Should I fly or not.

[ukdave51]

Firstly I am not a resident of Thailand, just the occasional 2 week millionaire.

Since the outbreak of this virus I have been keeping my fingers firmly on the pulse, I`m due to fly out of Heathrow on Thai on March 22nd but as this whole health crisis as 

unfolded there are more and more alarm bells setting off in my head, 

Granted there have been no reports of farangs being infected but the news channels are full of scary <deleted> now. 

 

I have a non-refundable ticket but moving it to a later date is an option, but that too comes with quite an hefty fee. because I`m not there it`s interesting to get the views from various forums of what it`s actually like over there now, can I assume that Nana and Pattaya are not exactly ghost towns during this incoming pandemic, and can anyone confirm the aircraft are flying with very few empty seats from London?

 

If others are taking their chances I will sure as hell join them.

Cheers. 

 

[saengd]

I'm considering the same problem but in reverse, should I travel to the UK (I live in Thailand). My take is that I'm quite safe here in Thailand, especially since we have our own home and the number of reported cases is very low, possibly because of the temperature, possibly for other reasons. It looks as though the flu may have peaked in China but is only now starting to take off in Europe, it could be 3 months before Europe reaches the same peak I guess.

 

On balance I think your risk is lower than mine, if I was you I wouldn't hesitate. Me on the other hand......hmmm!

[JoeMc]

Fly business class .. risk reduced and may now be less busy if businesses have stopped their personal travelling .. expensive but what price do u put on your health ??

[Nyezhov]

Im staying put in Cambodia right now and absent an emergency, Im not getting on a plane.

[Farangwithaplan]

UKDave,

 

I'd just play the wait and see game if you don't want to pay out any more for your flight. If the situation gets worse the airlines may need to cancel some flights due to lack of passengers.

 

If that happens they will try to book you on a different flight. If that happens, you can simply state that the new timing of the flight really isn't suitable for your needs. You can then ask about their refund policy as you would not have booked the flight if the new flight was the only available one. Don't mention you concerns about Corona safety at all in your dealings with the airlines. Keep it purely timing based.

 

I know this is the case because I have already discussed this exact situation with two different airlines for three different flights. After advising that the new flights may not suit, I brought up the subject of compensation, which I didn't actually want, but it gave me leverage for a full refund.

 

Also if you hold off, you my find that the concern about the virus stabilizes or hopefully reduces and you can take your holiday.

 

Also, do you have travel insurance to cover any things that arise if you happen to be in Thailand?

 

 

 

[leggo]

Flying as a means of transport is by far the easiest and most dangerous form of transport for catching other peoples diseases especially since the majority of passengers are quite happy to cough and sneeze all over the place without any consideration to others - I have worn a mask when flying anywhere for years, Next is your destination which is another problem altogether since getting RELIABLE info on where, how many coronovirus cases are there etc etc. When you have a minister of health saying it will all be over after songkran you have to realise that the Thai government doesn't take anything seriously if it afffects tourism.  I would postpone trip until you are 100% happy about coming. 

[nightbird]

An added bonus to the question of whether to fly or not during this period is the possibility of something akin to a lockdown or lockout of people flying from Thailand to a place that has just suffered a high outbreak. For example, Israel is not accepting anyone that is coming from Thailand. This was reported in the Guardian a few days ago. I believe the Gulf States have also added bans on coming and going to Thailand. These are things that no one has control of, but I would hate to go on a nice European holiday and find that I have been quarantined for 2 weeks somewhere. Just a thought. 

[allanos]

I am heading to Auckland in 3 weeks time, via Singapore (SQ), and 4 days in Singapore on my return leg, also SQ.  I intend to take the following precautions on my flight:

Wear face mask as much as possible.

Wipe down arm-rest, food tray, seat belt buckles, all with anti-bacterial wet wipes. 

Put a small amount of Bactroban ointment in my nostrils.

Take immune booster tablets for the whole period I am away plus plenty of vitamin C and zinc.

Take extra precautions with my hands accessing and exiting on-board toilets (using tissues etc).

 

[MadMuhammad]

I’m in Pattaya and there doesn’t seem to be any panic whatsoever. The town is actually quite pleasant with the reduced numbers. As for flying, I’m due to book to go the Phillipines in April but I’m hesitant due to the possibility of Thailand being shut down to foreigners (Although extremely doubtful) if the pandemic breaks out of its apparent containment now and I’m forced to go home to Aus until it blows over. Not ideal when I call Pattaya home 

[poohy]

Yearly return to UK due 31 March just keeping an eye on things at moment

if quarantine etc is advised in UK i will try to change flight as whole reason to go back is to socialise

plus i would be staying with my 97 year old dad probably not advisable although hes tough as old boots

[saengd]

5 minutes ago, poohy said:

Yearly return to UK due 31 March just keeping an eye on things at moment

if quarantine etc is advised in UK i will try to change flight as whole reason to go back is to socialise

plus i would be staying with my 97 year old dad probably not advisable although hes tough as old boots

I'll be interested to learn what you decide because I'm in a similar boat, decisions decisions.

