TJH

Yes i flew out of international 11.55pm on thursday night & it was the worst lines I've ever seen at departure. It took me less than 5 minutes to check in at ThaiAirways desk

But the passport control lines came outside the glass door area into checkin

I waited in this line 45 minutes to get my exit stamp but then the queues for the x-ray machines were also backed up all the way back to the passport control area. It was mental...

Immigration officer's were actually stopping what they was doing an taking photographs of what was happening...

I was steadily shuffling through for another 30 minutes, but the Russians stinking of alcohol came pushing through saying 20 minutes, 20 minutes. True or not i don't know.

Some Chinese were very keen to get through also

Its a horrible feeling, thinking that you could miss your flight or job!!

I was travelling light & alone but must be horrible with children or babies.

Worst airport experience of my life

Its like 1000's of gallons of water trying to get through 1 plug hole

I have a CIP Fast track Card and was caught in the chaos at Swampy on 24th January. Even at the Fast track facility, it took me 55 minutes to get through immigration. However, I could myself lucky at not having to joint the outrageous queues I saw for people going through the normal channels. Whoever is in charge of the Thai Tourism Ministry should be challenged to take their next 5 international flights via the regular immigration lines (foreigner, not Thai queues!).

[in my experience, the queues have always been short at that hour. I've always gotten through in 15 minutes or less. But for departing flights later in the day, I've used Fast Track , which costs 1,600 baht but gets you past the Immigration formalities in about two minutes. My company pays when it's a business flight, but even when I have to pay it myself, it's worth it to avoid the agro of huge queues and possible missing a flight.

Does this service entitle you to use the Fast Track/VIP area when arriving at BKK? Q31 on website FAQ's isa bit non-committal....

Cheers

It allows you to use the Fast Track, i.e., you use the special Immigration control area for arriving passengers with Fast Track vouchers. But there's no access to any VIP lounge on arrival.

Evil

Stopped the right guy then did they not!

Are you Yoda?

Pissing myself ! Brilliant retort

Sorry, should have answered, "Myself pissing, retort brilliant"

Stopped the right guy then did they not!

Are you Yoda?

Pissing myself ! Brilliant retort

So let me get this right; "Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, chairman of the Senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer protection, argued that satellite and cable TV channels .......... warned that if the industry failed to regulate itself the state would step in and this may also lead to abuse through political censorship, as it could lead to a lack of true freedom of expression".

So the man charged with making sure human rights and liberty are protected warns the State may step in if Satellite and TV is not "regulated"?

At the moment, NO ONE can show a cleavage, let alone a semi naked body.

At the moment, NO ONE is allowed to debate "certain" issues on ANY TV Station.

At the moment, NO ONE can watch a movie without annoying "blurring" of smoking,nudity and gambling.

At the moment Thailand is MORE restrictive in Information and open dabate than it EVER HAS BEEN (according to International figures)

So please, can someone tell me.....Does the Senetor and those in power want MORE inane, mind numbing and dulling soaps that fill the current TV schedules? Are ALL forms of intelligent, probing and hard hitting programming to be banned?

Great Post!!

So let me get this right; "Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn, chairman of the Senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer protection, argued that satellite and cable TV channels .......... warned that if the industry failed to regulate itself the state would step in and this may also lead to abuse through political censorship, as it could lead to a lack of true freedom of expression".

So the man charged with making sure human rights and liberty are protected warns the State may step in if Satellite and TV is not "regulated"?

At the moment, NO ONE can show a cleavage, let alone a semi naked body.

At the moment, NO ONE is allowed to debate "certain" issues on ANY TV Station.

At the moment, NO ONE can watch a movie without annoying "blurring" of smoking,nudity and gambling.

At the moment Thailand is MORE restrictive in Information and open dabate than it EVER HAS BEEN (according to International figures)

So please, can someone tell me.....Does the Senetor and those in power want MORE inane, mind numbing and dulling soaps that fill the current TV schedules? Are ALL forms of intelligent, probing and hard hitting programming to be banned?

Hi,

Am new to Bangkok and will be wanting to get a car with driver in December (but with a view for a full time job/car hire), to ferry me around for work and to take the wife and baby around town during the week. I am prepared to pay the driver overtime at the weekend as needs be. My requirements are as follows and would greatly appreciate any advice and or contacts on how to go about this the best way:

• Only need a smallish car (Honda Civic/Honda Freed/Toyota Altis) etc
• Driver to work 5 or 5.5 days a week, speak reasonable (ish) English and know his way around Bangkok
• Would appreciate advice on overtime payment, what is expected etc
• Preferred budget of no more than 30K Baht per month for car and driver (is this the right ballpark?)
• Any pitfalls or advice on what to be aware of?

Many thanks in advance for any advice that you may have.

Cheers

Tim