snoop1130 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 'I gave up a long time ago': Australian stranded for nearly a year in Thailand By Rachael Dexter Justin Peck will have been in Thailand for one year on January 24. An Australian man who has been stranded in Thailand for 10 months claims he has been abandoned by the federal government after it cancelled his ticket on a flight home this week and cut him off from further financial support. Justin Peck, 41, originally from Melbourne, left his business job in Hong Kong in early 2020 and travelled to Bangkok for what should have been a short holiday. When the pandemic struck and Thailand closed its borders in March, Mr Peck had no job and no way to get home. Full Story: https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-gave-up-a-long-time-ago-australian-stranded-for-nearly-a-year-in-thailand-20210118-p56v2s.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ThailandRyan Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 Wonder when the Go Fund me page will go up. Nothing in the article indicates he has any family in Australia or any friends who are wanting to help him get home. I do feel for him, as it has become a nightmare just in the last few months to return whence you came. Now with the pre flight Covid tests being required, limited Quarantine locations, and other rules that certain countries have in place with the new mutated strains of Covid. The better question is, what can he possibly do to get home if he does not raise funds. I just wonder what was left out of the story and why he did not return last summer before the restrictions fully went into place. 22 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hamleknoi Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said: Wonder when the Go Fund me page will go up. Nothing in the article indicates he has any family in Australia or any friends who are wanting to help him get home. I do feel for him, as it has become a nightmare just in the last few months to return whence you came. Now with the pre flight Covid tests being required, limited Quarantine locations, and other rules that certain countries have in place with the new mutated strains of Covid. The better question is, what can he possibly do to get home if he does not raise funds. I just wonder what was left out of the story and why he did not return last summer before the restrictions fully went into place. I came from Australia on the 2nd of March. I had a return ticket for the 30th which was cancelled, and then there were 3 options which quickly became either cancelled or overbooked. I've been here since. But I'm not complaining. I have a trading account and make more than enough to pay for myself. 13 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pilotman Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 There are far worse places to be 'stranded'. Enjoy it mate. 36 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post moouaan Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 If he really wanted to leave he could have left. There are lots of airlines that are flying to Australia, but he might have to do a few layovers to get out. There are flights leaving on 22 January if you use Google travel. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pilotman Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 minute ago, moouaan said: If he really wanted to leave he could have left. There are lots of airlines that are flying to Australia, but he might have to do a few layovers to get out. There are flights leaving on 22 January if you use Google travel. stay here, plenty of 'layovers' available for a young man 2 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post taninthai Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 41 and acting like a 18 year old ,,,I’d be embarrassed. 11 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bwpage3 Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 26 minutes ago, Pilotman said: There are far worse places to be 'stranded'. Enjoy it mate. How do you enjoy being stranded with no money? 23 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Pilotman Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 2 minutes ago, bwpage3 said: How do you enjoy being stranded with no money? why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? 7 3 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post madmen Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, Pilotman said: why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? He has a social security umbrella in Australia including free medical. He has been banned from future assistance flights probably for registering on them and then pulling out last minute. The embassy have been very vocal on this and rightly so. He sounds like a total loser leaching off his GF at his age. 18 1 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 13 minutes ago, Pilotman said: why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? The clue is in the short break that lasted a year like me ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lacessit Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, Pilotman said: why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? He was employed in Hong Kong, quit his job and came to Bangkok for a short holiday. Stranded here with no job and no income when the borders slammed shut. Not many people have enough cash saved to tide them over for a year or two. 13 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gearbox Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 46 minutes ago, moouaan said: If he really wanted to leave he could have left. There are lots of airlines that are flying to Australia, but he might have to do a few layovers to get out. There are flights leaving on 22 January if you use Google travel. Try to book one of these flights on 22nd and see what happens. IMO pretty big chance you are going to end up with a useless credit voucher. 