Interesting:

 

https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-to-resume-flights-to-bangkok-from-1-september/

 

Dubai, 27 August 2020 – Emirates announces the resumption of passenger services to Bangkok with daily flights starting from 1 September.

 

The resumption of flights to Bangkok will expand Emirates’ current network to 78 cities in September, offering travellers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific convenient connections via Dubai to the popular Thai destination.

 

Flights between Dubai and Bangkok will be operated with an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering seats in First, Business and Economy class. Starting from 1 September, flight EK384 will depart Dubai daily at 01:50 and arrive in Bangkok at 11:30, while the return flight, EK385, will depart Bangkok at 03:25, and arrive in Dubai at 06:35, from 2 September.

 

Has CAAT opened up the airports for normal flights to resume.  I have not observed such an article anywhere.  Last I saw was this which does not indicate what Emirates is doing can be accomplished without approval first from Thailand.

https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/51895

The story goes on to say......

 

"Travellers arriving into Bangkok are subject to requirements set by the Thai authorities and certain restrictions are in place. Travellers are urged to check the latest information or visit www.emirates.com/travelrestrictions for details before booking."

 

.....and the link lists all the usual COE restrictions, etc.

How silly of me I guess that Emirates is in the know versus how I read the following.  However, I am probably wrong as my ex-wife would always tell me before she stormed off in one of her Thai tirades. Maybe its how they interpret Section 2,clause (7) 3 and the sub clauses. 

 

2. Aircraft carrying persons shall be banned from entering into the airport in Thailand unless it falls with any of the following categories:

                   (1) State or military aircraft

                   (2) Emergency landing flights

                   (3) Technical landing flights without disembarkation

                   (4) Humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights

                   (5) Repatriation flights

                   (6) Cargo flights

                   (7) Passenger flights carrying the persons permitted to enter Thailand as prescribed in 3.

                   3. The entry into Thailand of the persons of any of the following types, by aircraft, shall be permitted, provided that they comply with the conditions, time limits and rules of the authorized persons under the Thai immigration law, communicable diseases law, air navigation law, and the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, for the prevention of the spread of disease and the organization of the number of persons entering Thailand in accordance with the capability of the competent officers or the communicable disease control officers for the screening and arrangement of facilities for isolation, quarantine and control for observation :

                   (1) Thai nationals

                   (2) Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, pertaining to necessity. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be subject to specified conditions and time limits.

                   (3) Persons on diplomatic or consular missions or under International organizations, or representatives of foreign government performing their duties in the Kingdom, or persons of other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pertaining to necessity, including their spouse, parents, or children.

                   (4) Carriers of necessary goods, subject to immediate return after completion.

                   (5) Crew members who are required to travel into the Kingdom on a mission, and have a specified date and time for return

                   (6) Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national.

                   (7) Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of permanent residency in the Kingdom, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom

                   (8) Non-Thai nationals who have work permit or have been granted permission from government agencies to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children.

                   (9) Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students, except for students of non-formal educational institutions under the law on Private schools and  of other similar private educational institutions

                   (10) NonThai nationals who are in need of medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendantsHowever, this shall not include medical treatment for COVID19

                   (11) NonThai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country

                   4. To enter the Kingdom, the persons under 3. shall comply with Disease Prevention Measures for the Persons Entering the Kingdom to Prevent the Spread of the COVID-19 Disease Annexed to the Order of the Centre for the Administration of the Situation due to the Outbreak of the Communicable Disease Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) No. 7/2563 Issued on 30 June B.E. 2563 (2020).

Thai, EVA and BA have been doing a similar thing for the past few months and then moving the start date forward. As Harry Callahan once said "You've Got To Ask Yourself One Question: Do I Feel Lucky?" .

28 minutes ago, tso310 said:

Thai, EVA and BA have been doing a similar thing for the past few months and then moving the start date forward. As Harry Callahan once said "You've Got To Ask Yourself One Question: Do I Feel Lucky?" .

Same for Swiss, they sell flights to BKK too. These are flexible tickets which constantly get cancelled by the airline. Then you call and reschedule, then they cancel again...

 

2 hours ago, tso310 said:

Thai, EVA and BA have been doing a similar thing for the past few months and then moving the start date forward. As Harry Callahan once said "You've Got To Ask Yourself One Question: Do I Feel Lucky?" .

Seems quite last minute to announce the resumption of flights in 5 days time, if they're then going to cancel them all. 

 

And if they somehow have got permission from the CAAT, it doesn't fit well with the 500 maximum daily arrival. And their flights are a lot cheaper than THAI. Strange indeed. 

Very interesting indeed. Probably the best thing to do is see whether they really do fly as announced. I am a frequent flyer on EK and actually have a return portion of a ticket to BKK - flight cancelled in May. Unfortunately I live somewhere (Cyprus) with no Thai embassy or consulate so cannot do all the necessary paperwork to actually take a flight.

 

I will give EK here a call on Wed or so to see if the flights actually operated.

2 hours ago, laocowboy2 said:

Very interesting indeed. Probably the best thing to do is see whether they really do fly as announced. I am a frequent flyer on EK and actually have a return portion of a ticket to BKK - flight cancelled in May. Unfortunately I live somewhere (Cyprus) with no Thai embassy or consulate so cannot do all the necessary paperwork to actually take a flight.

 

I will give EK here a call on Wed or so to see if the flights actually operated.

