German repatriation flight from Phnom Penh “half empty” – UK tourists stranded in Cambodia unaware of its existence

[geovalin]

2 flights to repatriate German tourists in Cambodia that left from Phnom Penh yesterday have been described as “half empty” – with stranded UK tourists expressing anger that they were not informed of the flights – and the chance to get back home – by the UK Embassy. It has been reported that the German flight had a capacity of 350 people, but many seats – including the entire Premium Economy section – were empty.

 

Here’s a video from a passenger on the second German repatriation flight that flew yesterday… It was open to other nationalities but we were not informed of it’s existence. I’ve been told this flight could take about 350 pax but only half the seats were filled. There was reportedly nobody in premium economy.

Posted by Beth Palmer on Sunday, March 29, 2020

.
Members of the Facebook group “Stranded in Cambodia” UK have already organised one private charter flight from Phnom Penh to the UK and have expressed concern over a seeming lack of action from the UK Government and Embassy, in the face of other western countries such as France and Germany, who have organised multiple flights from Cambodia to repatriate their own citizens.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50707557/german-repatriation-flight-from-phnom-penh-half-empty-uk-tourists-stranded-in-cambodia-unaware-of-its-existence/

[bkk6060]

Shameful of the UK embassy and government.

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Shameful of the UK embassy and government.

That is for sure but given the strife i see on Thaivisa between Germans and people from the UK im not sure it would have been a good thing. Though in times like this differences are often set aside.

[Enoon]

18 minutes ago, robblok said:

 Though in times like this differences are often set aside.

Not in the wonderful new "free" Britain:

 

The prime minister’s official spokesperson had originally claimed hours before the UK had ignored the EU joint procurement schemes, which allows access to the life-saving equipment more quickly and cheaply, “because we are no longer members of the EU.”

 

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-johnson-eu-ventilator-scheme-and-coronavirus-1-6581207

 

 

Edited March 31, 2020 by Enoon

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Enoon said:

Not in the wonderful new "free" Britain:

 

"The prime minister’s official spokesperson had originally claimed hours before the UK had ignored the EU joint procurement schemes, which allows access to the life-saving equipment more quickly and cheaply, “because we are no longer members of the EU.”

 

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-johnson-eu-ventilator-scheme-and-coronavirus-1-6581207

 

 

Maybe the Brits just want to make sure their officials can get a piece of the pie just like in Thailand. ????

[OneMoreFarang]

The Brits want to go alone. They don't want to be part of Europe...

[robblok]

Seems German efficiency beats UK inactivity. ????

[MaiDong]

10 minutes ago, robblok said:

Seems German efficiency beats UK inactivity. ????

Hans down ????

[britanicus]

23 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The Brits want to go alone. They don't want to be part of Europe...

We are and want to be part of Europe, what we don't want to be part of is the tyrannical and anti democratic European Union, more like dis Union these days.

[Logosone]

This may well be a deliberate decision by the current UK government. They could also have been part of a EU wide purchasing group aimed at improving bargaining power in purchasing repirators world-wide, but the UK did not join and announced "it will be relying on its own efforts".

 

All you can do is offer a horse water, you can't force it to drink.

Edited March 31, 2020 by Logosone

[OneMoreFarang]

20 minutes ago, britanicus said:

tyrannical and anti democratic European Union

Please tell us, what did that tyrannical and anti democratic institution do to you? Did they torture you or was it worse? 

[donnacha]

When I see these news stories, with photos and videos of angry littles faces, so furious that their government is not doing enough to rescue them, I am just astonished at the brass neck of these people.

March is now ending. We have known since January that this problem was serious, at least serious enough to keep a close eye on. We then spent February watching country after country instituting travel restrictions, and airlines starting to cut routes.

It was clear which way thing were going by the end of February. The penny dropped for me in the wee hours of the morning on the 21st of February. I had arrived in Manila, just a couple of days before and was really looking forward to the spending the next few months in the Philippines. I suddenly understood that we had reached a point at which things were only to get more difficult, expensive, and dangerous for any Westerner caught in Asia. I considered returning to Thailand but saw that, while it might initially be safer, the sudden collapse of their tourist industry was going to cause massive ripples. What was going to happen was unprecedented, there was no way to predict how matters might develop. I could also get badly trapped between visa idiocy and no travel options.

Sitting there in my hotel room, at 3 or 4 in the morning, it was very clear that, for the first time in over two decades, I would have to make an unplanned return to the relative safety of Ireland. I was gutted to leave, and realized I might not be able to return for a very long time, but knew it was the only choice. I paid Emirates $670 for a one way ticket to Dublin, flying out that night. Then I slept for eight hours, did some shopping, had a nice meal, packed my stuff, checked out at 9PM, and caught a taxi to the airport.

