So i've GIVEN UP on returning

[Arjy2000k]

I'm the legal guardian of two twins, who attended schools in Bangkok. Today though, i have given up.

 

The process of returning on repatriation flights is just mind numbingly soul destroying. The Thai Embassy in London, maybe busy, but they really are appalling. They don't answer any phones, and they do not reply to the question you ask, instead you are given a stock answer to some general question.

 

Today i just gave up. Forget it, it's just not worth it. The hoops and hurdles you have to go are horrific. Bless those who have gone through the process without problems!

 

Secondly, some of these repatriation flights are pretty dangerous in regards to the virus. Thai's not having to get tested is idiotic and dangerous to foreigners (who do have to get tested 72 hours beforehand) on the same flight.

 

Thirdly, i have contemplated if Thailand has an outbreak and has to close down again. At the moment life there seems pretty good, but i saw the reaction to that Egyption incident, and it was alarming. If they do get an outbreak again, i can imagine everything will go back to lockdown, which will make life pretty miserable.

 

Bless those who've got back, fully hope things work out well !

 

The irony being i didn't have a problem with the quarantine !

[BritTim]

Sorry for your frustrations, and good luck going forward.

 

I think the difficult process to get back is a deliberate policy to try to limit the numbers. They hope those who most need to come will persevere, while those who would like to return but can live without are deterred.

[Pilotman]

really sorry to hear that you are separated from your family and unable to return. Can a BKK based agent help in any way?  I do hope things improve for you soon. Try not to give up.  

[SnipTheCat]

Hi,

   I feel sorry to read that... But I can understand, I have made it back and in quarantine now. But way has been beyond what is humanely possible for most... I have been very close to give up multiple times, it is exhausting mentally & physically. If I hasn't my business here and work permit expiring soon, I probably would have waited... but I don't expect commercial flights to resume for at least 6 months, and possibly be very restrictive for 1 year. 

 

   When I see the tens of thousands of thais still stranded oversears, the thens of thousands of foreigners stranded here, the laughable ASQ quarantine capacity, and the zero-tolerance for even a single asymptomatic case of local infection... I'm surprised I have made it.

 

   Now about not testing the thais, I also find it's a madness... there has been one positive on my flight, I can't imagine there won't be any positive in his vincinity after 12 hours flight, that's how many test positive at day #12 of quarantine. In one way I feel safer and give some meaning to the fact that I was "forced" to take a business class seat... 

 

Best of luck for the future.

[Arjy2000k]

14 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Sorry for your frustrations, and good luck going forward.

 

I think the difficult process to get back is a deliberate policy to try to limit the numbers. They hope those who most need to come will persevere, while those who would like to return but can live without are deterred.

 

This may well be a good theory, but to me it's classic Thai complications !

[Arjy2000k]

16 minutes ago, SnipTheCat said:

Hi,

   I feel sorry to read that... But I can understand, I have made it back and in quarantine now. But way has been beyond what is humanely possible for most... I have been very close to give up multiple times, it is exhausting mentally & physically. If I hasn't my business here and work permit expiring soon, I probably would have waited... but I don't expect commercial flights to resume for at least 6 months, and possibly be very restrictive for 1 year. 

 

   When I see the tens of thousands of thais still stranded oversears, the thens of thousands of foreigners stranded here, the laughable ASQ quarantine capacity, and the zero-tolerance for even a single asymptomatic case of local infection... I'm surprised I have made it.

 

   Now about not testing the thais, I also find it's a madness... there has been one positive on my flight, I can't imagine there won't be any positive in his vincinity after 12 hours flight, that's how many test positive at day #12 of quarantine. In one way I feel safer and give some meaning to the fact that I was "forced" to take a business class seat... 

 

Best of luck for the future.

 

Well done, and good luck in your quarantine ! How are you handling it at the moment ?!

[SnipTheCat]

43 minutes ago, Arjy2000k said:

 

Well done, and good luck in your quarantine ! How are you handling it at the moment ?!

Thanks.

 

At day #8 now, tested negative this week, one more test on thursday... but recently many people test positive asymptomatically on day #12... 

 

It's a bit hard to be isolated in a room, even if it's comfortable, but on another hand I feel I'm so lucky to have made it...

 

Beside that everybody have been very nice and polite, at the airport, the nurses, at the hotel... nothing to complain. But they do take this extremely seriously... and I think more for the fear to do anything wrong and getting blamed (publicly) for it than for real fear of the virus.

