How to return to Thailand with COVID recovery certificate

[jojothai]

The saga continues.

I got to dubai on emirates from heathrow.
but they would not let me board the flight to bangkok.
They checked here and said i must have 14 days from the original pcr test that was positive, For recovery time.
But thankfully they have confirmed i can fly tomorrow. Being here in dubai i can get to thailand only just within my thai pass limit of tomorrow.
Rebooked the flight to 3am tomorrow morning.
Rebooked the hotel in bkk.
Still face the third step of the process for what happens when i get to bangkok if my pcr test is positive, then quarantine.

[internationalism]

Dubai airsite pcr test $50, just between terminal b and c. Just only up to 25 minutes wait for result. 
Get to pharmacy for the medicine i have mentioned

[balhamred]

Just going to add this here for other people who might come across this thread if they end up in this position.

 

Friend of mine arrived in Bangkok with a positive PCR. He was asked if he had covid recently and then asked to provide the documents to prove it.

Then he had the option to take a blood test (for 3000 baht) to see his antibodies and since that came back okay, he was free to leave.

[internationalism]

But antibody test can be taken before departure, some $50, so much cheaper than on arriving in bangkok. And useful on check in, transit and faster process in thailand. 
probably worth to ask hospital to do and supply it together with recovery certificate/documentation

Edited December 30, 2021 by internationalism

[jojothai]

28 minutes ago, internationalism said:

But antibody test can be taken before departure, some $50, so much cheaper than on arriving in bangkok. And useful on check in, transit and faster process in thailand. 
probably worth to ask hospital to do and supply it together with recovery certificate/documentation

Thanks intl.

Emirates have said that i can fly this morning. Checked with bangkok and cleared.

IMHO Taking a new PCR test may not do much now. 

Its the test in bangkok that matters.

Balhamred has provided the info that we needed. That is great news.

Antibody test is not on the list of what is required or accepted for travel. PCR only. So i do not recommend getting it before travel. 

Its in bangkok it will have to be done.

I have been using nose and throat medications. Thanks for the advice.

I fly from dubai in 2 hours.

Assuming i get on ok, people now know the 14 days minimum after test positive + recovery certificate and emirates will allow travel.

None of the other airlines would let me fly. I tried many.

Thai airways let me down totally with their interpretation of rules. They clearly demanded 14 days after the recovery date ( not the positive test date) and that is not a requirement in all the rules i know.

When people test positive in bangkok, they have to be quarantined / hospital for 14 days, So how can they think it is 11 (uk recovery cert) plus 14 days. Thats 25 days.

Somebody making their own interpretation and would not change their mind regardless of very good effort by the check in supervisor.

I think we all know how difficult it can be to get people to change their mind. TIT, Once stated they do not want to admit an error.

 

[jojothai]

The other thing to note is that i am lucky i flew to dubai on 29th landing 30th. Now can fly inti bkk on 31st.

Even if thai airways allowed me to fly from london on 14 days = 31 december.

I would not be allowed to fly because i would land on 01 jan, after my thailand pass has expired on 31st.

Because i am in dubai already i can fly now this morning 31st at 3 am and land in bkk ok within my thai pass.

Incredibly fortunate from my 2 days harassing all the airlines in manchester airport to find out who would allow me to fly.

I could only find emirates.

 

[jojothai]

FYI

I got onto the emirates flight ok.

no problems on entry at Suvarnabhumi.

in hotel, wait for PCR test result.

the hotel has had somebody before was recovered and tested positive.

 

if it happens to me, i will have to go to partner hospital get blood test.

they say that the blood test result takes 1 to 2 days.

 

Great to be able to get back, just by the skin of my teeth.

[internationalism]

Pin and p.rick tests covid results can be within 1h and are some $50 with doctors certificate. Usually can be done at the same clinic, as the pcr test, at the same time. Some clinics do offer package for both. 
you had chance to get it free on nhs if you have asked 

hospital will most likely keep you at least until results

Edited January 1, 2022 by internationalism

[jojothai]

36 minutes ago, internationalism said:

Pin and p.rick tests covid results can be within 1h and are some $50 with doctors certificate. Usually can be done at the same clinic, as the pcr test, at the same time. Some clinics do offer package for both. 
you had chance to get it free on nhs if you have asked 

hospital will most likely keep you at least until results

I was at heathrow after being denied boarding by thai airways.

it was not possible to do rapid tests anywhere in heathrow /central london.until 5 january.

i could only have done private test for result end of next day. too late for thai pass

 

if you go for another pcr test on NHS and it is positive you are legally required to isolate (and not travel) it is on record.

No way would i do a test on NHS, when it may be positive. That would have been the worst thing to do.

 

You cannot use an NHS test for travel.

 

when i was denied boarding by emirates in dubai they told me i woulld be able to board the next day, 12 hours time.

even if i did a pcr test at the airport the result would not get to me in time to fly any earlier.

it would also have been an extremley risky thing to do when i do not know what may happen in dubai if it is  positive.

 

 

[jojothai]

my pcr test result here was negative. i am now out of quarantine. ????????

The ordeal is over provided the day 5 to 7  test is also negative.

 

However i note that for PCR test here they did swab only on nose.

