trotbot

The x ray machines have been installed in the baggage area, so bags will be x rayed before going on the belt for collection.  They are pretty much ready to be used.

The work in the Green Channel is just routine maintenance.  There is already a small x ray machine there anyway.

My recollection of the tuna sandwiches in J is they were only half filled, the side face down was pretty much empty.

It's straying a little, but the Thai lounge in Manila is truly awlful. I haven't see the rats for a while, though, so things are looking up. TG HK is ok, but tends to be too warm (not that it is TG's fault). TG SG is as boring as it comes, and TG MY is no better.

The Thai First lounge is good, Dom Perignon '04 and some decent food. It's one of the few decent perks of a TG Platinum card

Duty Free shops are encouraged to make sure that the buyer is aware of the duty free limits and transit rules for their journey otherwise they get lots of complaints from people who get caught. Some DF operators now will refuse to sell over the limit as company policy.

DF is a complete misnomer anyway, it is domestic retail minus 20%-40% typically. They don't pay duty but they never sell at a price that equals domestic - minus duty burden. That is why wine at Thai DF is more expensive that UK retail, for high end wine it is often twice the cost and has not been stored properly.

Marlboro and L&M are not sold at DF in Thailand because of a long standing dispute on treatment of domestic imports, I think the issue went all the way to the World Trade Organisation, and Thailand lost.

Thanks for the clarification, This was also my understanding.

I can understand that DF is advising people on the allowed amount but if they insist they should sell it as it is the risk of the costumer.

I agree they should sell it, but the problem is they are dealing with the lowest common denominator, some of whom will always try it on regardless of what they were told. Unless they can get the customer to sign a waiver that they have been told the risk and then store it in an easy-to-find system, it is just easier not to bother.

I have been through the Red Channel with anything between 4 - 12 bottles. They tell you to throw it away, but eventually will accept the customs duty and VAT, and provide a receipt. The problem is there is no legal way to pay the excise duty so you are still at risk from the Excise Inspectors wandering around after customs clearance. I have stopped doing it because the risk of losing my nice wine is too high, and I can't be bothered to do it for cheaper wine.

Duty Free shops are encouraged to make sure that the buyer is aware of the duty free limits and transit rules for their journey otherwise they get lots of complaints from people who get caught. Some DF operators now will refuse to sell over the limit as company policy.

DF is a complete misnomer anyway, it is domestic retail minus 20%-40% typically. They don't pay duty but they never sell at a price that equals domestic - minus duty burden. That is why wine at Thai DF is more expensive that UK retail, for high end wine it is often twice the cost and has not been stored properly.

Marlboro and L&M are not sold at DF in Thailand because of a long standing dispute on treatment of domestic imports, I think the issue went all the way to the World Trade Organisation, and Thailand lost.

As has been mentioned, they are Excise, and they are looking for alcohol and tobacco. In the past, I have gone through the Red Channel with expensive wine and declared it. Customs encourage you to throw it away and go to the Green Channel, but will accept customs duty and VAT if you insist. You get a receipt with your name and passport number, but they cannot collect excise duty because it is illegal to import commercial quantities (i.e. over one litre) unless you are a registered Excise Tax payer.

The situation is utterly ridiculous, and I have stopped doing this because it you do get stopped by Excise, you will have the goods confiscated and you may be fined, even though you paid (some) taxes.

What I don't understand is why (as far as I know) I've never seen Thai wine on the shelves of shops?

Is it not being produced? Is it not possible to produce a reasonable quality of wine in Thailand? Is the sale of Thai wine subject to the same tax?

The same with coffee and tea. The local stores only seem to sell imported products.

As for cigarettes.... its not even worth the argument! Some believe that they should just be banned or make them so expensive no-one can afford them - others think that the tax charged should be high enough to pay for the related medical costs. There seems to be no 'meeting of minds' on the subject.

BUT surely its more important to work out how we can prevent kids starting smoking in the first place?

Thai wine is on the shelves at Tops and Villa. It used to be reasonable value and I bought it to encourage the development of the industry. Now the prices are up 50%+ and the quality has reduced. Not interested anymore, sadly.

