According to the newest round of COVID-19 restrictions, air, boat, and bus services see suspension; some continuing as normal.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide an update on interprovincial air, bus, and boat travel within Thailand following the newest round of COVID-19 restrictions for the Maximum and Strict Controlled Areas or ‘dark-red zone’ provinces effective for 14 days from Wednesday, 21 July, 2021.
Some transportation services have been affected, either by rescheduling or suspension, as per the following:
Air Travel
Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways has confirmed the operation of domestic flights until 20 July, 2021. Following this, there will be the postponement until further notice of some domestic routes, which were scheduled to resume on 1 August, 2021. These include: Bangkok-Chiang Mai (v.v.), Bangkok-Phuket (v.v.), Bangkok-Sukhothai (v.v.), Bangkok-Lampang (v.v.) and Bangkok-Trat (v.v.). Regular Bangkok-Samui flights will be temporarily suspended from 21 July, 2021, onwards.
The following flights will continue to operate as normal:
- Bangkok-Samui: Three daily sealed route flights serving transit/transfer international passengers visiting Samui under the ‘Samui Plus’ programme.
- Samui-Phuket: Four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday supporting the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ project.
Passengers affected by temporary flight suspensions can have fees waived for rebooking, or alternatively they can request a refund in the form of a travel voucher to be used for future ticketing. Any necessary changes can be made up to 24 hours prior to departure. More information is available at www.bangkokair.com/travel-voucher.
Passengers wanting to amend their travel with no new specified travel date (open ticket) can submit their request via https://forms.office.com/r/WjcEEfQX2L within 24 hours prior to the proposed departure date.
Bangkok Airways can be contacted via the following channel: Call Centre Tel. 1771 and +66 (0) 2270-6699 (08.00-20.00 Hrs.), PG Live Chat https://bit.ly/PGLiveChatEN and email [email protected].
Passengers are also advised to regularly check announcements from authorities; such as, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Airports of Thailand, and the Department of Airports.
Nok Air
Nok Air has announced it will continue to operate flights on 19-20 July, 2021, while for flights from 21 July, 2021, onwards passengers are advised to check flight schedules, book flights, and manage bookings from the QR code below.
For passengers scheduled to travel during 21-31 July, 2021, Nok Air is keeping an automatic credit card limit in the ticket. The following Terms and Conditions apply:
- Can be used for all types of tickets.
- Credit card limit in the ticket can be kept until 31 March, 2022.
- In the case the new ticket fare is higher than the original fare, the passenger must pay the difference. The new travel date must be by 31 March, 2022.
- In the case the passenger wants to use the credit shell, tickets can be booked via the Nok Air Call Centre 1318 and Nok Air Sales Booth.
Passengers can change and book their travel dates at www.nokair.com.
Thai Lion Air
Thai Lion Air has announced it will continue to operate domestic flights until 20 July, 2021.
Thai Smile Airways
THAI Smile Airways has announced the temporary suspension of service on all domestic flights effective from 21 July – 3 August 2021 (14 days). In addition, all flights to Phuket and Hat Yai will be operated until 20 July 2021.
Passengers holding tickets for traveling from 21 July to 3 August 2021, can choose from one of the following options:
- Flight date change or route change: a flight change must be requested 4 hours prior to your original departure time without change fees.
- Refund request: a full refund in the form of credit EMD can be requested in which passengers may retain the value of their fare in a credit account for their future travel (expire in 365 days after EMD is approved).
The request must be submitted 24 hours prior to your original departure via https://member.thaismileair.com/customerservice/Refund and select “COVID-19”.
For more information and flight modification, contact: Smile Service Centre at Airports, Smile Call Centre: 1181 or 02-118-8888, Email: [email protected], Live chat service on www.thaismileair.com.
For passengers who reserved their tickets through travel agencies are advised to directly contact them for further arrangements.
Thai Vietjet Air
Thai Vietjet Air has confirmed the temporary suspension of its domestic services from 21 July-1 August, 2021.
