Reader question: Good news from THAI Airways
Dear readers,
Yesterday I found the message below from Thai Airways in my mailbox. You should know that I booked a “cheap” ticket from Brussels Airport to Khon Kaen Airport via Bangkok in early 2020. Flight from Bangkok to Khon Kaen included. Flight date June 9 outward and July 23 return.
Thai Airways plans to fly back to Brussels from Bangkok.
I get 3 options to use or redeem my already paid flight. Except during some busy holiday periods, a “compensation flight” can be booked with Thai Airways at no extra cost.
Of course that sounds like good news to me. Only, of course, I wish to avoid the quarantine period and wonder if I could already book from June 8 to July 22 (possible because the start is outside the busy holiday period).
What does the Thailand blog reader think about this (risk of quarantine lifted)?
Below the email.
Regards,
Raf
18.Dec.2020
Subject: REQUEST FOR NEW TRAVELDATES
From: “Reservations THAI” [email protected]>
Verzonden: 17.dec.2020 16:35:21
Dear Passenger,
BOOKING REFERENCE: XXXXX
We hereby refer to the canceled flights of THAI where you have selected for ticket extension (Option 1) via our website.
You have received a CVXB code linked to your ticket extension and we would like to know if you are ready to rebook your flights already?
For the smooth handling of your ticket extension, we kindly ask to select one of the 3 options :
1. Your new travel dates are known and you will travel during 28
th
March 21 – October 31, 2021
Please send the new departure and return date by return email.
THAI tentatively plans to operate 6 flights per week Brussels-Bangkok-Brussels (no flights on Wednesday) during 28 March and 31 October 21.THAI canceled all flights between now and
27
th
March 2021.
The departure date need to be the same season as your original ticket. In case you have a low season ticket, then you can't have departure during 2- 7APR21,26JUN21-15AUG21,30-31OCT21 which is peak season.
2. Your new travel dates are not known yet or you plan to travel during 1 November 2021- 31 December 2022 You can contact us back later with the new travel dates, the ticket extension code remains valid
for complete your travel latest 31DEC22.
THAI can only book your flights as from 11 months before your trip, so please send us the new travel dates later.
You don't need to react to this email until your new flights are known or can be booked within 11 months before your travel dates.
3. You don't know when to travel but you prefer to exchange the ticket extension into a travel voucher.
The value of your original ticket will be exchanged into a travel voucher on your name for the same amount, including taxes/fuel.
You don't need to decide now when you want to travel as you have a travel voucher, valid to use till DEC22.
The travel voucher will be received by email within 3 weeks and you can use it for any
new booking on any THAI flights, worldwide until 31DEC22.
For any new booking on THAI with the travel voucher, you can send an email to any THAI office and use the voucher as form of payment.
The travel voucher can be refunded if not used at the end of its expiry date. If interested to exchange your ticket extension into a travel voucher, please kindly confirm by return email including your booking reference.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Best Regards,
THAI Brussels office
I actually have almost the same question.
I want to arrive at Koh Samui on June 2nd and leave again on June 30th.
Hope I can go then, without having to quarantine.
I have rented a villa with airbnb for this period.
I hope if I can't go unexpectedly, I will get the money back from airbnb or the host.
Hello Raf, I also received the above email from the Thai, but at the moment I don't dare to book anything to Thailand. Now you even have to do a mandatory corona test if you want to go to Belgium, not to mention the quarantine that has not yet ended. In Thailand they also see that the infections are increasing in Europe.
Regards, Ari.
OK. I will not book just yet .
But when I read the mail from Thai Airways, I notice that they plan several flights in a week (6 days out of 7). They also ask not to book during busy holiday periods. Those planes have to be filled anyway…
Maybe they know more and major relaxations are coming soon…
Proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test upon entering Thailand may be sufficient and quarantine will be abolished if those conditions are met.
Let's hope something like this is on the way.
Raf
Why the hell would you book now if you don't know anything about the situation in June.
We all hope that there will be no more quarantine and can travel normally again. But don't assume it in advance.
Dear Gentlemen,
That's good news for you I read here. Today of all days I looked through connections for next summer 2021 to be able to leave with Thai Airways. To my greatest surprise, I did not see Thai Airways anywhere among the other airlines. I think they will start flying again in brussels from March-April.
With regards
Lung
Just entered an example trip via the TA site from Brussels to Bangkok return July 1 to August 5 and they are there.
sorry link only works for me but feel free to go on their site and do simulation :
https://www.thaiairways.com/en_BE/index.page
and this one does work 555
I am not talking about TA here but about Connections
Hello Raf,
I am still waiting for my confirmation for a voucher that I submitted online, but Brussels does not confirm anything about this, but at the end of the form I had “thank you please keep this case number CVEXXXXX travel voucher for your reference” so no confirmation email really nothing the only proof I have is a print screen so may I ask you if others have received a confirmation email?
spicy detail I did this on October 17, so two months ago and it's good that you're talking about it now that I mention it, it's about almost € 3000 and that's a lot of money for us
Hello Pratana,
I then opted for option 1 (ticket extension) and then received confirmation by e-mail.
Since flights will apparently resume soon, they now offer me 2 options to book or also to ask for a voucher (see my article)
I think I will take option 2 and choose a departure date when conditions are better.
Perhaps you can send an email with your case number to “[email protected]” and ask for more explanation about what to do.
Good luck,
Raf
Dear Raf,
Keep insisting via email!!
I received my 2 vouchers from Thai airways at least a month ago.
Good luck!
Erik
I am now in Thailand with of course Quarantine normal in April 21 we will be back for 10 months after info we have to go back mandatory Quarantine think for all 21 ,,, unfortunately.
Why always go on and on about Thai Airways?
The "die-hards" of this airline cannot assume that it is most likely over and out after years of mismanagement and corruption within the airline, regardless of the Covid problem for the entire aviation world.
Thai Airways is in bankruptcy proceedings in Thailand and recently put 34 aircraft up for sale to somewhat reduce its gigantic debt mountain.
It is utopian to think that in 2021 everything will come back to “normal” and to assume that they can still fly to Brussels six times a week with what will remain of the fleet.
Source :
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397456
Mark,
My article does not “whine on” about Thai Airways.
I also know that they are close to bankruptcy, and may not book with them anymore.
Nevertheless, I am happy that they will still carry out my postponed and already paid trip without additional costs.
I can read between the lines that there may be some relaxations to enter Thailand. By this I refer to the announcement that they will fly to Brussels up to 6 times a week, which assumes that they expect more tourists soon (perhaps they know more about the relaxation of upcoming measures, so that more tourists can come to Thailand by plane.
Those were the points I wanted to make.
Regards,
Raf
I have also mentioned here before, for people who had booked with Thai it is a sour apple to get something back. But I think those who are still going to book with Thai are not quite right in the head. I don't think they will fly anymore. If so, there will probably be significant cuts in the route network. Furthermore, it is not at all possible to book a ticket to Thailand for the time being. Especially now that the infections are rising again in the Netherlands. Thailand will certainly pay attention to who is not and who is allowed to enter. The Netherlands will not be among them.