45min wait at immigration is back

[irishken]

So can someone tell me what is the wait time for Thai passport holder. 

I usually use the Thai passport line with my Wife and two Kids,all Thai passports except myself.

Do you still have to wait in line or do you just go straight to the Thai immigration desk bypassing the longer lines. 

[irishken]

So can someone tell me what is the wait time for Thai passport holder. 

I usually use the Thai passport line with my Wife and two Kids,all Thai passports except myself.

Do you still have to wait in line or do you just go straight to the Thai immigration desk bypassing the longer lines. 

[Kron]

Arrived the same day. Texted the wife from the plane @ 18:11 and then again when waiting for the train @ 18:49. Can not complain.

[terry Meltham]

On 10/4/2017 at 4:14 PM, meinphuket said:

Yes, they DO deserve that, and are used to it back home !

not so when did you go through a Chinese immigration

[DipStick]

1 hour ago, terry Meltham said:

not so when did you go through a Chinese immigration

Over the eight years living in China, I have noticed that the Chinese Immigration to be very efficient. In places such as LoWu, Shekou Ferry, Guangzhou and Beijing Irports, they have "Foreigner Only lanes" and usually a breeze 

[Stocky]

We came through Suvarnabhumi on Thursday morning, there were about 8 people in the queue ahead of me. Wife went through the Thai passport autogate, no queues there, but no option for me to accompany her as there were no manned desks for Thai passports.

 

We got off nearest the West Immigration Hall but were redirected down to the East Immigration Hall, at least they're providing staff to redirect traffic and balance the numbers now. There have been many times before that I've found the one hall queuing down the ramp so have carried on to the second hall to find it empty.

Edited October 8, 2017 by Stocky

[JohnC]

I arrived back in swampy Friday of last week, plane touched down and we disembarked at 1900, I used Immigration priority lane  (over 70) was clear of immigration and collected luggage and in the pre booked taxi at 1950, home in Pattaya at 2115. 

[KhunBENQ]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

I used Immigration priority lane  (over 70)

Can not be repeated often enough.

The elderly can use priority lane.

[mstevens]

12 hours ago, Stocky said:

We got off nearest the West Immigration Hall but were redirected down to the East Immigration Hall, at least they're providing staff to redirect traffic and balance the numbers now. There have been many times before that I've found the one hall queuing down the ramp so have carried on to the second hall to find it empty.

Perhaps a silly question, but is there any way to know the status of the respective arrival halls and the queues at Immigration?  Are there any monitors or updated digital displays anywhere pointing passengers to the arrival hall with shorter queues?

[teatree]

Flew in on Friday at 11am, couldn't have spent more than 10 mins in line.  There were quite a few people waiting, but all kiosks were manned and processed each passport very quickly.  Never been through so quickly.

[merijn]

On 10/6/2017 at 5:22 PM, irishken said:

So can someone tell me what is the wait time for Thai passport holder. 

I usually use the Thai passport line with my Wife and two Kids,all Thai passports except myself.

Do you still have to wait in line or do you just go straight to the Thai immigration desk bypassing the longer lines. 

You can't do that anymore as Thai nationals have to use the Thai autogates and you can use that.

The Thai immigration desk are not (mostly) manned anymore.

[Stocky]

On 09/10/2017 at 3:29 AM, mstevens said:

Perhaps a silly question, but is there any way to know the status of the respective arrival halls and the queues at Immigration?  Are there any monitors or updated digital displays anywhere pointing passengers to the arrival hall with shorter queues?

Sadly not. It would be rather handy if there was a TV monitor at the bottom of each ramp, giving a view of the other hall, letting you quickly gauge which hall would be quicker.

[Stocky]

On 09/10/2017 at 3:29 AM, mstevens said:

Perhaps a silly question, but is there any way to know the status of the respective arrival halls and the queues at Immigration?  Are there any monitors or updated digital displays anywhere pointing passengers to the arrival hall with shorter queues?

Sadly not. It would be rather handy if there was a TV monitor at the bottom of each ramp, giving a view of the other hall, letting you quickly gauge which hall would be quicker.

[mtls2005]

There are two arriving immigration halls, with the VIP/FastTrack hall in between), east (sometimes referred to as #3 - ~ opposite gate D-6 - towards D_E_F_G) and west (sometimes referred to as #1, ~ opposite gate D-4 - towards A_B_C_D).

 

Often one hall is full because of which gates planes use, while the other is empty. They still don't redirect people in the D-hall - I see a post indicating that they may be doing this now, and you might make the short walk and find the 'other' hall just as full/more full, but it does remain an option. You can buy FastTrack cards on-line ("grey-market") for 500 THB.

 

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by mtls2005

[Nemises]

Isn’t the wait time dependant upon how many planes have just landed, how many passengers were on those planes, and how quick you were getting off your plane?

If so, how can a 45 minute wait time be “back”?

I arrived last night at 7.30pm. The immigration hall was empty and I was about 10th off my plane. My “wait” was about 3 minutes.