Would be good to know... at least that'll be a "real-world" answer amongst all the surmising that's going on. ????

EK384 already flies daily DXB>>BKK>>HKG and returns as EK385 HKG>>BKK>>DXB.  The unknown is if/where passengers get on and off.

Airlines are losing money big time and are looking for cash.

Seems to me it’s just another airline doing a fundraiser. They announce flights, you book, they cancel, you reschedule or take a voucher. Bottom line, they get lots of cash without even flying.

 

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2020/08/emirates-claims-bangkok-flights-are-back/
 

August 31, 2020

 

BANGKOK, 31 August 2020: Emirates says it has all the permissions in place to operate flights to and from Thailand as of 1 September despite a contradictory post by the Royal Thai Consulate in Dubai.

 

The Thai consulate in Dubai posted an announcement on its website at the weekend that cast doubt on the 1 September resumption of flights from Dubai to Bangkok.

 

 

Are they flying into Bangkok tomorrow the 1st with Tourists that have booked regular vacations?

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

Are they flying into Bangkok tomorrow the 1st with Tourists that have booked regular vacations?

Haha, unfortunately not. Dream on. 

4 minutes ago, leicesterguyuk said:

Haha, unfortunately not. Dream on. 

Just responding to the post I quoted, but it never linked so here it is.

 

BANGKOK, 31 August 2020: Emirates says it has all the permissions in place to operate flights to and from Thailand as of 1 September despite a contradictory post by the Royal Thai Consulate in Dubai.

 

The Thai consulate in Dubai posted an announcement on its website at the weekend that cast doubt on the 1 September resumption of flights from Dubai to Bangkok.

13 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Just responding to the post I quoted, but it never linked so here it is.

 

BANGKOK, 31 August 2020: Emirates says it has all the permissions in place to operate flights to and from Thailand as of 1 September despite a contradictory post by the Royal Thai Consulate in Dubai.

 

The Thai consulate in Dubai posted an announcement on its website at the weekend that cast doubt on the 1 September resumption of flights from Dubai to Bangkok.

I don't think anyone really knows what these flights are for, but certainly not general tourism. 

Maybe airlines just trying to put a bit of pressure onto certain parties to re-think their decisions. 

Emirates have updated their website

https://www.emirates.com/english/help/travel-requirements/#81339

6 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Emirates have updated their website

https://www.emirates.com/english/help/travel-requirements/#81339

And when you click on Thailand in there countries list the drip down of requirements for entry goes on and on and on.....

On 8/29/2020 at 7:54 AM, Fairynuff said:

Seems to me it’s just another airline doing a fundraiser. They announce flights, you book, they cancel, you reschedule or take a voucher. Bottom line, they get lots of cash without even flying.

 

I don't think so this time as the flights are running already and have been for a few weeks.  If you can get the paperwork to get you in to Thailand then they'll fly you there.  KLM also have flights which transit through Bangkok and there's a write up here from someone who used them instead of an Embassy organised/controlled repatriation flight.

 

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/i-flew-out-of-thailand-to-get-a-new-visa-one-persons-experience-with-the-new-normal

Just got off the phone with Thai Embassey London, they confirmed that they are issuing CoE for these Emirates flights, subject to all the same CoE criteria as the repatriation with flights.   

 

They will need sufficient notice ( I quoted 7 days ) to issue the CoE due to the additional requests they are now receiving for these additional flights.

 

https://dubai.thaiembassy.org/en/content/emirates-airline-has-been-approved-by-the-caat-to?cate=5d663d7d15e39c3a380001ca

 

I wonder if they'll get around to posting details of this on the embassy we pages.

33 minutes ago, SVC Porter said:

I wonder if they'll get around to posting details of this on the embassy we pages.

I posted the same on Thai Embassy London facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/ThaiEmbLondon

Would the CoE be issued in London or would you need to get it from Dubai ?

52 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

Would the CoE be issued in London or would you need to get it from Dubai ?

I think it would be issued in London, as that's your home country. It's permission to enter Thailand at the end of the day, I doubt it matters where it's obtained for Thai authorities but you might not be allowed on the first Emirates flight from the UK to Dubai without it as they're responsible for you until you reach your final destination. . 

6 hours ago, ArranP said:

Just got off the phone with Thai Embassey London, they confirmed that they are issuing CoE for these Emirates flights, subject to all the same CoE criteria as the repatriation with flights.   

 

They will need sufficient notice ( I quoted 7 days ) to issue the CoE due to the additional requests they are now receiving for these additional flights.

 

https://dubai.thaiembassy.org/en/content/emirates-airline-has-been-approved-by-the-caat-to?cate=5d663d7d15e39c3a380001ca

 

 

What do they mean by sufficient notice? I was told don't send it any earlier than 5 days before your flight.

5 minutes ago, AndrewMciver said:

 

What do they mean by sufficient notice? I was told don't send it any earlier than 5 days before your flight.

He means the embassy need sufficient notice (in this case at least 7 days) to process your CoE due to the increased number of applicants. Ie apply for the CoE at least 7 days before your flight but the earlier the better. 

2 hours ago, leicesterguyuk said:

He means the embassy need sufficient notice (in this case at least 7 days) to process your CoE due to the increased number of applicants. Ie apply for the CoE at least 7 days before your flight but the earlier the better. 

 

Yeah i though as much. So i was even more confused when the embassy told me not to apply too early ! LOL 

 

Do these flights have to be from London?