Foreign citizens told to schedule commercial flights home

[geovalin]

Two embassies are urging foreign nationals to leave the Kingdom via commercial flights amid COVID-19 fears, prompting Australians and others grounded here to express frustration against their government on social media. The Kingdom has recorded 109 confirmed novel coronavirus cases as of yesterday afternoon and many flights ceased operations following the global virus outbreak earlier this year. The government is currently drafting a law that would allow a state of emergency to be enacted to combat COVID-19.

 

Last week British national Jerry Lewis arranged a chartered flight to leave the Kingdom after many commercial airlines had cancelled scheduled departures. Many foreign nationals are still stranded in the country, waiting for their governments to provide a way out of the country. Emily Zeeberg, spokeswoman for the United States embassy, said yesterday the US State Department on March 19 urged citizens around the world to leave COVID-19 affected countries while some flights are still available.

 

“In countries like Cambodia, where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens should arrange for an immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period,” Ms Zeeberg said. “US citizens abroad seeking to return to the United States should use commercial travel, as available, and not rely on evacuation flights, which are not currently an option in Cambodia for US citizens,” she added.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50708189/foreign-citizens-told-to-schedule-commercial-flights-home/

[Kerryd]

It's (pretty) unclear from the headline, but it's not Cambodia telling foreigners to schedule flights home, it's the embassies of various nations telling their own citizens.

I've had a couple of emails from the Canadian Embassy suggesting the same thing (for tourists), they even listed which airlines were still flying to Canada from Thailand (with whatever stopovers each route would have).

 

[HarrySeaman]

The US government is staying the same thing.

 

A neighbor who is in a wheelchair tried to fly back to the US last week.  He had a flight, was at Swampy, and they wouldn't let him on the flight because he was over 61 years old.  61???

 

Fat chance for someone like me who is 76, even if I was stupid enough to go back to the US with Homer Simpson in charge of the country and personally missmanaging the virus situation.

[Proboscis]

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

It's (pretty) unclear from the headline, but it's not Cambodia telling foreigners to schedule flights home, it's the embassies of various nations telling their own citizens.

I've had a couple of emails from the Canadian Embassy suggesting the same thing (for tourists), they even listed which airlines were still flying to Canada from Thailand (with whatever stopovers each route would have).

 

I live in SE Asia and my embassy, Irish, contacted me but did not try to persuade me either way. They just wanted to know my preference. Many foreigners, especially those with ties to the location where they live, don't see the point of abandonning their families and friends in SE Asia, their houses and other goods just to go to their home country through a risky flight (danger of being infected onboard) to a location where they have no home, perhaps having to bunk up with relatives or find a rented room somewhere (not so easy). There are also some visitors who are quite happy to stay put in Asia. Visitors who want to go back are probably bothering the embassy anyway.

 

So to any embassy is pushing people to leave I have to ask, WHY?

[pathologix]

To my best understanding (as per daily emails I'm getting from embassy) – US State Dept is recommending TOURISTS return home. They have suggested that expats avoid international travel. I haven't seen them tell citizens who reside in Thailand or Cambodia to give up residency and return to the States. 

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, pathologix said:

To my best understanding (as per daily emails I'm getting from embassy) – US State Dept is recommending TOURISTS return home. They have suggested that expats avoid international travel. I haven't seen them tell citizens who reside in Thailand or Cambodia to give up residency and return to the States. 

Come back to the epicenter of Covid. Leave a pleasant place that has relatively few cases, and come back to a place that is raging with the virus. Abandon a pleasant lifestyle to come back to one of the most joyless places on earth. And come back to a place that will leave you utterly bankrupt, if you end up hospitalized, without insurance. 

 

Not much credibility that demonstrates, and not a whole lot of common sense and reason either, coming from the State Department. 

[timendres]

8 hours ago, geovalin said:

Emily Zeeberg, spokeswoman for the United States embassy, said yesterday the US State Department on March 19 urged citizens around the world to leave COVID-19 affected countries while some flights are still available.

And return to the most COVID-19 infected country...

[wasabi]

I won't be going back to the US until this situation improves dramatically. They can tell me to go back  but unless they come and get me I'll be sitting tight.

[steven100]

yeah sure ..  !!    and return to Australia where you have twice the chance of catching the virus.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, HarrySeaman said:

 (...) with Homer Simpson in charge of the country and personally missmanaging the virus situation.

Giving Homer Simpson a bad name...

