filmwill's crazy Thanksgiving Plan B
Nov 28th, 2008, 11:36 AM
#24
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filmwill,
My friend is in Phuket right now, and had no trouble getting there after being re-routed by United through KL. She is there for work, but said everything is fine there and you would have a terrific vacation. So if the protests don't spread and Thai Air can get you to Phuket, maybe that's what you should do.
My friend is in Phuket right now, and had no trouble getting there after being re-routed by United through KL. She is there for work, but said everything is fine there and you would have a terrific vacation. So if the protests don't spread and Thai Air can get you to Phuket, maybe that's what you should do.
Nov 28th, 2008, 12:29 PM
#25
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bob, yes, i've thought about pushing it...but the one small problem is that this is the only time david and i both get 2 weeks off at the same time. needless to say, pushing a month would be fairly impossible.
still holding out hope for things to change. if we are canceled, we'll take the next available from thai as we're pretty flexible for the entire month of december.
my only concern at that point is being there over christmas with reservations for before then--i can only hope the hotels will a) be flexible with our dates (as they have been) given the situation and b) not be fully booked (as they most likely are for Christmas/New Years) due to the lack of flights in and out of the country and any potential cancellations
still holding out hope for things to change. if we are canceled, we'll take the next available from thai as we're pretty flexible for the entire month of december.
my only concern at that point is being there over christmas with reservations for before then--i can only hope the hotels will a) be flexible with our dates (as they have been) given the situation and b) not be fully booked (as they most likely are for Christmas/New Years) due to the lack of flights in and out of the country and any potential cancellations
Nov 28th, 2008, 01:32 PM
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I wouldn't worry about reservations anywhere in thailand -- I suspect there will be a huge number of cancelations. Hotels were in bad shape before this because of protests. I even bet you will be able to get a cheap rate!
Nov 28th, 2008, 02:06 PM
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Right now, all the alternate plans for flights are mostly to take trapped foreigners out of the country; or the Thai nationals who were stranded elsewhere trying to get home.
U-Tapao or Phuket or Ching Mai are not equipped to operate anything close to "normal" for bringing BKK tourists into and out of the country.
U-Tapao or Phuket or Ching Mai are not equipped to operate anything close to "normal" for bringing BKK tourists into and out of the country.
Nov 28th, 2008, 04:37 PM
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i agree with gloria....there will be so many cancellations because of all this mess, most hotels will be begging for residents....that would be the least of your problems....there might even be rooms available in tower rooms at ROS
Nov 28th, 2008, 07:17 PM
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I heard from my friend at the Peninsula last night.
He said "It's time to take rest at the end of the year. First time for me in 20 years working in hotel business and service." Usually of course he is flat out in November December!!!
I'm waiting to hear back just how low the numbers are there at the moment but I'm sure they are going to have lots of cancellations for the next while.
He said "It's time to take rest at the end of the year. First time for me in 20 years working in hotel business and service." Usually of course he is flat out in November December!!!
I'm waiting to hear back just how low the numbers are there at the moment but I'm sure they are going to have lots of cancellations for the next while.
Nov 29th, 2008, 10:56 AM
#33
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So it looks like I'm going to ride it out a bit--United and Thai have both said they'd be happy to move us to any other day (now or even the day of our trip.)
So if things don't resolve by Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll rebook our tix departing LAX either on Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.
...and we'll just keep pushing it out until we go.
I should just create a form email to send to all the hotels each time our dates have to change.
Like carol, I hold out hope that this will resolve by the King's birthday.
So if things don't resolve by Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll rebook our tix departing LAX either on Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.
...and we'll just keep pushing it out until we go.
I should just create a form email to send to all the hotels each time our dates have to change.
Like carol, I hold out hope that this will resolve by the King's birthday.
Nov 29th, 2008, 10:57 AM
#34
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actually I should say departing Tuesday or Thursday (as they don't fly on Wednesdays.)
FYI, it sounds like Thai (no surprise) has had a boatload of cancellations...which is what is making moving our tix to pretty much any date so easy.
FYI, it sounds like Thai (no surprise) has had a boatload of cancellations...which is what is making moving our tix to pretty much any date so easy.
Nov 29th, 2008, 12:27 PM
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Just working up the Plan B, which has us leaving on 12/11 instead of 12/5...and checking with individual hotels to see if they can move us.
So far, so good.
As soon as I get confirmation from the hotels that we're okay with rooms, I need to call Thai to move our overseas flight and then more importantly our internal flights. Since the office in LA is closed until Monday, would you guys recommend calling the Thai office in Bangkok (which I'm sure will be inundated or an office in another country?) I'd like to talk to someone this weekend about those flights.
So far, so good.
As soon as I get confirmation from the hotels that we're okay with rooms, I need to call Thai to move our overseas flight and then more importantly our internal flights. Since the office in LA is closed until Monday, would you guys recommend calling the Thai office in Bangkok (which I'm sure will be inundated or an office in another country?) I'd like to talk to someone this weekend about those flights.
