General Reports

[Robert Long]

What a coincidence: I just received the following email from Air Asia concerning my CC refunds, "Dear guest.

We have received your request for a refund of your flight booking, and it is now being processed. Please do note that the refund process may take between 12-16 weeks from the date of this email, due to the overwhelming volume of queries and requests we are handling. ".

So good news. Ha Ha. But I was never that concerned about a refund or account credit except for the possibility that the company might seek bankruptcy protection. I like to fly Air Asia for short inter-Asian flights primarily because I can't stand arriving or departing from Swampy. I always buy a premium 1st or 2nd row seat so I can leave the plane quickly and get through immigration fast. I have never had a problem with Air Asia service. I like their girls.

No one company uses the "Bus Gate" more than AA. You pay for Prime time seats and they put you on a crowded bus. Then when you reach the destination, they put you in another bus to the gate. We can hope that with social distancing they will stop the use of the bus gate.

The reason for the Bus Gate is that it saves AA in that they do not pay for the expansion ramp. Keeps airport costs to AA low, at our expense.

Another pet peeves I have is that the exit door seats in the center of the plane are "Prime Seats". You pay more for these seats. But they are usually empty. So you have no one to pull the doors open in case of an emergency. Attendants are always in the front or rear of the plane. This could be a class action if someone wanted to pursue.

RL Trapped in Phuket.

[Member #4698]

I was never offered a CC refund at all. I had 2 options. To reschedule and fly by Fall 2020. That's a guaranteed loss of my ticket right there. Second option was the one I took. Credit and 2 years to use it. Since I fly AirAsia at least 12 x per year when I am doing my Thai visa runs I figured it was as good as cash.

What a coincidence: I just received the following email from Air Asia concerning my CC refunds, "Dear guest.

We have received your request for a refund of your flight booking, and it is now being processed. Please do note that the refund process may take between 12-16 weeks from the date of this email, due to the overwhelming volume of queries and requests we are handling. ".

So good news. Ha Ha. But I was never that concerned about a refund or account credit except for the possibility that the company might seek bankruptcy protection. I like to fly Air Asia for short inter-Asian flights primarily because I can't stand arriving or departing from Swampy. I always buy a premium 1st or 2nd row seat so I can leave the plane quickly and get through immigration fast. I have never had a problem with Air Asia service. I like their girls.

[Smoothy]

I still have two Air Asia flights with pending CC refunds. These two CC refunds have been "in progress" since March 22.

Mine is the exact same date. March 22. Same status. Pending. If they don't go bankrupt, I would guess I'll get the refund eventually.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

Well you have come to the right place, the INTERNATIONAL Sex Guide, to consider other destinations and back up plans, Pimpampoumpipo. Personally I think all the SE Asian countries that we have an interest in are playing a game of chicken in that no SE Asian country wants to be the 1st country to reopen it's borders to foreigners and then face the possibility that it's Corona numbers spike up again. So what is probably going to happen is a bunch of countries will make similar announcements concerning foreigners returning at approximately the same time. The key question is when will these openings occur and the answer is it's anybody's guess.

In the meantime we can research various other countries here on the ISG platform and think about various back up plans just in case some areas open up sooner than SE Asia. My #1 backup countries are Brazil and Columbia. These are two prime SA mongering destinations and there is a ton of info on them in their respective threads. Other Board Members like Germany a lot and still others are very fond of Kenya and Madagascar. It is a matter of taste. Madagascar is of some interest to me, but I have no desire to go to Kenya. It is anybody's guess when any of these alternative destinations open as well. So international travel as we now experience is on hold and has become a waiting game.

Thank you Natty Bumpo, I had an idea on sharing information thanks to ISG and I thank you for confirming it.

