Nearly 6,000 THAI staff to be laid off

[whaleboneman]

9 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Er, I trust that is not to be taken in a slang sense......????

I hope it is in a slang sense - otherwise there would be a lot of blood on their hands.

[whaleboneman]

Maybe Branson will buy it. Thai Virgin has a nice ring to it.

[SiSePuede419]

12 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Question: How many among these laid-off employees are going to be grossly overpaid top executives?

BINGO.

[QPRFC]

I'm still waiting for my promised refund for a cancelled flight at the end of March....at first I was told 4-6 weeks, then 6-8 weeks....well it's been 10 weeks and a few days, still no refund.
So, the Government will be paid off first, then the overpaid executives and then it'll collapse and then restart afresh with loyal passengers losing everything, air-miles, refunds etc
Corruption at it's finest without losing face, albeit the announcement backflips, money rules OK!!!

[tjo o tjim]

Airline will be liquidated. There is no way for them to recover without a huge cash infusion to cover several years of minimum operations (~USD$30-40B).  (Their current market cap is USD$400 million!) They essentially need to dump all their widebodies, which are currently worthless and underwater, and try to find a way to restart with much smaller/cheaper planes. 

 

A new airline with the “Thai” name (bought for nothing by one of the PM’s cronies most likely) will be launched in a couple years, and the cycle will be repeated.

[lkv]

With the risk of sounding cynical, they probably told the clients 5 months for a refund, because by that time phone lines will be cut off and e-mails will be bouncing back.

[Blumpie]

2 hours ago, QPRFC said:

I'm still waiting for my promised refund for a cancelled flight at the end of March....at first I was told 4-6 weeks, then 6-8 weeks....well it's been 10 weeks and a few days, still no refund.
So, the Government will be paid off first, then the overpaid executives and then it'll collapse and then restart afresh with loyal passengers losing everything, air-miles, refunds etc
Corruption at it's finest without losing face, albeit the announcement backflips, money rules OK!!!

Sadly a lot of airlines are doing this.  They are not all going bankrupt, but they cannot afford to pay people their refunded tickets.

The chances of you getting a refund is, of course, fairly poor but you never know.  Hope that it works out.  

[torturedsole]

Who's going to risk booking international flights with Thai?  They're finished.  

[dallen52]

9 hours ago, condo62 said:

Any idea if refunds for flights will be honoured or can be used at a later date...we had Europe flights from Australia booked for July but were told to apply for a refund which would take 6 months....? 

Ditto. 

Mine is a credit for later use until December and the possibility to extend until December 2021.

With no penalty.

I held onto it basically because of the booking being on their system. 

And it's a one way back to Thailand and my partner. 

Knowing that they were taking refinancing and other government inflicted possibilities, I would like to think that the offer was an honourable one.

(There is about one year of action before the bankruptcy process is enforced)

[geoffrobbo]

16 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Never liked the cabin crew, very condescending, especially to Thais. Most got their job through some kind of nepotism or cronyism and find it hard to wait on others, especially below them on the hierarchical social ladder.

I would hope that they will get more well mannered cabin staff in the reborn Thai Airways, but TIT, so very unlikely. They are always extremely rude to my wife whenever we fly Thai (and that is only when there is no other reasonable choice; BKK-BNE only)

 

[bwpage3]

11 hours ago, ukdave51 said:

Well getting rid of people that keep the planes airworthy wouldn`t be the greatest bit of thinking would it?

Really?

 

How does the airline lose that much money every year?

 

From making poor, senseless decisions.

 

 

[overherebc]

18 hours ago, ezzra said:

Hopefully some of them will of the indifferent, aloof and oh' not so young anymore cabin crew... and why on earth are they always lugging these huge suitcases even on a single overnight trip i could never understand...

Lots of goodies to bring back ???

[Reigntax]

19 hours ago, ezzra said:

Hopefully some of them will of the indifferent, aloof and oh' not so young anymore cabin crew... and why on earth are they always lugging these huge suitcases even on a single overnight trip i could never understand...

Supplementary income from duty free?

[Reigntax]

2 hours ago, dallen52 said:

Ditto. 

Mine is a credit for later use until December and the possibility to extend until December 2021.

With no penalty.

I held onto it basically because of the booking being on their system. 

And it's a one way back to Thailand and my partner. 

Knowing that they were taking refinancing and other government inflicted possibilities, I would like to think that the offer was an honourable one.

(There is about one year of action before the bankruptcy process is enforced)

If bankruptcy is enforced though the courts day one has already commenced and unsecured creditors can say goodbye to what is owed.. Or at the very best wait at the end of the line for your return of 3% if you are lucky.

New debt going forward should be guaranteed by appointment of an administrator and probably financed by the government.

[dallen52]

12 hours ago, Blumpie said:

The airline is probably going belly up.  It would surprise me if they weren't, but I am still unsure.  

 

Many of these people being laid off will not be temporary at all.  Airline travel will not be back to normal until at least the end of 2021 or more likely 2022.  All over the world people are being let go permanently.  

