Non Refundable Plane Ticket To Thailand

look_after_the_pennies

Hello,

I'm writing on behalf of my brother and hopefully someone here can help! My brother was planning on travelling to Thailand this November and is unsure of his plans now as Bangkok was declared a State of Emergency today. The Foreign Office is advising against all non essential travel but where does he stand in terms of his non refundable plane ticket? Would the airline make an exception under these circumstances if he cancels or should he just cut his losses? He knows he can claim back his taxes and hotel room costs.

Incapuppy

look_after_the_pennies wrote: »

The Foreign Office is advising against all non essential travel

That doesn't seem to be the current advice on the FCO website:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand

and note that a state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok, not the whole of Thailand.

look_after_the_pennies

Yes, I had meant to say he was going to Bangkok!

Tojo_Ralph

look_after_the_pennies wrote: »

The Foreign Office is advising against all non essential travel.

The FCO advises (and probably has done for some time)... "Against all but essential travel to, or through, the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla"

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand

And all of the aforementioned provinces are a long, long way fron Bangkok.

MidlandsMum

If the FO declare his destination unsafe, he should get a refund from his airline. Tell him to contact the airline or his travel agent.

Donnie

From your man on the ground.....erm..... nothing to report. These things are usually concentrated in certain areas.

I'm heading to the airport tomorrow so will give an update. I'm sure that it will all be done and dusted by November anyway.

I've been through two coups here already. No bother at all.

look_after_the_pennies

Yes, hopefully things will be back to normal in Bangkok by November as it's 2 months away yet and anything can happen! Just nice to get some advice though on what would happen regarding the plane ticket.

conradmum

With non-refundable tickets you can sometimes change the date, so he could maybe go later when the trouble has died down.

All the Thais I've ever met have been gentle people. I doubt there is any real danger to tourists

look_after_the_pennies

conradmum wrote: »

With non-refundable tickets you can sometimes change the date, so he could maybe go later when the trouble has died down.

All the Thais I've ever met have been gentle people. I doubt there is any real danger to tourists

Thanks Conradmum, I hadn't considered that the ticket could perhaps be amended to a later day. I will put this to my brother. Thank you!

metrobus

Total over reaction from the FO

If he plans to walk around the govt building
with pro PAD banners maybe he will find trouble.

Just go.

lisaloo1977

As above, total over reaction by FO. Unless you go looking for trouble, you will be just fine. I would not think twice, i would say to your brother get out of Bangkok though, not because of the threat of trouble but there is so much more to see in Thailand.