Given the special situation right now I am ready to share all of my informations that maybe some people would not yet have, of course in the right newsfeed. For Hong Kong, I think that ISG Internet users know even more than I do, even though I worked there. I can share information about Havana dating from my last visit 2 years ago. I also worked as an expatriate in Senegal and Togo but more than 10 years ago. Just like in Havana, even for old people like me (I'm 62). Despite that I hate flirting in the street, it is very easy to have contact in the street just with a smile with beautiful very welcoming Cubans (but beware with the police) and I am a huge fan of fabulous Cuban music. I also know Marrakech, there are very young and pretty girls, but I would only recommend it moderately except for those who like to play cat and mouse with the police. Personally I am a little older.

For the countries that I don't know, I am very tempted by Jakarta and Madagascar. I have a lot of French-speaking relations who fell in love, especially in Nosi Be which seems to have dream beaches (perhaps also interesting for diving enthusiasts).

Ultimately, opportunity will make thieves. Everything will depend on the order in which the borders are opened. Of course while waiting for the situation to normalize in Thailand.

[Banana Boi]

I still have two Air Asia flights with pending CC refunds.

I was never offered a CC refund at all. I had 2 options. To reschedule and fly by Fall 2020. That's a guaranteed loss of my ticket right there. Second option was the one I took. Credit and 2 years to use it. Since I fly AirAsia at least 12 x per year when I am doing my Thai visa runs I figured it was as good as cash.

[Member #4698]

I had a round trip flight from Tokyo to Bangkok scheduled this month. I was just going to write it off but luckily I decided to Live Chat with AirAsia and see what my options were. AirAsia gave me full credit that I have 730 days to use. Hopefully Thailand international borders will reopen within 2 years so not all is a total loss.

I still have two Air Asia flights with pending CC refunds. These two CC refunds have been "in progress" since March 22. (555) I had 3rd Air Asia flight that could not be refunded for one mysterious reason or another, but a full Air Asia credit was issued to my BIG Air Asia account within a week after I requested it. (Another big 555)

[Member #4698]

I fully share this point of view. It's a great suggestion. Nothing says that Thailand will open wide its doors to American and European nationals.

We will therefore have to consider other destinations and plans B (or even plans C) until we can return normally to Thailand.

Well you have come to the right place, the INTERNATIONAL Sex Guide, to consider other destinations and back up plans, Pimpampoumpipo. Personally I think all the SE Asian countries that we have an interest in are playing a game of chicken in that no SE Asian country wants to be the 1st country to reopen it's borders to foreigners and then face the possibility that it's Corona numbers spike up again. So what is probably going to happen is a bunch of countries will make similar announcements concerning foreigners returning at approximately the same time. The key question is when will these openings occur and the answer is it's anybody's guess.

In the meantime we can research various other countries here on the ISG platform and think about various back up plans just in case some areas open up sooner than SE Asia. My #1 backup countries are Brazil and Columbia. These are two prime SA mongering destinations and there is a ton of info on them in their respective threads. Other Board Members like Germany a lot and still others are very fond of Kenya and Madagascar. It is a matter of taste. Madagascar is of some interest to me, but I have no desire to go to Kenya. It is anybody's guess when any of these alternative destinations open as well. So international travel as we now experience is on hold and has become a waiting game.

[Banana Boi]

I had a round trip flight from Tokyo to Bangkok scheduled this month. I was just going to write it off but luckily I decided to Live Chat with AirAsia and see what my options were. AirAsia gave me full credit that I have 730 days to use. Hopefully Thailand international borders will reopen within 2 years so not all is a total loss. Then again, staying longer in Japan would by far not be the worst thing to happen.

I have read that several Vietnam airlines would like to start direct flights to North America but who knows when or if this will happen.

Hope so. Would be great to have a direct flight to SE Asia. I do agree that Ho Chi Minh airport is a mess. I paid extra for one of those Express passes and it still took over an hour to get through Customs. Da Nang airport OTH is great.

what about Cambodia with just 122 cases and no deaths.

Cambodia has reported zero active cases. Whether that is true or not doesn't matter. For us who want to monger, bars have reopened in Phnom Penh. Now if they would just reopen international borders.