Passengers holding tickets for domestic travel to/from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport between 21 July-31 August, 2021, regardless of the booking period, can choose from one of the following options:
- Free change of the flight date for one time (new travel date must be by 31 December, 2021) subject to flight availability and no rerouting permitted. Blackout dates of 12-15 August, 13 and 23-25 October, 18-21 November, 4-6, 10-12 and 25-31 December, 2021, apply.
- Keep the value of the ticket as a credit shell, which is valid for 90 days from the original travel date.
Passengers can contact the airline for support (at least 72 hours prior to departure), via an E-Form at https://1th.me/zRE1K, through Line at @Thaivietjet and social media live chat, and by email at [email protected]. Passengers who booked their ticket via www.vietjetair.com can self-change their flight through the website’s ‘Manage Booking’ feature.
Boat Travel
Raja Ferry Port
Raja Ferry Port announces the following routes are operating as normal:
- Donsak-Samui and Samui-Donsak from 05.00-18.00 Hrs. every day; for Samui-Phangan, the last boat is at 19.00 Hrs.
- Donsak-Phangan and Phangan-Donsak can transit (VIA) at Samui to increase oHr Rajaferryport
Updated information is available at FB:rajaferryport or via Line at @rajaferryport https://line.me/R/ti/p/@rajaferryport.
Bus Travel
The Transport Co., Ltd. has announced operations from 13-20 July, 2021, as follows:
- Ten Northeastern and Eastern routes have been decreased to 5 routes (round trip) per day. These being: Bangkok-Nakhon Phanom, Bangkok-Loei-Chiang Khan, Bangkok-Surin, Bangkok- Sangkha- Khukhan-Kantharalak-Det Udom-Ubon Ratchathani, and Bangkok-Rattanaburi.
- Three bus routes from Bangkok to Northern Thailand are operating 1 round trip service per day. These being: Bangkok-Khlong Lan, Bangkok-Lom Kao, and Bangkok-Uttaradit.
- Service on all Southern routes has stopped.
Passengers who book tickets in advance can request a postponement of their trip or return the ticket at full price without deduction of fees at the Bus Station ticket office at least 3 hours before departure. Refund is not available for passengers using a social security card (welfare stage).
More information is available at the Call Centre 1490, or by calling the Bus Station 24 hours a day or contacting the Bus Station ticket office nationwide.
The Transport Co., Ltd. will announce operations from 21 July, 2021, soon.
Train Travel
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced the adjustment of its train services, during 11-25 July, 2021, as follows:
- Suspension of 10 round trip, long-distance commercial train services: Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Kantang, Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok-Nong Khai (from 12 July), and Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani.
- Suspension of 20 city and local train services.
- Adjustment of schedules and destinations for 8 train services: Northern Line: Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai-Bangkok; Southern Line: Bangkok-Su-ngai Kolok changed to Bangkok-Thung Song and Su-ngai Kolok-Bangkok changed to Thung Song-Bangkok; Northeastern Line: Bangkok-Nong Khai, Nong Khai-Bangkok, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, and Ubon Ratchathani-Bangkok.
Taking into account the suitability of providing services to the public while adhering to the government’s newest round of COVID-19 restrictions, the SRT is still operating 97 train services consisting of 22 Northern Lines, 20 Southern Lines, 18 Northeastern Lines, 17 Eastern Lines, 16 Mahachai Lines, and 4 Mae Klong Lines.
Passengers who wish to request a refund of the fare can do so at any SRT station nationwide. Those who book tickets through the D-Ticket system can submit a return through the system, or ask for more information at the SRT Call Centre 1690.
For regular updates on the tourism-related COVID-19 situation in Thailand, visit the TAT Newsroom via www.tatnews.org; Facebook (tatnews.org); and Twitter (Tatnews_Org).
For additional information and assistance relating to Thailand’s tourism, contact the TAT Contact Centre 1672 or Tourist Police 1155.