International flights to Thailand won't resume until September, says aviation authority

[Call]

Hopefully some of the neighbor countries, like Malaysia will open up. Then enter by land instead ????

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, cardinalblue said:

I thought ones with Thai family members will be given an exception to enter following strict protocol 

They will have to submit themselves to quarantine requirement. And possibly castration as the Thai government doesn't want an expansion of the "Leung Kreung" population. 

[OJAS]

2 hours ago, vinny41 said:

Not vague, Contact the Thai embassy They will ask you for a updated copy of your Khor ror 2 

To obtain an updated KR2, a trip to an amphur office in, guess where, Thailand will, of course, be needed. Looks to me like a classic Catch-22 situation if true!????

[Anythingleft?]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

So you don't figure that many are "genuinely stuck"? When was it "obvious that the borders were going to be closed at some point"?

 

In Q1, I was working offshore Africa and then took a short UK vacation upon my demobilization. In early March, there was no evidence of any countries completely closing their borders, only limitations on, or scrutiny of flights and pax originating from China. I made it back into Thailand on 6 March but within 9 days (5 consular working days), Vietnam stopped issuing visas UNANNOUNCED and then closed their borders. Around 19 March, Thai embassies and consulates stopped issuing visas unless one had a Covid-19 health certificate UNANNOUNCED. They started closing borders around 23 March UNANNOUNCED and then zipped it all up when they called the SoE on 25 March UNANNOUNCED. In layman's terms, the stuff hit the fan in March and not a whole lot of warnings were issued by anyone.

 

The guys that took over offshore Africa included some guys from Thailand and they have become "genuinely stuck" on the vessel after it transited to work in the North Sea. Of course they were worried but they had work to do and food needed putting on the table. BTW, you can't just say "I want to go home now" and flag down a passing helicopter.

 

Right now, there's an estimated 450,000 mariners who are "genuinely stuck" on boats and ships all around the world because of border closures, quarantine regulations and lack of flights. In my particular industry, there's probably several hundred guys that have completed their assignments, have disembarked and are now holed up in a hotel in a country that may not have consular services for their home or chosen destination and have no easy flight options either.

Yes, stuck on a rig and have been for 116 days

No word yet on the borders opening for flights either way in or out at the moment

 

Hopefully a repatriation to the UK and then get back to Thailand under my marriage, pretty f%$#ing bleak

 

As you say some of us had no option to just get on a plane and go home to our families......

[holy cow cm]

9 minutes ago, xerostar said:

Globalist's planned

Made in a lab and planned, but perhaps escaped out at the wrong time. It is surely dividing the world though.  

[holy cow cm]

I would suspect the borders will have to be open by September as they have rescheduled a very important food show called the Thaifex for the end of September. Normally in May and usually gets about 13 - 15000 visitor per day from all over the world. Very important for export. If they postpone this show again then they really don't care about the economy slipping more into the septic tank. Exports help drive the economy.

[Dumbastheycome]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Why did you choose to go back to work in the middle of a global pandemic in the first place?

 

Odd decision given the circumstances.

Odd comment given that there are people who have employment, need employment  and that employment must be continued in spite of a pandemic while others may find a convenient excuse to not be employed or have alternative means of income.

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts, troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Sounded a bit vague though didn't it.

 

What if you are only married 'Thai style' would that count?

 

What if you have children but not married?

Village 'weddings' are excluded !

[geisha]

Unless you have family or/and a job in Thailand, I think everyone, long stayers and tourists had better move on somewhere else, give up thinking of going to Thailand. It’s not worth worrying about flights and visas when the Thai authorities obviously do not give a damn, they care even less about their own folk. There  are many many beautiful countries to visit once this Covid problem is over. 

[Keyser Soze666]

30 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

I would suspect the borders will have to be open by September as they have rescheduled a very important food show called the Thaifex for the end of September. Normally in May and usually gets about 13 - 15000 visitor per day from all over the world. Very important for export. If they postpone this show again then they really don't care about the economy slipping more into the septic tank. Exports help drive the economy.

But then would these people need to quarantine, need insurance, etc? It's just all over the place, holy.

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

There homes and family here.  It has been hard for guys that left for work off-shore to get back here to there home and families, as well as those who had to return either to the UK, Europe, or the US for work or out of necessity.  Glad I did not leave in February, as I would also be stuck out and my family here would be separated from myself just as well.  Some folks might think its funny but having been separated from the family before it is not fun and is stressful on all.

