Qantas helps Aussies get out of Thailand

Qantas has put special arrangements in place to help Australians who want to leave Bangkok early after a deadly bombing.

Qantas aircraft

(AAP) Source: AAP

Qantas will help Australians who want to get out of Bangkok after a deadly bomb blast in the Thai capital.

The airline says passengers can book earlier flights home if they want to leave Bangkok after 21 people died and 123 were wounded in a bombing at a religious shrine popular with tourists.

Travellers who want to cancel future flights into the city can opt to change their destination, or get a credit on their unused tickets.

The special provisions are available for tickets issued on or before August 17, for travel to and from Bangkok between August 18 and 25.

Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes and his family are among those heading home early after a split-second decision that saved them from walking directly into the path of the bomb blast.

Barnes and his family decided at the last minute to head to a restaurant via an overhead walkway, rather than a path beside the shrine.

They were on the walkway when the blast rang out, shredding the bodies of victims on the roadway below.

Barnes has told AAP he's trying to get back to Australia as soon as possible, ahead of their original departure day on Wednesday.

"I just want to get my family home in one piece," he said on Tuesday.

The Australian government has not upgraded advice for travellers in Thailand since the blast, but continues to urge a high degree of caution.

Its Smart Traveller website says Australians should stay away from the blast site.

Virgin Australia does not fly between Bangkok and Australia.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world