Cancelled Flights to & from Bangkok Airport - Am I covered with my Travel Insurance?

miele_2

Hello Guys,

An update on the situation in Bangkok:

"Flights from Thailand's international airport have been suspended after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the building outside Bangkok."

from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7749399.stm

I have a fllight booked to Bangkok, on Sunday 30th Nov. I am worried that the airport will still be closed, and also I would feel a lot safer staying here in England. But I can't cancel my ticket.

My ticket is non-refundable, but would I be able to make a claim with my travel insurance? Which section/details of the small print would apply to this situation in Bangkok? (Halifax Annual Multi-Trip)

Thanks all,

richardw

Civil commotion perhaps.

Moonchild

If your flight is cancelled you will be offered the option of a refund or to re-book your flight by the airline. It's unlikely your flight will have already been cancelled.

Were you flying to Thailand, or was Bangkok just a hub to get somewhere else?

AFAIK, the Foreign Office are not advising against non-essential travel to Thailand. Keep an eye on that one, as if they change that opinion, your insurance will be invalidated anyway.

Still, it's 10.30 on a weekday, your first port of call should be your insurance company, not us.

Diamond_Olly

As the situation there is changing rapidly - call the airline or whoever you booked it through. The current information that I have been sent is that the protestors will leave the airport by 6pm local time tomorrow. However they may leave earlier. Hopefully then the situation will start returning to normal.

jaymac_2

Emirates have cancelled flights today and tomorrow, don't know about beyond that but at least you're at home...my bruv is in Bangkok and it's his first trip abroad,,,this'll teach him not to go off on jaunts!

Moonchild

This is an e-mail from the Thai Tourist Board in the UK today. I can't find a link on their website so have re-produced in full, which is fine as they want it distributed to as many people as possible!

SITUATION UPDATE

Statement from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

as of Wednesday 26th November 2008

The Temporary Closure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

All times are ‘Bangkok time’ unless otherwise stated

While foreign travelers and tourists are not the target of the demonstrations in Thailand, the Royal Thai Government and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) regret that their travel plans have been disrupted as a result of recent events in Bangkok. The welfare and safety of the people in the vicinity of the demonstrations and affected by the action taken (closure of the airport) are the Governments priority, and authorities concerned are providing travelers and tourists with necessary assistance including food, accommodation and alternative means of transportation.

November 25, 2008 / 21.00 hrs.
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) anti-government protesters forced the partial closure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport when demonstrators broke through police lines and entered the Departure Lounge. Inbound flights were still operating normally with aircraft being cleared for landing.

November 25, 2008 / 22.00 hrs.
With anti-government protesters having blocked access to the airport via the main motorway and the main entrance, shortly after 21.00 hrs., acting Airports of Thailand (AoT) president and Acting Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Serirat Prasutanont announced the cancellation of all flights departing from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. As a result, some passengers were stranded at the airport.

November 26, 2008 / 04.00 hrs.
All inbound and outbound flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport have been cancelled since 04.00 hrs. (21.00 GMT Tuesday)

For security reasons Suvarnabhumi Airport will be closed from Tuesday, November 25th, 21.00 hrs. onwards until further notice. The airport authorities have been negotiating with anti-government protesters to move their political rally to an alternative protest site to enable airport operations to resume as soon as possible.

THAI’s domestic flights, inbound and outbound from Don Mueang International Airport are operating normally.

Don Mueang International Airport is operating normally. International flights that have not yet been cancelled are being redirected to either Don Mueang airport (Bangkok) or Utapao airport (near Pattaya).

There has been no declaration of State of Emergency.

TAT in Bangkok is cooperating with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), AoT, and Thai Airways (TG) to set up a Crisis Networking Centre on the fourth floor of the Departure Terminal in Suvarnabhumi International Airport in order to facilitate the stranded passengers and tourists until the airport resumes normal operations. The airport authority has moved the stranded passengers to the hotels.

TAT in cooperation with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), and Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) transferred the remaining stranded passengers to the following hotels: Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport, Sol Twin, and Ibis Ramkhamhaeng. Accommodation and all meals are being provided.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand recommends the following:

Passengers / Concerned Friends and Family

Check directly with the airline or tour operator with which travel arrangements were made for individual travel/cancellation/refund/rebooking information and advice.

Tour Operators / Media

Apart from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the rest of Thailand’s ports are operating as usual. Other travel and tourism services continue to operate a normal service within Thailand.

For passengers wishing to cancel or alter their booking please suggest alternatives routes into Thailand. Travel can be re-routed via nearby International hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong or Malaysia, each with connecting flights onward to Thailand destinations, such as Phuket and Koh Samui.

TAT will continue to keep you updated as regularly as possible. In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us as follows:

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN THAILAND FOR YOUR REFERENCE:
Don Mueang Airport 02-535-1669 / 02-535-1616
Thai Airways (TG) 02-356-1111
www.thaiairways.com
Bangkok Airways (PG) 02-265-5678
www.bangkokairways.com
Hot Line Bangkok Airways 1771
Nok Air 02-627-2000
Air Asia 02-515-9999
www.airasia.com
Suvarnabhumi International Airport 02-132-1888 / 02-132-1882
Flight Information 02-132-000 / 02-132-9328-9
Security Center 02-132-4310 / 02-132-4000
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Emergency Center (24 Hours) 02-643-5522
Fax: 02-643-5521
Hot Line Tourist Police 1155
Tourism Intelligence Unit and Crisis Management Center (TIC)
Tel: 02-652-8313-4
Fax: 02-652-8315

<<<<<< END >>>>>>

miele_2

Hello all,

Just a quick update: Thai Airways have agreed to extend all tickets to Bangkok by up to 2 months, free of charge! Yey!!! :T

...THAI will extend the validation date of tickets and travel related documents, including Royal Orchid Holidays Travel Orders, which have been expired since 25 November 2008 until 31 January 2009. THAI requests passengers to contact THAI’s offices and appointed travel agents worldwide to confirm their travels as soon as the airports resume normal operations.
http://www.thaiair.com/Homepage/announce/sbia_situation_28nov.htm

So, call Thai Airways asap if you are/were in a similar situation as me. I am so pleased!!!

Good luck!!! xx

Office: THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL
Phone: 0207-491-7953
Fax: 0207-409-1463
E-mail: sales@thaiairways.co.uk