With import taxes dropping on imports from ASEAN automobiles by 2015 (SOURCE) the average consumer won't notice the government taking advantage of the AEC (free trade) benefits. The disappearing additional cost in the form of an import tariff will be replaced in the form of an excise tax. Prices should stay the same as the benefit to the free trade agreement is taken from the Thai consumer and given to the government.

This is very true,

An excise tax in an economic terms is an inland tax ie a tax on locally produced goods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise Thailand have used this terminology as an additional import duty. This means you pay Customs duty, excise duty and vat on some imported goods. When they have free trade aggreements like with Australia and Asean in 2015 then the only duty that is reduced is the Customs duty. Like earlier stated negative revenue loss

AEC is overhyped nonsense. Customs duty on almost all ASEAN origin products is zero already. and the rules of qualification will still apply in 2015/6. The tax burden will not change.

Cant you guys read, beer is already maxed out and needs a law change to increase tax. Read the frikin words.

Cigerettes is a mere 2% increase. it will stop nothing.

Thailand's excise calculations are wierd and misleading. Cigarettes have gone up by about 10%.

Last time that there was a big hike in the price of cigarettes, I noted that some of the people round here changed to buying the 5 baht tobacco and smoking unfiltered roll-ups. I'm sure that this cheap tobacco has a lot mire of the nasties and combined with no filter and the thick papers, I'm sure that their health is improving

The quoted excise tax rate is notional, based on a percentage of the selling price. In practice, it goes into a formula, so a quoted rate of 80% is calculated as 80%/(1-80%), which is the same as 0.8/0.2, so it is 400%. An 85% rate would be 566% and a 90% rate would be 900% (and a 99% rate would be 9,900%). The calculations for alcohol are worse, because of interior tax as well, but the notional rates are a lot lower. Cigarettes are also subject to health tax, TV tax, provincial tax (outside Bangkok) and VAT.

RH.

NO, you cannot declare and pay at the airport, period!

In order to be able to bring in quantities over the duty-free allowance you need an import licence, I don't know the process but I strongly suspect that for a personal quantity of cigars you really don't want to go there, sorry.

You need an import license for a commerical import. Despite the signs, you can go to the red channel and pay duty on imports for personal use, I've done it.

Import taxes for alcoholic beverages is 60%. To calculate the import duty first calculate the (what I call) Custom Value (CV). This is the value of goods + cost of shipping, eventually concerted to THB. The Custom tax is the CV * % duty.What you finally will have to pay is the CV +custom tax) * VAT + custom tax.

Example: you import 8 bottles of Gin, each $10. The freight charges (shipping) are $100.

CV= (8 * $10) + 100 = $180.

Assume 30THB/$ the CV in bath is 5.400.

Custom tax 60% : 3.240.

Now VAT: ( 5.400 + 3.240 * 7% is 605

Total to pay: 3.240 + 605

I'm Not a specialist but that is how I understand how it works.

Were to find custom rates:

http://internet1.cus...system/hssystem

There is also a sizable excise tax and munipical tax which is typically over 100% (depending on the type of alcohol), and is charged on the CIF plus customs duty

The US Amazon site acutally include Thai import taxes in the shipping costs. If the assessed amount is higher, Amazon pay, if it is lower, you get a refund to your credit card. Other Amazon sites sadly don't do this, and so it is a lottery when it arrives in Thailand. 70% of my UK DVDs get through without assessment, I have to pay 30% duty and 7% VAT (which is correct) on those that are stopped, but often on a lower value that I paid (go figure!).

Excise tax mainly, it makes an expensive vehicle even more costly. MB imports a lot of parts from Stuttgart, GM have a much bigger proportion locally sourced, which is cheaper.

To take advantage of a Free Trade Agreement (Thailand has agreements with ASEAN, Australia, NZ, India, and as part of ASEAN, with China, India, Japan, S Korea and Australia / NZ) the item would need to be on the inclusion list for that agreement, and you would need to get a Certificate of Origin from the supplier. Suppliers are typically unwilling to do that for small consignments for occasional customers.

As noted above, you would still need to pay the VAT, and not all duty rates are reduced to zero. The Thai Customs website has a tariff database that you can select the FTA rate for different countries.

