We (2 people) “bought” with A3 points two R/T business class tickets LHR-DEL-BKK, first flight AI, second TG. Our ticket numbers start with 390.

We have completed the outbound flights. Due to having a connection, we did not need a transit or any other visa for India. We have full vaccinations for Covid (5 shots each), although this documentation was never checked.

Before taking this flight (on 16 Jan) I discovered that India had changed its classification of Thailand so that negative PCR tests were required for passengers from Thailand within 72 hours of departure. I asked the (apparently senior) agent from TG at the departure gate in DEL for our flight to BKK. He told me it was not necessary to have a test on our return journey, and that Thai would not deny me boarding on the return BKK-DEL flight connecting with AI to LHR.

So I reckoned we were OK, and thought no more about it. Then TG sent me an email, obviously aimed at all the passengers on our BKK-DEL flight. I thought, initially that we did not have to do anything, based on what the TG guy in DEL had told us on 17 Jan.

Then I followed up on the details. Apparently the Indian Government changed things and introduced new regulations from 1 Jan, requiring PCR tests for anyone coming from Thailand. We have not spent much time in Thailand, and plan on buying a SGN-BKK flight on the day before we take the BKK-DEL-LHR flights.

So there are a couple of things I would like some information about. I suspect I know the answer to the first, as I have no evidence of what TG told me in DEL.

(1) Do we need PCR tests? Will we be denied boarding in BKK if we do not have them? Will these be OK if we get them in HCMC, not Thailand? From an Indian viewpoint we do not need a transit visa as we are only connecting.

(2) If the unfortunate situation happens, and one of us tests positive, what happens? I have not a sim for either Vietnam or Thailand so contacting Aegean would not be simple. It is unlikely that our travel insurance would cover us. So far I have not booked the SGN-BKK flight. My intention was to use a discount airline but could, for some extra money go by TG (or TG smiles). It will still be a different ticket. I have *G status with A3, and our BKK-DEL-LHR ticket is in business. In practice, I do not have either a Vietnamese or Thai SIM, so contacting airlines by phone is unlikely to be simple.