[poohy]

2 minutes ago, saengd said:

I'll be interested to learn what you decide because I'm in a similar boat, decisions decisions.

With no quarantine restrictions in place i will be flying as planned ... at least the beers better there if i have to be stuck somewhere

[Jumbo1968]

7 hours ago, JoeMc said:

Fly business class .. risk reduced and may now be less busy if businesses have stopped their personal travelling .. expensive but what price do u put on your health ??

What difference does it make flying Business Class, same airport, same aircraft same recirculated air !

[natway09]

If you are fit & healthy no reason not to come & enjoy (situation as of today)

Worse scenario is that allow up to 21 days for possible infection or a tightening of the quarantine regulations on your return

[parafareno]

returning on 16th april to europe so i might be stuck here for a year and cant travel home

[murraynz]

44 minutes ago, allanos said:

I am heading to Auckland in 3 weeks time, via Singapore (SQ), and 4 days in Singapore on my return leg, also SQ.  I intend to take the following precautions on my flight:

Wear face mask as much as possible.

Wipe down arm-rest, food tray, seat belt buckles, all with anti-bacterial wet wipes. 

Put a small amount of Bactroban ointment in my nostrils.

Take immune booster tablets for the whole period I am away plus plenty of vitamin C and zinc.

Take extra precautions with my hands accessing and exiting on-board toilets (using tissues etc).

 

I flew to Auckland from Bkk via Melbourne, two weeks ago. Only a few people on plane were wearing masks. 

I've survived OK. 

I return to Bkk in two weeks time. 

I'm not worried. 

[khunPer]

A lot can still happen between now and March 22nd...????

[geoff65]

I'm flying in Saturday and not worried one bit, if the virus was airborne yes i would be worried, as the virus lives droplets and its highly unlikely you will catch it unless someone coughs or sneezes within 3 meters of you, A mask alone will not protect you as the virus can enter through your eye ducts, wear glasses and a mask and you be ok. As for door handles tables etc, after the droplets have dried the virus is dead and that won't take long and make sure if you use wipes or spray its alcohol and nothing else other wise all these so called disinfection wipe will only spread virus,bacteria germs etc. Just go on with your normal life with caution.

[seasia]

I also have a similar decision to make.

Had planned to go from Thailand to Italy for a summer break, originally planned to leave Thailand  in May but wanted to bring the date forward, e.g.. about the end of March. Not yet booked anything.

 

Main concern would be booking and then being unable to travel due to either travel restrictions or cancellations.

 

[Autonuaq]

be happy that you are where you are and soon corona will come to have a vacation break in the area.

 

as long as we not understand and are willing to stop to travel for the next 40 to 60 days the virus has good speedy hosts that make that the virus can travel quick around the world.

the incubation time has been adjusted form 14 day to 27.

 

quarantine come from the Italian number 40. in hte past the people understood that when you isolate for 40 days the people who came out of the quarantine period they survive as well the virus was not in them.

 

as long as we keep up the speedy mass transportation systems as we haven now and people can travel in one day easy round trips of 500 km or more. the viruses and bacteria as well other nasty thing have also a good transportation system.

just a vacation of 14 days is just an example for piggybacking facilities for things like unwanted bugs, viruses, bacteria, STD and other unwanted things.

 

for this virus we not have medicine and will take some time.

although there is a medicine from 1934 that has effect and is cheap to make we still not solve the root of the problem. the traveling and short time we can reach all over the world like was investigated by the cold war research about spreading of bacteria and viruses already demonstrated.

 

look at ti from the bright side all you have to do is wait and stay relaxed and wait until this virus  will peek in your area too. Let's hope that I am totally wrong and that a zero is the peek in your area)  

 

[buick]

i've got a flight from BKK to USA via ICN in late march.  i might get blocked by USA because i originated in BKK or went through ICN.  or the airline (KE) might cancel flights btwn BKK-ICN.  i did see that thai air asia X canceled flights btwn BKK and ICN.  they offered refunds w/o a fee, even on non refundable tickets.  i looked at the KE website and they seemed to offer similar terms on flights they had to cancel recently.  so i'd just plan on making the flight until they say it is canceled, then you get your money back and make the trip another time.