With the greatest possible respect, there are some incorrect answers on this thread. - there is zero chance of taking a bottle not in a security bag through security- most airports do not allow transit passengers to take a bottle bought at origin to the connecting flight. I had a bottle taken off be in Frankfurt- the error was in HK, retailers are supposed to ask if the next flight is your final destination, and to warn you you might lose it if you are transiting. Complain to them, not Thai officials who are doing their jobs- it was not Customs who took it from you, it was security. Customs and Immigration do have nametags in English. Customs do not take alcohol of transit passengers, and on connecting flights to Chiang Mai, you clear Customs there, not in Bangkok- he may have been rude eventually, but you acknowledge he was polite, and so in your disappointment, is there a chance you were rude first? You seem to be very sure of your rights in your post, but you are mistaken on the principle of carrying it through transit. THis may have come across to the Inspector as being rude, at which point he wanted nothing further to do with you.In any event, there is absolutely zero point complaining in Thailand, especially to the wrong people.

The majority of voters fly economy, and Thai economy give better quality alcohol and decent seats on the way to a great holiday, so the voters are happy. They are not the 5th best in absolute terms, but they are not as bad as many posters suggest. The food and TV choice has got a lot better, and all long hauls have decent business entertainment, which an increasing number of medium and short hauls having similar facilities

<br /><font color="#0000FF">"Im a gold member royal orchid frequent flyer with Thai airways- and my  conclusion is Thai airways sucks big time, especially compared to other  regional airlines (Singapore, Cathay, Emirates). <br /><br />The planes are mostly old with <b>no in flight entertainment systems</b> even in business class and small cramped seats."</font><br /><br />I agree 100% with you re business class - try the Delhi route, the planes are old old 747s with seats out of the 70s. The UK route is marginally better. The manila route sucks. Thai still has a long way to go if it wants to be as good as it thinks it is.<br /><br />I like the older hostesses though.<br />

Its a straight competition question. The newest long haul have to go on Euro and Aus routes, as the competition is BA, LH, SQ, AF etc. India and Manila, not so much competition on direct flights. The morning flight to Manila is usually a 777 with new seats, the afternoon flight is occasionally the dreaded A300 with chemical toilets, but more often an A330 with personal screens in buiness but no interactive choice of what to watch

<br />I expect you will get several replies from people who got stung and who didn't.   I will tell you a real life example which happened to me over the last 6 weeks or so.   <br /><br />Ordered 12 boxes of Loreal Hair Color off Ebay for the wife (a particular brand of Loreal you can't get in Thailand).   Got a real good price and even with international shipping I was still getting it at about the same price as if I walked into a Walmart in the States and bought it, which would have been approx $8 per box.   But excluding shipping cost, the basic product cost for 12 boxes was around $48.   The Ebay seller put on the customs slip each box was worth $1, for a total of $12.    Thai Customs ignored this customs value, place a value of 3000 baht (approx 100USD) on the shipment and then charged a 30% import duty plus 7% VAT plus another small fee.  Anyway, this customs charge added up to 1192 baht or about 39.7% of the 3000 baht value they placed on the shipment.  I had to go to the local post office to pay this and pick up the box.  Customs included a note with the shipping documents that said cosmetics/beauty products, vitamins, and a few other things are not suppose to be shipped into Thailand without prior approval from customs; if shipped they could be confiscated.  However,  they didn't confiscate this shipment.   The Thai wife even called the Customs Dept number on the slip and they said you can ship small quantities of what would be consider a month's worth of personal use....now who would be doing that considering the shipping costs unless you order a larger quantity.<br /><br />Anyway, a few weeks later I ordered 3 jumbo bottles of some brand name multivitamins off Ebay for about $33 which happens to be around 1000 baht.  Same vitamins we had been taking for years...and as most of you know vitamins in Thailand are way over priced and the selection is much smaller....Thai's are still more into Chinese herbs and many don't take vitamins.   Anyway, the vitamins arrived with the customs slip clearly identifying them as vitamins, a value of $33 (approx 1000 baht), and I only had to pay the motorcyle postman 7 (seven) baht....so, I'm assuming this was a post office delivery charge or probably a custom charge where the shipment had been valued at 100 baht, no import duty applied, but the  7% VAT was applied.   So, much for the customs warning about shipping vitamins.<br /><br />"When" customs hits you with a customs charge I've read in other posts and from my personal experience as described above it seems the catch-all import duty of 30% plus the 7% VAT is applied...and Thai customs may accept the declared value or apply their own value.  But I have also read posts where people have ordered something like a laptop, paid an expected customs charge to the seller/shipper, and then it was received with no additional customs charges.    All I can say is what I have personally experienced.   Good luck.<br />

