Thai Airways extends travel rebookings by 12 months

Would-be travellers on Thai Airways flights will see any travel credit remain valid until the end of 2023.

The Star Alliance member has added 12 months to the original use-by date of 31 December 2022 for “original tickets for flight reservations on/after 01 Jan 2020 and on/before 14 Oct 2021” which remain "active in the Reservations system with an ‘open’ coupon status (not cancelled or refunded).”

With Thailand now largely reopen following the removal of on-arrival testing and the Thailand Pass at the end of June – although pre-departure tests are still required – passengers with outstanding tickets can rebook “without penalty or additional fare collection if booked on the same route and in the same booking class” the airline says.

You can also choose to change your routing and which class you’re flying in, although naturally an adjustment in fares will apply – in both cases, travel must be completed by 31 December 2023.

However, Thai Airways says that refunds against cancelled flights remains an ongoing process and it is  "unable to estimate the settlement time for individual refunds” from the airline or via travel agents.

“If you have applied for a ticket refund, either for a ticket issued by a travel agent, or a ticket issued via thaiairways.com, please be reminded that the refund process is ongoing under the direction of the Court-approved business rehabilitation plan.”

However, visitors could find Thailand a more expensive destination than in the past two years with the country now planning to raise hotel rates to pre-pandemic levels to support a faster recovery of the industry. 

Thailand’s tourism ministry plans to ask hotel operators to implement a dual-tariff structure under which foreign visitors may be charged rates similar to pre-pandemic days while locals may continue to enjoy discounted rates.

Hotels in tourism hotspots such as Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui continue to offer huge discounts to draw back visitors after the pandemic pushed room occupancy rates to about 30%.