BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport Update

[Kiwi Flyer]

IMHO at least people who have paid for QP membership should be able to get access. They have paid for a service which is not being delivered.

Having a QP at every airport is not guaranteed. Try flying out of ZQN for example.

 

[Gazza]

Queenstown hardly compares to Bangkok.

Qantas are just being tight b*&^$^%$s and don’t want to shell out the extra dollars for regular flyers (QP, Golds and Plats) not flying in J or F. I bet CL’s get an invite to the lounge!

Fortunately for me I typically fly TH or SQ if doing short (economy) flights from Bangkok (NZ Gold).

Gazza

 

[millesm]

Essentially travelers will be limited to 3 no visa entries in a 6 month period.

that sux.... I'm about to start travelling to Thailand on business from the start of October until the end of December.... travelling in and out every 3 weeks.

so now I need a visa and won't get lounge access cos the company is too tight to pay for business class. WT+ is the best I can get.

 

[JohnK]

that sux.... I'm about to start travelling to Thailand on business from the start of October until the end of December.... travelling in and out every 3 weeks.

so now I need a visa....

Not having a go at you but let me rock the boat here. No one should enter Thailand for work or business without a valid visa. If anyone goes to Thailand for work or business then they should be applying for a "Non Immigrant" type "B" visa. If the person is not in possession of one then the Thai authorities can actually deport the person. It cost my company $60 for a 12 month multiple entry visa 3 years ago.

The Thai law that has been quoted in this thread has been in place for around 4 years and I can almost certainly positively assure you that they will not start enforcing it just because a new airport has been built. What people need to realise is that Thailand is dependent on visitors entering the country. I am there 2-3 times every year and I am not worried in the slightest. I know of people that visit on a regular basis. Not one of them is worried. Maybe we are just naive.

 

[meloz]

Not having a go at you but let me rock the boat here. No one should enter Thailand for work or business without a valid visa. If anyone goes to Thailand for work or business then they should be applying for a "Non Immigrant" type "B" visa. If the person is not in possession of one then the Thai authorities can actually deport the person. It cost my company $60 for a 12 month multiple entry visa 3 years ago.

The Thai law that has been quoted in this thread has been in place for around 4 years and I can almost certainly positively assure you that they will not start enforcing it just because a new airport has been built. What people need to realise is that Thailand is dependent on visitors entering the country. I am there 2-3 times every year and I am not worried in the slightest. I know of people that visit on a regular basis. Not one of the is worried. Maybe we are just naive.

I suspect the new publicity regarding Thai immigration has more to do with the number of high profile criminals residing there, rather than the new airport.

Meloz

 

[millesm]

I've been back and forth for many years and always tick the 'business' box and have never had any comments from the immigrations people about a visa.

I was under the impression that as australians, we did not need a special visa if we were there on business as long as we did not stay for more than 30 days at a time.


guess i better get clarification on this one before the next trip.

 

[JohnK]

I've been back and forth for many years and always tick the 'business' box and have never had any comments from the immigrations people about a visa.

Yes you can get away with this when entering the country but not really good enough excuse.

I was under the impression that as australians, we did not need a special visa if we were there on business as long as we did not stay for more than 30 days at a time.

Sorry to say that this assumption is wrong. 3 years ago Thai immigration and police raided a multi-national company, with large presence in Australia, and asked to see valid visas for all non Thai employees on the site. My company had many consultants working there and they were escorted off site, told not to enter the workplace again and threatened with deportation unless they applied and were in possession of a "Non Immigrant" type "B" visa. The general manager of the multi-national company was also threatened with jail time if they were caught again.

My advice is to spend the 3 hours or so it takes to obtain visa and have peace of mind.

YMMV

 

[Mal]

I was under the impression that as australians, we did not need a special visa if we were there on business as long as we did not stay for more than 30 days at a time.

Maybe you should look into the APEC Business Travel card
APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

(also discussed here extensively http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...s/apec-business-travel-card-express-5653.html )

 

[JohnK]

Maybe you should look into the APEC Business Travel card

APEC Business Travel Card Scheme - Eligibility

Important: An APEC Business Travel Card is not appropriate for people travelling to engage in paid employment. If you breach any conditions of entry, in any economy, your card may be cancelled.

 

[simongr]

Are you suggesting that travelling to Thailand as suggested by milesm is paid employment? Or just to be wary of it? If so then anyone doing business anywhere in asia on an ABTC IS AT RISK?

 

[Mal]

Are you suggesting that travelling to Thailand as suggested by milesm is paid employment? Or just to be wary of it? If so then anyone doing business anywhere in asia on an ABTC IS AT RISK?

I think there is a big difference between paid employment and work on behalf of your employer at home.

Eg.

If I go to BKK to install cabling or install software as a result of my company winning a contract with a company there, then I assume the ABTC card is sufficient.

If I start showing my resume around and start getting paid by a Thai company directly, then I start getting into that "paid employment" area.