[pantsonfire]

Sorry to hear that. I have no marriage or kids but i have a loved one for many years that now i cant see. Waking up everyday without no hope. 

 

 

[moontang]

OP, there are still many Thais stranded abroad..just accept that it is best to delay.  Might even be worth considering bringing your kids to the UK, which would also require a briefcase full of paperwork.  Everyone is screwed to differing degrees.  I need to visit my parents, but then I may be in for an extremely cold Winter.

[ubonjoe]

20 minutes ago, moontang said:

Might even be worth considering bringing your kids to the UK, which would also require a briefcase full of paperwork. 

Her kids are with her in the UK. They are not Thai. 

[swerve]

Sorry to hear of your problems.  I understand your latest decision.  This has been helpful information for anyone who is abroad or who is considering leaving Thailand.

[JTXR]

Very sorry to hear of your frustration and difficult decision.  I'd love to go back to the U.S. for a while to see to family and personal business (even braving the awful situation there), but I fear if I leave, returning to Thailand will be a nightmare for a long time to come.

[warcy]

5 hours ago, SnipTheCat said:

Hi,

   I feel sorry to read that... But I can understand, I have made it back and in quarantine now.

 

By the way, do they take swabs of your nose for Covid test? Is it painful?

Edited August 2, 2020 by warcy

[BritTim]

6 hours ago, SnipTheCat said:

But they do take this extremely seriously...

When I look at what happened in places like Melbourne and Hong Kong, I would expect them to be absolutely paranoid. I put the chance of Thailand keeping SARS-CoV-2 out at about 20%, and this is only if attempts are made to stick very strictly to the rules.

[jbob]

2 hours ago, JTXR said:

Very sorry to hear of your frustration and difficult decision.  I'd love to go back to the U.S. for a while to see to family and personal business (even braving the awful situation there), but I fear if I leave, returning to Thailand will be a nightmare for a long time to come.

I too would love to see my aging parents/grandparents in Australia but with a dependent thai partner its out of the question for the time being. 

 

The complaint boils down to "you didn't roll out the red carpet for me, a farang! im breaking up with you thailand. By the way you will never be happy without me"

[rct99q]

13 hours ago, warcy said:

 

By the way, do they take swabs of your nose for Covid test? Is it painful?

I am in quarantine as well...6 more nights. This will have been my 4th or 5th test and they are briefly uncomfortable, but would not say painful. For myself.

In Canada they did not go as"deep" as they seem to here.

[crazykopite]

My wife is in the same boat stuck in the U.K. having flown over to see our new born grandson who arrived prematurely. Reluctantly I have told her to stay there in the hope that at sometime the Thai authorities will ease the restrictions due to our age I have been quoted 85,000 baht each for the $100,000 insurance which only cover you for a year yet when the virus hit I took out a Covid only insurance package for a year that cost me 850 baht for the year it covers me for a couple of million baht . The restrictions they have placed will ensure that no tourist or very few of them will even bother to come to Thailand $100,000 insurance , medical certificate fit to fly and 14 days quarantine in a fleapit hotel in Bangkok at a cost of 40,000 + baht is an absolute joke .

[Guderian]

20 hours ago, Arjy2000k said:

i can imagine everything will go back to lockdown, which will make life pretty miserable.

I wouldn't let the possibility of another lockdown put you off, as long as you've got a decent stock of booze to tide you over it's not a problem. In fact, here in Pattaya, the lockdown was a rather pleasant time, with only local traffic and local people around. No traffic jams at all, it was lovely driving here, the first time in 16 years I've thought that.

[LukKrueng]

20 hours ago, SnipTheCat said:

Now about not testing the thais, I also find it's a madness.

Any citizen of any country is supposed and should be able to get back to his country of citizenship in any circumstances. Thailand must allow Thai people back in even if their passport has expired, or they are sick, or even if they are hard core violent criminals. So even if a Thai person is tested positive to the virus, the Thai authorities CAN'T refuse him/her entry to the country.

The 14 days quarantine allow to separate the sick from the healthy and make sure that no local infections will result from letting them in.

Now - non-Thais is a different story. Thailand does not HAVE to take them in and can put any restrictions they see fit. If a non Thai tests positive there is no reason to allow him/her to go on a flight and enter Thailand. 

 

So if you know Thai people are not tested and you consider that to be too risky for you - you have the choice not to take the flight.

