ChC1

The lady in question should have came to ASEANNOW forum (especially Thailand News sub forum) just once maybe a 3 minutes browsing before she made the decision to purchase the tour from TUI, would have avoided one of her worst decisions in her life.

Guys, I am in the process of opening a company called Enron2021. I desperately look for talented people (sales and accounting). I found the TAT bunch is really good at manipulate and mispresent, oh, no, I mean mastermind in product delivery and optimistic presentation. Do any of your guys know how I can contact those TAT folks? They could work wonders for my proposed company. I am going to be super rich by listing the Enron2021 to New York Exchange with the help from these guys. Their track record is just so wonderful. They can certainly spin endless hope into a dire situation. It is like you are falling from a 200,000 feet cliff and they can keep your hope alive right to the moment you head is hitting the bottom of the valley. Please help me you guys, tell me how I can get in touch with them!

(disclaimer: if you could not tell above paragraph is intended as a joke, you need to get some form of sarcasm education)

At this moment, it is far easier to visit Saudi Arabia as a tourist for Europeans and Americans than Thailand, makes you think, huh?

When one day when your 'friend' met a bar girl tries to pimp out her husband, then please let us know. That is more newsworthy. 

I think major hotel groups would have a set of  idealistic and realistic figures. Their booking and cancellation figures must be very interesting to read.

5 hours ago, Jiggo said:

Also big shares owned by a Spanish company on the tarmac they take off from, nothing to do with us Brits lol

You are wrong. When BA merged with Iberia, British's share in the new company was close to 60%. As BA was the bigger, two times bigger than Iberia in that time. 

BA by definition is still a British company. Otherwise it will loose all US routes authority. BA's parent IAG is registered in Spain but it does not mean a thing. That is because, IAG does not own BA as a whole. It is a holding company that holds certain percentage of BA entity. For instance, BA pension funds, BA treasury and AABA holdings (a joint holding company between American Airlines and British Airways) all owns shares of BA (not IAG). 

Modern company structure is very complicated. BA as a business is still considered as a British company. IAG is not exactly BA, BA is not exactly IAG. The two companies are not the same although related. You have to imagine BA and Iberia as two half-brothers. They may share a same mother (IAG), but they have two different fathers (UK and Spain) and live in different household. 

7 hours ago, Capt Rob said:

A thoughtful response and for the most part on target.

Some previous commentators have overlooked most of the above points. One point that has seemingly been missed thus far is the Thai nationals desire to have respect as a nation.

This is of course all very well, if you are not struggling to put a roof over your family or food on the table.

Elitism is another giant hurdle in the way of social equality for the many. That will take a time to sort out.

Moving on to the last sentence I doubt that the bars will be full of 'zimmer frames', the sub fifties will still setting the physical pace.

I was going to make that point. But I know someone here will jump out and criticise me' are you in Thailand? Do you know Thailand?' as illustrated by one of the poster here. Plus if I put that point it it would be too long to read. There are a big Thai middle class family now. No one would want their children going to sex industry once the family jumped through classes. Sure there is always illegal immigrants and peasant family may provide some sex workers. Yet the trend is there. General Thai population wants to be respected. New middle class Thai wants prosperity. I agree with you. 

Translation of SIMPLIFY in Thailand:

Let us throw all complicated duplicated unnecessary bureaucratic processes into one platform while keep all the original requirements and steps.

Reading some of the post talking about 'higher earning' relatives or even sons swearing 'never Thailand' again, is entertaining.

Sure, Thailand's drive to lure wealthy is laughable. But some of the posters clearly do not understand the luxury market although they claim to have relatively high earner relatives.

I can only say, there is a luxury segment in Thailand's tourism, which is enjoying a booming time. You don't see these people. They are not all well known, but have higher than average net worth. They arrive by private jet, or commercial jet in First/business class. But they have service that take them directly off a plane by limo and out to their private villas or residences. You see few of them in country clubs. Occasionally in hotels like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Evason etc. 

Sometimes it is not how much you can spend define class. It is how you can enjoy spending on the things define class matters. For instance, if you have class and money, you would not go to Fisherman's Village in Samui. You would be heading directly to the Ritz-Carlton, Conrad (has to be residence, not the hotel itself), Four Seasons in Koh Samui. 