[captpkapoor]

If I was an American citizen staying in Thailand, I would definitely stay put here. The US has now the highest number of cases and the death toll is increasing at an alarming pace. Thailand is far, far safer - provided of course, that one takes the standard precautions.

[Andrew65]

1 hour ago, Proboscis said:

I live in SE Asia and my embassy, Irish, contacted me but did not try to persuade me either way. They just wanted to know my preference. Many foreigners, especially those with ties to the location where they live, don't see the point of abandonning their families and friends in SE Asia, their houses and other goods just to go to their home country through a risky flight (danger of being infected onboard) to a location where they have no home, perhaps having to bunk up with relatives or find a rented room somewhere (not so easy). There are also some visitors who are quite happy to stay put in Asia. Visitors who want to go back are probably bothering the embassy anyway.

 

So to any embassy is pushing people to leave I have to ask, WHY?

So to any embassy is pushing people to leave I have to ask, WHY?

Maybe because not knowing how things might "progress", the Embassy people don't want more of their nationals in-country than need to be, meaning potentially more problems?!

[Andrew65]

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Giving Homer Simpson a bad name...

Homer and Donald do sound quite alike, and they're both a strange colour, and intellectually-challenged! ????

[ukrules]

I'm stamped in until late November, I'm going nowhere.

[finnishmen]

idiots fly back to europe because thailand have lot better and safety live than all europe whit covil virurses,

totally idiot expats if go to homecountry out of thailand now. thai have lot better and clean now than all other country all europe,england,usa. biggest idiot in world have muslime,italian,russian,sweden,finland country now stay. lot better keep far all thats country now.

[timendres]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

I'm stamped in until late November, I'm going nowhere.

Lucky you! I expire in two weeks. Sigh...

[madmen]

13 minutes ago, steven100 said:

yeah sure ..  !!    and return to Australia where you have twice the chance of catching the virus.

Australia is 

Light years ahead of Thailand in testing and accurately reporting results. Thailand could already have a 100k dead for all we know

[jacob29]

16 minutes ago, madmen said:

Australia is 

Light years ahead of Thailand in testing and accurately reporting results. Thailand could already have a 100k dead for all we know

Australia is doing better than I had expected, I was expecting a Texas like response, but things like keeping schools open (is that still a thing?), allowing cruise ships to dock without checks, still give me doubts. I also heard of mass queuing at centerlink, much like immigration here. Also Thailand cannot have 100k dead lol. Can't even be a few hundred, as some of those would be tourists and you'd hear about it.

 

[Andrew65]

3 minutes ago, jacob29 said:

Australia is doing better than I had expected, I was expecting a Texas like response, but things like keeping schools open (is that still a thing?), allowing cruise ships to dock without checks, still give me doubts. I also heard of mass queuing at centerlink, much like immigration here. Also Thailand cannot have 100k dead lol. Can't even be a few hundred, as some of those would be tourists and you'd hear about it.

 

In the Irish Republic Coronavirus related unemployment claims have increased by 12% or 1 in 8 of the workforce (330,000 people) since March 16th.

[madmen]

6 minutes ago, jacob29 said:

Australia is doing better than I had expected, I was expecting a Texas like response, but things like keeping schools open (is that still a thing?), allowing cruise ships to dock without checks, still give me doubts. I also heard of mass queuing at centerlink, much like immigration here. Also Thailand cannot have 100k dead lol. Can't even be a few hundred, as some of those would be tourists and you'd hear about it.

 

Yeah I plucked that figure out of my backside, much like the Thai's are doing lol 

I fly into Sydney in 2 weeks and into the hotel intercontinental for 2 weeks isolation all expenses paid courtesy Mr Morrison 

[0zr0cks]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

yeah sure ..  !!    and return to Australia where you have twice the chance of catching the virus.

That would only be remotely true if you’re naive enough to believe the Thai government figures. Do your homework ol mate, how many viral pneumonia’s are there on record now compared to previous years? If you can find this stat you’ll find where some of the hidden Covid cases are/were, but I suspect you won’t find it....... you follow?

[Magenta408]

Original -Jerry Lewis. 

[Andrew65]

25 minutes ago, madmen said:

Yeah I plucked that figure out of my backside, much like the Thai's are doing lol 

I fly into Sydney in 2 weeks and into the hotel intercontinental for 2 weeks isolation all expenses paid courtesy Mr Morrison 

Mini bar got some stick then?!????

[Burma Bill]

For reference:-

These are today's international flights (1st April) from Phnom Penh - no international flights from Siem Reap. Okay if you want to travel via China, Japan or South Korea and if you can get to Phnom Penh!