[ChipButty]

I have a friend who is stuck in the UK and has given up trying to get back here, he has 3 kids which are his and lives with a woman who is not their mother he has no chance of getting back at the moment at least he can still work in the UK where as if he came back to Thailand and got stranded here he cant work,

 

[steven100]

19 hours ago, SnipTheCat said:

Thanks.

 

At day #8 now, tested negative this week, one more test on thursday... but recently many people test positive asymptomatically on day #12... 

 

It's a bit hard to be isolated in a room, even if it's comfortable, but on another hand I feel I'm so lucky to have made it...

 

Beside that everybody have been very nice and polite, at the airport, the nurses, at the hotel... nothing to complain. But they do take this extremely seriously... and I think more for the fear to do anything wrong and getting blamed (publicly) for it than for real fear of the virus.

good post and description about quarantine,  just goes to show they are very serious about this virus and don't want any second, third or whatever waves coming.  

[Bender Rodriguez]

20 hours ago, Arjy2000k said:

Today i just gave up. Forget it, it's just not worth it.

if you really love your kids, you would DIE for them

 

so this "trouble" is possible, it is a pain in the ass, but do-able

[NanLaew]

19 hours ago, SnipTheCat said:

Thanks.

 

At day #8 now, tested negative this week, one more test on thursday... but recently many people test positive asymptomatically on day #12... 

 

It's a bit hard to be isolated in a room, even if it's comfortable, but on another hand I feel I'm so lucky to have made it...

 

Beside that everybody have been very nice and polite, at the airport, the nurses, at the hotel... nothing to complain. But they do take this extremely seriously... and I think more for the fear to do anything wrong and getting blamed (publicly) for it than for real fear of the virus.

That asymptomatic +ve test late in the quarantine is worrying. When the UK was quarantining only returnees from China way back in March and April, if anyone of the group tested +ve during the 14-day quarantine, everyone's quarantine was extended by 14 days from that +ve date test. I wonder how the local authorities handle this?

 

I didn't see anyone getting blamed publicly for the recent infraction with the Egyptian airman at U-Tapao. I consider that your 'wardens' and minders are genuinely worried about the virus.

 

Otherwise, good to see you have the discipline to stick to the quarantine rules. I can only surmise that the spikes and clusters being witnessed in various locations globally are directly linked to recent relaxations of some lock-down rules along with poor management of those rules and persistent irresponsible behavior. For example, a new cluster in Aberdeen, Scotland has seen 13 customers of a city center pub testing positive after visiting the pub on 26th July. Scotland's government only reopened the pubs the previous week on 15th July albeit with a rigorous customer registration procedures and social distancing measures in place. Thankfully, the former has lead to the rapid identification and tracking of potential victims.

[ross163103]

Sorry to hear about your situation, it's the same as mine but I'm in a different country. I don't expect to get back this year, and possibly not until someone comes up with a vaccine. Good luck to you in the future.

[Rimmer]

A conspiracy troll post has been removed

[kokopelli]

15 hours ago, warcy said:

 

By the way, do they take swabs of your nose for Covid test? Is it painful?

No the swabs are not painful. Minor pain for a second or two.

[chainarong]

Hang in there , it will all be a distant memory this time next year , keep monitoring the situation in Thailand and like everyone else wait for the right time to return.

[NorthernRyland]

When I get ejected after the amnesty expires I'm going to go back to the US and just assume to stay there for 12 months or how ever long it takes for this to resolve itself. COVID seems to have broken the world so there's no point in making any plans until this resolves. Just forget about Thailand and try to live a normal live, you know, like we used to. ????

[hotandsticky]

9 minutes ago, genericptr said:

When I get ejected after the amnesty expires I'm going to go back to the US and just assume to stay there for 12 months or how ever long it takes for this to resolve itself. COVID seems to have broken the world so there's no point in making any plans until this resolves. Just forget about Thailand and try to live a normal live, you know, like we used to. ????

 

 

I am the opposite.

 

 

I have no intention of traveling to my home country (or the rest of Europe) for the next 12 months.

 

 

I see Thailand being a much more comfortable, safer - and closer to 'normal' - place than elsewhere.

[Figglymiggly]

Pantsonfire raises another consequence of the ban on inward traffic. Those of us who briefly traveled to our home countries prior to the lockdown, for whatever reason and now find it impossible to get back to those we love, our long-term partners, in my case of 13yrs, wheres the hope.