Bert Jones

The Thai government debt is negligible and they have huge reserves of foreign currency  to hedge against a falling baht. Thailand is in a very strong position, but this does not flow down to the poor who benefit little from tourism or a strong baht. Inflation is low and that keeps wages low. The fiscal policies are working for now.

I wear a mask indoors as well as outside. My PM2.5 has a reading of 195 indoors...220 outdoors. WHO states up to 25 is a safe level, anything above is unhealthy. I have an air purifier in the bedroom...works wonders for my breathing...this air will shorten life expectancy - fact. Invest in an air purifier. 

Hope I'm not being cheeky Jack, could you post back what you find out please.

And boy do we need it.

http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/chiang-rai-hospital/

Can I please ask...what interest rate do you get on the FCD account at BKK bank?

We haven't seen any concern from the FX markets as yet, the market will judge the new coalition in due course. I selfishly hope the baht will weaken.

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

250 hotspots. Insane.

 

I guess I'm "making lemonade" with my disappointment with the Thai smog.

 

5 or 6 months in Chiang Mai, 7 or 6 months in perhaps Eastern Europe where I've never been, or a few countries possible in Western Europe - I'm looking forward now to half a year of exploring every year.

You may want to look at Batumi in Georgia. Cheaper than Thailand, excellent air quality and 1 year VOA for most...food is fabulous and wine excellent and cheap.

Thank you very much Joe. I'll just buy a single then. Cheers Joe.

I don't want to start a new thread...so I'm just asking a quickie on this one.

I have a 1 year extension to stay based on retirement. 

It expires in July and I would need to renew it.

If today I buy a multi entry permit for 3900baht, does it last me 1 year from today or does it expire in July along with my current extension ?

"You mean something like a check-box asking... 'Is your Visa Status Sufficient?' or something more detailed?"

Exactly. Just a check box, this would ensure compliance. If I booked 2 singles...one out of BKK and then one back in to BKK, this situation doesn't arise.

We'll have to agree to disagree...recap - I booked a return flight with BA from BKK to Heathrow. Even without any visa, I would expect re-entry into Thailand on VOA or visa exempt or whatever...BA's online booking site should flag any issues at point of booking, not at the point of returning.

Customers are not necessarily clued up on the requirements of IO's in various countries. Airlines seemingly are as it's their duty and responsibility. It wouldn't do any harm to make customers aware of rules at the point of sale., rather than spring it on them when checking-in for the return leg.  IMO.

Airlines are quite happy to take your money at the time of booking. There should be a tick box asking if you have a valid permit/visa to return to said country, the onus should be on the airline at point of booking flights. Refusing return travel at the point of check-in is not on! ...and I'm pretty sure they won't refund you.

"You were really SCRAPING the bottom of the barrel,There Mate ..."

Nothing ventured, nothing...

On the plus side, my GF and I could get 1 year entry, no visa. The food is fabulous and very cheap. If you're an alcoholic, it's paradise, delicious red wine is just £3 a bottle, 5 year aged brandy wine just £7. A meal for 2, 6 beers and a brandy just £11.50 in a nice restaurant. Bus fare 15p. Really good tasty bread and high quality cakes. Cabs just £2.

Just a shame about the unhappy miserable souls that live there! 

Oh, and if you think the driving is bad in Thailand, Georgians think they're all in a formula 1 race...lunatics! and not once did a driver stop for us at a zebra crossing. Nasty buggers! ????

I'm now a little confused about VOA! What's the difference between 'visa exempt' and VOA? according to wiki UK citizens don't need a visa and are permitted to stay for 30 days.

hTtps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_British_citizens

Thank you very much for the prompt responses.

This sentence seems to answer this issue..."Airlines are responsible for your return should you not be permitted entry - this is why they need to ensure that you either have a valid visa or are holding an onward or return ticket"

I didn't realise this. 

I'm getting very negative in my old age and assume the worst of people...

Thanks again Guys.

I am retired in Thailand with a retirement/extension visa stamped in my passport.

I booked a return ticket to the UK with British Airways. This was 3 years ago.

When checking in at the BA desk at Heathrow for the return flight, I was informed by the check-in clerk, I wouldn’t be allowed to take the flight as it was against the ‘rules’. It was only by showing the clerk my retirement visa stamp with the date stamped in my passport, that I was permitted. I didn’t want to hold up the queue so didn’t protest too much, other than state I could have obtained a VOA at Thai immigration, to which the clerk replied she was only following procedure...didn’t think too much of it and have flown back to the UK since and not had this issue.

I booked a flight to Georgia (Europe) with Ukraine airlines recently from BKK. When checking in for the return flight, I was informed by the clerk that ‘it was not possible’ and again, only by showing them my passport retirement stamp, would they print my boarding pass and allow me to take the flight.. Again, I pointed out that I could always get a VOA from Thai immigration but they didn’t agree with me.

What is going on here?? I had a similar issue about a year ago travelling to Penang from Phuket, the airline tried to insist I bought a return ticket back to Thailand as my Thai GF would be refused entry. I refused stating that it was an issue for me not them … They seemed somewhat perturbed, but relented.

I suspect this is some sort of ‘up sell’ or does anyone have a more plausible explanation ?

Thanks Joe.

That's very interesting to know 007, thanks for posting. I would imagine the system software can also match dual passport holders, so not much point switching between the 2. For example, if you travel to Israel on one passport then to an Arab country on a different passport...the Arab immigration would know...or would it? are the databases linked by country?

Many thanks again Joe. 

I'll probably go for the multi on exit, as I'm sure there'll be another trip at some point. 

Has anyone noticed a big slow down in the performance of this web site? slow servers? poor bandwidth from ISP to servers? Thaivisa not paid the bill perhaps?

Just another quickie,

If I fly from Chiang Mai to HK, then re-enter at BKK to fly to Penang (transfer only) then come back to BKK, then onto Burriam...is that just a single entry? 

Ah, good to know - thanks Justin.

Does anyone know if it is possible to obtain a multi entry permit at the airport as well ? 

If so, do all 'international' airports in Thailand offer this ?

Or is it easier to just get it from IO?