Low-cost carriers Air- Asia and Jetstar Asia have announced that flights to Bangkok will resume tomorrow, but travellers in Singapore remain jittery about visiting the Thai capital.
Even though Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports reopened yesterday, Singaporeans intending to abort their yearend holidays in Bangkok are still trying to contact their airlines for cancellations or refunds - some to no avail.
"We may be able to fly there, but there's no guarantee that we can fly back, given the chaotic situation," said engineer Lim Hui Zhen, 23.
If she voluntarily cancels her flight, scheduled for next Tuesday, she will have to forfeit her AirAsia fare of $250.
This is because AirAsia is sticking to its "no refund" policy.
Instead, the airline gives customers a "credit shell", which allows the transfer of airfare to future bookings made within three months, but only if the airline had cancelled the flight.
Database administrator Desmond Chew, 32, had planned to visit Thailand via Tiger Airways, but now wants a full refund of his airfare because his "travel insurance does not cover injury caused by protesters or riots".
Singapore Airlines resumed freighter operations yesterday, but it continues to put commercial flights on hold. "We would urge patience until we ensure the airport meets our safety and security requirements," SIA said in a statement yesterday.
Despite these concerns, Ms Alicia Seah, vice-president of marketing and press relations for CTC Holidays, believes Bangkok's tourism sector will recover by Chinese New Year.
"Bangkok is still an attractive land of smiles. I'm sure Singaporeans will travel there again," she said.
Top picture: Foreign travellers on the tamac of the Suvarnabhumi international airport after
arriving in a Thai Airways Boeing 747 at the protest-hit airport in Bangkok.
