richard_smith237

As soon as 'anything international' is mentioned, they want to charge a surplus. Wife was treated at Bangkok Hospital last year - she was given an 'expected bill' of about 50,000 baht for pre-authorisation. She showed her insurance card, the bill was then increased to about 65,000 baht after being told its a different price for international insurance.

Yes, I have a local bank account and do transfer money to it for just under 1%. My wife uses her phone to pay for everything - maybe I need to start doing the same for large purchases. otherwise I am fine for cash up to around 30,000 baht. One more option, slightly drifting off topic, nevertheless useful (as the discussion is about making large payments in Thailand). It's difficult for us foreigners to get and unsecured Thai Credit card. However, you can become a second card holder on your Wife's Credit Card account. This means you are not stiffed on overseas exchange rates with your overseas card (if wishing to use a Credit Card to make payment) Obviously, that's only if vendor is not charging the 3% surcharge for Credit Cards (most hospitals that I know of don't, in Bangkok anyway (Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad etc). Also, depending on the type of Credit Card you can accrue points and get discounts, air-miles etc.

You lost paid for seat bookings ? You lost free seat bookings ? Did they transfer the seat booking for a like for like on the new plane (layout)? Can you easily re-book your seats ? (for free ?).

ah.... Devilish... that stereotypically 'Thai restaurant' at Udom Suk. I do wonder the reading age of some posters !!!... Question: Can you recommend a good knee Hospital in Bangkok ? Answer: Tong's Dentist is Khon Kaen is excellet.

Niether... Open a local Bank Account and transfer money to that from overseas. Make local payment digitally via mBanking transfer to avoid any 3% Mastercard or Visa charges.

Wrong. Cell network can be on, but cellular data/mobile broadband should be switched off. On some networks it can be wise to disable voicemail. Receiving SMS doesn’t cost anything in Europe nor the U.K. If your 'cell network' remains on (i.e. while roaming you are connected to a local network) you will pay to receive calls over that network. The simplest and most foolproof option: 1) Enable WiFi calling. 2) Keep the SIM in your phone but use Airplane mode (connect to Wifi). It a very simple, very easy no brainer which doesn't involve messing around with phone and network settings to turn off data roaming / disable voicemail etc...

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No such option on my Poco X3 NFC with Android 11 Try this... (below) You should be able to test if Wifi calling is working on your phone by putting your phone in Airplane mode (while connected to the Wifi) and seeing if you receive calls and SMS via Wifi. https://www.quora.com/Does-Xiaomi-poco-x3-support-wifi-calling

Secular idealism.... what ever happened to simple inclusiveness ? Does it matter if students know what religion another is by looking at them ? Within a day or two of the first day of school all students will know what religion the others are anyway. This is creating tension where none is necessary.

OP... Answers: Sabai-Jai-Gai-Yang (on Ekammai) - inexpensive, good quality food (well above the level of many other Thai restaurants with better ingredients and meat). Ton Krueng (far, north end of Sukhmivt 49) - mid range, good quality food, perhaps slightly higher end than most Thai restaurants *(used to be on Thonglor 13 and had a more authentic feel, now its in a fairly modern house).

Nothing. It costs nothing. International Roaming always costs money if you keep your phone connected (cell network on), you pay to receive calls and use data.

No, you have described the WiFi Calling function. Receiving SMS costs nothing in Europe and the U.K. the normal way. Wifi calling function enables the receipt of SMS over Wifi while the phone is not connected to a cell service. If a person is overseas with their Thai phone and they don't want to use International roaming they have to ensure their cell connection is turned off (i.e. Airplane mode enabled). But, in Airplane mode they will not receive SMS' or Calls over Wifi unless Wifi calling is enabled (and the phone is connected to the internet of course, with the original SIM installed). IF you take out your SIM you will not receive SMS or Wifi calls. IF you turn off Airplane mode and leave your phone connected to the cell network you will encounter roaming charges - you may receive SMS' for free, but you will also likely encounter data charges and charges for receiving any calls. Argue away if you like... I do this at least 10's time per year (throughout Europe, Middle East and much of Asia pacific). I find that having two phones to be the best option depending on duration of travel and location. Phone A) - Thai Phone (SIM) (in Airplane mode) - connected to Hotspot of Phone B, and to Wifi where ever possible. Phone B) - Local SIM (for which ever country I'm in) - data package with hotspot enabled.

