ID :
123193
Thu, 05/20/2010 - 08:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/123193
The shortlink copeid
SITUATION GETTING BAD IN BANGKOK, SAY EXPATRIATES FROM THAILAND
Normalazwa Jamaludin
SEPANG, May 20 (Bernama) -- Expatriates from Thailand have said that the situation in Bangkok was getting worse since last Friday, and advised Malaysians to avoid the area.
An American national, Elliot Cline, 48, a software engineer, who has been
living in the Thai capital for the past 25 years, described the situation there
as "quite dangerous."
"The situation got worse this morning with army tanks placed on the
streets and thick smoke from fire filling up the air," he told Bernama upon
arriving at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here from Bangkok.
Cline, who was on transit to Australia, said this was not his first
experience and had experienced such incidents before this.
Meanwhile, French national Farid Ben Ghao, 32, who had been living in
Bangkok since a year ago, said following the escalating violence in the Thai
capital, he had to move to other places.
The art director said other parts of Thailand were safe, but not so for
certain areas in Bangkok.
He advised tourists to avoid hotspots occupied by the Red Shirt
protestors for their safety.
Meanwhile, model Arman Zani, 24, who was in Thailand for a week on official
work, advised Malaysians to aoid the hotspots in bangkok.
"For safety measure, they should stay away from the hotspots where rioting
was going on such as the Silom Street and the areas in its vicinity," he said.
He said the atmosphere in Bangkok was gloomy and not as cheerful as before.
According to Airasia, none of its daily flights to Bangkok was cancelled
Wednesday despite the choatic situation in Bangkok since the country's airport
at Suvarnabhumi Airport, 30km from the city is operational.
Meanwhile, AirAsia in its official website offered a choice to ticket
holders to Bangkok for trips between April 5 and May 24 who did not wish to
proceed with their flights during that period could change the date and time of
their flights, and change their destination.
Travellers changing the date and time of their journey will be exempted from
any penalty, but the difference in ticket price will be charged for those opting
to change their destination.
However, the difference in air fare will not be returned if the price for
the new flight was lower than the original fare, the website said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) which is maintaing its daily flights from
KL International Airport (KLIA) to and from Bangkok also offered its
customers the option to change their travelling dates to Bangkok or to change it
to other destinations in Asean member countries.
The MAS website said customers could change their travel dates to any other
date convenient to them until June 30, and "those who wish to make the changes
are requested to inform MAS by Friday."
Customers who are planning to go to Bangkok but holding special fare tickets
with terms and conditions which normally do not allow for any change of dates,
can now do so without any extra cost.
"However, due to the strict terms and conditions of the tickets, a fee will
be charged for any subsequent changes. Refunds for these low fare tickets will
not be applicable," it said.
Customers, who are holding normal tickets which allow for change of travel
dates may do so without extra cost. They may also opt for refunds, subject to a
refund administrative fee.
MAS is also offering its customers travelling to Bangkok an option to fly to
any other destination in Asean member countries for only USD50 or RM162.25 per
ticket.
"To make the new travel arrangements, customers are requested to present
their flight tickets to Bangkok at any of the MAS ticketing offices. Those who
have purchased their tickets with credit card can also make the changes by
contacting the MAS call centre," said the website.
The Thai government Wednesday declared curfew in the capital from 8pm, after
security forces reclaimed the occupied city centre from anti-government
protesters, which left four people dead and 40 injured.
-- BERNAMA
SEPANG, May 20 (Bernama) -- Expatriates from Thailand have said that the situation in Bangkok was getting worse since last Friday, and advised Malaysians to avoid the area.
An American national, Elliot Cline, 48, a software engineer, who has been
living in the Thai capital for the past 25 years, described the situation there
as "quite dangerous."
"The situation got worse this morning with army tanks placed on the
streets and thick smoke from fire filling up the air," he told Bernama upon
arriving at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here from Bangkok.
Cline, who was on transit to Australia, said this was not his first
experience and had experienced such incidents before this.
Meanwhile, French national Farid Ben Ghao, 32, who had been living in
Bangkok since a year ago, said following the escalating violence in the Thai
capital, he had to move to other places.
The art director said other parts of Thailand were safe, but not so for
certain areas in Bangkok.
He advised tourists to avoid hotspots occupied by the Red Shirt
protestors for their safety.
Meanwhile, model Arman Zani, 24, who was in Thailand for a week on official
work, advised Malaysians to aoid the hotspots in bangkok.
"For safety measure, they should stay away from the hotspots where rioting
was going on such as the Silom Street and the areas in its vicinity," he said.
He said the atmosphere in Bangkok was gloomy and not as cheerful as before.
According to Airasia, none of its daily flights to Bangkok was cancelled
Wednesday despite the choatic situation in Bangkok since the country's airport
at Suvarnabhumi Airport, 30km from the city is operational.
Meanwhile, AirAsia in its official website offered a choice to ticket
holders to Bangkok for trips between April 5 and May 24 who did not wish to
proceed with their flights during that period could change the date and time of
their flights, and change their destination.
Travellers changing the date and time of their journey will be exempted from
any penalty, but the difference in ticket price will be charged for those opting
to change their destination.
However, the difference in air fare will not be returned if the price for
the new flight was lower than the original fare, the website said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) which is maintaing its daily flights from
KL International Airport (KLIA) to and from Bangkok also offered its
customers the option to change their travelling dates to Bangkok or to change it
to other destinations in Asean member countries.
The MAS website said customers could change their travel dates to any other
date convenient to them until June 30, and "those who wish to make the changes
are requested to inform MAS by Friday."
Customers who are planning to go to Bangkok but holding special fare tickets
with terms and conditions which normally do not allow for any change of dates,
can now do so without any extra cost.
"However, due to the strict terms and conditions of the tickets, a fee will
be charged for any subsequent changes. Refunds for these low fare tickets will
not be applicable," it said.
Customers, who are holding normal tickets which allow for change of travel
dates may do so without extra cost. They may also opt for refunds, subject to a
refund administrative fee.
MAS is also offering its customers travelling to Bangkok an option to fly to
any other destination in Asean member countries for only USD50 or RM162.25 per
ticket.
"To make the new travel arrangements, customers are requested to present
their flight tickets to Bangkok at any of the MAS ticketing offices. Those who
have purchased their tickets with credit card can also make the changes by
contacting the MAS call centre," said the website.
The Thai government Wednesday declared curfew in the capital from 8pm, after
security forces reclaimed the occupied city centre from anti-government
protesters, which left four people dead and 40 injured.
-- BERNAMA