 

DAY	TIME	FLIGHT NUMBER	DESTINATION	AIRLINES	REMARK
2020-04-01	00:30	MU 760	Shanghai		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	07:55	KR 961	Chengdu		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	08:00	CZ 324	Guangzhou		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	08:10	K6 668	Guangzhou		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	16:40	9C 8534	Shanghai		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	22:50	NH 818	Tokyo Narita
2020-04-01	23:40	KE 690	Seoul Incheon
2020-04-01	23:55	OZ 740	Seoul Incheon
2020-04-02	00:40	CA 746	Zhengzhou

Edited April 1, 2020 by Burma Bill
additional information

[Tounge Thaied]

9 hours ago, geovalin said:

“In countries like Cambodia, where commercial departure options remain available, US citizens should arrange for an immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period,” Ms Zeeberg said.

The headline of this post is misleading if you don't pay attention to this key part of the article...

Embassies are simply doing there due diligence to get people home unless they are already prepared to remain in the foreign country. That includes many expats who already live here... no need to go home if you have a place to live and have a current VISA. 

[Muzzique]

1 hour ago, finnishmen said:

idiots fly back to europe because thailand have lot better and safety live than all europe whit covil virurses,

totally idiot expats if go to homecountry out of thailand now. thai have lot better and clean now than all other country all europe,england,usa. biggest idiot in world have muslime,italian,russian,sweden,finland country now stay. lot better keep far all thats country now.

 

I am perplexed by the Xenophobic contradictions that permeate your manifest.

 

Translation

'You talk sh*t

[tifino]

1 hour ago, Andrew65 said:

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Giving Homer Simpson a bad name...

Homer and Donald do sound quite alike, and they're both a strange colour, and intellectually-challenged! ????

wait till you see your November alternative! - Mr Burns ????  

[steven100]

33 minutes ago, 0zr0cks said:

That would only be remotely true if you’re naive enough to believe the Thai government figures. Do your homework ol mate, how many viral pneumonia’s are there on record now compared to previous years? If you can find this stat you’ll find where some of the hidden Covid cases are/were, but I suspect you won’t find it....... you follow?

i'm not being naive .... NSW has a large number of infected and at my home town which the population is only about 300 people there are 3 infected there, and it's hillbilly country.

I don't care about what the Thai government numbers, I care about what country do I think is a higher risk to catch the virus, and i say Australia.  I'll stay put here in my condo thanks ....   less chance of catching it here.

[steven100]

26 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

For reference:-

These are today's international flights (1st April) from Phnom Penh - no international flights from Siem Reap. Okay if you want to travel via China, Japan or South Korea and if you can get to Phnom Penh!

 

DAY	TIME	FLIGHT NUMBER	DESTINATION	AIRLINES	REMARK
2020-04-01	00:30	MU 760	Shanghai		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	07:55	KR 961	Chengdu		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	08:00	CZ 324	Guangzhou		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	08:10	K6 668	Guangzhou		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	16:40	9C 8534	Shanghai		DEPARTED
2020-04-01	22:50	NH 818	Tokyo Narita
2020-04-01	23:40	KE 690	Seoul Incheon
2020-04-01	23:55	OZ 740	Seoul Incheon
2020-04-02	00:40	CA 746	Zhengzhou

Bill ,   can I get one way tickets to Wuhan .. ?     if so, please throw a few TV farang on board will ya.  thanks.

[drbeach]

3 hours ago, Proboscis said:

I live in SE Asia and my embassy, Irish, contacted me but did not try to persuade me either way. They just wanted to know my preference. Many foreigners, especially those with ties to the location where they live, don't see the point of abandonning their families and friends in SE Asia, their houses and other goods just to go to their home country through a risky flight (danger of being infected onboard) to a location where they have no home, perhaps having to bunk up with relatives or find a rented room somewhere (not so easy). There are also some visitors who are quite happy to stay put in Asia. Visitors who want to go back are probably bothering the embassy anyway.

 

So to any embassy is pushing people to leave I have to ask, WHY?

I don't think they're trying to get people like you to leave. It's tourists, business people and other temporary entrants, who normally live at home and would run out of money and options if they stay too long, that they urge to return home.

Although I'm contemplating moving back to the west with my family in due course...it would be impossible to do so in a hurry. I am good here and will wait it out. The only thing I am concerned about are immigration issues, but that is not currently relevant for me. I hope by the time it does become relevant, the situation will have improved enough to allow travel again.