Trip report to UK and back.

[phetphet]

Just did a ten day trip back to the UK with Thai Air.

 

Printed off all documents including Thailand Pass, and all went smoothly checking in. Showed Thailand Pass, vaccination certificate , insurance certificate.

Flight was pretty empty and took off on time. The staff do make an announcement that it is not allowed to move from designated seat during flight, under pain of prosecution, but I had already done so before the announcement and bagged an empty row of three seats. Most other passengers did the same. Everyone was spread out as the flight was so quiet.

 

Once food out of the way, just lifted up the arms of the seats and stretched out to sleep. 

Arrived LHR after 6am and swept through passport control. No one about. Passport control normally chaotic. Was at my hotel by 8:15.

 

Coming back. At LHR check in I showed Thailand Pass and Fit to Fly Certificate. I asked check in staff, " if the flight is quiet, please could I have a row to myself if possible?" Was given row 72. Checked the seat plan and was last row. Right at the very back by the toilets. Only two seats row. <deleted>!

 

So what I did was wait at the gate until everyone had boarded. Gave it a few minutes for stragglers to board, then went aboard myself. Again the flight was empty, so I just sat in another row of three empty seats towards the front. No one around me.

So nice to be able to stretch out and sleep in economy. Very quiet too as no one up and down the aisles.

 

To be honest, looking at Thai business class seating, and having flown EVA business many times which is far more spacious, this wasn't a half bad way to fly economy. Stretched out to sleep again.

 

Landed BKK 06:15, a brisk walk to try and get ahead of the crowds for the COVID process, 

Despite being told what was needed at the counters, (Thailand Pass, PCR test certificate negative result, passport, boarding pass and TM.6 landing card.) many people were arriving not ready which started to slow things. Luckily the row I was in moved quickly, and I picked up bags from carousel, breezed through customs by 06:45.

 

As exit Customs there are desks full of reps from the various Test & Go hotels waiting to take people to their respective hotels. This was the longest delay I had. Had to wait 30 mins for other guests staying at same hotel to come out. Then minibus to hotel. and PCR test and check in.

 

Not allowed to leave room until check out. Not even if negative result comes today. Have to stay in room until check out tomorrow.

if you book extra nigh in hotel, still not allowed to go outside room until checkout. It becomes a 48 hour test & Go. Odd.

 

So flying Thai at the moment was all in all pretty good. Direct flight and a chance to lie down and sleep in economy.

 

 

[Will B Good]

8 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Printed off all documents including Thailand Pass, and all went smoothly checking in. Showed Thailand Pass, vaccination certificate , insurance certificate.

I am right in saying the Thailand Pass and Insurance certificate were not needed outbound to LHR????

[Will B Good]

Did you not need a negative PCR certificate to board in Thailand?

[Chivas]

Nice report well done.

On a personal note until every restriction (bar the insurance requirement) is completely lifted than I will not be going again

 

I acknowledge that may well be Ad infinitum

[phetphet]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Did you not need a negative PCR certificate to board in Thailand?

No. I did not need any test to board the flight to exit thailand. I was asked to show my Thailand Pass, insurance and vaccination passport,

 

The only tests I did were a day 2 Lateral Flow test in the UK. Arrival day is classed as day zero. Then a PCR-test for Fit To Fly certificate.

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by phetphet

[Will B Good]

Just now, phetphet said:

No. I did not need any test to board the flight to exit thailand. I was asked to show my Thailand Pass, insurance and vaccination passport,

Why would they ask to see your Thailand Pass and insurance????

[phetphet]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

Why would they ask to see your Thailand Pass and insurance????

I don't know. I just gave them what they asked for. I think the person at check in was maybe uncertain of requirements, but I had it all and just showed as asked.

[Will B Good]

Just now, phetphet said:

I don't know. I just gave them what they asked for. I think the person at check in was maybe uncertain of requirements, but I had it all and just showed as asked.

Thanks.....flying Sunday and you are scaring me re: Thailand Pass and insurance.....555

[Eff1n2ret]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Why would they ask to see your Thailand Pass and insurance????

