Suvarnabhumi Closed

[gooze]

Well this really is a sad time for thailand. The recent events that have led up to the events at the worlds largest sinking airport should not come as a suprise to anyone.

As i no longer live there i have been relying on news reports and emails to keep up with events there and there does seam to be an inevitability to all this. I was told 3 weeks ago plans were afoot to seize the airport along with the tv and radio stations.

As the other posters have pointed out the high season which was allways in doubt due to the worldwide recession can no longer happen in thailand. Im in the Philippines for the next few months and would suggest ill probably be bummping into some of the migrational lads from the UK sooner or latter.

The home office advice is wait and see but this doesnt help if your only planning a short vacation. I received an email yesterday from my cousin who along with six mates is due to fly to banngers next wednesday they are at the moment trying to purswade the airline to change there flight to manila.

Are they the only ones?????

I would suggest not. This is a disaster for Thailand and Bassil Fawlty could have mannaged the situation more adequatly then the "thai government".
The rammifications from this weeks events will be long felt and bring even more gloom on a tourist industry in turmoil allready.

I wish you all luck, as particullarly the bar and guest house owners along with the real-estate boys are going to need it. As for me the "sillypines" aint so bad, im off at the weekend to start discovering some of the seven thousand islands here.

With the recent goings on in hua hin im beggining to think it may be just as safe here !!!!!!!!!

PS. Can someone give Mags a hug from me and buy Billy a beer put it on me tab ill be back one day im sure

[Nereus]

Family supposed to be flying in Saturday. Dad said yesterday BA were cancelling some of their Bangkok flights.
If it get sorted sometime soon but after your flight time/day, do the airline automatically put you on the next available flight, or is your flight cancelled outright and you seek compensation ?

Anyone (SteveG etc) know for sure the answer ? SJ

The compensation will probably be up to the Airlines discretion, and or, public image, as they can rightly claim the problem is not of their making.

If the PAD were to vacate the Airport today, just imagine the state it is going to be in, and how long it will take to clean it up and make it usable again. Don Muang may be an option, as is U-Tapao, but both of them do not have the facilities to handle the back log.

I am supposed to fly out tomorrow from Bangkok, and at this stage Thai are not answering their phones, but in reality I do not expect to go.

It is interesting to note, that following the attacks in Mumbai, both CNN and BBC have not mentioned Bangkok this morning.

[gooze]

Just received an update from my cousin in the UK. The airline they are booked on has agreed to change there flight as three of the lads have found out that there holiday insurance carrier has temporarily suspended cover for thailand on there policies.

I beleive they are with a budget annual insurance company, who assures them if they were allready in LOS there insurance woud be valid however untill further notice new travellers to thailand will not be covered on that particular policy untill further notice.

I would suggest anyone planning to travel there in the next few days clarifies the situation with there insurance companies.

I think this is more to do with liabilities the insurance companys may face for delayed flights, baggage etc than any imminent danger to tourists which im sure theres probably not ?

[The understudy]

After this Shut down is over Thailand will be back in the Stone Ages economically and Society wise.

Your's devastated The understudy!!!

[hhfarang]

A friend from Switzerland was supposed to arrive yesterday... his plane was diverted to Singapore. He contacted my wife and told her he will just stay there until he returns to Switzerland...

I wonder how many millions (billions?) of baht are being lost per day in tourist and business revenue?

[Zidane]

Alternative ways to fly into Thailand without going to Bangkok include.....

1.Fly to Singapore then direct Singapore to Phuket.
2.Fly to Singapore then direct Singapore to Koh Samui.
3.Fly to Hong Kong then direct Hong Kong to Chiang-Mai.

Zidane

[cozza]

STEVE G,

Im glad I did not offend, just wanted to make sure as BaaBaa seemed to get offended so my reaction was just because I did not want to offend.

In my opinion, any foreigner that is not really involved should not get too involved in this thing as it could be dangerous.

I am only saying this out of safety for foreigners because I would hate to hear of any harm coming to anyone, Thai or foreign, not to belittle or suggest that I think I know more than anyone here.

[Nereus]

I know that many posting on here are either, not here yet, or are on long term visa`s.

How does this affect people that have expired visa`s? I can just see some of those sour faced immigration officials at the Airport saying: " you overstay, you must pay"!

[Nereus]

Bangkok Post is reporting that Don Muang Airport is now closed.

The terminal may well be closed, but the Military will still be able to operate, and in fact, a heavy transport aircraft took off from there earlier this morning.

http://www.bangkokpost.net/topstories/t ... ?id=132330

[hhfarang]

If this is allowed to continue, I'm afraid that the airports mentioned above; Phuket, Samui, Chaing Mai, will be next and then the only way in or out will be overland or by sea!

[kellyt]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiap ... nnSTCVideo

In this CNN report the journalist states that he over heard protesters telling tourists they would end the protest on Friday. I can not find any other evidence that supports this claim.

I am guessing that if my flight due to land on Monday is cancelled and I do get a full refund that I will be able to rebook and find a VERY cheap flight to BKK!

Just a thought…

2004 Tsunami, 2005 avian flu, 2006 military coup d’état, 2007 the forecast of a political storm… all noticeably hit the tourist industry and Thailand was just beginning to bounce back for this season, but do we all really think this is the final nail in the coffin of Thailand’s tourist trade for the foreseeable future or is this being blown out of proportion? The protesters seem to be 99% peaceful and also concerned about the wellbeing of the tourists at the airport. They believe this is the only way they are going to be heard and it has worked! But all of the violence has taken place away from the tourist areas and seems to be very small fractions, there seems to be on the surface no risk to the foreigners, and even when the military took control, apart from the restrictions they imposed on the people living out there, the press showed footage that was reassuring for prospective tourists.

