Overall negative reaction to Thai Covid-19 center meeting, majority of business owners, tourists want much further and faster easing of restrictions

[mjakob007]

10 minutes ago, mlkik said:

You clearly have not flown recently as your info is wrong.

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

[mlkik]

22 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

Thailand do not require an RT-PCR test pre departure as from 01/04/2022.

Therefore all airlines will update their pre flight requirements to be in line with the destination countries entry rules.

Airlines base their RT-PCR requirements on the destination country.

 

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The road accident problem isn't addressed because it is out of control and insoluble. Why?

1 - I have never detected any sign of common sense in a Thai, and I've been living here for over 25 years. I am not sure how you teach that, but anyway there is no movement to do so.

2 - The Thais have a Me First mentality that is deeply ingrained, and that is the last thing you want to see in a driver.

3 - The education system demands that you do not think for yourself but listen and obey, so Thais do not develop the necessary skills to actually think. That may result in my first point above.

4 - Learning to drive in a proper and responsible manner is quite difficult, and Thais do not do difficult. Thais do 'near enough', but on the roads that isn't 'good enough'. One mistake can cost lives, so being lucky enough to get it right most of the time isn't good enough either.

5 - They have absolutely no concept that the vehicle they are attempting to operate is a potential killer. No concept at all.

6 - Along with inadequate teaching of all things about how to drive properly and safely, there is no test to determine if you have reached a standard where you are not a danger to yourself and others before you take to the road.

7 - Thais do not seem able to join the dots, and realise that if, for example, they drive at 120 kms an hour five metres behind the vehicle in front, or drive at night with no rear light (or front light if they are driving on the wrong side of the road because they have no concept of the danger), then they would have no time to react if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly. Ask any Thai what their safe braking distance is and they would have no idea.

8 - There are zero police patrols to help prevent accidents by pulling aside selfish and stupid drivers. Their only presence is setting up road blocks which seems in my experience to have only one purpose - to check your tax disc is in the window and up to date.

9 - Police have absolutely no interest in enforcing the law even when they are static beside the road, watching kids three or four on a bike go by with no helmet, no license, no ability to properly control the bike they are on. And that goes also for the parents and schools who allow Thailand's future to play Russian Roulette every time they go out. The police know they get paid anyway, so why work?

10 - The government does nothing to resolve the road death/accident toll as nothing practically can be done. The problem began decades ago when Thais first began to drive in numbers. No meaningful test was introduced and enforced, and now it is far, far too late. It would mean retraining every driver (and who would do that - it would be similar to those who teach English not being able to speak the language themselves). And it would mean the drivers having to take a proper western-style test before gaining a license. And it would mean police patrols to catch those who drive as if they are playing a video game. Now, anyone can drive as they like and put themselves and others in danger as they know they have zero chance of being caught. They can drive that way with total impunity. And it would require said (non-existent) police to actually enforce the law. And not one of those things is possible in Thailand.

And that is why the government does absolutely nothing to address the problem, as it is out of control and without a fundamental change in the whole of Thai society and culture it cannot be remedied. The government knows that but can't say it.

 

"Ask any Thai what their safe braking distance is and they would have no idea".

I agree with everything you have said except for the aforementioned.

I don't know what my safe braking distance is either. It would depend on traffic, road, speed, weather conditions etc.

I am not going to bother trying to work out stupid little sums in my head, proper genuine common sense applies here and most Thais do not have that.

[goatfarmer]

6 hours ago, sirineou said:

 

We will have a test before we go, because we are transiting in Doha and do not want to have any problems, 

 

Doha airport does not require PCR tests in order to transit. 

https://dohahamadairport.com/airport-guide/at-the-airport/transfers

 

and here:
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/requirements.html

[goatfarmer]

20 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

Ah, capital letters makes it so! I guess that's like shouting. Very authoritative. 

[NoshowJones]

54 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

Controll..never been easier has it 

Well when there are many soldiers and many guns, as has been constantly proven, they can control all they want, and have sure been doing that, what the generals want, they get, and to hell with the ordinary people.

[Bangkok Barry]

16 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

"Ask any Thai what their safe braking distance is and they would have no idea".

I agree with everything you have said except for the aforementioned.

I don't know what my safe braking distance is either. It would depend on traffic, road, speed, weather conditions etc.

I am not going to bother trying to work out stupid little sums in my head, proper genuine common sense applies here and most Thais do not have that.

It's something I had to know when I took my UK driving test, and at different speeds. But, as you say, it depends on conditions. I can't see that the amount of traffic or the road are relevant.

[Scouse123]

6 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Most airlines do not require pre-flight testing. Please name one.

 

Airlines actually want people to fly. The airlines use the rules of country of destination and country of 

transit.

Same as my thoughts, I bet the poster who stated this doesn't have a link to back up his/her bizarre claim.

[Scouse123]

In all honesty apart from removing this pre flight PCR test  and for all the trumpeting about this big CCSA meeting to be followed by announcements........nothing else has been achieved. Test and Go remains, $20K insurance remains, PCR tests remain in Thailand etc..

 

A giant waste of a meeting and a lost opportunity.

 

Never mind the peasants, eh? ' Let them eat cake! ' 

[Polar Bear]

41 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

It's only a requirement if your destination country requires it. 2 flights back to the UK on Qatar in the last 6 weeks. No pre-flight PCR needed on the way to the UK. PCR needed for the return to Thailand.

[Derek B]

8 hours ago, Jerno said:

They better lift the ridiculous alcohol restrictions also.

