Thailand OFF the UK red list

[Manforallseasons]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/2193983/thailand-still-on-uk-red-list


Note
The Thailand Remains on U.K. Red List topic was merged with the Thailand OFF the UK red list topic.

[Old git]

This might be a mistake..

As of this moment, the new Red List has not been announced yet, although some broad hints have been trailed.

The FCO however have revised their travel advice, which is not the same thing, and includes some long standing warnings about avoiding Thailand's deep south.

[goji]

Thailand is off the red list at 4:00 am on Monday 11th October.

From the horse's mouth, ie gov.co.uk.

[arsenal]

Off the red list and on to the red lust.

[Old git]

Official from .gov.uk

Thailand will exit the red list at 4 a.m. UK time on the 11th October

[Patanawet]

And will the U.K. accept Thai or Indian made Astrazeneca?

[Old git]

And will the U.K. accept Thai or Indian made Astrazeneca?

My UK administered AZ jabs were made in India, so I would hope so!

[dinagam]

Shocking!

[Dodger]

Congrats to all you maniacs from the UK.

Now get your asses back here and start feeding these boys.

[goji]

Some of us were planning to go even with Thailand on the red list.

The assumption was that Thailand would have been off the red list before we needed to return home and if not, we just spend a couple of weeks in somewhere like Barcelona on the way home.

Now it's off the red list, that removes this doubt and makes it much easier to buy a valid UK travel insurance policy.

[Oliver2]

Some good news at last.

[Old git]

Congrats to all you maniacs from the UK.

Now get your asses back here and start feeding these boys.

The Red List has not really been a deterrent for the past month, it was pretty clear it would end fairly soon, barring a new twist to the Covid saga.

What we need is you maniacs in the LoS to get proactive and tell everyone that there's no halfway house to getting the LoS back to normal that will bring back mass tourism - we need zero quarantine and the bars and massage shops fully open again..

[Gaybutton]

What we need is you maniacs in the LoS to get proactive and tell everyone that there's no halfway house to getting the LoS back to normal that will bring back mass tourism - we need zero quarantine and the bars and massage shops fully open again..

How about you maniacs who are not in the LoS? Those of us living in Thailand have been trying to convince the powers-that-be of that for months, but so far they don't seem to be listening. Don't forget they're the same ones who want to change Pattaya to a "family oriented" destination, whatever that is supposed to mean. Maybe those of you not in the LoS need to get proactive too. You can start by writing to the TaT and make it emphatically clear what will and will not attract you to Pattaya - and visiting the Pattaya Sheep Farm ain't it.

I am really sick and tired of people in power deciding for everybody else that sex and the enjoyment of it is a bad thing. Yeah? Ok, powers-that-be, tell me what the bad part is. Maybe they'll change their minds about sex once they start getting some . . .

[goji]

What we need is you maniacs in the LoS to get proactive and tell everyone that there's no halfway house to getting the LoS back to normal that will bring back mass tourism - we need zero quarantine and the bars and massage shops fully open again..

Broadly correct.
They need zero quarantine and I see no reason why they could not do that later this year, as the vaccine programme progresses. Or even right now, if they do the maths and realize that TESTED TOURISTS ARE LOWER RISK THAN UNTESTED LOCAL RESIDENTS.

The bars need to open.

Even thought they were supposed to be closed, getting a massage was no problem even during the lockdown in January 2020.

[Old git]

Goji wrote (in the related thread with erroneous subject heading)

" They need zero quarantine and I see no reason why they could not do that later this year, as the vaccine programme progresses. Or even right now, if they do the maths and realize that TESTED TOURISTS ARE LOWER RISK THAN UNTESTED LOCAL RESIDENTS. "

Tested or untested, just one variant of Covid (Delta) now dominates the globe, and every other variant is subordinate to it. There is no longer any cause to restrict travel or fear people from other nations.

[christianpfc]

The bars are a great thing to have, but I would return to Thailand in an instant even if bars remain closed. I would do a Phuket Sandbox, but no quarantine. What deters me from going to Thailand now is the COE (I mean the the extensive paperwork to get it). And I need another place (warm, cheap, boys) to go after 30 or 60 days.

[christianpfc]

Exactly! You could draw arbitrary lines on the map that people are not allowed to cross, or full curfew people with odd or even birthdays, switching every week between odd and even, it would have the same effect as the current limitations (international borders).