Perhaps it's an internal airline thing. If the OP was on a return ticket to BKK they wanted to assure themselves that he wouldn't be a problem trying to come back

[phetphet]

Just now, Will B Good said:

Thanks.....flying Sunday and you are scaring me re: Thailand Pass and insurance.....555

All went pretty smoothly. I had everything they asked for in a folder. 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Eff1n2ret said:

Perhaps it's an internal airline thing. If the OP was on a return ticket to BKK they wanted to assure themselves that he wouldn't be a problem trying to come back

Yes.....that crossed my mind as well.....I have only booked oneway, as it happens......(keeps the wife on tenter hooks).....so I assume they will not even ask.

[lanng khao]

Thailand pass for leaving Thailand?, Is that the same as the passanger locator form?

[lanng khao]

2 minutes ago, lanng khao said:

Thailand pass for leaving Thailand?, Is that the same as the passanger locator form?

Sorry your on a return trip, I understand..

[phetphet]

4 minutes ago, lanng khao said:

Thailand pass for leaving Thailand?, Is that the same as the passanger locator form?

No. In my case, the Passenger Locator Form is required by the UK government so they know where you are staying so they can contact you incase of an outbreak, where you might have been.

The Thailand Pass is required by the Thai government to prove you have complied with all their requirement to enter or re-enter Thailand.

Edited November 25, 2021 by phetphet

[Will B Good]

28 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Not allowed to leave room until check out. Not even if negative result comes today. Have to stay in room until check out tomorrow.

How is that controlled?......We are in an SHA+ hotel and wondered are the 'quarantiners' all on a particular floor?

Is all your food brought to you? Are there 'guards' to stop you escaping?

[phetphet]

Just now, Will B Good said:

How is that controlled?......We are in an SHA+ hotel and wondered are the 'quarantiners' all on a particular floor?

Is all your food brought to you? Are there 'guards' to stop you escaping?

I am sitting in a Test & Go hotel right now. When I arrived by hotel minibus to an isolated area for check in I had to download the Mor Chana app, pick my choices for meals, take a PCR test and put plastic covers over my shoes.

I was then escorted to the  room.

Knock at the door and breakfast left outside. in a paper bag. Once finished, put everything back in bag and leave outside door in provided tray. All meals will be provided the same way.

 

Told not allowed to leave room until check out tomorrow. Even if negative result comes back today.

[Will B Good]

5 minutes ago, phetphet said:

I am sitting in a Test & Go hotel right now. When I arrived by hotel minibus to an isolated area for check in I had to download the Mor Chana app, pick my choices for meals, take a PCR test and put plastic covers over my shoes.

I was then escorted to the  room.

Knock at the door and breakfast left outside. in a paper bag. Once finished, put everything back in bag and leave outside door in provided tray. All meals will be provided the same way.

 

Told not allowed to leave room until check out tomorrow. Even if negative result comes back today.

Thanks for that......do you think you and your fellow inmates are all kept on the same floor? Is it done on trust that you stay in your room?

[roo860]

18 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Thanks for that......do you think you and your fellow inmates are all kept on the same floor? Is it done on trust that you stay in your room?

Can socialise in the communial shower block.

[phetphet]

58 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Thanks for that......do you think you and your fellow inmates are all kept on the same floor? Is it done on trust that you stay in your room?

i don't know. There were only three of us from the airport. I came up alone, but I would imagine everyone on same floor for convenience.

There are staff about in the corridor, but nowhere to go anyway.

Food not to my liking. Glad I brought some snacks.

Gonna see if I can order a pizza delivery.

[ronster]

My mate arrived last week and was tested in the morning when he got of the flight and got results back late afternoon. He was told he was free to go out after that if he wished , but must stay the night in the hotel and could leave whenever he wanted next day .

Said there were 30 in economy on Thai airways flight from Lhr to Bkk via Phuket and half got off in Phuket.