[Turgid]

..............We will therefore have to consider other destinations and plans B (or even plans C) until we can return normally to Thailand.

I'm a bit newbie on the site, I don't know if I say something stupid but maybe ISG could be in this case a platform for exchanging good plans. We could exchange the good alternatives and the wrong destinations within the specific framework of covid-19.

It seems that most of our preferred destinations have closed their doors to foreigners. I think a major factor in our decision making should be how the particular country has dealt with their covid fighting operations. Vietnam looks increasingly promising with 300 odd cases and no deaths and what about Cambodia with just 122 cases and no deaths.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

For those of you who do still plan on trying to get to Thailand as soon as the borders reopen the above is an example of why you may want to consider flying in to another SE Asia country and not fly in to Thailand directly. All may look fine when you board your 20 hour flight from USA but between leaving USA and arriving in Thailand immigration rules may change and you will be turned away at Thai customs. What this would mean is you have to fly back to your original departure city meaning you get to enjoy another 20 hour flight back to USA. At least if you come in from say Ho Chi Minh or Phnom Penh you will only have to take a 1 hour return flight if you are stopped at Thai customs. Then you can stay there or fly to Jakarta or PI to continue your sexcation.

I fully share this point of view. It's a great suggestion. Nothing says that Thailand will open wide its doors to American and European nationals.

We will therefore have to consider other destinations and plans B (or even plans C) until we can return normally to Thailand.

I'm a bit newbie on the site, I don't know if I say something stupid but maybe ISG could be in this case a platform for exchanging good plans. We could exchange the good alternatives and the wrong destinations within the specific framework of covid-19.

[EihTooms]

And I love it when someone purposely takes a word or phrase that I used out of the self deprecating context in which it was originally used and tries to apply a different more negative connotation to the word in an offensive manner to gain an advantage in an argument. But it's all good. We both know where the other is coming from.

Which word or phrase was that? I don't know. I re-read your post and mine but honestly don't see what you are referring to.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

Just finished a 48 HR layover in BKK, obviously no foreigners are allowed to enter Thailand at this moment except Airline staff and as my name suggest I am exactly that. Wasn't allowed to leave my hotel room and certainly wasn't allowed any visitors. That meant I had to hold my cock and watch pornhub for my stay there which is utterly depressing. So what have you guys been up too? ...... Oh never mind I'm not getting mixed up in that......

Welcome to Paradise.

A world without temptations where one can remain chaste. Stay in our room, in our house without being tempted by the forbidden pleasures.

All in all, I think I prefer hell.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

Of course you are free to buy whatever you want but the reality is that many of the sub components of what you buy will still come from China.

My family and I are Apple fans. All our devices (Iphones, laptops) are Apple. Like, moreover, an important part of Western consumers. When I return my MacBook air I see: "Designed in California assembled in China".

And it's the same for a large part of the objects manufactured in Europe.

The result is that when we need simple emergency paper masks we can't find them, the whole world is served before us. Even more serious: 80% of the molecules intended for the manufacture of medicines are made in China or India. What will happen when we will find a treatment or a vaccine and we will not able to make it ourselves?

We have abandoned entire sectors of our industry in strategic areas.

We are becoming the new third world.

[AirlineCrew]

Just finished a 48 HR layover in BKK, obviously no foreigners are allowed to enter Thailand at this moment except Airline staff and as my name suggest I am exactly that. Wasn't allowed to leave my hotel room and certainly wasn't allowed any visitors. That meant I had to hold my cock and watch pornhub for my stay there which is utterly depressing. So what have you guys been up too? ...... Oh never mind I'm not getting mixed up in that......

[PedroMorales]

The reason I guess the Thai government are considering leaving under 40's visit is because of the lower COIVID19 risk they pose. Once the doors open, they will reconsider as beach bums will not lead a recovery. They should probably go for young families or women but no doubt they will do fine without our input.