Covid has reached everywhere and everyone, and all limitations to curb it do nothing to curb the spread, just make life for everyone difficult.

[Brad the Impala]

In Thailand you don't need gay bars to find willing and handsome young men. As long as there are a few places to eat and that can serve alcohol, and apps and eye contact, that'll do me.

TBH I think I am bored now with a parade of of guys in underwear every night on holiday. Or even a big cock parade! I must be getting old.

[goji]

Exactly! You could draw arbitrary lines on the map that people are not allowed to cross, or full curfew people with odd or even birthdays, switching every week between odd and even, it would have the same effect as the current limitations (international borders).

The arbitrary lines thing has been tried.
(i) In Wales, the devolved regime at one point had a limit on how far people were allowed to drive to visit others. As if the distance traveled makes a difference to who you infect after getting out of the car. Also, it's discriminatory as people in some areas could visit tens of thousands of people within the limit, whilst those in rural areas could visit hardly anyone (if following the stupid rules).
(ii) Even at the start of the UK lockdown, people were always allowed to exercise outside locally. So the plods in Derbyshire were stopping people driving 5 miles from their town to exercise out in the Derbyshire countryside. Any fool can see the latter is lower risk than exercising in town.

The time to have international travel restrictions was January 2020, with a ban on travel out of China. The WHO screwed that one up & argued for the exact opposite.
Don't ever forget that.
Yet Tedros is still in his Job. When he ought to be at least fired, jailed or something even worse.
Defunding the WHO was just about the only thing that Trump got right (that I know of).

[Brad the Impala]

Shouldn't this thread, with such in inaccurate title, either be put to bed or incorporated with the similar thread with an appropriate title, IMHO!

[Jellybean]

Shouldn't this thread, with such in inaccurate title, either be put to bed or incorporated with the similar thread with an appropriate title, IMHO!

Good idea, Brad the Impala. It made no sense to continue contributing to the Thailand Remains on U.K. Red List topic when it will be taken off the UK red list at 04:00am on October 11th, 2021. I have therefore merged it with the existing topic, Thailand OFF the UK red list.

[arsenal]

Just passing the time and I found this. Return from London to Bangkok return for £403 on trip.com

[Oliver2]

EVA told me yesterday that for the next three months they are only offering two flights to Bangkok a month.

[goji]

EVA told me yesterday that for the next three months they are only offering two flights to Bangkok a month.

I cannot find any EVA flights from LHR on google flights and the EVA site isn't working properly at present.

Thai appear to be increasing LHR-BKK frequency from 2 to 4 times a week next month. Unfortunately a 11:50 am departure from LHR. I'd like the old EVA 21:30 departure, but compromises have to be made in these times.

[Oliver2]

The EVA site was- very unusually- not responsive and so I phoned. And this is what I was told.

You are right about Thai. Good prices too. Shame about the times....it is unpleasant arriving in BKK early in the morning. The day is almost lost due to the after effects of the flight.

I also contacted our hotel, the Agate in Jomtien. I knew it was closed but I was pleased to hear that they are keeping-up maintenance work . This should allow a speedy opening.

Perhaps I'm being over-optimistic but I've been give a much- needed boost in morale.

[billyhouston]

From up here in the land of coal mines and cotton mills, we never have direct flights so I'm used to looking at the various options. While aware of Finnair via Helsinki, it doesn't suit for various reasons. Flights seem readily available at reasonable prices via AMS CDG and FRA. Flying from Manchester the prices are very good. Sadly the best option for me.... MAN - HKG - CNX is no longer available, but I'm flying next week via CDG.

[Old git]

EVA told me yesterday that for the next three months they are only offering two flights to Bangkok a month.

I've used EVA a few times - direct from UK, competitive and a competent airline.

[goji]

I've used EVA a few times - direct from UK, competitive and a competent airline.

So far, I've used EVA for every single direct flight from LHR to BKK.
The only time I've gone to Thailand via another airline was when EVA flights were not available -via Singapore when the yellow shirts closed Suvarnabhumi and via Zurich in 2020, when EVA were not operating on suitable dates.

[Brad the Impala]

And for those looking to take advantage of the Phuket Sandbox there are the new direct Thai Airways flights from London to Phuket, although I suspect, given the success of the Sandbox, they will also be flying there now from other airports.

