We specialise in arriving at destinations soon after a coup.
Have only arrived in a place with civil disobedience once but it was memorable. It was
November 2008 and I had flown to BKK on QF1 with my upgrade from J-F successful as well as first J (in CBR) and F (in SYD) lounge visits. I have posted about this before but it is appropriate for this thread.
Anyway I travelled through Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Philippines and Hong Kong. I was travelling from HKG to BKK to catch my J flight home the next night. It was my first trip on RJ. While in Hong Kong I got a gut feeling that I needed to book a hotel at Bangkok Airport for my arrival. I had no idea why but I have learned to follow my gut when I get these feelings. Pity it wasn't to avoid BKK but...
As take off time approached in HKG I ambled towards to gate and an RJ person asked me if I was on the flight and upon confirmation asked me to hurry.
At the gate I was told my passport wasn't required, just the BP. I boarded the flight and settled down for the flight. As we approached BKK an announcement came over the PA advising that only six passengers were getting off and the rest of the passengers were asked to remain seated until a quick take off.
I got off and immigration seemed normal but at Customs there were way too many people who didn't seem to belong. I was tired and went to the meeting point for the Novatel. The person found a trolley, put or bags on it and ran us to the hotel.
At the hotel we were ushered to the head of the line and checked in. I went to my room and virtually straight to bed, I slept well. The next morning I turned on the television and saw that BKK AP had been overrun by the Yellow Shirts.
Thousands of people had slept in the airport and hotel ballroom whilst I was in comfort. Once I realised that flights were cancelled I rang my travel insurer and was assured that I was covered and to keep receipts.
I spent a couple of nights at the Novatel until the management advised that it may get dangerous and that I would be better off in town. On the second day I went to the airport and met some Australian consular staff. They were amazed that I had proper insurance that would pay out having met several people who were in financial stress.
Thailand protest strands thousands of tourists at airport
Once in the city I met several Thais who apologised for the problems and some even offered money which I declined. They were at imminent risk of losing significant amounts of money due to the inevitable shut down of the tourist industry.I kept in touch with Qantas and they eventually put on buses from Bangkok to coughet and from there flights to Singapore to Australia.
This was a convoy of seven buses with food and beverages provided along with a meal in a village restaurant en route. For people who were going to be in SIN for more than a few hours a day room was paid for by Qantas. I was on the first flight out of SIN (in J which I'd paid for) and slept for a few hours. Upon arrival in SYD I was on the last flight to CBR but missed it by seconds.
Qantas paid for a room for the night as well as taxi fares to/from SYD AP.
This was at the same time as Qantas was arranging evacuation flights from Mumbai after a terrorist attack. This was one of Qantas' finest hours but of course with a successful event it passed by unnoticed except by those involved.
My travel insurance paid all expenses very quickly.
Oh and a little bonus, I received the points and SCs for the cancelled flight at the end of my membership year and also for the actual flight in my new membership year.
