Re: "THAI 'sorry' as pilots snag 1st-class seats", (BP, Oct 20).
The apology offered by Thai Airways International president Sumeth Damrongchaitham, for the behaviour of THAI's two pilots, who refused to take off unless two of the airline's first-class passengers were ejected from their seats for the company's off-duty pilots, is not enough.
THAI's president, together with the two renegade pilots of flight TG971 from Zurich to Bangkok, should be shown the exit door immediately.
No international airline would accept the two pilots anyway, after this incident. These people should be made to pay for the damage done by their inefficiency and misbehaviour that caused unnecessary flight delays.
As the old saying goes: "Treat your customers like family." The THAI president and the two pilots have no place in the airline, if the company is to compete in the ever-tougher international air travel industry.
Chavalit Wannawijitr
AirHelp compensates
Re: "THAI 'sorry' as pilots snag 1st-class seats", (BP, Oct 20).
Similar to the poor couple forced to give up their first class seats, the two of us were booked on the same flight TG971 from Zurich to Bangkok, but on June 11, 2016.
The flight was cancelled and we arrived one day late. Upon contacting Thai Airways, we were told in very clear terms that there is no compensation. Case closed.
But at the start of Sept 2018 we came across www.airhelp.com.
We submitted our case to them, and two days ago I received 900 euro (34,000 baht). AirHelp deducted 300 euro for their services so I believe Thai Airways still owes us this amount. They also apparently owe everyone who was booked on that flight 600 euro.
Now, if Thai Airways was a class act, they would look at the passenger list of that flight and call everybody to offer them their rightful compensation.
The same probably applies for many other delayed or cancelled Thai Airways flights. Some may argue that 25% of the compensation is a lot, but if we did not have AirHelp, we would have been left with zero.
So let everybody out there know this website exists. If you have encountered a delay or flight cancellation, submit relevant details and they will let you know whether you're entitled to compensation or not. For now, I'm still waiting for Thai Airways to pay the missing 300 euro.
Pitak Chirachat
Airline's bad attitude
Re: "THAI 'sorry' as pilots snag 1st-class seats", (BP, Oct 20).
I can hardly believe this happened. It defies common sense and all aviation rules. However, I think this represents THAI's employees' attitudes, especially their flight crews'. This kind of attitude and behaviour causes the national flag carrier to lose popularity.
RH Suga
Well enough alone
"To coup or not to coup, that is the question".
According to my Thai friends both within and outside the country, everything seems well enough to be left as-is. There will always be malcontents. They exist in every country in the world.
No Thai has yet disappeared to be dismembered after entering a Thai embassy or consulate in another country. Thais have always been followers, never leaders. Many countries like Singapore and Japan adopted their democracies based on, or established by either their colonial masters or occupation troops.
David James Wong
Disparity in punishment
Re: "Two foreign graffitists arrested", (BP, Oct 20).
According to the report, two tourists face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million baht or both, if found guilty.
On Oct 19, the BP reported that the former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry has been sent to prison for 10 months for filing false asset declarations. This is the case in which nearly 20 million baht in cash was found at his home -- the source of which one can draw their own conclusions.
Whilst I despise the hooligans who deface property for their own conceit, surely there is inequality and a disparity in the punishment for those caught doing so?
Martin R
Racist tendencies
Re: "Two foreign graffitists arrested", (BP, Oct 20).
Chang Puak magazine, which sells maps of Chiang Mai's extensive graffiti, has this to say, "Street art has been taking the world by storm, captivating audiences and changing minds." Apparently the police have not been captivated, rather, they have captured a couple of would-be artists and are threatening them with 10 years in prison.
The Chang Puak map lists must see "vandalism" in 10 areas of Chiang Mai, including Chang Puak gate and Suan Dok gate, and for anyone who has seen these works they are quite impressive and a genuine cultural attraction for the city. Admittedly the graffiti in question lacks a certain flair, but it must be asked, what are the police doing other than selectively enforcing a law according to xenophobic and racist tendencies?
This sort of behaviour among Thai authorities never seems to end.
Michael Setter
Give the maximum
Re: "Two foreign graffitists arrested", (BP, Oct 20).
The two vandals should indeed get the maximum if convicted. It would send a clear message to others whose deeds might lead to vandalism that the penalty does indeed fit the crime, and the consequences are not worth the trouble. In other countries, the penalty is more severe for lesser infractions.
449900
Red, white and blue history
Re: "Tricolour-ing down", (PostBag, Oct 20).
Michel Muscadier in his Oct 21 letter explained the origin of the French tricolour adopted in 1789. The British flag's red, white, and blue colours go back to 1606 following the combination of the English and Scottish thrones, at first used by ships and in 1707 used on land.
Chris Boyle
Democracy won't help
Re: "Military needs to step back", (Editorial, Oct 20).
Calling the violent street demonstrations in Bangkok, prior to the 2014 coup "common in a democratic society" is too much.
The UK usually counts as a democracy, but has never faced prolonged street barricades, street assassinations, nightly murders and bomb-throwing into makeshift camps of demonstrators. But we do know the UK came perilously close to martial law intervention in 1979 when strikes paralysed the country and the dead remained unburied. You are right that the Thai coup has not resulted in domestic reconciliation. Just look at the "democratic" United States today for proof that elected governments aren't too good for that either.
Barry Kenyon
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