Thailand’s Air Asia flies back into business

 AirAsia increased flights and routes starting 1 October 2021, from its Don Mueang Airport home base.
The services are now in place serving Phitsanulok, Nan, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Krabi and Trang.

It is also taking a gamble with an untested route Chiang Mai-Hua Hin starting 15 October. A service from Chiang Mai to Phuket will start on 16 October.

These new routes are in addition to 11 routes that were relaunched in September. AirAsia in Thailand has 20 domestic routes as of this month.

‘We saw an encouraging response across all of our routes in September, achieving a load factor average of 75-80% during weekdays and 90 to 95% at weekends, especially for flights to and from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Hat Yai.’

‘With our guests now getting more familiar with the different travel requirements imposed by each province, we believe tourism industry operators will begin to see a stronger recovery during the final quarter of this year.’

However, strict health and safety measures are still in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19 through contactless services and social distancing.  The airline is promoting a Digital Health Pass provided by the Mor Prom application, which displays vaccination records and Covid-19 test results, despite the app’s shortcomings.

It often displays vaccinated records missing important data such as the name and surname.

The airline says it is working closely with the Ministry of Public Health and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand to develop new service standards to provide passengers peace of mind. It should start with a total overhaul of the Mor Phrom app.

AirAsia encourages all guests to check-in via the AirAsia Super App. Guests should make full use of the AirAsia Super App, the only all-in-one app that guests would need for their journey – from flight to hotel bookings, checking in, through to boarding with the e-Boarding Pass except of course Mor Phrom, which is very unreliable.

Direct flights available for booking in October 2021 from Don Mueang Airport serve the following destinations” Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, Nakhon Panom, Roi Et, Narathiwat, Nan, Loei, Sakon Nakhon and domestic cross-country connections Chiang Mai-Hua Hin and Chiang Mai-Phuket.

Source - BangkokJack 

Our VISA AGENT

Foreign tourists can now stay for nine months in Thailand

 

Foreign tourists can now stay in Thailand for up to nine months without the need to travel abroad and have their visas extended, three months on the initial visa with two extensions of three months each.
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior says the new rules came into effect on October 1st, and are valid until September 30th next year, in a bid to boost the tourism industry.

Foreign tourists will, however, have to meet certain requirements to qualify as long stayers.

First of all, they must agree to a period of quarantine, as part of the Public Health Ministry’s measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and must show booking receipts from the hotels in which they will isolate.

This is despite Thailand claiming they are lifting quarantine requirements for all visitors on November 1st.

Then, they must show evidence of payments for their lodgings during their stay in the kingdom, which can be a rented house, a rented condominium room or a title deed of a condominium room.

Meaning, you must pay in advance for your nine-month’s accommodation and if you are denied entry at the border then good luck in getting that back.

They are also required to have health insurance, with a minimum of US$ 100,000 cover for COVID-19 treatment valid for the entire period of their stay in the country.

They must also have health and accident insurance coverage of 40,000 baht for out-patient treatment and 400,000 baht for in-patient treatment.

Having met the requirements, tourists will be granted a special tourist visa (STV), which is for single use and will allow them to stay in Thailand for 90 days, which can extended twice by 90 days per extension.

The visa extension fee is 2,000 baht (US$60) each time.

Still want to go to Thailand…?

Source - BangkokJack

Our VISA AGENT

No need to worry says #Bangkok Immigration Commander.

He confirmed that foreign tourists and expats do not need to carry their passports with them at all times.

He said that tourists can of course leave their passports locked in their hotel safe and enjoy their holiday in Thailand without worrying about the need to carry their original passport.

Deputy Commander Voravat also said that for expats living here, a Thai driving license or photocopy of your passport can be used as a form of identification.

However, if Immigration Police suspect an individual to be overstaying in Thailand or being involved in illegal activity, then the individual would be required to produce their original passport promptly.

Deputy Commander Voravat referred to Section 58, which reads as follows:

Any alien who has no lawful document for entering the Kingdom under section 12(1);….under this Act; and has no identification in accordance with the Law on Alien registration, is considered to have entered the Kingdom in violation of the Act.

Entering or staying in Thailand without holding a valid passport and visa/extension is subject a fine and possible prison sentence.
 
“Making all foreigners in Thailand carry their original passports with them would be very difficult.”
“It’s about being reasonable and using common sense”


“But if we think a foreigner is involved in illegal activity then we will of course need to see their original passport, this is normal”, said Deputy Commander Voravat.

Deputy Commander Voravat is eager to avoid further misunderstandings and miscommunication regarding immigration matters and is happy to work with Thaivisa.com in the future in order to provide correct information to foreign tourists and the wider expat community in Thailand.


Thaivisa.com thanks  Deputy Commander Voravat for his interview and taking time to clarify the situation.

The idea of foreigners being able to get a copy of their passport officially stamped by Immigration is currently not an option. However, it is always a good idea to have a copy of your passport with you at all times while in Thailand.

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