Thai Airways Baggage Delays at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Days of intense rain have flooded parts of Bangkok and central Thailand. And the knock-on effects are now reaching travelers here at the main international airport in the city while the government has enacted new measures. And there’s pushback online against influencer content amidst all the chaos.

Since Saturday, Thai Airways passengers at Suvarnabhumi have been dealing with long waits as departing flights face delays and arriving passengers have waited five or six hours at baggage claim. The cause is a knock-on effect of the flooding as many of the ground handling staff who work for Thai Airways simply couldn’t get to work through the flooded roads.

And at the same time, some of the airline’s baggage carts broke down. This issue is isolated to Thai Airways and other airlines have not reported any significant incidents.

The airport says it’s working with Thai Airways to bring in more ground staff, repair the carts, and supply replacement equipment, and it’s now showing baggage status on the screens in the arrivals hall with regular announcements at the carousels.

But even with the improvements, if you’re flying in with Thai Airways, you may still face delays. So, be prepared.

And if your luggage doesn’t turn up, don’t leave the airport without first filing a missing baggage claim with the Thai Airways desk. That report is what the airline uses to trace your bag and send it on to your hotel. And it’s much harder to sort out once you’ve left.

Bangkok Airport Travel Advice and Holiday Changes

The airport has also provided new guidance for departures and advises passengers to arrive at least three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic one.

And when you’re traveling to the airport, it’s best to go with the airport rail link if possible and avoid any routes that travel overland through the Lat Krabang neighborhood as you may experience flooded roads and delays. But if you are taking a car, make sure to use motorway 7 or the expressway as you won’t experience flooding on these particular routes.

Several airlines are also letting you change your plans if necessary. Thai Airways is waiving the change fee for one date change on flights out of Suvarnabhumi between September 26th and 29th, but the new flight has to be completed by the 29th as well.

Now, once you actually arrive in the city this week, it may feel a little bit different. The cabinet has declared Monday and Tuesday, September 28th and 29th, as official government holidays in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan and city-run schools are closed on Monday alongside many international schools. Expect government offices to be closed on both days. So if you’re planning to go to immigration, you want to check if the specific office is open in advance.

But the holidays mean that traffic should be lighter than usual and tolls have also been waived on all eight of the city’s expressways, plus motorway 7, motorway 9, and the Don Muang Tollway, which will be free to use until midnight on Tuesday.

And if you run into trouble with a missed flight or hotel stay problems and you need to extend or you’re simply stuck, the Tourism Authority of Thailand hotline is 1672 and they’re working with hotels to assist travelers who have been affected by the flooding. And for anything urgent, the tourist police number is 1155.

Bangkok Rain Forecast and Coastal Travel Risks

So, if you’re planning to travel in the coming days, you shouldn’t encounter any significant issues once you’re actually on the ground, so long as you’re staying in that city center area. We’ve had downpours on and off all day, and we haven’t really seen the sun in about five days now.

But the latest advisory by the Thai meteorological department is cautiously optimistic for Bangkok.

Rain over the capital and the surrounding provinces is expected to ease into the week, but the same can’t be said for the rest of the country, which is expected to see heavy to very heavy rain throughout many different regions with risks of flash floods and landslides. So, exercise caution, especially if you’re traveling in remote areas or plan to use ferry services.

Waves of two to three meters are forecast in the upper Gulf of Thailand and the upper Andaman Sea, which can be even higher during thunderstorms. Heed any red flag warnings at beaches as strong undercurrents are common, which unfortunately leads to drownings every year.

And remember, this is the heaviest part of the rainy season. It lasts through to the end of October. So, if you’re planning any travel at this time, you need to be prepared for significant rain.

Jet Ski Footage Sparks Floodwater Backlash

A video online showed someone riding a jet ski through the flood water in New Pete Road and it has lit up a storm of controversy. The Facebook user who first posted the footage said they assumed the rider had come to help residents, but then noticed a camera crew and concluded they were there to film content instead. And this is part of a wider trend of content creators and influencers performing stunts in flood-affected areas for views.

For anybody considering jumping on that bandwagon, there are two things you’re going to want to consider. First, the water is not clean. The flooding has been caused by overflowing drains and sewers, and the water is contaminated with a serious risk of infection or illness. We’re talking sewage and potentially toxic materials.

Leptospirosis in particular is a real risk, especially for anyone who may have scratches or cuts on exposed skin. If you’ve been exposed to dirty water, early signs include high fever, severe headache, muscle aches, especially in the calves, red eyes, and chills. And lack of treatment can lead to severe complications.

There’s also the risk of live electrical lines, and reports suggest that one individual may have been electrocuted while video of live wires has circulated widely online. Manhole covers may also shift out of place that you can’t see under the surface of the water.

And then there’s a second moral or ethical question as riding around on a jet ski in a flood-affected area where people are facing the total upheaval of their lives isn’t the most tactful thing to do. And it’s part of a broader trend that I’ve noticed on social media of people essentially visiting the disaster-affected areas in order to cosplay catastrophe content.

Many creators and news organizations are essentially just circling the same disaster-affected zones and that makes it appear as if they’ve stepped out of their condo or their house straight into a massive flood. And that’s simply not the case. The vast majority of the city center is dry.

Flood Rescue and Community Help in Lat Krabang

The flooding is concentrated in very specific areas, especially in the east of the city around Suvarnabhumi, the main international airport. So when you’re viewing content online or the news, just keep that in mind as it’s unlikely that the flooding will actually impact your travel plans.

This includes areas like Rom Klao, which is a large public housing estate in Lat Krabang with around 30,000 residents.

On Sunday, rescue teams from Poh Teck Tung Foundation were moving people out through neck-high water, and city hall said around 20,000 people remain stranded with food and drinking water running short.

A lot of ordinary people have got out to help through organizations like Poh Teck Tung Foundation or Bangkok Community Help in Khlong Toei.