Repat flight - bold solution!

[mjakob007]

As there are many of us trying to leave Europe, US and Southern Africa on repat flights but not able to make it due to limitation of seats, following may be a solution. slightly long shot though..

 

There are occasional repat flights from Addis, Ethiopia to Bangkok, which are not busy.

There was one on 26/August and the flight was less than half full. 

This would be an option for those who can get a Covid result within 24 hours of testing and may be spend slightly more to pay for a flight hop to Addis..

 

 

[ubonjoe]

That might work if you could get a flight to Ethiopia and you could get a reservation for the repatriation flight.

I assume the embassy in Kenya is arranging the flights and certificates of entry since they are responsible for Ethiopia.

There is a honorary Thai consulate in Ethiopia that may be assisting the embassy in Kenya with the arrangements.

 

[mjakob007]

The CoE can be issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in ones country of origin or residence, provided one has a ticket on the repat flights.

 

Repat flights from Addis are meant to cover most of passengers from Africa (which is limited). I came to know a few who were based in West Africa and SA, who hopped on yesterdays flight from Addis. CoE's for passengers for this flight were issued by Royal Thai embassies in Nigeria covering few countries in West Africa & RTE in SA.

 

I am assuming if these flights are not full, Thai Embassies in Europe may be open to issuing CoE for these flights in conjunction with embassies in Kenya or Ethiopia. ET has frequent flights between multiple cities in Europe.

[MRToMRT]

A guy has just written up his return transiting through Addis on Facebook, so its doable.

 

 

[lopburi3]

Believe the issue remains quarantine facilities more than airline capacity.  Even with official private facilities recently expanded almost all are fully booked.  You can't fly here without space being available for quarantine.   

[tso310]

The Thai Gov has booked space on 5 flights from Addis in September. It is a normally scheduled flight. The Thai Embassy Nairobi is carrying the details. I'm not sure when the academic year starts in China but there are many Ethiopian students in China so I assume there may be a surge in passengers sometimes.

[VBF]

That is indeed a bold solution especially in these troubled times - very good luck to you!!!! ????

Do post on here if it works for you, too 

[sometimewoodworker]

Don’t forget your yellow fever vacation if you need to spend time outside the airport in Addis Ababa 

[mjakob007]

3 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Don’t forget your yellow fever vacation if you need to spend time outside the airport in Addis Ababa 

Very valid reminder. Yellow fever cards will come handy

 

ET puts their transit pax at ,skylight hotel Which is very smart

[sometimewoodworker]

26 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

Very valid reminder. Yellow fever cards will come handy

 

ET puts their transit pax at ,skylight hotel Which is very smart

That was not the hotel I was given. They probably use several. Also you need to be in transit for more than 12 hours to get a free hotel, so enough to need a yellow fever vacation.

[ChouDoufu]

On 8/27/2020 at 7:38 PM, tso310 said:

The Thai Gov has booked space on 5 flights from Addis in September. It is a normally scheduled flight. The Thai Embassy Nairobi is carrying the details. I'm not sure when the academic year starts in China but there are many Ethiopian students in China so I assume there may be a surge in passengers sometimes.

 

academic year usually begins first week of september, although this year some schools have moved the start date to the middle of september.

 

factor in a couple weeks of quarantine, assuming china will open for foreign students.

[CanadaSam]

I think a far easier option is Emirates Airlines, which is starting daily flights from Dubai to Bangkok on 1st September.

 

Dubai also has very few restrictions on tourists visiting already in place!

 

https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/emirates-to-resume-flights-to-thailand-from-september-1.1069031

[KhaoNiaw]

27 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

I think a far easier option is Emirates Airlines, which is starting daily flights from Dubai to Bangkok on 1st September.

No it isn't going to start flying. They're just looking to get some cash in and then they'll cancel the flights. 
The Thai consulate in Dubai has already said it won't be possible to resume commercial flights and there'll be a repatriation flight with Etihad from Dubai in September. 

[mjakob007]

On 8/28/2020 at 6:33 PM, VBF said:

That is indeed a bold solution especially in these troubled times - very good luck to you!!!! ????

Do post on here if it works for you, too 

We (family of 4), did just that and now in Corona jail 

[mjakob007]

On 8/29/2020 at 12:44 AM, CanadaSam said:

I think a far easier option is Emirates Airlines, which is starting daily flights from Dubai to Bangkok on 1st September.

 

Dubai also has very few restrictions on tourists visiting already in place!

 

https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/emirates-to-resume-flights-to-thailand-from-september-1.1069031

I heard about this option from a senior person at EK too.

if this starts off, certainly a good option.

 

there are now 50+ ASQ facilities 

[VBF]

4 hours ago, mjakob007 said:

We (family of 4), did just that and now in Corona jail 

Well done!  ????

I presume, you're living in Thailand rather than "just" tourists, like me?

[treetops]

On 8/28/2020 at 7:11 PM, KhaoNiaw said:

No it isn't going to start flying. They're just looking to get some cash in and then they'll cancel the flights. 
The Thai consulate in Dubai has already said it won't be possible to resume commercial flights and there'll be a repatriation flight with Etihad from Dubai in September. 

It's actually already flying daily, and has been for a couple of weeks.  It goes on from BKK to HKG so may only be carrying passengers destined for there, and picking up people on the way back.  However, they are still selling tickets for it so if you have all the necessary paperwork to board/enter Thailand, it may just be a feasible method.

 

Getting a COE may be the stumbling block as some Embassies won't issue them until they see you've booked one of their repatriation flights.

[bkkniko]

Looking into this option as well. 

 

How will you manage to get co vid 19 test and fit to fly cert within 72 hours issued if there is a layover in addis? 

[mjakob007]

1 hour ago, bkkniko said:

Looking into this option as well. 

 

How will you manage to get co vid 19 test and fit to fly cert within 72 hours issued if there is a layover in addis? 

I did inquire with few facilities in Addis, but could not find anyone who would deliver results in less than 2-3 days.

 

Only option is to obtain Covid test & F2F from country of origin (+/- 24 hours prior to boarding first flight), flight to Addis + transit in Addis < 48 hours and we are home and dry. 72 hour cut off is at the time of boarding the repat flight not arrival in BKK.

 

Its not for the faint hearted... but having done it now with the family, I would suggest this option to anybody that is struggling to obtain flights from other locations.

 

There were discussions about emirates starting daily flights to BKK. would be interesting to hear about experiences from anybody having done that.