Flying to/from Thailand (Covid Era)

[Dannie Boy]

This comes as very little surprise,looking at what other countries are doing in respect of Omicron concerns. Let’s hope that once the meaningful data becomes available it will show that this new strain is less concerning than Delta, but of course that is only hope - if it turns out to be the opposite then we can expect further restrictions across the globe!!

[Dannie Boy]

I’ve just picked this up from Richard Barrow and it gives a very comprehensive report regarding the new arrangements for traveling to Thailand.

“As you probably have heard by now, the prime minister announced this afternoon the suspension of the Test and Go scheme. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation about this which has led to much confusion. A senior official at the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just called me to set the record straight about what is really happening. But first I will paste below their official announcement. Then I will add my own notes from the telephone call.

Announcement
Thailand Pass will be closed for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox), starting from 00.00 hrs. on 22 December 2021 until further notice.
New measures apply for all applicants on Thailand Pass, as follows;
Applicants who have received their Thailand Pass QR Code can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
Applicants who have registered, but have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered / approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
New applicants will not be able to register for Test and Go and Sandbox measures (except Phuket Sandbox). Thailand Pass will only accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox only.
Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under Test and Go and Sandbox Programme must undergo their 2nd COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities (no additional cost).
Thailand Pass will be closed for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox), starting from 00.00 hrs. on 22 December 2021 until further notice.
New measures apply for all applicants on Thailand Pass, as follows;
1. Applicants who have received their Thailand Pass QR Code can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
2. Applicants who have registered, but have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered / approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
3. New applicants will not be able to register for Test and Go and Sandbox measures (except Phuket Sandbox). Thailand Pass will only accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox only.
4. Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under Test and Go and Sandbox Programme must undergo their 2nd COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities (no additional cost).
Do Not Panic!
To be clear, this is NOT a closure of the borders. It is just a suspension of the Test & Go and the Blue Zone Sandbox (except for Phuket Sandbox) schemes. Everything else will continue as normal.
First the good news, if you are one of 22,000 people who have already applied for a Thailand Pass for Test & Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine, your application is still being processed. If your application is approved, you will be able to come under the original conditions. This means, for Test & Go people, you only need to wait for the results for the first test and then you are free to go. No 7-day quarantine like some media outlets were saying. But you will need to do a second RT-PCR test on Day 7. More on that in a moment.
The bad news is that if your application is rejected after midnight, then you are out of luck. You will need to enter via the Phuket Sandbox or hotel quarantine schemes.
Secondly, the Thailand Pass system is still open for Test & Go applications. So, be quick as you could make it before the midnight deadline. After that time, they will no longer take applications for Test & Go and for Sandbox areas outside of Phuket.
One very important piece of information that the Thai media got wrong is the cut-off date for arriving in Thailand. Basically, there isn’t one. Earlier, the media were saying you must arrive before 10th January if you didn’t want to do quarantine. That is not true. You can arrive on the date that was approved on your application. For example, if you said you are arriving on 25th January, then you still can use Test & Go and only wait one night for the test results.
Many people were asking that if they arrived under Test & Go tomorrow, do they have to do the second RT-PCR test on Day 7. The quick answer to that is no. This is because it is not law yet. The prime minister must first sign the papers and then it must be published in the Royal Gazette. So, if it was published in the gazette on Friday, then anyone arriving on Friday onwards, must do the second test on Day 7. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this will be free. More details on this soon.
So, does this mean there is no Test & Go in the future? No, that is not true as it is just temporarily suspended. In early January, they will re-evaluate the situation and there will be a new announcement.
If I have any further updates, I will post on my social media - Twitter and Facebook. Can I please ask you not to reply to this email with questions. I have already received two hundred emails today and I cannot keep up. Which is why I prefer to answer questions on social media where I can share the answers with everyone. Thanks for your understanding and good luck!”

[lomuamart]

It's knife edge stuff over here in the UK in terms of getting back. I was expecting to have to quarantine at minimum and maybe face a total ban on UK visitors at worst. My return flight is next Tuesday, 28th.

Just as well I did my Thailand Pass early last
Monday and got it approved last Thursday.
At present, I look ok to return although whether quarantine between PCR tests will be necessary and if so for how long is unclear.

I've still got to dodge covid for a week and hadn't been feeling too good for a couple of days so did a LFT this morning and I'm negative again. The final PCR test that is booked for the 26th should hopefully clear me for the flight. The result better come back the next day as I'm off to the airport by taxi early on the 28th.

There's never a dull moment over here!! I'm just taking it day by day and if a spanner gets in the works then so be it. I'll just have more time with my father.

