RetroGTAndrew

It's getting commonplace in the UK now, only it's bikes, electric bikes & electric scooters instead of motorbikes. My local shopping area in Oxford appears to be getting as lawless as Thailand! Here in SamutPrakan the Prakasa road has a new green painted cycle lane which appears to function as a ghost lane for motorbikes going against the adjacent traffic!

I really don't understand the mindset that makes people think that 'ghost riding' is a good idea? There certainly seems to be a significant increase in the past 5 years or so. Some roads (southern end of the SriNakarin road in SamutPrakan for example) seem to have a continuous stream of motorbikes heading the wrong way!

Oh, the joys of travelling via the sandpit! Did it the first couple of times UK to Thailand, dismal experience! Never again, direct flights only now (EVA Air/Thai Airways) thanks! Andrew

@Sheryl thanks, I know I'm a year late, but previously I've just screenshotted the search results and saved it. Just did the click on the blue search icon in the results and then the .pdf export from the 'View' page worked perfectly. Strange that nowhere on the .pdf does it say that it's a TM30, that only appears in the URL and not even the file name. Thanks, Andrew

@Sheryl thanks, I know I'm a year late, but previously I've just screenshotted the search results and saved it. Just did the click on the blue search icon in the results and then the .pdf export from the 'View' page worked perfectly. Strange that nowhere on the .pdf does it say that it's a TM30, that only appears in the URL and not even the file name. Thanks, Andrew

Well, a year ago I tried at SamutPrakan DLT while on a TR60 visa and they require a residence certificate which immigration (went there in person) will only issue to 'Long Term' visa holders, so I was ultimately unsuccesful. I may try eMailing SamutPrakan immigration and ask them if they will issue a residence certificate against a DTV.......... If anyone has acquired a residence certificate from a local immigration office while on a DTV please chime in. Andrew

I'll be interested to know if immigration will want to see the reason (medical/study/work etc.) each time you re-enter using this DTV. I know you have to show a valid reason for granting it on initial application but will they start quizzing you in a couple of years time to see if you still have for example ongoing medcal appointments? Also will it count as a 'Long Term Visa' to satisfy a bank to open an account? Andrew.

I've heard this before, but I've asked at a few different banks (both in SmautPrakan and @ Seacon Square) with no success (while on either a 30 day exempt or on a TR60 visa) and they always say need a work permit or long term visa. Same requirements for a residence certificate from SamutPrakan immigration last year for a driving license.

I'm waiting to see if anyone on a Destination Thailand Visa succeeds in getting a Residence Certificate and a Thai drivers license or being able to open a bank account..... Basically is it considered to be a 'Long Term' visa? Andrew

As @Ojas said you won't have a problem either way <provided> you pre book 'special assistance'

Sent you a message...........

Yep, we're from the UK (wife is dual Thai / UK) I think if you book 'Special Assistance' in advance of your flights they will meet you and organise transport irrespective of the arrival gate, might be a bit slow, but I'll stress again that you need to book in advance, preferably when booking your flights which we always do. The Thai assistance staff seem pretty organised with paper lists and handheld devices to confirm passenger names. Andrew Try it it on your next trip and report back how it went......

@still kicking Ooops, some of your text went missing! I should have said 'Request 'Special Assistance' when you book your ticket or log on and add it after your eTicket is issued' whether you are taking your wheelchair or want an airport wheelchair, either way if booked in advance they will allocate staff to transport you at both ends, at LHR the buggies have hooks on the back to take your own wheelchair to the gate. Andrew

Hi, @still kicking Don't leave it until you arrive at the airport to request a wheelchair. Request 'Special Assistance' when you book your ticket or log on and add it after your eTicket is issued. That way you will be allocated a wheelchair and a pusher at both departure and arrival. At LHR they use a wheelchair to take you to the buggy waiting area which then takes you to the gate where they have chairs to take you to the aircraft door, on arrival at BKK you will be met with a wheelchair and a staffer to take you through the 'Fast Track' immigration, baggage claim and out to the meeting point. Certainly that's what we did until wifey got her own wheelchair, bought a fairly lightweight folding one in Thailand as she's quite compact! Andrew PS. Where do you fly in from?

Last few trips have been EVA Air Premium Economy, well maintained modern B777ER's, good choice of food, staff friendly and usually have at least one or two Thai speaking cabin crew on board. Thai Airways OK but aircraft looking tired, food a bit boring. Andrew

My wife uses a wheelchair due to not being able to walk long distances, so far travelling mostly with EVA Air and also Thai Airways has been very positive. I always add her wheelchair use to the booking and have yet to be disapointed. On check in just let them know you'll be dropping the wheelchai at the gate so they can tag it appropriately. At LHR it's a bit of a shambles if you want to wait for a buggy ride, so I normally push her to the gate which helps keep me fit! Arrival is sometimes a little bit delayed while they retrieve the chair and at BKK there's always an airport staffer to do the pushing (and yes we tip him) LHR is self help but they do direct us to the buggy immigration gate. Last time departing BKK they were a bit short of staff so rather than waiting for staff I just pushed her myself, same as at LHR, arriving in the UK is the same as arriving in Thailand. Mostly one of the cabin crew will ask us to stay seated onboard until they've retrieved the wheelchair and it's ready, if people are stil deplaning they'll sometimes pause them for a minute so we can get to the chair or wait until evereyone is off. Although ours does fold it's still quite awkward, never even considered the possibilty of taking it onboard, my wife is OK walking on board to her seat, airlines do have special narrow wheelchairs available for people who need assistance all the way to their seat. Andrew

Check in staff (at LHR in my case) can obviously see that the return ticket date is more than 30 days later and have always asked to see my eVisa. Immigration at Suvarnabhumi have variously folded and stapled or tucked the printout in my passport and last time just handed it back, as far as I can see the actual visa is what they stamp in the passport and the eVisa is just like a pre-approval. Andrew

Looked like he brake checked her, which is pretty silly when you're the one on a motorbike! With headphones like that on one wonders if he was the distracted driver?

I'd also be interested to hear which airline allowed him to board his flight with a one way ticket?

I would love to know what makes these so 'illegal' as they're just a bike with a different fairing really..... Especially when there are loads of completely unroadworthy 3 wheeled contraptions on the roads both crappy old sidecar outfits and the badly modified two wheeled cart on the front of an old motorbike. Andrew

Could you expand upon what happens if your Thai wife dies and you are on marriage extension? Is there a grace period to swap to a retirement extension? Or is there some way to maintain the marriage extension legacy? Andrew

Haha! I often wonder what all the Japanese tourists (and senior company staff) make of (the lack of) Thai manners and the driving standards! Andrew

Not like that for me, in December 2021 came in on a TR60, Thai Airways TG910 flight home to UK was on day 61 @ 00.15 hrs, cleared outbound immigration at about 21.00 hrs without any questions or unwelcome passport stamps (no questions inbound either)..........

The Green line actually runs from Khu Kot to Morchit Kheha in SamutPrakan as of a few years ago now.

I was mainly refering to the urban environment, down the moobahn where there seems to be more careless riding, although you still need to be careful positioning to turn left.