Travel update information
Last update on 4th December, 2008
[ Airline and hotel announcements ]
Bangkok Air resumes Suvarnabhumi service on Dec 4th.
Unprecedented response to aid stranded passengers
U.S. Embassy Message to Americans in Thailand
Bangkok airport flights to resume Thursday: authority
International flights from Bangkok's main airport are set to resume Thursday after protesters began to end a blockade of the facility. "We hope to resume flights on December 4, hopefully. From tomorrow night, the first departure flight will be Bangkok-Rome, a Thai Airways flight,'' said Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana, chairman of the board of Airports of Thailand.
"We will try and get everything back to normal as soon as possible,'' he told reporters at Suvarnabhumi international airport. Vudhibhandhu said one domestic flight was due to arrive at Suvarnabhumi later Wednesday, a Thai Airways flight from the southern tourist town of Phuket. It was originally scheduled to land at the U-Tapao naval base southeast of Bangkok, which has been standing in as the main exit point for travellers, but will now touch down at 2:00pm (0700 GMT) at Suvarnabhumi, he said.
The chairman said damage from the occupation of the airport by the People's Alliance for Democracy since November 25 had not yet been estimated. Hundreds of PAD supporters started leaving the airport in cars, taxis and buses after the 10:00am time set by PAD leaders for the end of their protests at Suvarnabhumi and other sites.
Le Fenix Sukhumvit Hotel can accommodate stranded passengers and guests are able to credit compensation of THB 2,000.- credit per person per day for hotels & meals accordingly to an announcement by Ministry of Tourism & Sport and when guest show our hotel key card then they are able to getting to Bed Supper Club and Q Bar free of charge.
Vietnamese planes, buses take citizens home
Vietnam has evacuated its citizens - stranded since protesters shut down the two main airports in Bangkok - using two special flights and several overland buses, officials said Tuesday.
The Vietnamese government estimated some 400 to 500 of its nationals had been stranded in Thailand.
Vietnam Airlines sent two flights to the U-Tapao naval airbase near Bangkok. One flight with 168 passengers arrived back in Vietnam on Sunday, while a second Tuesday morning flight with 150 passengers landed in Ho Chi Minh City.
The airline also sent several aircraft to Laos and Cambodia to pick up Vietnamese who left Thailand by road, state media reported.
New Zealand plane on standby for citizens in Bangkok
The New Zealand government ordered an air force plane to fly to Malaysia, to be put on standby to fly to the Thai military airbase, U-Tapao, approximately 150 kilometres east of Bangkok, Radio New Zealand reported.
Prime Minister John Key said he still believed commercial flights were the best way for the up to 300 New Zealanders believed stranded in the Bangkok to leave, but was unsure when Bangkok's airports would reopen. Key said that sending the air force plane was a contingency plan and it would be available to take 65 passengers at a time from U-Tapao to either Singapore or Malaysia.
The pm took action after the government came under increasing pressure from families of New Zealanders stuck in the Thai capital to help get them home following Australia's move to charter planes from Qantas Airways.
Thai protesters agree to open Suvarnabhumi
The PAD anti-government group agreed Tuesday, December 2 to allow flights to resume from Bangkok's international airport after a week-long blockade.
One of PAD's senior members, Somkiat Pongpaiboon said his group has allowed flights to take off and land immediately, which included both passenger and cargo flights.
Thailand's airport authority confirmed there was an agreement with protesters, saying flights may be able to resume if there are no 'technical problems'.
"We have reached an agreement with PAD to start clearing protesters from the passenger zone to reopen Suvarnabhumi Airport,'' said Vudhihaandhu Vichairatama, chairman of the board of Airports of Thailand. ``If there is no technical problem the first flights would resume within 24 hours,'' Vudhihaandhu said.
Singapore Airlines to continue U-Tapao flights
The British Embassy in Thailand said the situation at the U-Tapao airport near Pattaya remains very confusing. Access to the airport and the departures area are extremely congested, with little clear information available. The embassy does not recommend people traveling to U-Tapao unless their airline has confirmed that a seat is available.
Alternative Thai airports though limited international flights are Chiang Mai in the north and Phuket airport in the south and possibly flights from Hat Yai in the south.
Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2642.php?id=27423
According to the US Embassy in Thailand, the Thai Foreign Ministry has arranged for credited compensation for stranded foreign travelers. This compensation consists of 2000 baht credit per day for hotels and meals. It is understood that this credit is available at any hotel in Bangkok (guest houses and serviced apartments are not included).
Americans who have been unable to depart because their flight was cancelled due to the closure of the airports should show a copy of their passport and air ticket to the hotel front desk for the 2000 baht per day credit to be deducted from their bill.
