4 hours ago, BusyB said:

I figured that has to be satire. No one human being can be that dumb and naive. Except perhaps the Trump.

But it does work as satire.

After rereading it a second time, I realized that it had to be satire!

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

The use, or lack, of tracking systems are immaterial given that EVERY vessel transiting the Straights is readily detected by all the shore and small boat radars in the area!

Ok. However, if the intent is to conceal the identity of vessels, not having vessels detail evident has a purpose

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4 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

The use, or lack, of tracking systems are immaterial given that EVERY vessel transiting the Straights is readily detected by all the shore and small boat radars in the area!

As a miscalculation, Trump's decision to attack Iran is right up there with Putin's decision to attack Ukraine.

14 hours ago, ozfarang said:

My Return flight to Per has reduced by AUD100.

Very happy

I just checked the cheapest return flight nonstop is 1600 AUD

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I was planning on flying out to Thailand for a long break in May but will now holdout until June. Not that I'm confident airfares or flight cancellations will improve by then. It's just that there's no way that I feel confident enough buying an incredibly expensive return flight from LHR to BKK and taking out travel insurance will be honoured by either vendor if I commit earlier. It's such a shame as I was really looking forward to my annual 2-month getaway after recovering from prostate surgery. Thanks, Donald.

Just booked my July trip to the US, and it was 200 Baht more than my Trip last November.

10 minutes ago, Senior Player said:

I was planning on flying out to Thailand for a long break in May but will now holdout until June. Not that I'm confident airfares or flight cancellations will improve by then. It's just that there's no way that I feel confident enough buying an incredibly expensive return flight from LHR to BKK and taking out travel insurance will be honoured by either vendor if I commit earlier. It's such a shame as I was really looking forward to my annual 2-month getaway after recovering from prostate surgery. Thanks, Donald.

If your flight is cancelled, will the airline not refund your money?

15 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

If your flight is cancelled, will the airline not refund your money?

Having my return flight cancelled with a refund won't do me much good if I have to spend considerably more to obtain a further ticket to get back home. Not worth the risk or hassle. Regrettably, I will just postpone my trip until things improve dramatically. And I won't be the only one, which is unfortunate and extremely unfair for Thailand's tourism.

Most insurence claims do not pay out in war.

9 minutes ago, Senior Player said:

Having my return flight cancelled with a refund won't do me much good if I have to spend considerably more to obtain a further ticket to get back home. Not worth the risk or hassle. Regrettably, I will just postpone my trip until things improve dramatically. And I won't be the only one, which is unfortunate and extremely unfair for Thailand's tourism.

You think you got it bad.

Just spare a thought for those poor girls having to put up with all the tight fisted Ex-Pats.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

As a miscalculation, Trump's decision to attack Iran is right up there with Putin's decision to attack Ukraine.

Both apparently just brief 'special military operations'. Trump also denying it is a war and even calling it an 'excursion' in one interview. Just a brief outing for the dogs of war so to speak.

36 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Just booked my July trip to the US, and it was 200 Baht more than my Trip last November.

Things might be more rosy for you Americans, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for those flying from London to Bangkok. FYI, direct return flights from London to Bangkok have seen significant price increases following the escalation of the conflict in Iran in early March 2026. Economy fares for direct routes have surged by up to 100%, with some one-way tickets on Thai Airways reaching over 70,000 baht (approx. £1,680), compared to a previous average of around 30,000 baht. And that's right now. Things could get much worse if things continue to escalate.

Now compare a paltry 200 baht increase to a 40,000 baht increase.

5 minutes ago, Bannoi said:

You think you got it bad.

Just spare a thought for those poor girls having to put up with all the tight fisted Ex-Pats.

I know, I know. My heart goes out to those poor girls.

19 minutes ago, BusyB said:

Both apparently just brief 'special military operations'. Trump also denying it is a war and even calling it an 'excursion' in one interview. Just a brief outing for the dogs of war so to speak.

If he called it a war it would have to pass Congress.

A friend of mine's son managed to get a flight back to Blighty from Bangkok on April 3rd for £340.

It took him 4 days of constantly trying to book on the phone, mind.

On 3/18/2026 at 5:43 PM, ikke1959 said:

It seems that Thailand is the only country that has issues of the Iranian war... They have no clue that the problems are the same in the rest of the world

It seems some people fail to grasp that a news outlet based in Thailand will naturally present the world through a Thailand-centric lens. Pick up a publication in the UK and you’ll find many of the same stories - just told from a UK-centric perspective - its not that much of difficult concept to grasp is it ?

15 hours ago, GoodieAfterDark said:

Trump is our warrior fighting against the globalists. He is considered a Masada warrior fighting for the God's chosen people. Well, very simple to explain. There is an agenda called Agenda 2030. They do not want you to air travel anymore, except for the private Lolita expresses for billionaires, save the environment. They do not want you to eat meat and drink milk, so Israel is our hope creating those "wonderful" lab meat and some "delicious" milk and chocolate, yummy! They do not want you to be dependable of fossil fuels, it harms the environment. And the last one, they destroyed the world economy in 2020 with a mysterious bat lab virus from China,...yes, China, America's great enemy was somehow in bed with Faucci and Gates. Their local university received a few donations from Bill Gates, that wonderful man that stopped wars to have the children "vaccinated", what an act of love for the children. And if you are vaccinated and planning to start a family, I will wish you good luck.

That 'Goodie' that you're consuming After Dark... Exactly whats in it ????

2 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Most insurence claims do not pay out in war.

True, but does this qualify as a war?

