

You cannot use existing Thai Airways credit to purchase a seat. They are over subscribed at present but may not be fully booked at the end I don't know. Return from BKK via Singapore is now possible however this looks sold out already for September and maybe October, however is flying to all the majors except Melbourne.

You can use existing credit / tickets to be rebooked on these flights. Thai Airways has even written so on their website for the previous flights to London and Frankfurt.

1 hour ago, merijn said:

Thai Also cancelled my domestic flight for 30 October.

Highly doubt if i will see the money ever back.

This is my second Thai cancellation for which i'm still waiting for the refund.

What route? They can rebook you on Thai Smile.

2 hours ago, dbrenn said:

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-looking-at-options-to-help-australians-stranded-overseas-20200821-p55o4g.html

I don't get their approach about this. 18,800 Australians are currently abroad and want to go back. Australia can currently handle 4000 a week (IF there are flights) per quota. The issue would regulate itself in 4-5 weeks.

And then there is the question: Why now? The pandemic has been going on for 6 months and now these remaining 19k people all of a sudden want to go home?

I'd also think twice about going back to Australia where the government is one of the most extreme when it comes to Covid measures and is planning to lock their citizens in for the foreseeable future. That would be my very last choice.

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

There's no mention of the period of insurance required.

I would suggest checking with Thailand Elite to see what they say about this.

 

The pdf makes no sense. How can you provide a fit for fly at the time you apply for the COE. It says "issued 72 hours before departure" but the application has to be lodged well in advance. Then this appears again on the list of documents that you have to present at the airport.

Yet another document that was put together by someone who doesn't have a brain.

1 hour ago, HerewardtheWake said:

One bit of good news about the Elite appears to be  that apart from the health insurance requirement now needed for entry, subsequent renewals don't call for health insurance. Obtaining health insurance when one is over 75 is a problem, so for such people Elite may be a solution.

Is it really a wise thing to stay in Thailand as a senior (anyone really) and NOT have health insurance?

I couldn't sleep properly in such a situation. I'm 36 now and health insurance was the first thing I got when I moved to Thailand back in 2013. Too many horror stories of people ending up destitute after being ripped off and most importantly not being treated immediately until payment is secured. Sure if you're wealthy enough that you can say worst case I pay $100k out of pocket that's fine.

The renewals don't require the insurance but I'd say each entry for the foreseeable future does and the discussion about mandatory insurance for foreigners was already discussed in the last few years before Covid was even an issue.

5 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Well, that you have booking with them but due to their own incompetence you're not able to leave the country

You don't need a letter for that. Usually you get a cancellation email and the cover letter from the bankruptcy court is sufficient for American Express to run the chargeback.

At the moment I don't even think it has much to do with incompetence but that there is no point operating any flights. They would just continue to burn money.

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Can you get Thai Airways to write you a letter? Technically they're mostly owned by Thai government (Finance Ministry)!

A letter regarding what? They recent sent a huge pdf file with bankruptcy court documents to all customers.