[ Airline or hotel who wants to make an announcement can send their information via email to the webmaster. ]
Remarks:BITEC is an exhibition hall on Bangna-Trad road
[ Useful phone numbers ]
Useful telephone numbers
- Ministry of Tourism Aid Center: 1414, 02-356-0720, 02-356-0729
- ATTA (Association of Thai Travel Agents): 02-134-4263
- Thai tourist police emergency line: 1155
- Suvarnabhumi International Airport hotline: 02-132-1882, 02-132-1888
- Suvarnabhumi International Airport flight inquiries: 02-132-0000, 02-132-9328-9
- Don Mueang Airport: 02-535-1669
- Don Mueang Flight inquiries: 02-535-1616
- Chiang Mai International Airport 053 922 100 / 053 922 444
- U-Tapao International Airport 038 245 595 / 038 245 600
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: 02-652-8313-4
- Bangkok Airways Hot Line 1771, 02 265 8777
- THAI Airways 02-3561111, fax: 02-3562222
- Nok Air 02 627 2000
- Air Asia 02 515 9999 www.airasia.com
- PB Air 02 261 0220-5 www.pbair.com
- Jetstar International: Bangkok: 02 267 5125 Australia: 131 538 www.jetstar.com
- Tiger Airways 02-649-9688 (Bangkok)
- Bug1133 (ask anything) 1133
For other information, please contact:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs 02-6435000
- Emergency Centre (24 Hours) 02 643 5522, Fax 02 643 5521
- TAT Tourism Intelligence Unit and Crisis Management Centre (TIC) 02 253 8844 / 02 253 5500
- TAT’s hotline 02-652-8313-14 / 02-250-5500 Ext.1701-3 (08:00-24:00 hrs.)
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports 1414
- Tourism Authority of Thailand 1672
- Tourist Police 1155
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) has transferred the remaining stranded passengers to the following hotels:
1.Imperial Queen’s Park, Address: 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Sukhumvit Road Khlongtan, Khlongton District, Bangkok 10110, Tel: 02 267 9000, 02 261 9300
2.Ibis Hotel, Address: 5 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 15, Ramkhamhaeng Rd.,Bangkok 10240, Tel: 02 308 7888
3.Eastin Hotel, Address: 1091/343 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400 Tel: 02 651 7600 E-mail info@eastinbangkokhotel.com
4.Twin Tower Hotel, Address: 88 Rong Muang, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 02 216 9555 E-mail info@thetwintowershotel.com
5.Regent Hotel (Suvarnabhumi), Address: 30/1-32/1 Soi Ladkrabang 22, Ladkrabang Bangkok 10520 Tel: 02 326 7138-43, E-mail info@regentsuvarnabhumi.com
6.Prince Palace, Address: 488/800 Bo Bae Tower, Damrongrak Road, Klong Mahanak, Pomprab, Bangkok 10100, Tel: 02 628 1111
7.Siam City Hotel, Address: 477 Si Ayuthaya Road, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Tel: 02 247 0123, E-mail siamcity@siamhotels.com
And for others, please contact the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Tel: +66 2 237-6046-8, + 66 2 632-7400-2), Thai Hotels Association (THA) (Tel: 02 281 9496 or Hotline Number : 1552), and TCT (Tel: 02-250-5500 ext. 1646).
Conditions of Accommodation
1.Tourists cannot reimburse the accommodation and meals for cash.
2.Tourists can stay in the accommodation under the condition that their costs do not exceed 2,000 Baht per day. For any excess, tourists must be responsible and pay themselves.
3.Tourists can only change the place of accommodation that has been arranged by THA and ATTA.
List of additional hotels providing accomodation for remaining stranded passengers
All Season Gold Orchid, 0 2616 3000
Holiday Inn Silom, 0 2238 4300
Bangkok Palace, 0 2253 0510
Thongthara, 0 2291 9800
Rama Garden, 0 2561 0022
Grand Water Gate, 0 2255 4242
Four Wings, 0 2260 2100
Thongpoon, 0 2216 0020
China Town, 0 2225 0204
President Solitare, 0 2255 7200
Grand Tower Inn, 0 2618 6688
Amari
- Atrium, 0 2718 2000
- Water Gate, 0 2653 9000
- Don Mueang, 0 2566 1020
- Boulevard, 0 2255 2930
City Lodge (Sukhumvit 9) 0 2253 7705
City Lodge(Sukhumvit 19) 0 2265 7340
13 Coins Airport, 0 2374 9913
Grand Diamond, 0 2656 6888 - 9
Royal Bangsak Pang Nga, 076 592 555
Long Beach (Cha-am), 032 47 2444
Sun Beam Pattaya, 038 427 120 - 9
Siam Bay View, 038 423 871 7
Siam Bay Shore, 038 428 678
Hard Rock Pattaya, 038 428 755 - 9
Patong Berlin (Phuket), 076 340 037
Veranda (Chiang Mai), 053 365 007
Veranda (Cha-am), 032 709 000
Pattaya Park, 038 364 110 - 20
Dusit Pattaya, 0 38425 611 - 7
Dusit Thani Bangkok, 02 2009000
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