I'm asking - I don't know.

44 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

True, but does this qualify as a war?

I'm asking - I don't know.

Yes.

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This is excellent news. The less tourists, the better. Keep the riff raff out.

21 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

It won't stop the Indians from coming 😁

They are filling up al those cheaper flights to Perth I just read of.

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

It seems some people fail to grasp that a news outlet based in Thailand will naturally present the world through a Thailand-centric lens. Pick up a publication in the UK and you’ll find many of the same stories - just told from a UK-centric perspective - its not that much of difficult concept to grasp is it ?

Most Thais I know live in a Thai-centric universe, events outside Thailand don't register.

Which made it quite astonishing when my regular massage lady started discussing Trump and the Iran war with me.

If the war is resonating down at that socio-economic level, IMO Americans should start watching their backs.

38 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Most Thais I know live in a Thai-centric universe, events outside Thailand don't register.

Which made it quite astonishing when my regular massage lady started discussing Trump and the Iran war with me.

If the war is resonating down at that socio-economic level, IMO Americans should start watching their backs.

A valid point - and that arguement can be made about almost any country, not just Thailand.

Those of us who travel a lot, live overseas, and step outside our own national bubble naturally develop a broader awareness of the world. It’s not that we’re inherently more insightful - we’re just exposed to more.

Being on an international forum like this already puts most of us in that category. So when we compare our level of geopolitical awareness to the average local person - whether in Thailand or anywhere else - the contrast is noticable.

I’d argue that same gap exsists back home too. The Thai-Cambodian border situation is hardly known at all by most back home in the UK, the ongoing conflict in Myanmar receives at best, a vague recognition. Those issues simply don’t penetrate everyday awareness unless international news is actively followed .

The difference with something like the Iran situation is that it’s dominating global headlines. It’s unavoidable - its penetrated every facet of society (as you pointed out) Whether you’re a taxi driver in Bangkok or a repairman back home, you’re going to hear about it because it’s everywhere. That doesn’t neccessarily signal a deep shift in global awareness - just the sheer scale and visibility of the event.

So I don’t think it’s uniquely a “Thai-centric universe” issue. It’s more about how most people everywhere engage with the world: locally focused, with only the biggest international stories breaking through the noise.

9 hours ago, Senior Player said:

Things might be more rosy for you Americans, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for those flying from London to Bangkok. FYI, direct return flights from London to Bangkok have seen significant price increases following the escalation of the conflict in Iran in early March 2026. Economy fares for direct routes have surged by up to 100%, with some one-way tickets on Thai Airways reaching over 70,000 baht (approx. £1,680), compared to a previous average of around 30,000 baht. And that's right now. Things could get much worse if things continue to escalate.

Now compare a paltry 200 baht increase to a 40,000 baht increase.

I know, I know. My heart goes out to those poor girls.

Thai (direct) was more than double what Emirates was for a one-stop.

Right now, it's cheaper to fly Emirates to London than to Los Angeles

On 3/19/2026 at 9:16 AM, GoodieAfterDark said:

Trump is our warrior fighting against the globalists. He is considered a Masada warrior fighting for the God's chosen people. Well, very simple to explain. There is an agenda called Agenda 2030. They do not want you to air travel anymore, except for the private Lolita expresses for billionaires, save the environment. They do not want you to eat meat and drink milk, so Israel is our hope creating those "wonderful" lab meat and some "delicious" milk and chocolate, yummy! They do not want you to be dependable of fossil fuels, it harms the environment. And the last one, they destroyed the world economy in 2020 with a mysterious bat lab virus from China,...yes, China, America's great enemy was somehow in bed with Faucci and Gates. Their local university received a few donations from Bill Gates, that wonderful man that stopped wars to have the children "vaccinated", what an act of love for the children. And if you are vaccinated and planning to start a family, I will wish you good luck.

Saint Donald. Total revisionist history, a complete reformation of his entire career, and a total erasure of his past crimes, moral terpitude, and a total and complete willingness to overlook a lifetime of moral bankruptcy.

Such massive delusion. If I were in your position I would seek psychological help.

On 3/19/2026 at 9:16 AM, GoodieAfterDark said:

12 hours ago, Senior Player said:

I was planning on flying out to Thailand for a long break in May but will now holdout until June. Not that I'm confident airfares or flight cancellations will improve by then. It's just that there's no way that I feel confident enough buying an incredibly expensive return flight from LHR to BKK and taking out travel insurance will be honoured by either vendor if I commit earlier. It's such a shame as I was really looking forward to my annual 2-month getaway after recovering from prostate surgery. Thanks, Donald.

Incredibly expensive? Are you flying in First?

Airfares were increasing on the European routes well before the conflict. For the month of May, airfares remain very affordable even when avoiding the. Gulf carriers. IndiGo offers RT at 27,000 baht. Turkish is 33,000 baht. Direct flights with Eva or Thai are 37,000-52,000 baht. Business class on these same carriers is 60,000- 150,000.

On 3/19/2026 at 1:34 AM, TorquayFan said:

No end in sight Guys - it's simply getting much worse !

Trump and his equally barmy Crew are a shame on the USA and all those MAGA who supported them.

The Middle East and the wider World will not recover from this madness for a decade or more.

Good luck to all . . . peace !

So what about Iraq Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and the rest was that DT as well

1 hour ago, Merrill said:

So what about Iraq Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and the rest was that DT as well

What a weird question Merrill ! Would mistakes made in the past, excuse mistakes being made right now? But from memory, the 2003 Iraq war was GWB/Blair and Afghanistan was GWB again.