20 hours later I was in Dublin Airport. I collected my suitcase and headed towards the exit. A uniformed lady stopped me. Ah, I thought, here at last is some sort of check to make sure infected travelers aren't wandering into the country. Don't worry, I said. I'm not coming from China, just the Philippines. She looked confused. Oh, she said, that. No, I just want to check if you're bringing cigarettes into the country.

During the layover in Dubai, I got chatting with some English tourists heading in the other direction to enjoy a few months in S.E. Asia. They told me it was a last minute decision, made mainly because they received a terrific deal on a resort hotel and the flights had been unusually cheap too. They planned to travel around for at least a couple of months. I was able to confirm that, yes, they would definitely be able to find hotels at unusually good prices, especially in Vietnam where I had spent a month immediately before Manila. I did ask if they were aware of the Corona virus. They were aware of it but were confident it wouldn't be a problem and, they were so excited, I did not have the heart to reveal my own conclusion.

That was February 22nd. I hope they had a few good weeks but, then, by St. Patrick's Day, mid-March, the good sense to get their posteriors onto a plane home. I reckon they almost certainly did. These idiots in the article, trapped in Phnom Penh by their own stupidity, and all the other idiots trapped in places they should have left weeks ago, represent only the most irresponsible, delusional of travelers. As I see them tut, and complain bitterly about how "that idiot Boris" isn't helping them, and how all this "just isn't good enough", I find myself thinking "Som nom na".


  
 

Edited March 31, 2020 by donnacha

[mickyr55]

I remember reading somewhere recently that all flights should be no more than half full due to the social distancing regulations, makes sense to me.

[nauseus]

12 minutes ago, mickyr55 said:

I remember reading somewhere recently that all flights should be no more than half full due to the social distancing regulations, makes sense to me.

I don't think it makes much difference on a plane, as far as the virus goes, anyway.

[nauseus]

49 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please tell us, what did that tyrannical and anti democratic institution do to you? Did they torture you or was it worse? 

Worse...much worse.

[OneMoreFarang]

34 minutes ago, nauseus said:

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please tell us, what did that tyrannical and anti democratic institution do to you? Did they torture you or was it worse? 

Worse...much worse.

Red passports?

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, nauseus said:

Worse...much worse.

Bent bananas banished?

[sungod]

2 hours ago, Logosone said:

This may well be a deliberate decision by the current UK government. They could also have been part of a EU wide purchasing group aimed at improving bargaining power in purchasing repirators world-wide, but the UK did not join and announced "it will be relying on its own efforts".

 

All you can do is offer a horse water, you can't force it to drink.

They dont seem to be doing too bad https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52087002

 

[Logosone]

40 devices delivered, yes that should go a long way.

[steve73]

2 hours ago, mickyr55 said:

I remember reading somewhere recently that all flights should be no more than half full due to the social distancing regulations, makes sense to me.

My daughter returned from Hong Kong (where she's been working for the past 4 years) to the UK a few days ago.  Said there were only about 20 passengers in economy/premium E, and all well spaced out on lie-flat 3/4 middle seats, so no problems maintaining plenty of separation.

[chickenslegs]

6 minutes ago, Logosone said:

40 devices delivered, yes that should go a long way.

It's 40 devices being trialled. If successful they will make many more ...

Quote

Forty of the new devices have been delivered to ULCH and to three other London hospitals. If trials go well, up to 1,000 of the CPAP machines can be produced per day by Mercedes-AMG-HPP, beginning in a week's time.

But you knew that.

[baansgr]

I read earlier that 40 empty seats were offered to Brits by the Germans and were fully taken....will try find the link

[from the home of CC]

2 hours ago, donnacha said:

When I see these news stories, with photos and videos of angry littles faces, so furious that their government is not doing enough to rescue them, I am just astonished at the brass neck of these people.

March is now ending. We have known since January that this problem was serious, at least serious enough to keep a close eye on. We then spent February watching country after country instituting travel restrictions, and airlines starting to cut routes.

It was clear which way thing were going by the end of February. The penny dropped for me in the wee hours of the morning on the 21st of February. I had arrived in Manila, just a couple of days before and was really looking forward to the spending the next few months in the Philippines. I suddenly understood that we had reached a point at which things were only to get more difficult, expensive, and dangerous for any Westerner caught in Asia. I considered returning to Thailand but saw that, while it might initially be safer, the sudden collapse of their tourist industry was going to cause massive ripples. What was going to happen was unprecedented, there was no way to predict how matters might develop. I could also get badly trapped between visa idiocy and no travel options.

