Dear readers,
We have been in almost complete quarantine / isolation in the Netherlands with our daughter (both of Thai nationality) for a year now. I have been personally teaching our daughter for a year now. I do not experience any serious attention from the Dutch authorities and institution (including our daughter's school). On the contrary. We are now exhausted.
We have decided that my wife and daughter will go to her family in Pak Chong for a few months (about 4 months). The family lives in an outlying area where they will experience little or no danger from the pandemic. I myself will stay in the Netherlands for the time being, at least until I am vaccinated. That was supposed to happen in February, but due to the wavering policy in this one, it still hasn't.
We have seen some information on the website of the Thai embassy. This shows that Thailand has two flights per month from Schiphol for the repatriation of Thai nationals. They must be quarantined in a hotel for two weeks before they are allowed to travel further.
I understand that the Thai government has KLM take care of the charter flights. No more than 100 people are allowed on the planes because of the distance between the passengers. The passengers are taken to a hotel by bus for two weeks. Food and drinks are provided. All that (flight and accommodation in a hotel with food and drinks) would be paid for by the Thai government. At least, that's how I read it. After two weeks, my wife and daughter can be picked up by relatives.
My question to readers is to share their knowledge and experiences with me and what we should pay attention to.
Yours faithfully,
French Nico.
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It is not true that fewer than 100 people are transported by KLM or it is since recently that my sister-in-law left with a volleyball in January.
The shelter in Thailand and Corona measures were perfectly arranged. A well cared for hotel and meals transfer everything well arranged.
Correction to previous response left Schiphol with a full tank
Dear Gyvan,
If a government repatriates its citizens and charters an aircraft to do so, then it is that government that determines how this is done. The fact that the same airline operates scheduled flights at full capacity does not alter this. In this case, the Thai government does not allow more than 100 passengers per flight. These charter flights are operated every two weeks on behalf of the Thai government. As soon as 100 people have registered for a flight via the embassy, others have to wait two weeks for the next flight, unless they want to fly on their own with a scheduled flight.
Thai Airways does not fly non-stop from Schiphol to Bangkok. It is possible that flights will therefore be flown with KLM. Thai Airways does fly non-stop from Brussels. Apparently, that is why Thai Airways is used in Belgium.
That's right Frans Nico. My girlfriend is currently completing her SQ at Bay Beach Resort, Jomtien.
The repatriation flights for Thai passport holders, usually organized every two weeks by the Thai embassy in The Hague, are operated by KLM. The number of available seats – not necessarily 100 – per flight is limited. The Thai must register for this via the website of the embassy. First come, first served. After initial approval, proof of booking must be uploaded, after which final approval follows and the Thai can download a CoE. You must also register in the App “ThailandPlus” and download and complete the T8 form.
Thais must arrange a fit to fly declaration no later than 72 hours before departure. Perhaps this can be done with your GP, otherwise with a medical examiner such as MediMare (€60) who handle this completely online if all questions are answered with no.
After arriving at Suvarnabhumi, the forms and temperature are checked, after which they are taken by bus under police escort to an SQ hotel - probably in Jomtien/Pattaya, because the plane arrives in the afternoon - for the 15-day quarantine.
There is a large supply of drinking water in the room and 3 meals are provided every day. Food allergies are also taken into account. In addition, extras can be ordered at reasonable prices and packages can be delivered to the reception for isolated guests. Hard to obtain 'indispensable' extras/sweets in Thailand can better be brought from the Netherlands.
After the SQ, you can opt for self-organized transport to the final destination at your own expense or free transport organized by the government to the capital of the province of final destination.
If your daughter is a minor and Thai, please check with the Thai embassy whether your daughter and wife are allowed to stay in one SQ hotel room.
See also the posts below and my responses to them:
– Reader question: Should my Thai girlfriend be quarantined?: https://www.thailandblog.nl/lezersvraag/lezersvraag-moet-mijn-thaise-vriendin-in-quarantaine/#comment-613158
– Reader question: State quarantine for Thai, what kind of accommodation is that?
– Reader question: Fit to Fly statement for my Thai fiancée: https://www.thailandblog.nl/lezersvraag/lezersvraag-fit-to-fly-verklaring-voor-mijn-thaise-verloofde/#comment-614611
– Thais can still travel to the Netherlands, despite a tightened entry ban: https://www.thailandblog.nl/reizen/thai-kunnen-nog-nederland-ondanks-het-inreisverbod/#comment-617888
– Reader question: Back from the Netherlands to Thailand with Lufthansa?: https://www.thailandblog.nl/lezersvraag/lezersvraag-terug-van-nederland-naar-thailand-met-lufthansa/#comment-619878
– Thailand Visa question No. 048/21: Thai back to Thailand: https://www.thailandblog.nl/visumvraag/thailand-visa-vraag-nr-048-21-thai-terug-naar-thailand/#comment-621280
Here are some more English videos about the SQ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8yl2n4Rs2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkPiMzD8mW8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGR06XDFngg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DggNxiVTEJ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU9QbeE4CNU
Or search with 'กักตัวกับรัฐ' for Thai language videos.
Dear Nico
Your explanation is a different translation and of course clear about what the Thai government does per 100 Passengers. That was not the point, but the fact that it seemed that klm only transports 100 passengers.
Look, we have something to do with that.
I would like to thank you very kindly for the effort taken. Here's something for us. Thanks again.
Please Frans Nico.
It took me a few hours to write the response.
Furthermore, I am still investigating – but less interesting for your wife and daughter – whether the 'SQ flights' can only be used once, as claimed by some on this forum. I have not yet received confirmation of this, rather a denial.
On the website of the Thai embassy, nml. no mention of this limitation. Moreover, on 26-02 during our discussion at Schiphol with the check-in head of staff of one of the Thais checking in, I casually overheard that he had already traveled back to Thailand several times last year with 'SQ flights'.
The 'SQ flights' on April 16 and 30 have now been announced. 100 seats available per flight.
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/content/register-for-sq-april-2021
Thanks for the additional information.
I would like it if we could have closer contact with each other. My email address is [email protected].