Pure speculation. We don't know for sure about 'guys' outside and each ones situation, do we.  If any are genuinely stuck, they had plenty of time to come back when it was obvious that the borders were going to be closed at some point, so why didn't they?? And please don't list a load of weak excuses, if they were that worried they would have come back, end of story,

Wrong on all accounts - Your comments are pure speculation. Enough ‘guy’s currently outside of Thailand have provided enough information for ThailandRyan’s comments to be valid whereas yours are insensitive and sanctimonious.

 

Guys on Oil Rigs, on Ships and contracting on rotation in other countries did not have the luxury of ‘walking out' on their job, they would have lost them, it was also *physically impossible for some to get back to Thailand. These events were not predictable in February, the closure of Thailands borders was not predictable until about a week before, when many guys were already a long way from Thailand. 

 

*in late Feb the UAE banned its residents from travelling to Thailand (and Iran), doing so would result in loss of Residency and effectively involved quitting. 

 

Additionally, no one had any idea how long the lock down would be for. People could only guess. 

 

Even as recently as April I thought the lockdown would only be for another few weeks. 

 

Remember, lock down was to ‘flatten the curve’ and prevent heath services from being overwhelmed - that objective was met 6 weeks ago. It seems the ‘goal posts’ are changing from one of easing the burden on heath services to an attempt to eradicate Covid-19 totally (in Thailand anyway). 

 

Thailands (and a couple of other countries) flawed approach to a lengthy ban on incoming flights could not be predicted. Neither can we predict if Thailand will open up to tourists in 2 weeks or in 6 months. 

 

With regards to re-entry options can only keep guessing what the worst case scenario may be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trainman34014]

1 hour ago, LEKPHUKET said:

Another stupid decision by a useless and brainless government 

If you want to restart tourism and economy you have to open the borders and airports and even then it will not be business as usual. For them probably not enough jobless and hungry Thais. 

This is what happens if you have soldiers running a country and no business minded people. Many Thais will already have tinked back to the good old days of Thaksin when the country was booming.

 

 

Reading between the lines (essential in Thailand !),  I would say this whole idea is linked to two things :-

 

1.  With the latest outbreak in China they will probably not be letting anyone out of the country until at least September and it will be the Chinese Hordes that the Thai's will want coming here first.

 

2. With the Thai Airways situation the way it is at present and the Courts not yet agreeing to anything, then they won't be able to start flying until at least September despite all the verbals about commencing flights in early August, hence face saving move to protect their already awful image !

Edited June 20, 2020 by trainman34014

[TPI]

3 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Pure speculation. We don't know for sure about 'guys' outside and each ones situation, do we.  If any are genuinely stuck, they had plenty of time to come back when it was obvious that the borders were going to be closed at some point, so why didn't they?? And please don't list a load of weak excuses, if they were that worried they would have come back, end of story,

You're a hard man, of course it's their fault, of course if they had had the benefit of a crystal ball "they " wouldn't be in this position, of course it's all their fault!    ????????

[david555]

2 hours ago, Rabbi said:

What about those tourists that have been stuck in Thailand since March and can't get back home.

you can get out / fly out, but you can not come back for the moment …..for month(s)

Single flights out available out to Europe , example KLM , but must look in the single flight section . 

 

 I cancelled my visit to Europe as I saw it coming ...and I live here , not anymore in E.U. 

I guess I am inside Th. for a long while …. May 2022 is my planned end  date for Thailand , but I guess in between could be difficult to fly out as no return is sure , disturbs my " logistic" planning ...

 

Lucky I have no "anchors" in Thailand no wife GF or kids …., can understand for those involved with family or relation it is a disturbing time 

Edited June 20, 2020 by david555

[Cranky]

2 hours ago, SaamBaht said:

This is confusing as they just said foreigners with spouses in country can come back in. Strange. 

Confusing isn't the word I'd use - fairness maybe?  Might be married to a Thai for 12 years with kids having both Brit and Thai passports, lived as a resident for 20 years, held a work permit for ten of those years.  Spent millions of baht on a house (in the wife's name), cars, kids education, employed many Thais over the years and generally contributed as a law-abiding citizen without costing the country a single baht.  Reward - zero.  

 

And, typically not having the contacts or stamina to apply for PR, like many others gone down the retirement visa route as it is pretty simple and easy to understand - but guess what?  No rights whatsoever.  A non-person/ATM as far as the authorities are concerned on par with someone who rocked up in a wife-beater with a few quid and obtained the same visa.  Same rights, none.  