Like all immigration issues, these types of boards aren't the best place for a binding final answer. People should speak to the relevant Government organisations and let us know what they say.

 

[JohnK]

Are you suggesting that travelling to Thailand as suggested by milesm is paid employment? Or just to be wary of it? If so then anyone doing business anywhere in asia on an ABTC IS AT RISK?

Just be aware of what can happen in a foreign country. Seek advice from an immigration expert.

• Explore business opportunities
• attend meetings
• conduct trade and investment activities

The APEC card clearly states it's valid uses, and this does not include paid employment. When immigration raids the workplace let me assure you that it is irrelevant whether you are being paid by an Australian company or a local company. You can always try to use the excuse that all you are doing is attending meetings and you may get away with it.

I am not an immigration expert and I am only relaying personal experience. Even if you are a consultant employed and paid by an Australian company if you want to work in countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia it is strongly advised to apply for a non-immigrant working class visa before travelling there. This would normally require an invitation letter from the CEO.

I applied for working class visa for both Thailand and Indonesia and I spent just over an hour at the consulates in Sydney and my passport was sent back to me within a week with a 12 month multiple entry visa stamp.

 

[simongr]

Interesting - being from the EU originally the only benefit there ever was for me was the fact that I never needed a visa to travel on business - not something I think about here.

Mind you a guy did come over to Oz from the US and needed a letter of invitation from me so he could get a visa - I thought it was weird at the time - maybe not

 

[Mal]

There has been discussion over at Flyertalk that Cathay Pacific will have their J lounge up and running when the new airport is open (with F lounge to open later).

Maybe they will let in Qantas/BA pax who are OW Sapphire or Emerald (ie Gold or Plat). Capacity control and opening hours may of course affect this as well...

[and I believe Qantas will be charged for the visit. A little bit of sweet justice I'd say!]

 

[DPG]

There has been discussion over at Flyertalk that Cathay Pacific will have their J lounge up and running when the new airport is open (with F lounge to open later).

Maybe they will let in Qantas/BA pax who are OW Sapphire or Emerald (ie Gold or Plat). Capacity control and opening hours may of course affect this as well...

[and I believe Qantas will be charged for the visit. A little bit of sweet justice I'd say!]

Mal, beat me to it... Just found this on the CX website...

Cathay Pacific - At The Airport : Worldwide Airports

I would suggest arriving early should help in being admitted... as if the CX lounge is the only one giving access to oneworld members travelling in whY and whY+ it might get kinda crowded!.

D P G

 

[DPG]

Further to that... looked at the oneworld schedules...

00:20 BKK LHR BA 0010 747
00:20 BKK HEL AY 0098 M11
00:45 BKK LHR QF 0001 744
08:20 BKK HKG CX 2700 330
09:50 BKK HKG CX 0708 330
11:15 BKK HKG CX 0754 773
11:45 BKK SIN CX 0713 744
14:25 BKK HKG CX 2704 343
14:40 BKK SIN AY 0097 M11
16:10 BKK HKG CX 0712 773
17:00 BKK BOM CX 0751 773
18:10 BKK SYD QF 0002 744
18:15 BKK SYD BA 0009 747
18:40 BKK HKG CX 0702 773

D P G

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

what's the betting CX lounge closes around 1830?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Queenstown hardly compares to Bangkok.

True, but ZQN does have more QF flights than BKK.

 

[NM]

what's the betting CX lounge closes around 1830?

We can be certain it won't be open and operating as a CX lounge after the last CX departure for the evening.

Now, just which lounge is QF and BA using as their temp lounge at the new BKK airport? I wonder if it might be the CX lounge since CX won't be using it at the time the QF and BA flights depart?

 

[mileagemax]

Re: Pathetic

Not only will the lounge be delayed until 2007, there won't be any interim lounge when the airport opens for anyone.

This is very poor management by QF and BA.

Update to Lounge facilities at Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Airport opens 28 September 2006
interim lounge facilities not yet available
new First and Business Lounges opening early 2007

Qantas and British Airways are currently designing contemporary and stylish new First and Business Lounges at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Lounges are scheduled for completion in early 2007.

Unfortunately, due to delayed building works at the airport there are currently no interim lounge facilities available for Qantas and British Airways passengers. We can assure you that we are working hard to remedy this. When these interim facilities become available, due to space limitations, access will be restricted to customers flying in Qantas First and Business on the day of travel. Access will not be possible for customers travelling in Economy that would normally be entitled to use the lounges (eg. Platinum Frequent Flyers, Gold Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members). Guest access will also not be available during this time.

We apologise for the inconvenience, and look forward to welcoming all eligible customers to our new Lounges in early 2007.

When open, the new luxuriously furnished First and Business Lounges will be 40% larger than the current lounges offering state of the art business facilities, a variety of seating and entertainment zones, improved shower facilities and a new style menu offering complimentary beverages and refreshments.