Nov 29th, 2008, 02:40 PM
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Filmwil...If I were you, I'd wait until Monday and just call the Thai air office here in L.A.
What is the almost final plan? Are you still going to Singapore and if so when? If I end up there, it'll most likely be somewhere between the 19th/20th through the
28th/29th of December.
A few hours ago, I went on the Paris forum and a fodorite, whose vacationing in Paris right now, had started a thread asking what inside things there were to do as a very cold/snow/very cold front is to be sweeping in and the weather will be worse than it already is. The poster said that it's cold.
So, that's when I went back to check on Singapore and as I was getting ready to book the flight and hotel, the price changed and went up $500. Scream again! So, I'll just wait and see what happens next. Happy Travels!
What is the almost final plan? Are you still going to Singapore and if so when? If I end up there, it'll most likely be somewhere between the 19th/20th through the
28th/29th of December.
A few hours ago, I went on the Paris forum and a fodorite, whose vacationing in Paris right now, had started a thread asking what inside things there were to do as a very cold/snow/very cold front is to be sweeping in and the weather will be worse than it already is. The poster said that it's cold.
So, that's when I went back to check on Singapore and as I was getting ready to book the flight and hotel, the price changed and went up $500. Scream again! So, I'll just wait and see what happens next. Happy Travels!
Nov 29th, 2008, 02:50 PM
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Guen, I plan to stop by there on Monday morning. Do you know what time they open? It's the office in El Segundo, right?
And, no, plan B is now just us pushing our trip back almost a week (from Friday to the following Thursday.)
At this point, though, all the news I'm reading makes me doubt that even pushing it a week would change things.
And, no, plan B is now just us pushing our trip back almost a week (from Friday to the following Thursday.)
At this point, though, all the news I'm reading makes me doubt that even pushing it a week would change things.
Nov 29th, 2008, 07:03 PM
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Filmwill: Yes, the office is in El Segundo.
Just go out the 105 west until you get to Sepulveda and then exit onto Sepulveda and go SOUTH. You'll drive, less than 10 minutes SOUTH on Sepulveda and then when you come to GRAND, you'll see a modern-looking building (green-glassed, I think) on the SOUTH-EAST corner. That's the building. Turn left, onto GRAND and then there's the parking lot entrance right there to your RIGHT. Don't forget to get a parking validation before leaving the Thai Air office. I have forgotten a few times.
Take the elevator to the Plaza (?) level. You'll now be outside. Walk straight and then when you get to the building go right and enter there. Thai Air is the first office to your LEFT once you enter the building.
They used to be upstairs, in a beautiful office, but a few years ago moved to the ground level.
While they're working on my ticket, I go to the cafeteria, right there, outside before you enter the building and have lunch. And then when I'm finished with lunch, go back inside and pick up my ticket.
I can't remember their hours, but I think they are 9-5, but they stop doing the ticketing something like an hour before they close. So, I'd suggest you get there well before 4PM, to play it safe. I usually go around 10AM or 11AM.
As far as changing your trip for a week later, and still trying to wait it out, that's up to you. Personally, I'd just work around Thailand period, if you can. With all the stranded people, who knows how long it'll take to get things back to order even if the airport reopens and stays open.
You can e-mail me at home to let me know how it goes with you at Thai Air tomorrow. Remember, I gave you the name, by e-mail, of the person I talked to on the phone. Who knows, maybe she'll be there on Monday. Happy Travels!
Just go out the 105 west until you get to Sepulveda and then exit onto Sepulveda and go SOUTH. You'll drive, less than 10 minutes SOUTH on Sepulveda and then when you come to GRAND, you'll see a modern-looking building (green-glassed, I think) on the SOUTH-EAST corner. That's the building. Turn left, onto GRAND and then there's the parking lot entrance right there to your RIGHT. Don't forget to get a parking validation before leaving the Thai Air office. I have forgotten a few times.
Take the elevator to the Plaza (?) level. You'll now be outside. Walk straight and then when you get to the building go right and enter there. Thai Air is the first office to your LEFT once you enter the building.
They used to be upstairs, in a beautiful office, but a few years ago moved to the ground level.
While they're working on my ticket, I go to the cafeteria, right there, outside before you enter the building and have lunch. And then when I'm finished with lunch, go back inside and pick up my ticket.
I can't remember their hours, but I think they are 9-5, but they stop doing the ticketing something like an hour before they close. So, I'd suggest you get there well before 4PM, to play it safe. I usually go around 10AM or 11AM.
As far as changing your trip for a week later, and still trying to wait it out, that's up to you. Personally, I'd just work around Thailand period, if you can. With all the stranded people, who knows how long it'll take to get things back to order even if the airport reopens and stays open.
You can e-mail me at home to let me know how it goes with you at Thai Air tomorrow. Remember, I gave you the name, by e-mail, of the person I talked to on the phone. Who knows, maybe she'll be there on Monday. Happy Travels!