One thing that has struck me here is how often people test. There are masses LFTs done every day - I don't know the official numbers. I've had one PCR and six LFTs done in the past four weeks and I don't think that's a lot by some people's standards. And still the quacks reckon that were missing half of infections.

No wonder Thailand always reports low infection rates.

[thecolonel]

I’ve just picked this up from Richard Barrow and it gives a very comprehensive report regarding the new arrangements for traveling to Thailand.

“As you probably have heard by now, the prime minister announced this afternoon the suspension of the Test and Go scheme. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation about this which has led to much confusion. A senior official at the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs just called me to set the record straight about what is really happening. But first I will paste below their official announcement. Then I will add my own notes from the telephone call.

Announcement
Thailand Pass will be closed for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox), starting from 00.00 hrs. on 22 December 2021 until further notice.
New measures apply for all applicants on Thailand Pass, as follows;
Applicants who have received their Thailand Pass QR Code can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
Applicants who have registered, but have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered / approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
New applicants will not be able to register for Test and Go and Sandbox measures (except Phuket Sandbox). Thailand Pass will only accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox only.
Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under Test and Go and Sandbox Programme must undergo their 2nd COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities (no additional cost).
Thailand Pass will be closed for all new Test and Go and Sandbox applications (except Phuket Sandbox), starting from 00.00 hrs. on 22 December 2021 until further notice.
New measures apply for all applicants on Thailand Pass, as follows;
1. Applicants who have received their Thailand Pass QR Code can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
2. Applicants who have registered, but have not received their QR Code must wait for their Thailand Pass to be considered / approved. Once approved, they can enter Thailand under the scheme they have registered.
3. New applicants will not be able to register for Test and Go and Sandbox measures (except Phuket Sandbox). Thailand Pass will only accept new applicants seeking to enter Thailand under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) or Phuket Sandbox only.
4. Passengers who will arrive in Thailand under Test and Go and Sandbox Programme must undergo their 2nd COVID-19 test using the RT-PCR technique (not ATK self-test) at government-designated facilities (no additional cost).
Do Not Panic!
To be clear, this is NOT a closure of the borders. It is just a suspension of the Test & Go and the Blue Zone Sandbox (except for Phuket Sandbox) schemes. Everything else will continue as normal.
First the good news, if you are one of 22,000 people who have already applied for a Thailand Pass for Test & Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine, your application is still being processed. If your application is approved, you will be able to come under the original conditions. This means, for Test & Go people, you only need to wait for the results for the first test and then you are free to go. No 7-day quarantine like some media outlets were saying. But you will need to do a second RT-PCR test on Day 7. More on that in a moment.
The bad news is that if your application is rejected after midnight, then you are out of luck. You will need to enter via the Phuket Sandbox or hotel quarantine schemes.
Secondly, the Thailand Pass system is still open for Test & Go applications. So, be quick as you could make it before the midnight deadline. After that time, they will no longer take applications for Test & Go and for Sandbox areas outside of Phuket.
One very important piece of information that the Thai media got wrong is the cut-off date for arriving in Thailand. Basically, there isn’t one. Earlier, the media were saying you must arrive before 10th January if you didn’t want to do quarantine. That is not true. You can arrive on the date that was approved on your application. For example, if you said you are arriving on 25th January, then you still can use Test & Go and only wait one night for the test results.
Many people were asking that if they arrived under Test & Go tomorrow, do they have to do the second RT-PCR test on Day 7. The quick answer to that is no. This is because it is not law yet. The prime minister must first sign the papers and then it must be published in the Royal Gazette. So, if it was published in the gazette on Friday, then anyone arriving on Friday onwards, must do the second test on Day 7. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this will be free. More details on this soon.
So, does this mean there is no Test & Go in the future? No, that is not true as it is just temporarily suspended. In early January, they will re-evaluate the situation and there will be a new announcement.
If I have any further updates, I will post on my social media - Twitter and Facebook. Can I please ask you not to reply to this email with questions. I have already received two hundred emails today and I cannot keep up. Which is why I prefer to answer questions on social media where I can share the answers with everyone. Thanks for your understanding and good luck!”

So could you still apply for the rest of today??

And surely if you can then they should approve it to same criteria as before

Otherwise surely you'd just stop applications with immediate effect

Sent from my M2007J20CT using Tapatalk

[jumusman]

I think the health minister is a smart man and knows what he is doing. His years and years of training in top medical institutes around the world will make sure he makes rational decisions and we can trust in his judgement. Gotta go now and take my once a week shower as I am a dirty falang. Have a good night all..