 

as far as arrival in thailand, i'm not sure where you are planning to go but things aren't bad here in central BKK.  life continues although many wear a mask (i don't).  i think the heat here makes it hard for the virus to survive long on surfaces.  supposedly colder weather allows the virus to live for days on surfaces.

 

i haven't read of a single case where someone got the virus on a plane.  seems strange and i certainly haven't read about every case, but that is worth noting.  the plane ride may be safer than you think, especially with most wearing a mask these days.  i flew BKK-SGN this month, alot of folks wearing a mask (i didn't, i just avoided touching my face on the short flight).

[madmen]

3 minutes ago, buick said:

plane ride may be safer than you think, especially with most wearing a mask these day

Very good point. Those unaware of infection won't pass it on with masks 

[androokery]

2 hours ago, leggo said:

Flying as a means of transport is by far the easiest and most dangerous form of transport for catching other peoples diseases especially since the majority of passengers are quite happy to cough and sneeze all over the place without any consideration to others - I have worn a mask when flying anywhere for years, Next is your destination which is another problem altogether since getting RELIABLE info on where, how many coronovirus cases are there etc etc. When you have a minister of health saying it will all be over after songkran you have to realise that the Thai government doesn't take anything seriously if it afffects tourism.  I would postpone trip until you are 100% happy about coming. 

Since we don't trust the information coming out of this government, is there really a moment where we can be 100% happy about coming (or staying)? I don't see a measurable condition for ending a postponement.

[retsdon]

You never know when flight or quarantine restrictions are going to be imposed. 

[runamok27]

I just flew into Bangkok on February 21st and the plane was about half full, normally 80% to 90% full. Took a cab to Don Meaung and flew to Udon Thani, Very few people in immigration and was out of there very quickly. Everything seems fine so far. Just don't touch a bunch of stuff and touch your face and stay try to stay more than 6 feet away from other people, which is a lot easier now since there are not a lot of people at the airport. Nearly everyone else is wearing a mask so that actually makes it much safer for you. I would recommend hanging out outside though, virus's hate heat and humidity. 

 

As for getting the virus on the plane from the recirculating air, that is not likely. Modern planes use 50% recirculated air and 50% outside air. The outside air should be fine and the recirculated air goes through HEPA filters that should take care of any pathogens. The risk is if someone who is sick is within 6 feet of you and coughing and sneezing into the air but with the half full planes, it is easy to scope out any sick looking people and stay away from them. 

 

On another note, this virus does not appear to be any deadlier than the flu. In the beginning, the percentage of deaths to the recovered was at about 40% but has gone down over time as more and more people are recovering. It's at about 10% now but will continue down and don't forget that this is for the sickest of the sick. A very low percentage of people even go to the hospital for the flu so the actual infected numbers is far, far greater which will greatly lower the mortality rate even more. It's mildness is the reason for the quick spread. If it was a very virulent strain, it would be knocking people out and they wouldn't be able to spread it so much.

[bkk6060]

1 hour ago, Jumbo1968 said:

What difference does it make flying Business Class, same airport, same aircraft same recirculated air !

You probably have never flown Bus. class.

A lot less people sneezing and coughing around you due to much more space.

Less people using the toilet, etc.

Peace of mind.

I would choose it now definitely if I had to fly.

 

Be in the back with a crowded bunch of coughing, sneezing people, and crying babies no thanks.

Edited February 26, 2020 by bkk6060

[steven100]

28 minutes ago, seasia said:

I also have a similar decision to make.

Had planned to go from Thailand to Italy for a summer break, originally planned to leave Thailand  in May but wanted to bring the date forward, e.g.. about the end of March. Not yet booked anything.

 

Main concern would be booking and then being unable to travel due to either travel restrictions or cancellations.

 

Italy is out of the question ... they had a spike in the numbers of affected cases just a few days ago.

[Jumbo1968]

3 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

You probably have never flown Bus. class.

A lot less people sneezing and coughing around you.

Less people using the toilet, etc.

Peace of mind.

I would choose it now definitely if I had to fly.

I always fly Business Class but prior to Boarding I have to pass through Check in, Security and wait in the Gate to Board surrounded by people coughing and sneezing.

i then sit on a plane where the air is recirculated, same air wether it be Business Class or Economy, think you need to have a rethink.

[Jane Dough]

Avoid all media...the hysteria is catching.

 

And get on that plane.

 

Bring condoms, though. There are still other viruses that can be problematical.

 

Rooster

[steven100]

1 minute ago, Jane Dough said:

Avoid all media...the hysteria is catching.

 

And get on that plane.

 

Bring condoms, though. There are still other viruses that can be problematical.

 

Rooster

what other viruses are present  ?