<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (geriatrix @ Nov 28 2008, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Hearing the news that BKK has been closed for about three days now, and loads of people are stranded, makes me feel bad for any non-revs stranded there.

I have "stood-by" out of BKK many times and it&#39;s usually a bit of a nightmare even when things are running normally. I&#39;m talking now about the old Don Muang airport, but I doubt the new one is much different.

It&#39;s not a lot of good relying on checking booked figures out of BKK as in common with other tropical destinations the weather plays an important factor in the overall aircraft weight limit. Also with medium pax loads, the aircraft tends to get filled up with cargo. So sorry, weight limit, no standbys today!

Even if the airport reopens today or tomorrow, the poor standbys are gonna be way way back of the queue for getting out. Sincere good luck to them.[/b]
On that note, I read we and some other airlines are now operating a limited schedule out of Utapao Airport near Pattaya, about a two-hour drive from Bangkok. Priority is for operational crew, then CX ticket holders. Non CX ticket holders can pay a small fee and fly if space is available.

Interestingly enough there has been no embargo placed on ID travellers so it might be worth giving it a go, although one may have to pay the small fee.