Wars

On 10/17/2021 at 1:05 AM, lkn said:

TOPS

I have the hardest time using apple pay at TOPS because their system takes 2 taps. I've tried it at tesco it doesn't work as well. You are correct as well the apple pay only works with foreign cards. I've been using the apple card. I've tried the 7/11 pay wave using apple pay throughout most of Issan it should work fine. A lot of the cashiers just not trained to use it. Have to tell them you want to pay with credit card. Then you just use apple pay instead on the machine where you insert the card. 

Following as well. I have a flight next month as well haven't had the chance to call ANA to check up on their rules. Well I had a friend who went from Costa Rica to USA an antigen test was fine. But I think it depends on your airlines and where you transit and their rules. Transit in Japan is it ANA or JAL?

20 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Apple Pay isn't available

Apple pay is available it works at 7/11, Big C and tops market. They just don't call it apple pay. If you tell them you wanna do the contactless tap payment it works most of the time depending on the card you're using on apple pay. At 7/11 you just tell them you wanna pay by credit card and you just tap the machine with your phone using apple pay. They'll be shocked but it works.

I bought my Honda City with cash couple months ago the sales didn't offer any significant discounts went around asked several provinces same offers or worse. They said if I financed they could offer me a lot more such as the first year of insurance as well but the best I got was 12,000 baht discount + all the usual freebies tint, pillows, dash cam, etc etc. Had to pay for the insurance myself. But I agree check with the facebook groups with others buying the same car you'll be able to see what others get offered they like posting those things. But mostly I've seen in those groups are people financing the car. 

This was the offer they gave me (they wrote this in Thai I used google translate) 

1. 3M film around the car
2. Awning eyebrows 
3. Ladder eyebrows
4. rear tray
5. Label frame
6. Gas bill 1,000
7. Skirts around the car modulo
8.Modulo rear spoiler
9. Sensor 2 points
10. front camera + 16gb memory
11. 12,000 baht discount.

Tech wise computers and phones seem to be more expensive in Thailand. I always buy my phones and computers in the States better deals and more updated models. Clothes seem to be better quality in the states as well. Some clothes in Thailand after 2 washes they seem to fall apart. 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Despite +4,576 new cases and +61 deaths yesterday.

 

 

Agreed, 17.2 million of Sinovac used and they still having a lockdown

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-shuts-capital-santiago-once-more-vaccines-fail-quell-rampant-cases-2021-06-10/

What state are you going to? A few states encourage you to self quarantine nothing is mandated really. But you should be fine since you need a covid test to come into the states. 

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-state-travel-restrictions-covid-19/index.html

5 hours ago, connda said:

For all those who plan to return to their home countries to get two shots.  When you get back add up all the expenses you incurred to travel back and forth and divide it by two.  I'm curious how much people are willing to pay per shot in order to feel safe while exposing themselves to various variants of SARS-coV-2 viruses at international airport hubs.  To me it's counter intuitive and Boy-Howdy those are gonna be two expensive shots.  But hey.  If it makes you feel safe, more power to ya'll.  Best of luck in your travels.  Let the rest of us know the cost per shot when you return!  ????

Covid 19 test in Thailand to Return to the USA: 2,400 baht

ANA airlines Bangkok (japan layover) to JFK roundtrip: $820 (25,633 baht)

ASQ: 35,000 baht

Regular 1 year health Insurance which I was going to buy anyways AXA: 28,800 baht

Covid vaccine Pfizer: Free in USA

Covid test to return: Free in USA

Total: 91,833 baht 

Average cost per shot: 45,916 baht

Siam mandarina had staff go out to buy goods from 7/11 twice a day none of the microwave meals are allowed. No alcohol but they didn't check what you got from Duty free. Gym was allowed after the 2nd test results. Garden and walking around the pool area after the first test you were given a wristband. Food was 1/10. 45k. In my opinion if I were to redo it if they had space I would go cheap as cheap as possible spend the extra cash on a nice meal afterwards. If you have work to do then I would pay for a hotel for better quality. 

I didn't download the app or do the form beforehand I'm sure I did it while sitting in the chairs waiting to be moved up the musical chairs. 

Something like this will work. Its gotta mention the $100k coverage and covid 19. 