 

The marriage visa is a lot more paperwork and a lot more hoops to jump through but gives no more rights so the only reason to go down this route is if you're are under 50 or lack the funds as the MV requires less cash.  This in itself is a mockery - since when is a family cheaper to run than a single bloke (unless of course he wants to go for it). Same rights, same palaver every single year so no benefit Vs. retirement visa.  I could understand if the MV process was stringent but once 'passed' shouldn't a renewal be reasonable rather than starting from zero? 

 

So if you are stuck outside, separated from your family you have my sympathy as it is grossly unfair and unreasonable. Good luck and best wishes but you might want to take a close look at your status in the Kingdom.  

 

Personally, I relocated to UK a couple of years ago - my wife has a National Insurance number from day 1.  Full NHS access (paid for), the right to work, no visa visits or bullsh1t 90-day nonsense till 20 months whereby she will get 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' (basically permanent residency) another 20 months and a Brit passport. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Why did you choose to go back to work in the middle of a global pandemic in the first place?

 

Odd decision given the circumstances.

 

Whats your job? what do you do to put food on the table and pay for your children's education?

 

These jobs we are talking require commitment and cannot be ‘walked away from on a whim that there may be trouble ahead’.

 

The world reaction to what at the time was an epidemic in China was completely unprecedented. Thailands closer of the Airport was completely unprecedented and completed unpredictable. 

 

Those asking the questions ‘why did you leave when a pandemic was coming’ are sanctimonious fools of the highest order. Its like asking ‘why drive your car if you knew there could be an accident?’ 

[holy cow cm]

3 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

But then would these people need to quarantine, need insurance, etc? It's just all over the place, holy.

For this there would have to be no quarantine but would gather C19 free or had it already cert and insurance required. It is an important show for Thailand. I have been going since the beginning 2004 and now it has expanded at Impact Muang Thong Thani to be super humungous as an event taking up all the show rooms there. I personally see international travel by business being curtailed even if it is still going to be held.

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

2 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

'competing needs' Lol, where you get that one from?

 

Yea yea blah blah..anyone who really wanted to come back had time. Spin it how you want but it's that simple.

In a way you are correct. First week of March I took a quick few days fun trip to the Philippines to hook up with my old friend arriving from the USA and then we got right back here fast before the borders closed. Then we had some fun in Pattaya and then came back to CM and in that moment of time the door was already starting to close shut. It wasn't like now you see it and then now you don't. The writing was clearly on the wall.

 

 

While we are discussing the resumption of international flights in to Thailand, whats the writing on the wall saying now?....  It’s apparently clear for you to read, so you can give us a date, right?

 

Or is the writing on the wall clear only when you have 20/20 hindsight?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yme]

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

The overseas Thai embassies and consulates are already accepting applications from foreigners with Thai spouses to re-enter Thailand with exactly the same criteria as WP holders.

Except they don't get the same priority as WP holders. Patients requiring life-saving medical treatment in their home country #1, BOI WP holders #2. 

 

[richard_smith237]

17 minutes ago, TPI said:

3 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Pure speculation. We don't know for sure about 'guys' outside and each ones situation, do we.  If any are genuinely stuck, they had plenty of time to come back when it was obvious that the borders were going to be closed at some point, so why didn't they?? And please don't list a load of weak excuses, if they were that worried they would have come back, end of story,

You're a hard man, of course it's their fault, of course if they had had the benefit of a crystal ball "they " wouldn't be in this position, of course it's all their fault!    ????????

Indeed... unfortunately, for those of us who don’t name ourselves after the main protagonist in a classic move, our balls are hairy, not crystal..... 

[aussienam]

Well,  looks like I have to tell my Thai landlord to end the lease and somehow ship over my motorbike keys and get my stuff into storage.  Plenty of us stranded due to circumstances necessitating us to have been overseas at the time.  Some obviously will scoff and mention that we should have known etc, looking down from their horn rimmed glasses of elitism and superiority complex.  

Many expats were hoping for openings from 1 July.  Allowing in workers, then those who are married next, and hoping the rest of us who are retirees very soon after.  Many of us were away with a suitcase of clothing for a few weeks for a multitude of reasons.  Now paying double rents and mounting costs.  Going to see some suicides soon.  That is for certain.  