How do you enable wifi calling on your phone? Mine is android 10 OS? https://support.google.com/phoneapp/answer/2811843?hl=en

How much do you pay for roaming ???

That’s ridiculous. There are no costs associated with receiving SMS in Europe when utilising a Thai SIM via International Roaming. WiFi Calling can be useful in it’s own right, but absolutely not necessary unless one lives in an area with no mobile phone signal. I know you love arguing with me.. However, what I have described is exactly how it works.

So why are you commenting if you are not interested in the discussion ??? What are you doing on this forum if you consider this not a 'fruitful use of your time' ??? I'm off to play football, not sure if thats fruitful enough for you - will you still be here on this forum ? (nothing wrong with that IMO - but you seem to consider it a waste of your time... perhaps it is, nevertheless IMO an enjoyable 'waste of time'... time killer of whatever you wish to call it, just like watching a movie etc).

Not if you get things set up correctly. 1) Enable WiFi calling. 2) Keep the SIM in your phone but use Airplane mode (connect to Wifi). You can receive SMS OTP from your Thai Banks Credit cards etc (as you would in Thailand). IF you put in a local SIM (not your Thai number), then you will not receive Wifi Calling or SMS's.

I haven't put this together - this was put together by Thai's who have read the various comments from both the passenger and the influencer. This was not a problem and another male passenger (friend) who was initially behind the 1st (male) cabin-crew helped out - there was no issue, conflict or debate at this time apparently. The other 'cabin-crew' was nearby, overheard the request and made the decision to pass comment to the female passenger as the male passenger was assisting. (as per Thai social media anyway). Why did the 2nd flight attendant feel the need to comment ?... I've no idea. But, it seems her comment was the trigger point. Perhaps, as you mention the crew were already under verbal attack from the group and she felt obliged to defend her colleagues. If so, the discussed 'order' of events is not quite as it is described on Thai social media. Apparent (as per Thai social media - passenger and influencer) nothing kicked off until the 2nd flight attendant spoke with the female, telling her she should have checked her baggage. No idea... I suspect it was because the group were fairly loud upon boarding and she (2nd F.A.) took affront to these bogans 'who didn't know how to travel'. I certainly feel like that sometimes when travelling... "I wish someone would teach these loud uncivilised pests how to travel".... So I can understand less than favourable treatment and a certain snotty attitude towards them. Quite possibly... she complained and the (passengers male friend) complained and then the 2nd F.A. stepped in... but that is not the order of events that have been reported on Thai social media. I'm interested in the anatomy of how this got out of hand and wish to look at events through the eyes of balance, neither bias towards either party. - I'm certain the passengers behaved horrifically and they are ultimately fully responsible for events. - I believe the flight attendant (2nd) could have allowed the situation to de-escalate by simply not getting involved or passing comment. - It would appear (from comments on Thai social media) that the 2nd Flight Attendant responded to a verbal escalation triggering further fall out. No desperation on my part, but an interest and curiosity which I have the time to tickle and discuss. I have been on the wrong end of a very snotty flight attendant, I de-escalated by not responding and instead choosing to make a complaint to the purser. The group could easily have behaved the same and simply ignored any response they considered unfavourable, so I'm wholly against the group for their part in their escalation and atrocious behavior. I am also highly sympathetic towards anyone who has to regularly deal with the public as they have to face all sorts, however, they cabin-crew are supposed to be trained professionals. I'm not as sure as others that these flight attendants (specifically the 2nd) was a beacon of professionalism, instead is seems she may well have actually triggered a conflict, not so much by the specific wording of what she said, but the condescending tone with which she said it.

Theoretically, there shouldn't be anything on a driving license - being an organ donor should be assumed for any death unless there has been official notification otherwise.... ... in an ideal world of course. In the UK, the wish to become an organ donor in the event of ones demise used to be stated on the Driving Licence. However, the UK now employs an 'opt out' system whereby all adults are considered to have agreed to be an organ donor unless they have recorded a decision not to be. Thailand would to well to use the very same system - Of course, this requires consideration from those in positions of decision making power and these people don't even care enough to do much about the horrific road fatality stats, so one has to question why they'd be bothered about something as important is being an organ donor - I very much doubt any such consideration or thought has crossed their mind [of those in decision making power] even once. Thus: The best option to go ahead with would be ensure that loved ones are well aware of any such wishes.

