Tourists stranded after Thailand airport riot

[drron]

Well the Constitutional Court has basically dismissed Somchai and dissolved the PPP.New elections will be held.Unfortunately for PAD Thaksin has already registered another political party led by his nephew and this would be likely to win any new election.
PAD however has not left BKK and even if they do reports suggest it will not open for at least a week.There are reports Lufthansa is considering dropping BKK completely.The damage has certainly be done.
hotel prices are beginning to fall though.Next week i had a booking at the Millenium at Baht 4600.3 weeks ago it had gone to Baht 6300.Today it is down to Baht 3600.I think we will see prices fall further.The Baht also appears to be falling.

 

[RB]

Sky News just showing breaking news that there has been a breakthrough enabling flights

 

[winetraveller]

We delayed a trip to BKK for a vacation that was due to start last week, but I just booked from BOS to SIN via FRA with points for March on LH (my GF's first intro to the First Class Terminal). I would still like to go to BKK, and the aim is that we spend two weeks in Khao Lak and couple of days in BKK. My thinking is that we can alter this trip, and use SIN as a jumping off point for Vietnam, Bali, Cambodia or a variety of places rather than be worried about flying through BKK.

If things stay calm we would hop on a flight to coughet and then BKK and back to SIN.

I wouldn't want to be reliant on having to traverse Thailand. I think this could get very hot very quickly, and wouldn't bank on the airport being open this year.

I also heard that LH is planning on cancelling all flights to BKK and dropping it all in TG's lap.

It's such a shame, I just adore Bangkok.

 

[winetraveller]

According to this report the PAD have said they will allow flights to resume immediately.

Thai protesters agree to clear airport: protest leader

However, they will not be vacating the terminal, and AoT have stated that they would not resume any operations while protestors still occupied the airport, and that it would take at least a week to get the airport operating again.

Looks like nothing has changed really.

 

[drron]

Cargo flights may begin immediately but the latest from the airport authorities says Dec 15 before passenger flights-
Suvarnabhumi airport to remain closed until at least Dec 15 : AOT - Nationmultimedia.com

 

[QF WP]

Just heard on Sky news that the Thai Constitutional Courts have requested the Prime Minister to step down....and found this article

 

[JohnK]

Good news that the airport will be opening again soon but I am afraid PAD may have caused serious short to medium term damage to Thai tourism. It will be a while before people regain confidence in visiting the country again.

But the cynic in me says this was PADs intention all along. Someone who brings the main hub of a country to a standstill does not want what is best for the country but rather what is best for themselves. So we will have another election and the same people will be re-elected to power. What then, more riots?

I will consider myself lucky if I can land in Suvarnabhumi airport on December 21. I don't think accommodation cost is going to change much at the lower range properties although I could have waited a few more days and maybe I could have gotten the Novotel Lotus at a better rate than ~US$27/night.

Also I have not purchased any return flights yet and it will be a few days before I will be able to do so. Already the one-way flight is looking expensive and hope there is still availability when I am ready to book. On the flipside my planned trip in March 2009 may end up being cheaper than expected....

 

[Hvr]

Am now home safe in Canberra.

Qantas did an absolutely remarkable job transporting us and ensuring we got home. Their work and preparation paid off. Only heard one person complain and he was the type to complain when the sun rises in the morning.

Will right a detailed TR soon to finish off my current one.

Again, very well done Qantas. Official thanks will be sent.

 

[Keith009]

Glad to hear you're back home safely, Hvr.

 

[dot]

Hvr - glad you got home safely.

JohnK - You might also be interested to know that today, DFAT increased their warning level for Thailand to "Reconsider your need to travel" for the whole of Thailand (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla have been rated "Do not Travel" for a long time). Only last Friday, the level was "High Degree of Caution", then on Monday Bangkok(only) was elevated to "Reconsider your need to travel", now the whole of the country.

This trend toward higher levels of risk along with hvr's predition of more serious trouble would be making me think twice about Thailand right now. In fact if it is a work trip, it would stop me from going at all.

BTW - I was there only four weeks ago and was also there when the PAD occupied the PM's office originally.

 

[JohnK]

There is talk that it could take weeks for the stranded tourists to leave Thailand. Assuming there are no more protests and I have a confirmed ticket to leave Thailand on 3 January what are the chances that this will not be honoured and my seat given to someone who has been stuck in Thailand longer? I would hope that governments/airlines put on extra flights to fly out stranded tourists and not disrupt the travel plans of others travellers as well.

JohnK - You might also be interested to know that today, DFAT increased their warning level for Thailand to "Reconsider your need to travel"

Thanks. At this stage I am still on track to go unless there are further developments. I am only staying in Bangkok 1 night early January and from what I understand during the protests unless you were at the airport or watching the news you would have no idea anything was happening. Keeping my fingers crossed....

 

[drron]

John,the number of people who have cancelled trips to Thailand means the backlog should be worked through reasonably quickly.The Aussie media throw a rosy picture with stories today about the opening of BKK.However it is limited-
Some airlines resume Suvarnabhumi operations - Nationmultimedia.com
And full services still some time away-
Suvarnabhumi to reopen in 1-2 weeks - Nationmultimedia.com
I am sure you will once again enjoy your trip.

 

[JohnK]

John,the number of people who have cancelled trips to Thailand means the backlog should be worked through reasonably quickly.The Aussie media throw a rosy picture with stories today about the opening of BKK.However it is limited
....
I am sure you will once again enjoy your trip.

I have a confirmed ticket on CX SIN-BKK and if the trouble escalates again then I will find a way to HKT, USC, PNH, Siem Riep or Luang Prabang and then make my way to Pattaya. I have also just booked a one-way return ticket BKK-HKG-BNE early January.

This could possibly be my best trip ever to Thailand. A close friend from Sydney is coming along with me for the whole 2 weeks and I got an sms this morning from a friend in Birmingham who has had to put back his trip for 10 days. The 3 of us, plus other friends and acquiantences, will be there for the whole 2 weeks playing golf, playing 8-ball, drinking etc. I think at this stage only wild horses would drive me away and even then the wild horses would have to put up a really good fight....

 

[dragonman]

Resumption of services

I have a QF flight to Bangkok next Thursday (going to a conference). Was told by Qantas today that unofficially they are hoping to resume next Sunday.

 

[soorox]

If Luthansa was to drop all flights to BKK then what would happen to the connection flights to SGN?

 

[JohnK]

If Luthansa was to drop all flights to BKK then what would happen to the connection flights to SGN?

These flights would more than likely disappear.

 

[simongr]

My sister in law and nephew have returned safe and sound