[Letseng]

3 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Pure speculation. We don't know for sure about 'guys' outside and each ones situation, do we.  If any are genuinely stuck, they had plenty of time to come back when it was obvious that the borders were going to be closed at some point, so why didn't they?? And please don't list a load of weak excuses, if they were that worried they would have come back, end of story,

My excuse is that for medical reason I could not return. Now I'm stuck. But may be this is just a weak excuse.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Since the WHO itself didn't label this a 'global pandemic' until 11 March, maybe he... oh, YOU do the math, OK?

 

Other people who's choices appear to be based on 20/20 hindsight are similarly perplexed.

The WHO do not decide who is allowed into Thailand though.

 

Since mid-Feb the signs were clear from the Dept. of Disease Control about what was happening and the risks of travelling outside of Thailand's borders.

 

I'm not the one stuck outside the country waiting like patience on a monument to have the privilege of being allowed back in to the Kingdom so my 'maths' seem to be fine.

 

 

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, SaamBaht said:

This is confusing as they just said foreigners with spouses in country can come back in. Strange. 

 

Not really confusing.

 

One statement was from government regarding the opening up and relaxation of rules to allow foreigners with Thai families and others to get back together. There are flights running if you have the required documentation for where you are travelling.

 

The statement highlighted in today's news actually comes from the powers that be in the airline industry after discussions with the relevant airlines, not from the government.

 

What they are saying is it will be at least September due to various governments not being clear on their policies for admission to their countries, and what conditions and restrictions they will place when they do allow travel.

 

It absolutely makes sense, because all these different countries making differing demands, the airlines are in a quandary as to what to do for the best, and they certainly won't be prepared to be flying people to have them turned around at a destination and the airline subsequently fined.

 

There are certain airlines flying now, some like Qatar, have never stopped and these have been dealing with customers repatriating and cargo flights.

 

These are airline decisions being made because the relative governments are not taking heed of the problems others in the tourist industry are facing, the governments are only caring about their problems.

 

If Asian governments do not get their finger out of their bums quickly, there will be no tourism in 2020/21.

 

Crime rates in Thailand and Cambodia are already on the rise. People have to feed their families and big fat leaders of countries spouting nationalistic nonsense on TV, does not put food on the table.

[Tom9999]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Perhaps family.

And having to rent accommodation away from home... 

[aussienam]

11 minutes ago, Letseng said:

My excuse is that for medical reason I could not return. Now I'm stuck. But may be this is just a weak excuse.

Yeah that was my 'weak' excuse too.  So weak that I had to see my specialist in Australia as part of a bi-annual necessity.  

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, aussienam said:

Well,  looks like I have to tell my Thai landlord to end the lease and somehow ship over my motorbike keys and get my stuff into storage.  Plenty of us stranded due to circumstances necessitating us to have been overseas at the time.  Some obviously will scoff and mention that we should have known etc, looking down from their horn rimmed glasses of elitism and superiority complex.  

Many expats were hoping for openings from 1 July.  Allowing in workers, then those who are married next, and hoping the rest of us who are retirees very soon after.  Many of us were away with a suitcase of clothing for a few weeks for a multitude of reasons.  Now paying double rents and mounting costs.  Going to see some suicides soon.  That is for certain.  

[Quote: looking down from their horn rimmed glasses of elitism and superiority complex]

 

Certainly nothing elite or superior about people who are too stupid to recognise their sanctimony is based on the hypocrisy of 20/20 hindsight - these people have no idea they are dumb, have no idea that they are completely unaware of the vast amount of information out there that they don’t know. Instead they believe they are ‘smart’ because through nothing more than inactivity and fortune they have been able to make ‘bold statements’ that these events were predicable. They have no idea how callous and sanctimonious they appear.... utter idiots.

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, starky said:

Exactly mate but the bloke you are replying to is clearly a troll with no idea how the world or offshore works at all. Have not seen my wife and 2 daughters for 4 months and certainly didn't have plenty of time. In fact Thai airways cancelled all my flights and then just closed the border all in a very short time.

Sorry, but I find it very hard to believe that you did not know there was a risk that you could get stranded or could not return to Thailand. The announcements were clear and the trajectory towards a total lockdown was very obvious from mid-Feb.

 

FYI I worked offshore for many years and most of the guys are arrogant to an extreme when it comes to admitting fault. A trait exhibited on all the threads discussing this topic too it appears.

 

Hope you get back soon.

[Sharp]

Expect a u turn international flights 1st August latest I betting