Airlines have minimum & maximum physical requirement for cabin-crew - there is a minimum heigh, so the F.A. was certainly not too short to reach the overhead bins. But that wasn't the issue or the real trigger point (see below). Not fit for duty then... (but again, thats not the issue). Not in the correct mental space for working in a service based industry (perhaps this was a contributory factor - tired crew ?). Agreed... and any unruly passenger needs to get kicked off a flight - this group we're certainly deserving of this reaction from the airline - I'd hope they receive a travel ban too. Did the eye witness see the buildup or overhear the comments? The 'influence' clearly saw the aftermath, I'm wondering exactly how much of the buildup was witnessed? According to information on Thai social media sites where this issue is also being discussed and there has been contribution from both passenger's and 'influencer'. Apparent events: - The group were loud while boarding (16 pax - this is perhaps not uncommon for large groups to be noisier but may have irritated the cabin-crew). - The female passenger (petite at 43kgs) walked down the aisle followed directly by a male flight attendant who was then followed by one of the passengers male friends (and more behind him). - The female passenger (43kgs) asked the F.A. if he could help her with the luggage (as he was directly behind her), the F.A. said he couldn't. - The Male passenger (friend) helped put the 7kg carryon in the overhead bin. - It was while the male passenger was putting his friends baggage in the overhead bin another (2nd) flight attendant (female) approached and told the passengers (female and male helping her) that if she [the female passenger] can't put her bag in the overhead bin herself, she should have checked it in (apparently in a condescending tone). - This is apparently when the male passenger responded (with bad language) to the female passenger about how terrible the service was (this was loud enough for the F.A. to hear). - Verbal exchanges ensued which escalated with the passengers becoming more and more angry until one of them was ejected from the flight (there is a sound recording of this), the other 15 from the group opted to deplane and were highly vocal and verbally abusive while doing so. Thus it appears that: - The 1st F.A. said he couldn't help with the baggage (no problems at this point). - A male friend helped with baggage (no problems at this point). - A 2nd flight attendant got involved and passed comment and triggering an argument. The whole situation could have been avoided if: - The 2nd F.A. did make an unnecessary and triggering comment (there was no need for her to get involved at this stage (apparently). - The male passenger didn't verbally retaliate with an insult the cabin crew could (deliberately overhear. This is what I piece together from the Thai forums which really have gone into the nuts and bolts of this issue - many supporting the airline and flight attendants because of the atrocious behavior of the group of 16, and others concentrating on the events which 'triggered' this incident. It seems the 'asking for assistance' part of the issue is somewhat of a red-herring, as neither passenger or 1st F.A. was upset at this point, the F.A. simply said he is unable to assist and another male passenger (friend) helped... it was only after this that further comments from another flight attendant triggered an impolite response from one of the passengers.

Because generally you are when it comes to Tuk-Tuks. There's no need at all to use Tuk-Tuks in Bangkok when there are so many flag-fall Taxi's available and Bolt & Grab Apps. Tuk-Tuks have always been more expensive than regular taxi's... As mentioned, they're a novelty for tourists. Also, as Neeranam mentioned, negotiate effectively highlighting that you are not a tourist and a better price may be offered, but really, why bother at all when you can sit in AC ?? I recall walking out of Siam Square (at road level can't remember why) and the Tuk-Tuk driver spoke to my Wife and I (well, he said "Tuk-Tuk ??"). I figured I'd play along, asked how much to Central World, 60 baht... OK - a Taxi would have been about 40-50 baht, so we took the Tuk-Tuk. In Hua Hun the Tuk-Tuks (4 wheeled variety) are more useful as they offer competitive pricing with taxi's.

… it’s probably time to ease off the booze for the night…

sh!tty mechanic ?

No it doesn't... the passengers explanation smacks of her 'surprise' that her request for assistance was refused in a manner she claims was rude. I think the F.A. handled the situation poorly and was too happy to allow the situation to escalate, which is unprofessional. I also think others in the party should not have got involved and escalated the situation. Both parties had ample opportunity to defuse the situation, both parties were well placed for there not to be any escalation in the first place. Unless of course the passenger went from 'asking for help' to nuclear in a moment, in which case there is nothing the F.A. could have done... but it doesn't seem that way.

I think most people care... ... They care to be treated respectfully and with a degree of professionalism... Answering 'cannot' is neither respectful or professional. I'm quite sure an F.A's training specifically handles such situations and I'm quite sure the training does not involve the response 'cannot'.... These 'professionals' are trained to communicate with a higher level of respectfulness than you are perhaps familiar with in the beer-bar.