That could make a difference.

when i was doing my Lateral flow tests at the time of infection, they were sometimes negative just on nose but positive when including throat. 

the uk PCR tests were throat both sides and both sides of nose.

Edited January 1, 2022 by jojothai
add info

[internationalism]

In bangkok some hospitals, as kasemrad ramkanhang, doing both nostrils and throat. All very deep and painful. 
at yet another, piyavate hospital, the first time were both nostrils, but the second just one nostril. 
i think yesterday, being holiday, all were taking easy, probably without superiors watch. So more likely negative. And results came fast, because not overloaded with domestic patients. 
 

Edited January 1, 2022 by internationalism

[jojothai]

Thanks intl.

Have to consider piyavate.

If anybody else has done the second tests, i would be grateful for any info on the procedure used and where.

Throat? One nostril or two.

 

I will be taking second test on thursday.

Will be doing some lateral flow test comparison on throat / nose combination to see if any difference.

I also have two different types of LF test kit from uk to use for check.

Still using nose and throat spray.

Edited January 1, 2022 by jojothai

[milhouse82]

Thanks for this detailed report, jojothai and I'm happy you made it. This situation is something that I've been thinking about a lot. I'm planning a trip to Bangkok within the next few months and getting the virus/testing positive close to my scheduled departure is my biggest fear. However after searching a bit its unclear if certificates of recovery are even available where I live (BC Canada).

 

Out of curiosity, how much money did you end up paying for all this? Not looking for an exact number if you aren't comfortable but I hope you had refundable flights or something to that effect. 

 

I've traveled to Thailand a few times since 2017 with few hiccups. All the rules and restrictions these days are a huge pain. 

 

Cheers. 

[jojothai]

6 hours ago, milhouse82 said:

Thanks for this detailed report, jojothai and I'm happy you made it. This situation is something that I've been thinking about a lot. I'm planning a trip to Bangkok within the next few months and getting the virus/testing positive close to my scheduled departure is my biggest fear. However after searching a bit its unclear if certificates of recovery are even available where I live (BC Canada).

 

Out of curiosity, how much money did you end up paying for all this? Not looking for an exact number if you aren't comfortable but I hope you had refundable flights or something to that effect. 

 

I've traveled to Thailand a few times since 2017 with few hiccups. All the rules and restrictions these days are a huge pain. 

 

Cheers. 

Finnair would not fly me and I am trying to get a rebooking for next trip. Ticket cost about 430 GBP.
Thai airways in Bangkok said I would be ok to fly , but then I was denied boarding. Likely I my have to reclaim what I can, if so possibly out of pocket about 250USD

Emirates cost me about 650 USD. initial ticket plus a change fee.

I should be able to claim on my insurance either the finnair or the emirates cost.

The Thai Aiways i do not know yet, the superintendent was very helpful, put details on my file and said that I should be able to rebook.
However I do not know conditions yet or any extra cost to compare with refund. If I  can rebook. Then i could use it for my next trip to UK. 
So this will have cost me approx 900 USD. I need to see what the insurance will cover. I trust at least about 650 USD.

It also cost me 4 nights in hotel in Manchester. I could not stay with relatives after 25th . That cost is about 180 GBP.

 

I did not mention yet that I have an agreement to buy a house here on 14th January and would have had a lot more problems if I could not get back on the 31st.

 

FOR CLARITY , anybody trying to fly with a recovery certificate, note the following:

Thai airways are not allowing the correct number of days. They said 14 days after recovery date on certificate. That's not correct.

I was allowed in, landing with 14 days recovery after positive test. (Surely that matches the 14 days quarantine here in Thailand after positive test?)

Anybody flying with recovery cert from Europe or UK, best go to Emirates if you need to fly quickly.

Allow at least 14 days to departure date, after the date of positive test on the recovery certificate.

European airlines will not let you fly and transit with a positive PCR test regardless of any recovery certificate.

 

FYI, my lateral flow tests became negative on 27th, 10 days after the positive PCR test, but my travel PCR was positive on the 28th.

My Lateral flow tests are still now negative both throat and nasal, so i trust i will be ok with next PCR test here on 6th January

 

[jojothai]

A final note to say that I went to Piyavate hospital for the second PCR test yesterday.

The process there was fairly efficient and on time.

 

They took the swab on one side of the nose, not on the throat.

My test was negative

[internationalism]

You had a long layover in dubai. What did you do? Any good resting, sleeping places? What budget eateries are open beside the junk food? Did you ask for food vouchers?

the safest way for emirates would upgrade to business or row of 3 seats at the front and board you the last and disembark the first. 

[jojothai]

I was knackered and needed some sleep.

I got a pod for half price on booking.Com

Paid 200 dirham is approx 50 usd.

Daytime stay. 12.00 to 23.00.

First time i have used a pod.

It was ok. I checked in about 4pm and got 5 to 6 hours sleep.

A few restaurant places were open, but i wasnt too bothered and just got some fast food.

Bought a small box of beer cans at duty free rather than pay about 10 +usd a beer in the restaurant./ bars. 

Had a few cans with the fast food.

Put the rest in my baggage for 

quarantine hotel.

On the flight they had manaaged to get me in a row on my own.

Nobody in front or adjacent, only one arab behind my seat.

Flight was about 30 to 40 % full.