[HHTel]

[ahandpatsy]

Fair play to Thai Embassy in London

Applied Thai pass 3 pm yesterday in panic

Received qr code 10 am this morning

Fingers crossed no more surprises

[joelle]

Posted by Punyisa Chalauysophon on the Facebook page "Hua Hin COVID-19 Community Support"
Quote :
"I​ just​ checked​ with​ Huahin​ hospital. People​ who arrive​ Thailand​ under​ Test​ and​ Go, the​ second​ RT-PCT​test​ (Day​5-7)  you​ can​ do​ in​ Hua​Hin​ hospital​ for​ free​ of​ charge.​  Hua​ Hin​  hospital​ is​ not​ on​ the​ list​ that​ they​ give​  at​ the​ ​air​port​ it​ is​ confusing​   but​ I got​ the​ confirmation​ from​ Hua​ Hin​ hospital​ anyway.​ They​ told​ me​ over​ the​ phone​ to​ bring​ all​ papers​ they​ gave​ you​ at​ the​ Airport​ especially​ pink  one​ and​ be​ there​ before​ 9am."
Here​ is​ the​ link​

[Green Nomad]

Thanks very much joelle, we are due to arrive in Thailand on Sunday, all going well etc, by the T and G protocol..

I did see Hua Hin government hospital on the list posted on a link from the Thaiger website, so thought no problem, but well worth finding out from your post here. Did you need to make appointment with them or just arrive before 9am on the requisite day?

Any other good gen would be appreciated...GN

[joelle]

Thanks very much joelle, we are due to arrive in Thailand on Sunday, all going well etc, by the T and G protocol..

I did see Hua Hin government hospital on the list posted on a link from the Thaiger website, so thought no problem, but well worth finding out from your post here. Did you need to make appointment with them or just arrive before 9am on the requisite day?

Any other good gen would be appreciated...GN

The way I read it is to just turn up on the appropriate day but make sure it's before 9am
Best of luck and safe travel

[lomuamart]

Well, sitting here at Heathrow with a pint of London Pride and am thinking about the whole journey.

It really hasn't been difficult but you've got to be organised with paperwork and deadlines - ie for covid tests and other stuff.

Probably the worst time was waiting for my PCR all clear yesterday. If that had been late or positive, I wouldn't have been flying. As my 92 year old father tested positive some 12 days ago, I guess ive been really lucky to avoid the virus. Hey, maybe that Sinovac/astra combo wasn't so bad after all?

Now just got to swerve the virus on the plane and get out of hotel gaol on the 30th.

Oh, BTW despite all the digital technology, print all your docs. Believe me, it's what check in want to see.

Now where's the next pint of Pride.

[Dannie Boy]

Well, sitting here at Heathrow with a pint of London Pride and am thinking about the whole journey.

It really hasn't been difficult but you've got to be organised with paperwork and deadlines - ie for covid tests and other stuff.

Probably the worst time was waiting for my PCR all clear yesterday. If that had been late or positive, I wouldn't have been flying. As my 92 year old father tested positive some 12 days ago, I guess ive been really lucky to avoid the virus. Hey, maybe that Sinovac/astra combo wasn't so bad after all?

Now just got to swerve the virus on the plane and get out of hotel gaol on the 30th.

Oh, BTW despite all the digital technology, print all your docs. Believe me, it's what check in want to see.

Now where's the next pint of Pride.

Are you still entering under Test and Go i.e. only one night quarantine? And who are you flying with?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[STEVE G]

Oh, BTW despite all the digital technology, print all your docs. Believe me, it's what check in want to see.

Yes, when I checked in to fly to Thailand last month, the check in staff was a bit unsure about what was required to go to Thailand but when I presented a file with everything printed and was able to list what was required and show him I had everything, he was happy to let me through.

[lomuamart]

Flew Thai and arrived at 6am this morning and had cleared the airport by 7.15 it was painless although if lots of flights arrive at the same time I can see the health stuff being chaotic.

Yes, test and go. Taxi was waiting for me and took me to a hospital close to the airport for the PCR test. I was the only person and in and out in 5 mins. I may get the result around 3-4pm today. If negative, I'll get straight back to HH this evening.

I've been locked into my room - Chillax Heritage somewhere near Khao San. Very comfortable, they've given me some plasticy breakfast which is ok.

Now for the wait. I'll either be in HH with a cold Chang this evening or under armed guard in some quarantine hotel.

Only downside is that there's no beer in my room!!

[Green Nomad]

Good luck lomuamart,,,,thanks for info. GN