Sitting there in my hotel room, at 3 or 4 in the morning, it was very clear that, for the first time in over two decades, I would have to make an unplanned return to the relative safety of Ireland. I was gutted to leave, and realized I might not be able to return for a very long time, but knew it was the only choice. I paid Emirates $670 for a one way ticket to Dublin, flying out that night. Then I slept for eight hours, did some shopping, had a nice meal, packed my stuff, checked out at 9PM, and caught a taxi to the airport.

20 hours later I was in Dublin Airport. I collected my suitcase and headed towards the exit. A uniformed lady stopped me. Ah, I thought, here at last is some sort of check to make sure infected travelers aren't wandering into the country. Don't worry, I said. I'm not coming from China, just the Philippines. She looked confused. Oh, she said, that. No, I just want to check if you're bringing cigarettes into the country.

During the layover in Dubai, I got chatting with some English tourists heading in the other direction to enjoy a few months in S.E. Asia. They told me it was a last minute decision, made mainly because they received a terrific deal on a resort hotel and the flights had been unusually cheap too. They planned to travel around for at least a couple of months. I was able to confirm that, yes, they would definitely be able to find hotels at unusually good prices, especially in Vietnam where I had spent a month immediately before Manila. I did ask if they were aware of the Corona virus. They were aware of it but were confident it wouldn't be a problem and, they were so excited, I did not have the heart to reveal my own conclusion.

That was February 22nd. I hope they had a few good weeks but, then, by St. Patrick's Day, mid-March, the good sense to get their posteriors onto a plane home. I reckon they almost certainly did. These idiots in the article, trapped in Phnom Penh by their own stupidity, and all the other idiots trapped in places they should have left weeks ago, represent only the most irresponsible, delusional of travelers. As I see them tut, and complain bitterly about how "that idiot Boris" isn't helping them, and how all this "just isn't good enough", I find myself thinking "Som nom na".


  
 

the lure of cheap flights and hotels will be the death of some for sure..

[Logosone]

14 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

It's 40 devices being trialled. If successful they will make many more ...

But you knew that.

Yes, they also promised testing 25,000 a day two weeks ago, Boris Johnson on record in the House of Commons.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8133207/How-Boris-Johnsons-government-changed-tune-coronavirus-testing.html

 

Did they deliver on that promise? 

 

No they did not.

 

This government is good at promising, but not so good at delivering.

[Isaanbiker]

4 hours ago, robblok said:

Seems German efficiency beats UK inactivity. ????

I've received a few emails from the German embassy and could leave this country soon.

 

   Here are the flights the German embassy has organized:

 

We've got good news for you. The Federal government has organized Special Condor Flights for you:

 

Following flights will depart in the next days:

 

Flight from Phuket to Frankfurt/Main

on Thursday, 02.04. flight # Nr. DE8759 at 10:10 o' clock local time.

 

Flight from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) to Frankfurt/Main on Friday, 03.04m flight #  DE8763 at 11:30 o' clock local time.

 

Flight from Phuket to Frankfurt/Main

on Saturday, 04.04. flight #. DE8759 at 10:10 o' clock, local time.

 

Flight from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) to Frankfurt/Main on Sunday, 05.04., flight #. DE8763 at 11:30 o'clock, local time.

 

You can book these flights shortly at www.condor.de  More flights are planned.   www.condor.de 

Therefore, please keep an eye on  the website www.condor.de We will also keep you informed. 

 

 

   Could anybody please inform others, Germans, and non Germans of these flights?

 

  Not all have access to the Internet and not too many are in touch with the German embassy in Bangkok. 

 

The Form is in German, French and English. Please see attached files.

 

 

^{When booking online, you first pay EUR 99.99}

 

  Dear Mods, please feel free to move this to a perhaps more suitable forum? Thank you. 

 

     

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

   

 

    

 

   

Landsleutebrief zu R�ckholaktion 29032020.pdf Form .pdf

Edited March 31, 2020 by Isaanbiker
Hurry, bring out the dead.

[Tropicalevo]

In the times today it is reported that The government will spend £75 million chartering hundreds of aircraft from countries where there are no longer any commercial flights, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, announced.
 

Edited March 31, 2020 by Tropicalevo

[Isaanbiker]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Red passports?

Artificial Fish N' Chips? 

[soalbundy]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Shameful of the UK embassy and government.

no not shameful, normal

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

In the times today it is reported that The government will spend £75 million chartering hundreds of aircraft from countries where there are no longer any commercial flights, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, announced.
 

Was he still there when he said it...or was he gone by then?

[soalbundy]

5 hours ago, robblok said:

That is for sure but given the strife i see on Thaivisa between Germans and people from the UK im not sure it would have been a good thing. Though in times like this differences are often set aside.

Really ? ?........what differences would they be, real or imagined.