 

Thailand's sugarcoating of what is really going on is wearing thin.  

It goes all the way down to the bang for the buck. 

60 baht to the £1 is now 40.

Anyone buying anything from Thailand is having to fork out about 30% more.

And talking about the bang, they still want top price for older stock, past it's use by date...

[scorecard]

8 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

BINGO.

Sure, any how many staff who got their job 'automatically' through nepotism and cronyism will not lose their jobs?

[SupermarineS6B]

I've a lovely story about Thai airways and especially a certain member of its cabin crew.   After many years of plowing my way through the charming ladies from Isaan and waking up too many times with just what i stood up in, i figured that i'd get myself something a little hi-so and step the game up a touch. I ended up meeting a youngish lady who was Thai international cabin crew, she had all the bits and bobs of hi-so armour including a convertible Saab 99, i never knew they even made one...... Anyway after a couple of weeks of abusing each other she informed me that she wanted to marry me and it was about time i met daddy..... Alarm bells and red lights flashing in my head and Defcon 3 showing up on my forehead i informed her that i was not the marrying type and after all we had only known each other two weeks !  

The transformation from "Tea or coffee sir" ? to "What do you prefer, cremation or burial" ? was instantanious and then she informed me who her father was, (Politician, not a nice one at the time) and she gets what she wants........ Khao Jai mei ?   You've never seen a man pack as many bags as fast and ditch my apartment and headed for the hills,,,,,,, bunny boiler was light weight compared to this one......... 

She did tell me a little pillow story about when passengers annoyed her at work, she'd take a bread bun into the khazi and rub it on her "Mimsy" then present the annoying passenger with an extra flavoured bun on their tray.  I still live in fear of meeting her again, she was insane and far too well connected for ones health..... I'm glad to say that i returned to the wonderful ladies of Isaan and their not too life threatening ways.........

"Smooth as Silk"...........  

[NanLaew]

5 hours ago, geoffrobbo said:

I would hope that they will get more well mannered cabin staff in the reborn Thai Airways, but TIT, so very unlikely. They are always extremely rude to my wife whenever we fly Thai (and that is only when there is no other reasonable choice; BKK-BNE only)

 

Does you wife tell you they've been rude to her or do you hear them being rude to her yourself?

[NanLaew]

36 minutes ago, SupermarineS6B said:

I've a lovely story about Thai airways and especially a certain member of its cabin crew.   After many years of plowing my way through the charming ladies from Isaan and waking up too many times with just what i stood up in, i figured that i'd get myself something a little hi-so and step the game up a touch. I ended up meeting a youngish lady who was Thai international cabin crew, she had all the bits and bobs of hi-so armour including a convertible Saab 99, i never knew they even made one...... Anyway after a couple of weeks of abusing each other she informed me that she wanted to marry me and it was about time i met daddy..... Alarm bells and red lights flashing in my head and Defcon 3 showing up on my forehead i informed her that i was not the marrying type and after all we had only known each other two weeks !  

The transformation from "Tea or coffee sir" ? to "What do you prefer, cremation or burial" ? was instantanious and then she informed me who her father was, (Politician, not a nice one at the time) and she gets what she wants........ Khao Jai mei ?   You've never seen a man pack as many bags as fast and ditch my apartment and headed for the hills,,,,,,, bunny boiler was light weight compared to this one......... 

She did tell me a little pillow story about when passengers annoyed her at work, she'd take a bread bun into the khazi and rub it on her "Mimsy" then present the annoying passenger with an extra flavoured bun on their tray.  I still live in fear of meeting her again, she was insane and far too well connected for ones health..... I'm glad to say that i returned to the wonderful ladies of Isaan and their not too life threatening ways.........

"Smooth as Silk"...........  

Was her 'mimsy' smooth as silk?

[scorecard]

21 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Was her 'mimsy' smooth as silk?

Orchid flavor?

[barryofthailand]

Thai Airways will not survive if they do not meet the ticket prices of the competition. Especially now when it is going to be critical to start flying again I 

[scorecard]

27 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Does you wife tell you they've been rude to her or do you hear them being rude to her yourself?

I wouldn't doubt it, my Thai consultant team (inter. m/ment. consult coy) flew economy Bkk - S/pore, Bkk - KL, Bkk - HK and longer flights in Bus. class), they complained often about lack of service, rudeness 'not available today', and more and regularly shared events on board where the cabin crew had been rude to other Thai passengers, often involving lack of any help whatever when Thai ladies were travelling alone with small children.

 

I also traveled frequently, often day trips, Bkk to many cities in all of Asia, I observed the same thing often. On several occasions other passengers including older Thai lades came to the rescue of young Thai mothers with little kids.  A couple of times I watched confrontations between old Thai ladies who had demanded hosties take care of a mother with little kids. Usual response, 'not my job', 'too tired' and more. 

 

A different example, I was travelling evening flight Bus class Bkk to Japan, Staff started to serve drinks, I was the second person to be served, I asked for a G&T, response 'G&T finished for today, you want beer?'

