From BKK to AMS with Qatar Airways, PCR test or not?
Dear readers,
As you may know, the Dutch government has moved Thailand from the “Very High Risk” countries to the “High Risk” countries. This is effective November 19, 2022.
See also the site (unfortunately in English): https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/checklist-entry/from-outside-the-eu
My question is related to boarding procedure at Suvarnabhumi Airport. After some detective work, we need the following:
- Passport
- Vaccination Certificate
- Health declaration, which you can download from the above site.
We are both vaccinated and according to Dutch rules, we do not need a PCR test before leaving Thailand. Since we fly with Qatar Airways, I called them and asked for further information whether a PCR test is required before boarding. They could not give a definite answer. Perhaps due to the lack of knowledge of the Indian employee who spoke to me (very friendly, by the way)? I also emailed them the same question, but still no response.
Do you know how the check-in in BKK is going now? In other words, do you have to show a recent PCR test when you fly back to the Netherlands? The Netherlands no longer asks for this if you are fully vaccinated.
I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Regards,
Frank
Editors: Do you have a question for the readers of Thailandblog? Use it contact form..
At the end of July of this year, a PCR test from Thailand to Amsterdam was mandatory and was checked at the Qatar check-in counter at Suvarnabhumi.
This was checked again upon arrival at Schiphol.
I think that obligation is still in effect.
hello frank
I came back from August 5th
thailand via doha with qatar so had to have one
show pcr test when boarding in amsterdam
no one asks about anything have done test
at kasemrad hospital in prachin buri 3500 bath
greetings gerrit
Actually very simple.. without a PCR test, taken 48 hours before the check-in/departure time, one cannot leave; no boarding pass is issued. In Phuket, for example, they are very strict about this, I recently came back from Phuket with Emirates and all documents were studied very carefully.
I assume this is no different with Qatar in Bangkok.
Hi Frank, I flew with KLM from Bangkok to Amsterdam yesterday. Had to show my vaccination certificate at check-in at the counter. No one else asked. Not even when boarding or when entering the Netherlands. I also did not make a health declaration or anything.
If you want to be on the safe side, have a PCR test done, there is a handy method: Dr Donna, just google it. Appointment via internet. If you take the test before 10 am, you will receive the test by email in the evening. There is also a test shack at Subarnabumi Airport where you can quickly have a PCR test done. Rapid test 550 baht, wait half an hour. PCR test 3500 baht, wait 6 hours. Test stand is located directly at exit 3 level 1, so taxi stand level.
Test done 72 hours before flying (result negative), no explanation or proof was requested upon departure. When I later spoke to a flight attendant about this during the flight, she became very nervous, went to a colleague and about 20 minutes later all travelers still had to show proof of the test to the flight attendants, with an apology from the captain. As it turned out, there was a passenger about 4 rows away from us who had tested negative but still turned out to have covid. Via e-mail, if we still wanted to go to the GG&GD to get tested again. Happy negative
2nd line of the thread:
“This is as of November 19, 2022”
must
“This is as of November 19, 2021”
are
i assume,
On November 19, 2021, Thailand went from “Very High Risk” to “High Risk” and the mandatory PCR test that the Netherlands demanded to re-enter the Netherlands from Thailand was canceled.
So experiences of people who flew back from Thailand to the Netherlands after November 19 (and what does the airline require to board) seems relevant to me:
such as john koh chang who flew back with KLM on November 23 (and was therefore no longer asked about the PCR test when boarding)
And I am also curious what other airlines do when boarding in Bangkok, fly back yourself on December 29 from Suvarnabuhmi with Emirates
Dear Frank,
Visit https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/COVID-19-update.html
I conclude that Qatar follows the requirements of the country of destination. Ticket, passport, vaccination certificate, mouth mask and health certificate are therefore sufficient (assuming you stay in transit at DOH).
I called the 1700 line of the FPS in Belgium because I also had that question
I fly back to Belgium at the end of January with Thai Airways
I was told that no PCR test was required from BKK to BRU…
Only submit QR codes of both vaccinations