Thai Airways and Korat

[Anton]

Three months ago I booked online a direct fly home for next April 23, with Thai Airways. Today they notified me by e-mail a change of destination due to the virus crisis.

After the customary apologies, their e-mail ends with this line:
"For further information or any assistance, please contact THAI office nearby"

As I do need further assistance on the matter, I  immediately searched for location of their nearest office: just to find out that, for us who live in Korat, their nearest office is at Khon Kaen airport, over 200 km away and almost as far as their Don Mueang headquarters.

So: no Thai Airways office in the country's second largest city (tied with Chiang Mai). A city that 5 years ago was expected to quickly become the country's new industrial and economic hub. Yet I still remember very well the large Thai Airways office that was downtown at the Suranaree-Buarong crossing. What else to add? Time of thinking about moving elsewhere for good.

[Kev]

 I suggest go to a travel agent perhaps or get on the phone

[Tiggs]

hello kev, hows it going, hot or wot not for you, the travel agent will be looking for an earner, as for phoning, i tried that with immig once if he does get through, soooory m8 wrong department. see they have lost their president

Thai Airways loses president as it combats coronavirus crisis
Eventual successor inherits difficult reform task as loss-making carrier

Flag carrier Thai Airways International has lost its captain as it tries to weather turbulence caused by the new coronavirus.
asia.nikkei.com

[Coolkorat]

no Thai Airways office in the country's second largest city (tied with Chiang Mai). A city that 5 years ago was expected to quickly become the country's new industrial and economic hub. Yet I still remember very well the large Thai Airways office that was downtown at the Suranaree-Buarong crossing. What else to add? Time of thinking about moving elsewhere for good.

The problem is that every airline (and others) have decided to put everything online or via call centres. They then negotiate a service agreement with the cheapest call centre they can find. For anyone choosing English as their preferred contact language, this inevitably means India, Philippines or South Africa (and generally the Philippine call centre staff are better. I have had some shocking "couldn't care less" conversations with South African call centres).

I'd suggest the drastic step of jumping on a bus to Don Mueang and figuring a wasted day travelling with the certainty of a proper face-to-face conversation but with Coronavirus that seems like a bad idea (and there is the distinct possibility the office may be shut so the staff don't have to face 'dirty disease-ridden foreigners' or whatever similar wording was in that shocking tweet).

Does the Thai website give you the option of live chat? I've had success using that with companies in the past.

Most airlines are now waiving fees for changing and/or cancelling flights. Are Thai offering the same?

[Wizard]

Three months ago I booked online a direct fly home for next April 23, with Thai Airways. Today they notified me by e-mail a change of destination due to the virus crisis.

After the customary apologies, their e-mail ends with this line:
"For further information or any assistance, please contact THAI office nearby"

As I do need further assistance on the matter, I  immediately searched for location of their nearest office: just to find out that, for us who live in Korat, their nearest office is at Khon Kaen airport, over 200 km away and almost as far as their Don Mueang headquarters.

So: no Thai Airways office in the country's second largest city (tied with Chiang Mai). A city that 5 years ago was expected to quickly become the country's new industrial and economic hub. Yet I still remember very well the large Thai Airways office that was downtown at the Suranaree-Buarong crossing. What else to add? Time of thinking about moving elsewhere for good.

Anton, if you put the ticket on a credit card call them and they will issue credit. Finn Air cancelled my flight to Bangkok and I couldn't reach anybody by phone, so I called my c/c company and they immediately issued credit. My charge was 4 months ago.