mastertrust

Tuesday, March 10, connecting on 619 from Hong Kong to Bangkok. Lounge makes the announcement boarding has started, it’s only a short walk to gate three. When I looked at the gate about 40 minutes prior it was a decent crowd, but when I arrived there were only a handful of people in line. As I near the gate I was approached by an agent and asked about my itinerary. She explained the passengers transiting in Hong Kong were allowed on the flight, but the passengers originating in Hong Kong were not allowed on the flight due to changes that morning in Thailand’s criteria for vetting travelers from risky areas. Something about a requirement that they be monitored for 14 days and then have a doctors health certificate issued within the last 48 hours. Result? A few passengers in business, three in economy plus, a handful in coach. I think we were out numbered by the cabin crew.

Hong Kong airport was incredibly quiet, planes parked all over the place, only a few people in the first class lounge that was open. Devastating to see.

Kacee

Situation currently quite confused with respect to Thailand entry restrictions. They allowed you as a transit passenger to board?

brunos

Don't you think that the answer is obvious from the post?

youthagainsttt

No - as passengers are allowed to board with the requisite form and medical certificate if not transiting

percysmith

You missed the fun and games Thailand's been having re entry requirements since 6 March COVID-19 - Situation and response in Thailand

HKG allows airside transit even from restricted areas Covid-19 and BA flight cancellations & rebooking: info & advice thread [*noise-free*]

So it's just the reception you'll get when you get to BKK

brunos

Percysmith, you are becoming a great expert on Thailand.

mastertrust

The issue, as I understand it, is it the Thailand restrictions require you be monitored for 14 days and have the certificate before you can board. As a passenger transiting from the US to Thailand via Hong Kong, I was allowed to board, along with a couple handfuls of other people. But now the requirements have shifted again. Now you have to get a health certificate confirming you’ve been monitored for 14 days prior to the flight and you show no symptoms, and then your subject to quarantine for 14 days once you arrive in Thailand. Oh fun.

from Cathay Pacific’s website:

Effective 11 March 2020, passengers departing from People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong SAR & Macao SAR), Korea, Italy and Iran are required to have the following at check-in:

• Health insurance document that provides at least USD100,000 coverage in Thailand (not applicable to Thai nationals)
• Health certificate, Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific issued within 48hours of flight depature certifying that they are free of COVID-19 (applicable to all nationalities)

Further, passengers from the above zones will be subject to a 14-day self-quarantine upon entering Thailand or the length of their visit (if less than 14-days).

Exemption: Passengers transiting through above countries are exempted from the above requirements

Also, to be clear, the interaction with the staff indicated they were not allowing any passengers who originated in Hong Kong to board.

freed0m

Now Visa is required for residents of Hong Kong. So many people in Hong Kong certainly can’t enter Thailand. The Visa application process will prevent many from visiting Thailand.

Kacee

Thanks. What a mess this is to follow. And of course the HKG restriction makes no sense at all. Hong Kong is just Class 1. We have more cases in California.
No, it's not obvious.

If you can't post constructively, don't.

percysmith

Requirement revoked for HKSAR passport holders and never applied to foreign passport holders. The only people affected are BNO holders

percysmith

I have no idea why a test done T-48 hours can cover the 14 days before that.

Or are they trying to say - having done the test 48 hours before departure, the passenger can’t have been infected (can’t have recovered from COVID) for the 14 days prior?

Kacee

Don't expect logic from Thai government!

brunos

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/healt...sa-free-policy

freed0m

Embassy oversea normally under Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Immigration should be under Ministry of home affairs.


whose words are to believe?

With visa issued by oversea embassy, immigration still has the final power to deny entry.

Coolers

Bottom line, travel departing HK to Thailand will essentially be ground to a halt. The different Ministries in Thailand aren't talking to each other, going back over a week. Add on the requirement for a negative test result which apparently can't be performed by private clinics at this time.

It would seem that if you really wanted to visit TH, the easiest solution would be to travel on a non-BNO, non-HKSAR passport and transit through Singapore/Malaysia/Vietnam, as Thailand's illogical requirements only apply for travel departing HK rather than anyone who's been here recently.