Bangkok--4 Dec--Today Travel Asia
Today Travel Asia is running a series of travel up dates giving valuable information to both customers and Travel Partners. This is the latest in our series of updates explaining the travel situation here in Thailand. We welcome your feedback regarding individual cases, the situation or potential travel bookings and concerns.
Today Travel Asia is a professional full service travel agency focusing on FIT and group travel to Asia with a specialization on Thailand. We have been sourced and published as a industry spokes person by the BBC twice since the beginning of the airport occupation by the PAD anti-government protestors. For further useful information for you and your passengers please click on one of the following links or read down the page for the latest update:
- Travel specific information regarding the situation
- Background information regarding the political situation in Thailand
- Further information about us
- Our latest Travel Partner Newsletters
Latest Up Date
End of the Airport Blockage and a Timeline for Normal Services to Resume BANGKOK, Thailand (Todaytravelasia.com) December 3, 2008 -- After a crippling 8 day blockage of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Thai International Airports the anti-Government PAD protesters have started to leave and the outlook for stranded passengers is now looking more positive.
Initial reports indicated that the airport would not resume operations until 15th December but now reports are coming in from AOT (Airports of Thailand) that the Suvarnabhumi may be partially opened Friday 5th in time for the King of Thailand’s’ birthday. In the meantime security and other systems will be checked by the AOT. Piecemeal freight flights resumed yesterday evening.
The anti-government protesters, PAD are now starting to leave both airports in their hundreds. Claiming to have won their "final battle", the government opponents agreed to make their exit after the Constitution Court disbanded the People Power Party and two other government coalition partners - automatically dismissing Somchai Wongsawat as prime minister in the process.
To clear the backlog estimates of two to three weeks have been quoted although this is totally dependent on the speed it takes to resume normal service. This will take us up to the Peak Christmas period. Further information will be forwarded onto you as soon as we have clarification from TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) and AOT.
In the meantime the situation remains the same as yesterday. There is one exception, that there is likely to be some disruption to flights leaving U-Tapao (temporary airport) as equipment borrowed from Suvarnabhumi to improve airport efficiency has now to be returned to the main international airport.
Exit Options
Travelers transiting or travelling from Bangkok have been hit and are unable to exit via Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang International Airports. However, Travelers entering or exiting the country via Phuket International Airport have been able to enter and exit the country as normal. All flights exiting Thailand via Phuket are now fully booked for at least the next two weeks. Many airlines are now diverting into:
1. U-Tapao (Bangkok)
2. Chiang Mai
3. Phuket
4. Kuala Lumpa, Malaysia
Please note
U-Tapao is a small regional airport 1/10 of the size of Suvarnabhumi. It does not have the infrastructure to manage large numbers of passengers. It is located 2 hours from Bangkok.
Kuala Lumpa International Airport is a 12 hour bus journey and is only open to passengers who possess a valid Visa or are exempt from requiring a Visa to travel into Malaysia.
Travel to Chiang Mai or Phuket involves a 8-10 hour coach journey
Check-In
The authorities are urging individual tourists / travellers to refrain from attempting to check-in at various airports, or designated in town check-in centres in hotels on their own prior to receiving official notification or flight confirmation from airline representatives. This will help to minimize confusion and delays at the airport. For travellers in Bangkok, the Tourist Authority of Thailand has recommended that travelers check-in at the offices of the airline concerned. We are getting reports of significant delays at airline office locations with stories of passengers waiting longer than 10-12 hours to check-in at Thai travel desks.
Thai Airways — Special Non-Scheduled Exit Flights TG is beginning a special exit strategy for stranded tourists from U-Tapao. 35 Thai Special Non-Scheduled Flights will be available for Thai passengers. Scheduled Thai tickets can be exchanged for tickets to one of the Special flight destinations.
Key points to note:
- The flight destinations are limited
- Thai will not pay for onward flights to original (as listed in ticket) destinations — ie at time of writing a London destination is not available. Passengers flying to London have a choice of taking a Special flight to Europe and then paying themselves for a connecting flight to the UK)
- Thai cannot guarantee that ticket classes will be honored (ie if you booked Silk Class you may have to travel back in economy depending on availability)
- All flights will leave from U-Tapao Airport
- THAI requests passengers with confirmed reservations, departing from U-Tapao to check-in at BITEC Exhibition and Convention Center, Bang-Na, seven (7) hours prior to their flight departure.
- THAI will provide transportation between BITEC and U-Tapao Airport.
For further detail regarding these flights please see:
http://www.thaiair.com/Homepage/announce/sbia_situation.htm
For an application and waver form please download the attached pdf.
All other airlines are running a piecemeal schedule from U-Tapao. Please see individual Airlines for more details.
Background
Today Travel Asia is working hard to ensure our customers are rerouted out of the country in the most efficient way available. The office has been open both Saturday and Sunday and our hotline has been managed 24/7. We are assisting with advice regarding hotels, Visas, flights and overland travel to suitable airports.
It is worth noting that during this period of disruption that the focus for the political protest has been Thai and that there has been no indication of violence towards tourist. Life away from the airport is normal and completely unaffected by the shutdown of the airports. Thailand remains at its' core a peaceful and accepting society.
Please check our website www.todaytravelasia.com for further information.
Should we be able to assist you further please contact us directly on [email protected].
Links:
Today Travel Asia on the BBC News December 2nd 2008
Today Travel Asia is a specialist Thailand Tour Operator & Bangkok Travel Agency. We offer Tour Packages, Hotel & Resort Packages, Activities, Cruises in Thailand for individuals and groups. Professional local and western expertise.
Join our Travel Trade Section and benefit from all tools and services that we are going to provide to registered users.
E-marketing TTA
Tel: +66 26625637