Thailand is a place full of luxury and great hospitality. If you know how to spend and where to spend your money, you can live like a king. If you have money, and did not enjoy Thailand, you are more likely to be a fool does not know where to go and how to enjoy. In my personal opinion, they are more likely being mislead by their poorer relatives. 

I certainly envy baldies. Nice shining smooth head make you want to touch, little maintenance unlike me paying big to barbers twice monthly (outside Thailand!), attracts attention instantly in a seedy bar as ladies run around the shining baldies like moth around a lid light bulb. 

Baldies have it all. It is something you fully headed don't understand.

Ok If I have insulted any baldies or ladies in paragraph one please excuse me. I am not a good joke teller.

2 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

"A family member of the deceased confirmed that Mr Skipper took out only Covid-related cover for two months and was thus totally uninsured when he fell ill."

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/british-holidaymakers-death-in-thailand-reveals-insurance-confusion-382630

 

So the main reason he wasn't covered for medical issues, or pre-existing conditions, or repatriation alive or dead,, etc. is that he didn't have any insurance except for Covidd-19 related issues

Knowing Thailand's overreaction record, this could be a bad news. Thailand Pass may now require a more rigorous check of insurance papers upon applying or entry. The insurance requirement might be expanded to Travel Insurance with Covid Cover that cover the whole period of intended stay. It could be bad news for anyone over 75 should this becomes the new requirement since it is already difficult for over 75s to get insurance.   

I don't buy it. A junior chef is looking at £22-26K as a starter salary. Even if he is part time, considering £8.91 minimum wage for 2021, 60 hours week is £534.60 a week. If he is working 8 months in and take 4 months winter holiday, that is 35 weeks working and total compensation of £18,711. Plus over time pay and holiday pay double, and winter/summer time change pay double, we are talking about minimum of 700-780 hours added pay, take the medium of 740 hours, additional £6,593.40 to make his annual salary £25,304.40. If assume he worked for the same company for 3-5 years as minimum, add employee salary increase based on seniority, there is no doubt his salary to be £28,000 either as a junior chef or part timer. Should he works for a reputable company and might have worked for several more years, we are looking at £30,000-36,000. 

I would seriously doubt if he (or family) doesn't have any savings or assets over £5,000 if he was to take a long winter holiday in Thailand. £30K in London is bad, but in Lancashire is comfortable.

Although the exact year Thai economy will be back is disputed. But the idea of 2022 being not any good is somewhat honest.

Looks like the Thai Tourism suicidal policy of Thailand Pass will continue to 2022 and the economy will take a hit until 2023 when the government finally realise it is smothering the economy to slow death.

BA has BA9/10 loaded in reservation system. So I assume BA request the slot. However, there is a big problem. All class for sale is ZERO. To translate: BA is not selling a single seat on the flight at all throughout the next Spring. 

So effectively, airlines like BA may request the slot, but it may not fly at all. If it is flying, it is not selling a single seat means not a single passenger would be arriving with the flight. Such ghost flight is proudly incorporated into TAT 20% slot request increase propaganda.

Now let us wait and see how many flights in this 20% increase actually made to real flight and how many actual passengers are carried? I expect another positive spin from TAT.  

Advice from another angle:

When repeated solutions did not work, maybe it is time to review your life style. Sometimes it is easier to just lay back, or use more of your oral skills and/or switch to another way of fun which including but not limit to bi S&M or even play with man.

It worked for some other elder guys.

Enjoyment is from your mind, not your penis. When penis no longer enjoys, try other ways to increase the stimulations between your ears until you find it.

On 11/10/2021 at 10:37 AM, ianguygil said:

Nor am I wrong about the UK. I arrived on August 29. I left on October 1. I did not talk about the rules today. I talk about when I travelled. 

 

As for your fantasies about the Thai authorities being dishonest and the Western ones being so clean and correct, it is the type of racism that always makes me wonder why foreigners are members of a Thai forum if they dislike Thailand so much. The numbers or people dying are comparable. If you look at the Excess Deaths in the UK, in the USA and Thailand, it seems that the UK and USA are way under counting. Russia is the worst, but the UK is no role model at all. 

No, the rule of UK is always being 'self isolation' if arrived from non-red countries and tested Covid after arrival, There is no forced quarantine hotels as long as you arrive from Green or Amber countries (and have not been to red countries in last 10 days). If you have symptoms, you can go to NHS and get treated. Still, no fee whatsoever.