And the soapy massage restrictions too - after all right at the beginning, 2 years ago, washing with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds was advocated over and over - so with vaccinations now available & other lessons learnt there is no reasonable grounds for the ban continuing.

[NoshowJones]

19 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

It's something I had to know when I took my UK driving test, and at different speeds. But, as you say, it depends on conditions. I can't see that the amount of traffic or the road are relevant.

They certainly are relevant. IMO common sense is about 80% of driving, that is why Thais are so bad at it.

[NoshowJones]

52 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

When I fly to the UK, I don't expect to have anything to do with PCRs or anything else. Qatar can stick their flights where the sun don't shine.

[Boomer6969]

If I was to fly from Europe to Thailand, for a holiday, I'd feel a lot better if I knew that everyone on the flight was duly vaccinated and had passed a PCR test just before departure. Proper insurance I'd carry anyhow as I wouldn't expect the country of destination to provide free health care.

 

So Thailand wouldn't have to get involved much, as it should be up to the airlines to ensure their flight are Covid free. The only thing the Thais would have to do would be detain the tourists who haven't paid their hospital bills, until due compensation was provided.

[HOOD Robin]

8 hours ago, Petey11 said:

They got it the wrong way around, should have kept PCR before arrival and get rid of the other tests and Thai Pass.

Why ?  PCR = BS = LIES

[Polar Bear]

10 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

When I fly to the UK, I don't expect to have anything to do with PCRs or anything else. Qatar can stick their flights where the sun don't shine.

Qatar Airways do not require a pre-flight PCR test for the UK.

[mjakob007]

10 minutes ago, mlkik said:

You clearly have not flown recently as your info is wrong.

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

[mjakob007]

29 minutes ago, Polar Bear said:

It's only a requirement if your destination country requires it. 2 flights back to the UK on Qatar in the last 6 weeks. No pre-flight PCR needed on the way to the UK. PCR needed for the return to Thailand.

That may be a possibility.

 

[NoshowJones]

2 minutes ago, Polar Bear said:

Qatar Airways do not require a pre-flight PCR test for the UK.

Thanks, I was just replying to another poster. But tomorrow things could change again.

[mjakob007]

1 hour ago, goatfarmer said:

Ah, capital letters makes it so! I guess that's like shouting. Very authoritative. 

glad you got it

[mlkik]

41 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

Thailand do not require an RT-PCR test pre departure as from 01/04/2022.

Therefore all airlines will update their pre flight requirements to be in line with the destination countries entry rules.

Airlines base their RT-PCR requirements on the destination country.

[86Tiger]

36 minutes ago, mjakob007 said:

That may be a possibility.

 

If you read Qatar website it will state Qatar has no requirements, only verify arriving nation requirements before boarding.  I didn't trust website and spent 45 minutes on hold for a service rep to verify.

 

And for the guy transiting thru Doha, there is no requirements there as well.  Doha is the most normal airport I have traveled thru, absolutely packed to pre covid levels and every shop/restaurant open as normal.  Huge contrast to walking thru Suvarnabhumi 

[Cabradelmar]

9 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Why is eliminating pre-flight test, something that could save a family over $USD 1000 dollars "a joke"? 

You are taking a big risk not to get a preflight PCR test if you are being PCR tested on arrival. I'd rather take some control of my own destiny (giving myself some minimal assurance before I fly), and not leave it all to chance on a PCR test on arrival.

 

Unless you are flying direct to BKK on a sealed route (and are not  transiting thought another airport / changing planes) you will need a pre-departure PCR test to board. The airlines, say flying though Japan, will demand it (and the other passengers on your flight not flying with you into BKK will expect it).

 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, mlkik said:

Airlines base their RT-PCR requirements on the destination country.

Any impact relating to any transit country.... (2-3 hours transit)?

[jerrymahoney]

From Hamad International Airport - Doha website:

 

18. Are you screening passengers at HIA?
We are continually conducting entry screening for all arriving passengers and crew terminating in Doha on a 24/7 basis. We have installed advanced thermal cameras that can remotely record the body temperature of each passenger. If a passenger is detected to have fever, they are transferred to the special clinic at the airport arrivals side.

 

https://dohahamadairport.com/covid-19-impact-faqs
 

[mlkik]

13 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Any impact relating to any transit country.... (2-3 hours transit)?

I flew back to the UK with KLM and had a 9 hour wait is Schipol and did not require a RT-PCR test as my destination was UK.

[clivebaxter]

2 hours ago, mjakob007 said:

flying on Qatar on 23/March/2022 and negative PCR test within 48 hours IS a requirement 

 

23 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

If you read Qatar website it will state Qatar has no requirements, only verify arriving nation requirements before boarding.  I didn't trust website and spent 45 minutes on hold for a service rep to verify.

 

And for the guy transiting thru Doha, there is no requirements there as well.  Doha is the most normal airport I have traveled thru, absolutely packed to pre covid levels and every shop/restaurant open as normal.  Huge contrast to walking thru Suvarnabhumi 

If you are going to the UK they do not want to see anything certainly not a PCR test result. I have confirmed it via twitter, phone and messages from them on the Qatar app

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, mlkik said:

I flew back to the UK with KLM and had a 9 hour wait is Schipol and did not require a RT-PCR test as my destination was UK.

9 hours, for heavens sake you could have swam it faster!

[Polar Bear]

17 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Any impact relating to any transit country.... (2-3 hours transit)?

Only if the transit country requires it.

[hashmodha]

We have lost 3 seasons already....Do they realise this!??????????.....