[bluemoon58]

20 hours ago, phetphet said:

No. I did not need any test to board the flight to exit thailand. I was asked to show my Thailand Pass, insurance and vaccination passport

Thailand Pass and insurance to EXIT Thailand...??? Why...??? Can someone explain...??? These are for ENTERING Thailand not exiting from what I've read. The vaccination passport I can understand.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, bluemoon58 said:

Thailand Pass and insurance to EXIT Thailand...??? Why...??? Can someone explain...??? These are for ENTERING Thailand not exiting from what I've read. The vaccination passport I can understand.

That was a typo. He left out the to exit to Thailand.

[Guderian]

22 hours ago, phetphet said:

Flight was pretty empty and took off on time. The staff do make an announcement that it is not allowed to move from designated seat during flight, under pain of prosecution

What, not even to use the toilets??? ????

 

Before people rush off to book a ten-day trip back home, here's a word of warning. My brother just flew back to the UK from Barbados with all the usual precautions. Had a day-2 PCR test after he got home which came back negative. Two days later he was sent a text message saying that one of the passengers on the flight had tested positive so he must take another PCR test and self-isolate until the results came back. Now he's in his 70's and has diabetes so is in a very high risk group and takes a lot of care to avoid the virus, yet the second test came back positive and he was told that he must self-isolate for 10 days. He lives in South Wales and it's a criminal offence not to follow the self-isolation instructions so he has stayed at home, completely asymptomatic, and today is his first taste of freedom since he got the second test result. He arrived back on the 7th November, so if he'd just been in the UK for 10 days or two weeks the test result would have completely messed-up his return travel plans. He was "lucky" in that he had no other plans to leave again, but just be warned, this can happen to you too. Since he's extremely vulnerable due to age and the diabetes, yet had no symptoms, my guess is that the second PCR test result was wrong, but apparently there's no appealing the process: computer says go to (your own home) jail, and if you refuse then they'll simply put you in the real thing.

 

 

[The Fugitive]

56 minutes ago, Guderian said:

What, not even to use the toilets??? ????

 

Before people rush off to book a ten-day trip back home, here's a word of warning. My brother just flew back to the UK from Barbados with all the usual precautions. Had a day-2 PCR test after he got home which came back negative. Two days later he was sent a text message saying that one of the passengers on the flight had tested positive so he must take another PCR test and self-isolate until the results came back. Now he's in his 70's and has diabetes so is in a very high risk group and takes a lot of care to avoid the virus, yet the second test came back positive and he was told that he must self-isolate for 10 days. He lives in South Wales and it's a criminal offence not to follow the self-isolation instructions so he has stayed at home, completely asymptomatic, and today is his first taste of freedom since he got the second test result. He arrived back on the 7th November, so if he'd just been in the UK for 10 days or two weeks the test result would have completely messed-up his return travel plans. He was "lucky" in that he had no other plans to leave again, but just be warned, this can happen to you too. Since he's extremely vulnerable due to age and the diabetes, yet had no symptoms, my guess is that the second PCR test result was wrong, but apparently there's no appealing the process: computer says go to (your own home) jail, and if you refuse then they'll simply put you in the real thing.

 

 

Thanks for that! Is it possible that the 'other' passenger received a false positive test result? If so, all that was for nothing. Made me think again about travelling now. 

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

What, not even to use the toilets??? ????

 

Before people rush off to book a ten-day trip back home, here's a word of warning. My brother just flew back to the UK from Barbados with all the usual precautions. Had a day-2 PCR test after he got home which came back negative. Two days later he was sent a text message saying that one of the passengers on the flight had tested positive so he must take another PCR test and self-isolate until the results came back. Now he's in his 70's and has diabetes so is in a very high risk group and takes a lot of care to avoid the virus, yet the second test came back positive and he was told that he must self-isolate for 10 days. He lives in South Wales and it's a criminal offence not to follow the self-isolation instructions so he has stayed at home, completely asymptomatic, and today is his first taste of freedom since he got the second test result. He arrived back on the 7th November, so if he'd just been in the UK for 10 days or two weeks the test result would have completely messed-up his return travel plans. He was "lucky" in that he had no other plans to leave again, but just be warned, this can happen to you too. Since he's extremely vulnerable due to age and the diabetes, yet had no symptoms, my guess is that the second PCR test result was wrong, but apparently there's no appealing the process: computer says go to (your own home) jail, and if you refuse then they'll simply put you in the real thing.

