Mike Teavee

2 hours ago, BadSpottedDog said:

Yep. I saw that. Our current visa is good for almost a year now. While this might be impossible, I'm pretty darned determined. But ok if it doesn't work ... at least worth a try though. Thanks

Apologies if you've already covered this, but why do you want PR?

If it's so you can work, then either get a job or set-up your own company, If your skills are in demand then neither should be difficult to do, if they're not then they would seem to be irrelevant no matter how experienced you are.

If it's so you can feel more secure about being able to stay in Thailand, simply get a 20 year (1 Million THB) Elite Visa

15 hours ago, beano2274 said:

my wife and daughter are also stuck in Thailand, they had a return on 23rd March via Singapore, but by then Singapore had already cancelled the flights to Europe, she was informed she could still fly to Singapore from Bangkok but does not help anyone. We have agreed that she should now stay until end of April at the earliest, but this is also dependant on flights back to Germany.

Current SG guidance is only citizens, PRs & LTPs in essential roles (need permission from MoM) can fly into Singapore whether entering the country or transiting

UK Gov is working to get agreement with SG about getting UK citizens back home (albeit this seems to be more focused around people returning from Aus & NZ than Thailand) so would strongly recommend you wait until you can get a through flight home before thinking of heading to SG 

Edit: Apologies I have just noticed you're family are flying back to Germany, cannot comment on arrangements made by your government with Singapore but as things stand nobody is able to fly into there unless Citizens, PRs or Long Term Pass holders in essential roles. 

22 hours ago, puchooay said:

don;t think a huge company like Emirates would simply make a decision to close down for 2 weeks

The decision to have a 2 week close down was made by the UAE government hence it also impacts Etihad (Abu Dhabi), the rest of the cancellations are for commercial reasons.

E.g. Singapore will only allow Singaporean citizens, PRs & Long Term Pass holders in essential services to enter or transit in Singapore so the Emirates flights from places like Sydney/Melbourne etc... to SIN are empty & not commercially viable to operate. 

3 hours ago, daveyboy69 said:

yes lot of us in same boat.where did you read that emirates stop flights till end of June thanks

UAE has suspended all flights (Emirates & Etihad) for 2 weeks.

Emirates has suspended approx 70% of flights for longer than the 2 weeks 

https://www.timeoutdubai.com/travel/437235-dubais-emirates-airlines-temporarily-suspends-flights-to-more-than-100-destinations

Not sure where you're flying to/from but here are the European ones (Other countries can be found in the link)

Europe

• Athens: From 23 March to 30 June
• Barcelona: From 20 March to 20 May
• Bologna: From 13 March to 20 May
• Brussels: From 26 March to 30 June
• Budapest: From 13 March to 20 May
• Düsseldorf: From 23 March to until further notice
• Edinburgh: From 25 March to 30 June
• Frankfurt: From 23 March to until further notice
• Geneva: From 23 March to 30 June
• Hamburg: From 23 March to until further notice
• Istanbul (IST): From 17 March to 20 May
• Istanbul (SAW): From 17 March to 20 May
• Larnaca: From 17 March to 20 May
• Lisbon: From 19 March to 30 April
• London Stansted: From 25 March to 30 June
• Lyon: From 23 March to until further notice
• Madrid: From 18 March to 20 May
• Malta (via Larnaca): From 17 March to 20 May
• Milan: From 13 March to 20 May
• Moscow: From 30 March to 30 June
• Munich: From 23 March to until further notice
• Newcastle: From 25 March to 30 June
• Nice: From 23 March until further notice
• Oslo: From 28 March to 30 June
• Paris: From 23 March until further notice
• Porto: From 17 March to 20 May
• Prague: From 25 March – 30 June
• Rome: From 14 March to 20 May
• Saint Petersburg: From 30 March to 30 June
• Stockholm: From 26 March to 30 June
• Venice: From 12 March to 20 May
• Vienna: From 23 March to 30 June
• Warsaw: From 15 March to 20 May

3 hours ago, daveyboy69 said:

the 6k tickets are in 1st class or business.because com sold out.

When I checked BKK-MAN with Qatar in Economy was 180K (One way) which is > £4,500 but have just checked and you can now get them for 78K (>£2,000).

SIA + BA is showing availability at 38K, (currently) cannot transit in SIN

Cathay + Aer Lingus is showing at 40K, cannot transit in HKG

China+KLM is showing at 50K, not sure about whether you can transit in TPE
 

On 3/25/2020 at 12:12 AM, CharlieH said:

From that minister I referred to earlier....

 

"I spoke to the Singaporean Foreign Minister this morning and we have agreed to work together to help those stranded to get back to the UK"

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/coronavirus-covid-19-foreign-secretarys-statement-on-support-for-british-people-abroad

 

 

In typical UK Politician style, Raab was more than a little premature when he said things have been "Agreed" with SIngapore Government... 

British Airways flights to London that go via Singapore are currently only allowing Singaporean citizens on board - so planes are leaving Australia almost empty. The UK's High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadall says they are "close" to getting a solution and that UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has been talking to his counterpart in Singapore.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-52044452

[Scroll 1/2 way down or search for "Flights for stranded Brits 'hugely expensive'"

Article also confirms flight prices are crazy... 

Today Qatar Airways has added extra flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth via Doha. There are complaints tickets are too expensive – more than A$12,000 (£6,000) one way. We've had a quick look and that seems to be the case for the next week or so.