 

I got up and went to the economy galley and asked and within a minute I walked away with a G&T. I showed the drink to the bus hostie with a comment 'not finished!' She looked at me and after a few seconds said 'I misunderstood you'. But no sorry.  

 

Several times I told my consultants to write letters of complaint and I had the letters hand delivered to the THAI HQ in Bkk. Never ever any response.

 

My company (HQ in US and in Europe) had a broad travel policy that we must patronize the national carrier of the county where we were based.  After many occasions of poor service / rudeness I did an override of the company policy and we then used SQ as much as possible.  

[scorecard]

10 minutes ago, barryofthailand said:

Thai Airways will not survive if they do not meet the ticket prices of the competition. Especially now when it is going to be critical to start flying again I 

Plus they won't survive any re-build unless they make major changes to their recruitment policies and assessment factors. 

[scorecard]

59 minutes ago, barryofthailand said:

Thai Airways will not survive if they do not meet the ticket prices of the competition. Especially now when it is going to be critical to start flying again I 

Sure but will they have experience staff who can calculate fares and costs which will bring better fares?

[StevieAus]

On 5/21/2020 at 1:24 PM, sahibji said:

sad to see Thai airways headed that way. it is a good airline.

I would agree that it USED to be a good airline, I stopped flying international business class with them probably more than twelve years ago for the reasons that have been posted by many on this site.

[ExpatOilWorker]

13 hours ago, QPRFC said:

I'm still waiting for my promised refund for a cancelled flight at the end of March....at first I was told 4-6 weeks, then 6-8 weeks....well it's been 10 weeks and a few days, still no refund.
So, the Government will be paid off first, then the overpaid executives and then it'll collapse and then restart afresh with loyal passengers losing everything, air-miles, refunds etc
Corruption at it's finest without losing face, albeit the announcement backflips, money rules OK!!!

Refund for canceled flight or future bookings should be liabilities for THAI and have higher priority than debt.

There is still hope. After all a million+ people must have been affected by this.

[Brigand]

Don't know about anyone else but I'd not even consider flying Thai Airways ... no way, when it is over rated and over priced with moody cabin crew. I fly EVA every time and it's way out in front on all things ... Emirates is good too but I feel it's a little pricey.

Edited May 22, 2020 by Brigand

[SupermarineS6B]

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Was her 'mimsy' smooth as silk?

Nah, to be honest she was such a nasty barstuard i couldn't even get the old fellah to go near her.....  Last reported sighting she married A Russian....... God bless Russia !  

[McRoman]

I absolute love the THAI Government and Politician, true I believe they do the absolute best to strive to help the people of THAILAND for the better and give them a good future and life.  ????

[scorecard]

19 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Does you wife tell you they've been rude to her or do you hear them being rude to her yourself?

I support his wife's comments, seen them ignore simple requests from Thai women, seen them be rude, even insulting to Thai women several times. Even worse, several times seen them totally ignore simple requests, deliberately look the other way to Thai women with little kids, perhaps also with a baby.

 

I know it's policy with Singapore Airlines that hosties / stewards must give special attention to ladies with young kids, take the kids for a walk with them as they do their work etc., so the mother can breast feed the baby without other kids wanting attention, take care of the kids so that the mother can eat her meal, etc. Basic good human behaviors and respect.  

 

With Thai, when I traveled very regularly I saw other female Thai and foreign passengers take the other kids and play with them, perhaps feed them so the mother could take a break to take care of a small baby.

 

On one trip (from memory to Hong Kong), a young Thai mother, 2 or 3 small kids and a baby and lots of bags with baby foods and clothes for all the kids etc.  A Thai hostie came to the mother and told her to hurry up to get off the aircraft. An older Thai lady passenger intervened and gave the hostie quite a blast and asked her to help get the bags repacked. Hostie just ignored it all and walked away.  

 

The older Thai lady asked me (perfect English) if I would carry a couple of bags, I quickly picked up the handles of all the bags and the older Thai lady took the hands of the little kids, spoke to them nicely and said let's go, mummy coming too etc. When we got into the airport building she grabbed a Thai ground staff rep. standing nearby, gave her a blast and told her to accompany the mother and kids, herself and myself through passport control. Thai rep refused, older Thai passenger gave her a really loud and serious blast and frightened her. She complied.

 

We all got through passport control and walked to the meeting area, the husband (a western young guy well dressed) was eagerly waiting and quickly hugged his wife and all the kids and the baby, he was obviously quite relieved to see them. The older Thai lady made a big fuss of the kids and quietly asked the western husband if he needed help to get his family home.

 

He responded with gratitude and said 'I have my car in the car park, then home'. Older Thai lady took his hand and said 'I want to come to the carpark with you to be sure you're all safe in the car', and they all walked away. 

 

Over the many  years I traveled 2 or 3 regional trips with Thai, from and return to Bkk, I saw many examples of ignoring Thai women, refusing service and also being just rude to them. My own Thai staff, also traveled regularly with Thai, many times related similar experiences. 

Edited May 22, 2020 by scorecard