On the L'Oreal stuff, Customs did you a favour, as the real (as opposed to the made up rate) is typically 30% and it does need an import license. Cosmetic importers need to register their products and disclose ingredients. If this has not been done, the product cannot legally be imported, and it is for the importer to prove they have a license, not for Customs to search through the records of other Govt agencies to check.

As a general rule, courier = high charges and a pain for personal shipments as they can be held hostage by Customs. Post = much smaller chance of getting legged over. I recently ordered a big shipment from Amazon that came in 5 packages, only one was stopped at the Post Office by Customs, and the duty rate (30%) was correctly applied to DVDs, but the value assessed was lower than that stated on the shipping docs.

If it is posted, and properly identifed in the shipping docs on the outside of the packaging as a lap top under HS Tariff Code 8471 (0% duty rate) then you should only pay the 7% VAT on the cost plus freight and insurance.

<br />Why do people feel it necessary to criticize the complaints this writer has with Thai Airways?  For the longest time, I never understood why Thai Airways held such high rankings amongst international airlines.  The points he makes are valid.  Living in the USA, I always am happy to fly on Asian carriers because they do have much more attractive attendants in the aisles, makes the flight that much more enjoyable.  Traveling on older aircraft is a strong negative, especially when the competitors have a younger fleet at more competitive fares.  Finally, one would expect the home based airline not to have to have buses take the passengers to the terminal after a long flight.<br /><br />I agree with the writer on his points, with the competition the way it is, it is a simple and valid question, Why is Thai Airways such a bad airline?<br />

Never understand why people complain about the bus at Swampy. It is so much better than getting off at C10, or even C4. The only sensible walks are from D, and that is never on Thai. I guess it helps that I get on the first bus, but even so, it has to be easier?

Most IT kit is 0% customs duty now, but you will need to classify and value each item seperately. In theory, if you genuinely paid 10k then you should only pay 7% VAT on the price, plus freight and insurance. In practice, Customs do try to shake down private importers. Customs are used to people waving invoices and evidence of payment around, and they often suspect that a second invoice for the balance is not being disclosed. Therefore it would help to have additional evidence such as the advert you responded to, or evidence of a general market price for the items.

You will not get it in on your or anyone elses Visa or Work Permit as household items.

The big difference is having a broker in Thailand that can sort things out properly. For one off transactions a lot of big brokers are not really interested, they make money on high volume clients, so it costs more to deal with an individual. The US shipper may have a relationship with a Thai customs agent. If not, I suggest you send a request for quote to a number of companies and specify your understanding that it is duty free and that you do not expect significant costs over and above the 7% VAT. There will always be some

There are a number of possible reliefs that exist for professional equipment, but as it is duty free they are not worthwhile.

Thai has some issues with how much it can invest, so it is always behind best in class airlines for modernisation. The popular regional flights (HK, SG, Shanghai) use A330s or 777, which typically are the new business class seats. The shorter, less popular flights are on the old A330s or even the really old A300s (which still have chemical toilets and the worst leg room of any plane outside of the US).

The Thai crews have got a lot better recently in business, and they are without exception friendly and competent. If you want eye candy, fly on SQ.

You are looking at the bound rate, which is the highest that can be charged (but almost never is in practice). Various reductions have taken place, so select the general rate from the drop down menu and it is 30%

I do about 80-150,000 miles a year, all in business, 70% on Thai.

got my shiny Platinum Card, although it is more purple than platinum. Virtutualy no additional benefits, can use the first class lounge, extra 10kgs, miles don't expire. It's invitation only, no criteria are published, but it is clear that economy plebs are not in the running