Phuket is now getting busy for the Christmas period. I know about 15 people(thai and farangs) who are travelling there in the first instance via these Thai Airways flights. They are not put off by the COE which appears more onerous at first glance than it is. Some of the better value hotels are starting to have limitations on their availability in the peak period and the cost of flights is going up.

[goji]

I'm flying next week via CDG.

How was the flight ? Paying attention, I know you got there, so (i) The roof of CDG airport did not collapse again and (ii) Air France did not crash yet another plane (if it was Air France).

Air France are one of the few with a sensible Premium Economy option, except the transit time on the outboard flight LHR-CDG-BKK is unacceptable. Although, knowing Air France, they would probably crash the plane between LHR and CDG, so it could be irrelevant.

Also, if booking for less than 3 months, KLM-Air France seem to impose a 3 month maximum trip limit on some fares, so extending the stay at a later date looks problematic.

[Brad the Impala]

How was the flight ? Paying attention, I know you got there, so (i) The roof of CDG airport did not collapse again and (ii) Air France did not crash yet another plane (if it was Air France).


Curious perspective. Air France are generally rated five star for safety.

[billyhouston]

How was the flight ? Paying attention, I know you got there, so (i) The roof of CDG airport did not collapse again and (ii) Air France did not crash yet another plane (if it was Air France).

Air France are one of the few with a sensible Premium Economy option, except the transit time on the outboard flight LHR-CDG-BKK is unacceptable. Although, knowing Air France, they would probably crash the plane between LHR and CDG, so it could be irrelevant.

Also, if booking for less than 3 months, KLM-Air France seem to impose a 3 month maximum trip limit on some fares, so extending the stay at a later date looks problematic.

Wow! Where to start?

For those of us in the 'boonies' there are no direct flights to BKK. The viable stops for those flying in Premium Economy are, or were, CDG or FRA or HKG. You will notice that LHR is not in the list since, comparing it with the other options, it's a pit.... and a pita. Though the locals tell me that CDG is confusing, I don't find it so and enjoy the feeling of 'space' that it generates. Alas MAN-HKG-CNX is no longer possible due to the problems at Cathay. I rejected FRA since Lufthansa have unbundled their Prem. Econ. fares and want you to pay for a seat!

The flight MAN-CDG was pretty full and was followed by a 5 hour stopover at CDG. In the light of this, I availed myself of the AirFrance lounge for a fee. There, I could have eaten and drunk myself into oblivion, but I didn't and it served to pass the time. The 777 was the type with 381 seats, as oposed to the 468 seater they've used on the route for years. Until I flew with AirFrance I didn't know that you could fit 468 on a 777 but it's their Caribbean Layout as I recall. (For those who don't know, France has, quietly, managed to retain much of its empire by various means.) My flight had 40 passengers (the previous day it was 34) and only 3 in the PE cabin. I felt short-changed when, because there were only three of us, we were served the economy meals. Good to know how the other half live.

Arrival in Bangkok was pretty efficient by local standards and my voluminous paperwork was only checked by seven or eight different people. Having emerged from immigration and baggage claim the ASQ part really was efficient and you're soon on the way to your chosen place of incarceration.

It's a slog, made worse by quarantine.... but it's worth it when you get here. Whoopee.

[Dodger]

Congrats billy on your long-awaited arrival in the Land of Oz.

I'm sure you had your reasons for coming now versus waiting until the quarantines were lifted, but hey, this is your holiday and I just hope you can reep the rewards once released from incarceration.

Cheers

[goji]

Thanks billy.

I remember once transiting through CDG, although not to Thailand.
The BA (Bloody Awful) flight from LHR to CDG was over an hour late and neither BA nor my attempts at and advance check in were able to provide me a JAL boarding card for the second leg.
I really had to rush in CDG to make the connection. Also, they bus transit passengers around the outside of the terminal building and you can scan your boarding pass to know which location to alight at. Except I had no boarding pass, so I had no information where to go !
So I was looking for a JAL plane, but still didn't get off at the correct location.
This part of the terminal was very short of information on departures.

I then made enquiries at an Air France desk, as that is all there was. Within seconds, the lady issued me with a JAL boarding card and sent me to the next part of the terminal. I just made the flight. Unfortunately, my bags made a later flight.