But prices drop to about A$3,000 (£1,500) from 4 April. Some will have to sit it out a little longer but several travellers tell us they have run out of funds and can’t find work. Others fear their visas expiring and being "illegal".

Blacklist S7 has resumed... 

2 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Emirates is suspending all passenger flights as of Wednesday

They’ve backtracked & are still providing limited number of flights 

“Having receiving requests from governments and customers to support the repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to the following countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand: the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, USA, and Canada,” a company statement said Sunday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/22/emirates-airline-to-suspend-all-passenger-operations-by-march-25.html

7 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

A lot of places were closed in Lamai & seems to be starting to happen in Chaweng 

 

Most massage parlors seem to be closed until the end of the month 

In islander in Chaweng & no alcohol until 12th April (still selling food though) Irish bar next door is closed... 

hopefully be able to get a beer at Ark Bar 

On 3/20/2020 at 1:57 PM, Millcx said:

Bit like the Bar Closures on Samui ... Pointless

ALL resturants are now packed ( Minimal Food making the virus easier to catch)..... and bars turning off lights and no music .... it’s a better comedy show than the Goons ever was lol

A lot of places were closed in Lamai & seems to be starting to happen in Chaweng 

Most massage parlors seem to be closed until the end of the month 

10 hours ago, Wilsonandson said:

Thanks, I'm going to give that a try. Beg for an extension. Wish me luck.

Good luck, there is a thread on here about Thailand taking action on extensions for people who are unable to travel back to their home country so hopefully you’ll get some form of extension to tide you over.

you mention you were planning to go to Laos for your border hop, I’m sure I read on here that Laos has suspended visitor Visas so best to check & have a plan B (Malaysia & Vietnam would seem to be closed but Myanmar or Cambodia might be an option) 

Good Luck, hope everything works out for you ????????

11 hours ago, smedly said:

my understanding is that medical insurance now excludes COVID-19

Exactly... Plus people are being urged to only visit their GP if it’s an emergency & “I want to go on holiday to Thailand” doesn’t really count as an emergency

IMHO its socially irresponsible to take up Medical professionals time to get these certificate so governments should ban all but essential travel to Thailand to prevent people wasting valuable resources time. 
 

23 hours ago, xylophone said:

Watched "The Postcard killings" and thought it was good, with a couple twists which I didn't see coming.

 

Also cannot understand why quite a few downloads have subtitles (not srt) in them which describe "door opens" or "background music" and so on. IMO very annoying, however if I play them through my computer using VLC I can disable them........but would rather not. Any ideas on how to get rid of them as nothing in the download states subs.

They’re not (just) Subtitles, they’re CC (Closed Caption) so people who are hard of hearing/Deaf can enjoy the movie/show to

figure you coffin dodgers would appreciate the extra help ????????

[Joke ????]

Looks like it’s going to be 12 weeks self isolation forat risk individuals... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51920444

11 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I am headed to Bangkok! Sounds like an utterly delightful week, to spend time there.

Supposed to be heading back to Bangkok next Monday after a 3 week tour around the islands but my mate is saying the local supermarket (On Nut Lotus/Tops) are rammed & starting to see empty shelves.

Will see if I can arrange online delivery for the day after I’m due to get back, if not just take my time & meander from Koh Samui across to Surat Thani then up the Coast stopping at places on the way.

2 hours ago, mrfill said:

Nothing to do with the moon. It used to be on March 1st in Roman times. That's why October suggests eighth month although it is now (Gregorian calendar) the tenth. It is also why a leap year day is at the end of February. It was the last day of the year.

So it's not NASA you need to nag, it is Pope Gregory XIII. Unfortunately, he croaked in 1585 so the reply may be delayed somewhat.

Always thought the Thai New Year was tied to the phases of the moon (something to do with the 5th waning moon) just like Chinese New Year is.

my point is you can’t really change the date of the celebration (that would be like Changing the date of Easter), but I take the point of cancelling the holidays to discourage people traveling home.

Need to have another holiday to replace it but it can’t be called Songkran... 

SINGAPORE: People who enter Singapore with recent travel history to ASEAN countries, Japan, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will be issued with a 14-day stay-home notice....

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/coronavirus-covid-19-singapore-malaysia-asean-stay-home-notice-12539952#.Xm4IR9C_xus.whatsapp
 

34 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Or pay for online delivery already in place for sometime now - not too difficult, or have a younger family member or neighbour drop your shopping outside your door, not inconceivable

 

Alternatively you can go shopping now, put yourself at risk, with the other hundreds currently in a checkout queue at supermarkets - obviously crapping themselves hence the escalating toilet roll purchases - today limited to one pack of 30 only ????

Clearly you haven’t met my (71yr old) Mum or (75 yr old) Dad, I struggle to get them to do anything online never mind pay for it on a Credit card.

I suppose my brother could order it for them (I’d do it but my UK credit card is in Bangkok & am not sure when I’ll get back from a tour around the islands to be able to so).

Other than that, Home Delivery should be ok provided the companies practice strict hygiene controls) but getting a family member to deliver it risks transmission by them handling the stuff as they do it, they might as well come in for a cup of tea than leave it on the doorstep 

33 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

there is no difference now. it is in the general population and I am taking about what comes next. 

this will have little to do with foreign visitors.

Got you now, Headline mentions the >70s being self isolated in UK, but the OP doesn’t

hopefully if they do take a similar view it will be all >70s not just non-Thais (& certainly not us low 50s that also have a non-O)