 

 

Fearful of the same happening......plumbed for a 3 month stay just in case.

[superal]

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

What, not even to use the toilets??? ????

 

Before people rush off to book a ten-day trip back home, here's a word of warning. My brother just flew back to the UK from Barbados with all the usual precautions. Had a day-2 PCR test after he got home which came back negative. Two days later he was sent a text message saying that one of the passengers on the flight had tested positive so he must take another PCR test and self-isolate until the results came back. Now he's in his 70's and has diabetes so is in a very high risk group and takes a lot of care to avoid the virus, yet the second test came back positive and he was told that he must self-isolate for 10 days. He lives in South Wales and it's a criminal offence not to follow the self-isolation instructions so he has stayed at home, completely asymptomatic, and today is his first taste of freedom since he got the second test result. He arrived back on the 7th November, so if he'd just been in the UK for 10 days or two weeks the test result would have completely messed-up his return travel plans. He was "lucky" in that he had no other plans to leave again, but just be warned, this can happen to you too. Since he's extremely vulnerable due to age and the diabetes, yet had no symptoms, my guess is that the second PCR test result was wrong, but apparently there's no appealing the process: computer says go to (your own home) jail, and if you refuse then they'll simply put you in the real thing.

 

 

Had your brother received his covid jabs and booster prior to his flight ? Was he directed to a particular site in the UK for his pcr test and at what cost / his cost or free ?  Before I wrote this reply I had been reading the BBC world news . There are major concerns about a new covid variant coming from South Africa and the UK medics are saying it is highly infectious . 6 countries from Africa now put on the red list and numerous flights cancelled . So there may well be another series of lockdowns to come and airline bookings could once again be a gamble . 

It appears that concentrating high percentage of population vaccinations to your own particular country  does not mitigate the new variant surge from a sparsely vaccinated continent .  Hope I am wrong and that the current vaccines can handle the new variant .

[Scouse123]

On 11/25/2021 at 12:09 PM, Will B Good said:

How is that controlled?......We are in an SHA+ hotel and wondered are the 'quarantiners' all on a particular floor?

Is all your food brought to you? Are there 'guards' to stop you escaping?

That did not happen to me last week at The Landmark hotel.

 

As soon as my result came in at 5pm, they knocked on my door with a negative result and told me I had freedom to go anywhere I wanted in the hotel or outside.

 

Obviously mask wearing in public areas.

[Scouse123]

On 11/25/2021 at 11:49 AM, Will B Good said:

Did you not need a negative PCR certificate to board in Thailand?

No,

 

Just your passenger locator form which will include a lateral flow test being delivered to your UK address.

 

On your return to Thailand, you will need TWO PCR tests. One from the UK within 72 hours of flight departure and another one the day you arrive in Thailand under the test and go scheme. So, the three tests add about 150 GBP to your trip costs.

[phetphet]

On 11/25/2021 at 12:09 PM, Will B Good said:

How is that controlled?......We are in an SHA+ hotel and wondered are the 'quarantiners' all on a particular floor?

Is all your food brought to you? Are there 'guards' to stop you escaping?

 

i got fed up waiting last night and called reception and asked if the results were back as they told me they would contact me via LiNE by 8pm.

Oh yes. "Already back. Negative."

So I told them I would be checking out at 7am.

 

The elevators were locked. Found out this morning when I tried to get to the lobby to check out.

Edited November 26, 2021 by phetphet

[phetphet]

13 hours ago, bluemoon58 said:

Thailand Pass and insurance to EXIT Thailand...??? Why...??? Can someone explain...??? These are for ENTERING Thailand not exiting from what I've read. The vaccination passport I can understand.

I don't know why.. The girl seemed like she wasn't sure what to do. Maybe it was because I had a return flight and she was just checking.