AirAsia: "We're rescuing passengers stranded in Bangkok."
I have a timely bit of news I thought Boing Boing readers might be interested in... AirAsia is mounting more flights starting Monday until Thursday to ferry its passengers stranded in Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur (KL), Singapore, Macau, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.In a statement, Air Asia said today(Dec 2), it would mount two return flights on the Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Hong Kong and Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Singapore routes, and one return flight each on the Bankok (U-Tapao)-Macau, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Shenzhen, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Chiang Mai, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Phuket, Chiang Mai-Singapore; Chiang Mai-KL, Phuket-Singapore and Phuket-KL routes.
On Dec 3, there will be two return flights Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Hong Kong and Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Singapore; and one return flight Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Macau, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Shenzen, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Chiang Mai, Bangkok (U-Tapao)-Phuket, Chiang Mai-Singapore; Chiang Mai-KL, Phuket-Singapore and Phuket-KL.
On Dec 4 (all Bangkok flights from U-Tapao naval base), there will be two return flights Bangkok-Macau, Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Singapore and one return flight Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Phuket, Chiang Mai-Singapore, Chiang-Mai-KL, Phuket-Singapore and Phuket-KL.
Full details can be obtained at www.airasia.com or by calling AirAsia's dedicated hotlines 662-5159999 in Bangkok or 603-86604554 in Malaysia.
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Even though the airport might be open by the time I'm the air, I'm on the verge of starting a long, circuitous route from the States back to Bangkok via Singapore to Phuket and then possibly overland or maybe by air to the old B-52 base, U-Tapao.
Frisko Dude has a good roundup of more flight info for Thailand during these exceedingly interesting times.
And there have been many great bloggers covering the Thailand crisis, including Bangkok Pundit, Absolutely Bangkok, HaPPi like a HiPPo, Newley Purnell and the venerable 2Bangkok.
They have been a source of information and comfort while I've been away from Thailand during the past month.
I thought we had always been at war with Airasia?
Nice of Air Asia to add the flights, but reports I've been reading describe a pretty unpleasant situation out at U-Tapao -- too many people crowded into a small place, long waits for food or toilets, simmering tempers. Anyone know if that's gotten any better?
We're leaving Bangkok today by van. As of yesterday, I was still finding tix on Air Asia out of Phuket to Kuala Lumpur this weekend. Heading to Phuket in a few minutes, hang there a couple days, then catch a Saturday flight. Drive to Singapore, fly out from there as we can (two to Tokyo, two to Hong Kong).
Warning: if AirAsia's site freezes on you mid-transaction, you'll have to call and endure the most insanely comic and annoying hold loop I've ever endured. It literally started to give me heart palpitations after 30 mins. Made me think if it wouldn't be better to brave the chaos at U-Tapao.
There is a lovely train ride from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur. There is an overnight train as well which has sleepers. Snacks are available and served to your seat rather than from a snack cart and include a delightful array of fresh produce as well as western fare. You can smoke on the train too but the chewing some betel nut is probably more considerate.
I'm sure the sex tourists exploiting the children over there don't mind having their flights delayed by a few days.
Airasia has always been our ally.
I like Airasia. Kind of has a virgin-y vibe and they are far and away the best budget airline in Thailand. Dirt cheap too. Whatever you do, avoid Nok Air sure their logo and site design is kind of fucking awesome: http://www.nokair.com/ but I met a guy whose flight was canceled on three separate days. Uh, last year of course, Nok is grounded along with everybody else right now, and they are probably kind of relieved to not actually have to fly planes...not their strong suit...
I love Air Asia - nice planes, awesome flight attendants, and as cheap as a bus.
It's not perfect - boarding is a desperate scramble, with the Carnival Seating scheme working not much better than it did for The Who in Ohio in 1980 - but one wishes that flying in North America could be so pleasant.
Good on the airline for caring about its passengers and making these extra rescue trips. This same airline really went all out in 2004 after the tsunami to help in Indonesia and Thailand. They have a history of caring.
A friend of mine is among the stranded. He is having a hard time deciding what beer to drink for 15 cents a piece, and which of the thai hookers are actually women.
I feel bad for him, and wish him a safe and speedy return to our proud, free and god-fearing land of economic depression, over-priced genetically-modified foodstuffs, litigiously aggressive capitalists, war-hungry, celebrity and self-obsessed obese, walmart-employee-trampling crazed consumers who drive gas-guzzling SUV's to houses that will or have already been foreclosed on, and who will die under a system that believes you don't deserve medical attention unless you can afford it.
This is truly first-world living at it's finest.
Hi:
I was wondering if anyone in this forum was aware if AirAsia have resumed normalcy in their domestic flights between Bangkok and Phuket.
Its not very clear from their website.