So the poster was rightly point our your misunderstanding about UK system. You were wrong.

Have you not smelt the coffee during last 5 years?

Thai government has always showed their preference to their Chinese brothers. So they kept saying they want Quality rather than Quantity, hence the tourism industry change to chasing quality tourists. What they really mean is for anything but Chinese they want Quality. For Chinese tourists they want the Quantity and don't care about Quality. 

Thailand was developed thanks to the Quantity of western tourists. But now they want to transform into a Quality destination by clear out the less desired poor chaps like you and me. In the same time they lined up millions of Chinese to mark up the lost Quantity. It is very evident during last 5 years, especially since 2018/2019, if you care to read news from TAT.

So to your question,  no, Thailand is likely remain to be a wonderful retirement destination for others (aka, not us), those desired by Thai Elite. 

Since Phuket Sandbox opening, I have been looking at coming to Thailand. But the requirement and especially download the app that is no better than Thai Pass website, with lots of security backdoors is just too much.

So since Phuket Sandbox, as a true tourist, I have been to Cyprus, Greece and Spain. Soon I will be heading to USA (Florida and Arizona) as it is open for us since Monday. Next year it would be Canada first, then may be Barbados. Southeast Asia can wait for 2023. If they don't drop the requirement of download the stupid app and health insurance thing, I am not coming to spend my money.

For other 'tourists' take the bait, good luck.

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Thailand Pass is not a Visa !!! 
 

Applying with the correct documents for test & go option & selecting the 1 night dates etc via AQ option is not fraudulent, there is no fake submission ! 
 

Some people are so wooden I now understand why they suffer so much with any bureaucratic hiccup! 

I want you to read the page when you first sign in to apply Thailand Pass, you have to click that you have read and acknowledged, understood the information provided by Thai government regarding Thailand Pass. The page is: Thailand Pass Registration System (for air travel only) (consular.go.th)

Everyone has to read that page before start applying. So in this page, it clearly outlined as below:

You have signed the declaration (A VERY LEGAL DOCUMENT) that you will follow the rule before applying. You made it clear to Thailand government that once you applied AQ, you will follow the AQ procurement outlined in this agreement between you and Thailand government. You also acknowledged that failure of such compliance may lead to consequences and penalties under the laws and regulations of Thailand. 

So please think twice before you decide to commit AQ fraud or preaching others to do the same. It is evidently many people here do not read this page when they sign up to Thailand Pass and do not understand the meaning of fraud. And some here do not understand there is consequences even though Thailand government told you in black and white language it has consequences and penalties if you do not keep your side of bargain.

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Thailand Pass is not a Visa !!! 
 

Applying with the correct documents for test & go option & selecting the 1 night dates etc via AQ option is not fraudulent, there is no fake submission ! 
 

Some people are so wooden I now understand why they suffer so much with any bureaucratic hiccup! 

Thailand Pass is a pass that would permit you to gain entry to Thailand, so technically is a visa, is an immigration approval to gain entry.

Thailand pass has category of Test and Go exemption and AQ. You have to follow each category when applying even if both require the same documents. If you got AQ and booked AQ hotels with intention to self test and go, is a fraud.

I am not trying to be funny. I am just trying to point out some not so obviously fallacies here so people do not make mistakes and then end up badly. It is always prudent to follow what is black and white in front of you.

Plus, would you do the same if you are applying entry to Australia or USA (just imaging they have the same 'pass')?

1 hour ago, Partenavia said:

Travelling to USA from Uk, just opened up today.

1. Book Flight.

2. PCR test within 72 hours of flight.

3. Double vaccination proof either on phone or certificate.

4. All checked at check in.

5. On arrival USA all checked at passport control.

END OF STORY.

That is not 100% true. You forgot ESTA and got something else wrong. Here we go:

1, Apply ESTA or VISA if necessary

2, Book Flight (if you can get one as now it is fully booked for days)

3, Antigen test or PCR within 3 days before the flight (not 72 hours, it means if you flight departs on 10pm Friday, you can do test any time from Tuesday; also USA recognise rapid Antigen test, PCR is not necessary)

4, Check-in with your vaccination certificate and Covid test certificate

5, Travel and arrive

US CBP won't check your vaccination certificate and Covid test again as they trust airlines to do the job. As any airlines caught not doing the job correctly will be fined. There is just not enough CBP personnel to check everyone's documents, as flights are FULL.