7 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post djayz Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 47 minutes ago, Pilotman said: stay here, plenty of 'layovers' available for a young man Layovers or leftovers? 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post djayz Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) 51 minutes ago, taninthai said: 41 and acting like a 18 year old ,,,I’d be embarrassed. Life has a strange way of catching all of us off guard at some point in time, young and old. It only takes one bad decision to change, destroy, undo a whole life of taking precautions. Edited January 19, 2021 by djayz 11 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Orac Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 Bit limited in my sympathy for this guy since, as he says, the Oz govt had arranged a flight for him but he didn’t get on at last minute. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 A post using a trolling image has been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lacessit Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 8 minutes ago, madmen said: He has a social security umbrella in Australia including free medical. He has been banned from future assistance flights probably for registering on them and then pulling out last minute. The embassy have been very vocal on this and rightly so. He sounds like a total loser leaching off his GF at his age. The social security umbrella is useless, unless he can attend a Centrelink office in person to claim it. According to him, he was taken off the repatriation list when he refused to go to Singapore for the connection, as being stranded there would have been even more expensive. The decision was made by a DFAT official. They've said they can't discuss his case individually, due to privacy issues. That's government speak for time to cover my a##e. There was only one flight out of Bangkok in December, full. It's not rocket science, call in the RAAF. Except they are too busy shuttling politicians around. Where you behind the door when empathy was being handed out? What would you do in his position, rob a bank? 8 1 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post thedemon Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) We sent one of our staff to NZ last July. There were several options for getting there all of them via Australia and none of them were particularly expensive. I just searched my email and found the following; BR 212 S 03JUL 5*BKKTPE DK1 1220 1710 03JUL BR 315 S 03JUL 5*TPEBNE DK1 2300 0950 04JUL NZ 152 W 04JUL 6 BNEAKL DK1 1740 2255 04JUL COST OF BR-TICKET 13900 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT CHARGE THB4000, BAGGAGE 30 KG. COST OF NZ-TICKET 9700 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT NOT PERMITTED AND BAGGAGE 23 KG. COST OF TOTAL = 13900+9700 = 23,600.- CX 654 S 03JUL 5*BKKHKG DK1 1500 1900 03JUL CX 105 S 04JUL 6*HKGMEL DK1 0010 1110 04JUL NZ 124 W 04JUL 6 MELAKL DK1 1230 1805 04JUL COST OF AIR TICKET 13900 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT CHARGE THB3500 AND NON REFUND COST OF AIR TICKET 9100 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT NOT PERMITTED AND NON REFUND COST OF TOTAL = 13900+9100 = 23,000.- The cost of EVA to Brisbane or Cathay to Melbourne were both THB13,900 (AUD600). Both of these flights operated. I heard from my colleague later that his flight to AUS was 3/4 empty. Just another Covid media beat-up which is full of lies. Edited January 19, 2021 by thedemon 6 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post popabear Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 Yes things could be worse , you could be stuck here in Western Australia not allowed to leave Regards... Popa 4 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Orton Rd Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Pilotman said: There are far worse places to be 'stranded'. Enjoy it mate. Queensland for example ???? 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jonclark Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Pilotman said: why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? Maybe his family has no money either. Huge numbers of people have lost jobs during this pandemic. You just do not know, not all white folks have cash. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NanLaew Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Lacessit said: 1 hour ago, Pilotman said: why no money? If no money here, then no money in Australia? If no money here, why is he here? No family to send some on to him? He was employed in Hong Kong, quit his job and came to Bangkok for a short holiday. Stranded here with no job and no income when the borders slammed shut. Not many people have enough cash saved to tide them over for a year or two. My Australian mate, a long time Thailand "tourist" renting a house in Phuket hadn't had any FIFO work for over a year when Covid struck so with funds running out last May, he decided it was time to quit paradise and go home. His lease was up in July so he sold everything and started looking for repatriation flights. Got bounced off the first flight a couple of days before his lease was up so had to move into cheap digs. Was bounced of two further repatriation flights before finally getting home the first week of September. The guy in the OP claims he's been bounced of "more than a dozen flights home for him since March"? 