Do you think if everyone keeps their heads that Thailand may recover from yet another blow during peek season? Or is my perspective just a little naïve?

[lomuamart]

I know that many posting on here are either, not here yet, or are on long term visa`s.

How does this affect people that have expired visa`s? I can just see some of those sour faced immigration officials at the Airport saying: " you overstay, you must pay"!

Knew I'd seen something about the visa situation earlier. From today's Bangkok Post. The relevant bit is down at the bottom of the article. It's only a request at the moment by the looks of things:




Governments warn citizens against visits to Thailand

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT, AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK AND CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Many countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens who are planning to visit Thailand following the storming of Suvarnabhumi airport.

Among them, China has advised its citizens to review travel plans to Thailand.

Singaporeans have been urged to postpone non-essential travel here.

The Australian embassy has highlighted caution in its advisory and advised its citizens to avoid protest areas..

The US embassy has also warned Americans to stay away from Suvarnabhumi airport.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating political situation in Thailand, in particular with the siege of Suvarnabhumi airport, where air traffic has ground to a halt and thousands of passengers have been stranded or rerouted.

It reiterates that any anti-constitutional attempt to interfere in the democratic process would harm EU-Thailand relations.

The closure of Suvarnabhumi by the People's Alliance for Democracy since Tuesday has cost Thai Airways International (THAI) and Airports of Thailand (AoT) Co more than 500 million baht a day, with over 400 flights cancelled.

THAI operates 140 flights on average and serves over 30,000 passengers daily through the airport.

Its cargo service normally generates about 63 million baht a day for the airline.

The carrier is working to find accommodation for stranded passengers and provide them with meals and alternative transportation.

Since the airport's closure on Tuesday night, THAI has catered some 6,000 meals and paid for rooms at nearby hotels. The costs have yet to be calculated, said THAI vice president Parndit Chanaphai.

Transport Minister Santi Promphat has ordered the AoT to sue the PAD for the damage.

The Civil Court yesterday called an emergency session to look into a complaint filed by the AoT against 13 PAD leaders for directing the siege. The AoT accused Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and 12 other PAD leaders of spearheading the move.

The AoT asked the court to order the PAD to leave Suvarnabhumi at once.

The court agreed to begin an emergency inquiry at 5.30pm yesterday.

Passengers were also stranded at other regional airports as no aircraft arrived from Bangkok to pick them up, except a special THAI flight from Suvarnabhumi which arrived at Hat Yai airport to collect Haj pilgrims heading for Saudi Arabia.

About 5,000 passengers are stuck at Phuket airport and about 800 at Samui.

According to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co, some arriving international flights were rerouted to Don Mueang and U-tapao airports as well as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

PAD demonstrators also ensured no air traffic controllers remained at work.

The government approved an urgent budget of 10 million baht to help stranded travellers..

Immigration police have been asked to exempt fines for those whose visas have expired while stranded.

[BaaBaa.]

I think thats what we'll both be doing.
I did the cheap thing this year and i'm flying with Jet and switching at Mumbai. I'm not looking forwards to going there either!!!!!
Anyway,genuinely hope i catch up with you in HH over the new year BB

Good luck with that.

[Super Joe]

I am guessing that if my flight due to land on Monday is cancelled and I do get a full refund that I will be able to rebook and find a VERY cheap flight to BKK!

Only issue with that Kelly is that we're moving towards the high season when flights are often full/close to full. Could be a few cancelling though, but also tons being offered those seats in lieu of their cancelled flight, and those desperate to get out here, ie: Thais visiting family, regular farangs who come every year and aren't worried about a bit of a protest.
Another thing is the one time I've had a refund on a ticket the process took 3 months to get a cheque through, so you gotta use extra cash for now.

Eva Air have cancelled their LHR-BKK flight for today and tomorrow.
Does anyone know the procedure for cancelled flights ? Obviously some kind of refund, hopefully 100%, do they offer you same flight a few days/weeks later in lieu of refund.

Got 6 family members supposedly flying here from Heathrow on Saturday

SJ

[BaaBaa.]

(BangkokPost.com) - The pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) will call its red-clad supporters to disperse the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators at Suvarnabhumi airport, if the government does not take direct action against them, UDD leader and political talk show host Veera Musikhapong said on Thursday.


Mr Veera, referring to national army chief Anupong Paojinda’s suggestion for the government to dissolve the parliament and the PAD to leave Suvarnabhumi airport, said the proposal is deemed void since both sides have rejected it.


He said the best solution is for the cabinet to take legal action against the PAD by exercising the police authority and letting the army impose the Emergency Decree to restore the situation. Otherwise, supporters of the UDD will take care of the PAD themselves because the country would face more damage, if the crisis prolongs, according to the UDD leader.


People Power party (PPP) MP Jatuporn Promphan said if the government does not receive cooperation from the police and military by driving the protesters out of Suvarnabhumi airport, the police and army chiefs may have to reconsider their roles.


Mr Jatuporn said he is afraid that the Civil Court’s injunction ordering the PAD to leave Suvarnabhumi airport will not be followed, similar to the Government House case.