5 minutes ago, Tounge Thaied said:

Ok. I found it. That is certainly helpful it appears, I have not tried to book on the site yet so we shall see. They really should put this information embedded at the start of the application... It is incompetence like this that gets us all frustrated and confused... https://ihanatour.com/thai

Yeah they have a FAQ https://thaiembdc.org/2020/07/23/faq-for-non-thais-wishing-to-enter-thailand-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

https://thaiembdc.org/visas/

lots of info. Nothing commercial is flying in so don't waste your money on that. You gonna be busy calling up the ASQ's to find matching dates for the flights. 

23 minutes ago, Tounge Thaied said:

I cannot advance to obtain my COE until I submit a commercial flight.

Sorry that is just wrong? If you need a flight use the ihanatours its listed on the embassy. They gave out a list of repatriation flights. Ihanatour gives you confirmation letter for the embassy and you don't have to pay upfront. 

Fit to fly from your GP. Covid 19 test you might want to try a private clinic/urgent care, somewhere that offers you results in 24-48 hours. What state do you live in?

My covid 19 test had the collected time and the lab result time. The Korean air staff at JFK didn't check deeply into it they just looked at the "not detected" I didn't really see them count out the days or look at the time specifically it was a quick glance. At Bangkok it was an even quicker glance. What country are you located in? I got my test results the next day for covid 19, is there any quicker clinic that offers it near you?. 

1 hour ago, eastcst84 said:

Thanks for your experience and feedback, looks like exactly what I need. How quick did you receive the policy and letter after sign up?

Immediately after paying for it. 

1 hour ago, eastcst84 said:

Is it reliable and will it work for this COE purpose?

Reliable who knows really, a lot of travel insurance they all have mixed reviews about paying out I mean its cheap "you get what you pay for" and yes it works for the COE purpose I used it to gain entry. I bought it because they make a good letter to show for the COE (since I have my normal health insurance in Thailand) it says the 100k coverage your name plus it says it covers covid 19 in that letter. Other insurances had a hard time writing a nice one without having to point things out to the consulate. I used world nomads at first and they had me highlight where does it show the 100k and covid 19 coverage. But other than that if you want a comprehensive coverage I would rely on something else. 

5 hours ago, stubuzz said:

And what validity is needed?  2 weeks?

The consulate told me it was the duration of the visa for me. In my case it was 90 days. 

6 hours ago, nomad2019 said:

Do you reckon going through Thai immigration that they would even check if any insurance certificate was valid or fake,

The consulate/embassy looks at it first before they issue the COE, then the airline before they issue the boarding pass, and once you land in Bangkok they look at it again. But it was a quick glance from what I noticed to see if it covers covid 19 and the $100k. 

34 minutes ago, habuspasha said:

But I have written to the Consul in NY

I suggest you call or go in person to the consulate in NYC to give your application when the time comes. They are open only 2 days a week Monday and Wednesday. I reached them by phone by email they answer like 2 weeks later. When they did pick up they told me they get too many emails each day. I suggest the 347 number they have on their website thats the Visa officer for the consulate. The 646 number that lady is just clueless. The 212 number never answers. But they were quite fast at processing everything for me visa and COE besides them being only open 2 days a week. The NY consulate does not use the online application like most of the other states. They were able to issue the COE after I gave them the documents on Monday in person, I was able to pick up Wednesday afternoon. 

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

My question is can she fly back on her original JAL ticket at some later date. JAL don't charge anything for this. What documentation will she need for this? 

I think you should be able to use that original ticket if they use JAL as repatriation flight. Because I flew in from the USA using an Open Korean air ticket since my flight was cancelled months ago. They were able to apply it for the repatriation flight. I would keep the ticket opened if anything because the repatriation flights are more expensive than normal if they let you use the old ticket to cover the costs it'd save you money. I'm sure theres flights coming in from Japan as well because the USA embassy lists Japan airlines for 2 dates and I'm sure they'll make a stop in Japan before going to Thailand. Thats what happened on my Korean air flight a lot of Koreans got on in Seoul during the layover.

Arriving in Thailand on 18 August 2020 –Japan Airlines/American Airlines

Arriving in Thailand on 25 August 2020 –Japan Airlines/American Airlines

Just checked in at JFK. The airline checks covid 19 test before issuing the boarding pass. To be honest they glanced over it quickly. They were more looking at the negative (not detected part) they didn’t seem to really check the dates because they handed my documents back to me really fast. 

You'd have to ask each hotel individually each ASQ has their own refund policy. Some have 7 days before check in. Or some even let you amend the dates within 3 days of your original booking date. Some are non refundable, only able to amend the dates.