3 out of 10 Must try harder. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vangrop Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Calimero has stranded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hoppyone Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, gearbox said: Try to book one of these flights on 22nd and see what happens. IMO pretty big chance you are going to end up with a useless credit voucher. 100% correct ,most key board comments about his situation need to get on the receiving end then they’ll realise there’s a real world out there 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haveasay Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 The flight out 17th got reduced in numbers 38 to 25, 13 put on 24th from 17th plus 12. Aus govt said increase repat flights, but embassy says no BKK extra. One message mentioned being available every week if your registered with smarttraveller to increase chances. But I think it's time embassy handed out priority numbers like 15, ok next flight, or 150, in 6 weeks, give or take as people find alternatives to Aust. You get positive test, you'll be chasing a refund minus fees. In February hopefully Thailand eases, but who knows. I left Thailand late last Feb but came back to go to a wedding in Bali early April. Aus govt opened to access super if needed and maybe this guy could have done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dinsdale Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 There are still (tens of) thousands of Australians trying to get back. Pitty this guy isn't a rich tennis player. Be there now. Being stranded since last March is interesting. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hamleknoi Posted January 19, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2021 2 hours ago, moouaan said: If he really wanted to leave he could have left. There are lots of airlines that are flying to Australia, but he might have to do a few layovers to get out. There are flights leaving on 22 January if you use Google travel. As someone else pointed out, chances are that you just end up with credits for that particular airline, that come with an expiry date. Each stopover is also a risk of getting stuck in that particular country. The free repatriation flights used to be on every Sunday and they only took about 17 people per flight. This is because Australia has a hard cap (which was recently increased) on how many people are allowed back in per week. That's why they cancled his prior flights, as they opt to fly in people from a different country. Currently, flights are orgsanised by the govt however it costs about 24K baht and this guy has no money. A PCR test is also required 72 hours before the flight. So repeated tests at your cost if they cancle your flight. From the embassy's website: "Note, however, that registering your details with the Embassy does not guarantee we can facilitate your return to Australia" and "Due to caps on the number of passengers coming into Australian airports, passenger numbers on Thai Airways facilitated flights are also extremely limited" So it's not as easy as booking a flight and then you're on your merry way without issues. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wprime Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 1 hour ago, thedemon said: We sent one of our staff to NZ last July. There were several options for getting there all of them via Australia and none of them were particularly expensive. I just searched my email and found the following; BR 212 S 03JUL 5*BKKTPE DK1 1220 1710 03JUL BR 315 S 03JUL 5*TPEBNE DK1 2300 0950 04JUL NZ 152 W 04JUL 6 BNEAKL DK1 1740 2255 04JUL COST OF BR-TICKET 13900 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT CHARGE THB4000, BAGGAGE 30 KG. COST OF NZ-TICKET 9700 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT NOT PERMITTED AND BAGGAGE 23 KG. COST OF TOTAL = 13900+9700 = 23,600.- CX 654 S 03JUL 5*BKKHKG DK1 1500 1900 03JUL CX 105 S 04JUL 6*HKGMEL DK1 0010 1110 04JUL NZ 124 W 04JUL 6 MELAKL DK1 1230 1805 04JUL COST OF AIR TICKET 13900 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT CHARGE THB3500 AND NON REFUND COST OF AIR TICKET 9100 BAHT INCLUDE TAX. CHANGE DATE/FLIGHT NOT PERMITTED AND NON REFUND COST OF TOTAL = 13900+9100 = 23,000.- The cost of EVA to Brisbane or Cathay to Melbourne were both THB13,900 (AUD600). Both of these flights operated. I heard from my colleague later that his flight to AUS was 3/4 empty. Just another Covid media beat-up which is full of lies. Going to NZ is different, Australia has imposed quarantine capacity limits. If they exceed the limit you can't board and you get a credit voucher. This doesn't apply to transit passengers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavisH Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 25 minutes ago, dinsdale said: There are still (tens of) thousands of Australians trying to get back. Pitty this guy isn't a rich tennis player. Be there now. Being stranded since last March is interesting. That many? Where did you get that number from? What percent of tourists? There would have been 30-40-50K Australian tourists here at that time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now