[mtls2005]

Directionally-challenged post improved...

 

There are two arriving immigration halls, with the VIP/FastTrack hall in between), east West (sometimes referred to as #3 - ~ opposite gate D-6 - towards D_E_F_G) and west East(sometimes referred to as #1, ~ opposite gate D-4 - towards A_B_C_D).

[LaoPo]

On 8-10-2017 at 3:48 PM, KhunBENQ said:

Can not be repeated often enough.

The elderly can use priority lane.

Thanks!

Can I use "priority lane" with my 50+ wife also, being her non-Thai ?

[KhunBENQ]

12 hours ago, LaoPo said:

Thanks!

Can I use "priority lane" with my 50+ wife also, being her non-Thai ?

I can't tell.

But with the right attitude and explaining that she is your wife they will probably not reject her.

 

[merijn]

12 hours ago, LaoPo said:

Thanks!

Can I use "priority lane" with my 50+ wife also, being her non-Thai ?

Do you mean the PREMIUM LANE immigration section which is separated from the "normal" immigration halls.

If so then it's No, Only people with a invitation are allowed to use the Premium Lane section.

But i believe there is a desk in the normal immigration hall dedicated for the elderly. (above 70 )

[Sheryl]

I find it varies greatly by time of day and according to how many flights have just gotten in.

 

Arrived about 9:15 PM this Friday (delayed flight) and lines were very short, though I ended up with what must have been the slowest IO in history, literally took him 15 minutes to stamp me in (fairly new passport so not a lot of used pages, current 1 year extension of stay and re-entry permit so nothing complex). He was like the sloths at the DMV in "Zootopia".

 

However I have found that arriving anywhere near a mealtime (11 Am - 1 PM, 4-7 PM) means really long lines and waits.

 

For sure staffing of the booths is not well organized relative to need, neither seemingly are staff meal breaks.

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, merijn said:

Do you mean the PREMIUM LANE immigration section which is separated from the "normal" immigration halls.

If so then it's No, Only people with a invitation are allowed to use the Premium Lane section.

But i believe there is a desk in the normal immigration hall dedicated for the elderly. (above 70 )

Unfortunately I didn't make a picture on my own so I have to lend.

It's called PRIORITY LANE nowadays and is separated from the normal escalator access to the immigration hall (just besides, no stairs to climb).

Also see here:

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/1856-suvarnabhumi-priority-lane-services

[Dipterocarp]

Last time I flew in to BKK there were long lines, and many unmanned immigration desks at 3:30 PM!

Even at the premium lane, at least 50 people ahead of me. I am in the Thailand Elite program, after about 10 minutes wait my escort disappeared briefly then I was ushered through the airline crew channel.

 

Never seen anything like it. If this is a what high season 2017 has in store for travelers there will be major delays.

[OJAS]

On 10/5/2017 at 12:29 PM, jimster said:

I find it hard to believe any EU airport would take long for EU citizens.

I can most certainly assure you that CDG (Paris) do (IMHO at any rate) take an excessively long time for all-comers (EU citizens or whoever), based on my last 2 trips there. And definitely no priority lanes for those with limited mobility (like myself) or over 70 like at BKK that I could see either!

 

Last time in June, I was confronted with a chaotic queue at immigration which took around 40 minutes to get through. Just what I needed after a 3-hour flight delay caused by a major thunderstorm at BKK. And, to crown it all, the bloody RER B to the city centre was up the creek!

[irishken]

On 10/22/2017 at 7:54 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Unfortunately I didn't make a picture on my own so I have to lend.

It's called PRIORITY LANE nowadays and is separated from the normal escalator access to the immigration hall (just besides, no stairs to climb).

Also see here:

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/1856-suvarnabhumi-priority-lane-services

Ill be giving this lane a go if their is long waiting times at the other desks. 

Thai wife and two small children with Thai passports with me,i can't see them turning me away. 

[KhunBENQ]

20 minutes ago, irishken said:

Ill be giving this lane a go if their is long waiting times at the other desks. 

You can watch the queues by peeking over the opal glass from the departure floor

[LaoPo]

We arrived yesterday, Wednesday October 25th around 13:50h, and many Immigration booths were open en waiting time was not more than 10 minutes; I suppose we were lucky.

 

Luggage came VERY fast and Passing Customs was also a piece of cake since there was nobody there

Bought 2 AIS 30 days cards and off we were, all in all within 45-60minutes.

Lucky I suppose.

[adammike]

On 04/10/2017 at 1:37 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

I touched down last Saturday and was through immigration in 30mins (business class) and 3 Saturdays ago I touched down and was through in 25mins (economy) ..both times I landed about 10am.

Most months I land friday around 11am and it's a 45mins to 1hr touchdown to through time duration.

Ps. Anybody taken less than 25mins from touchdown to through immigration?

Yes but I had a fast track from BFS, cost in January 850 baht.Girl met me of the plane walked me to immigration, I took the pass and said goodbye and my bag was one of the first off the plane.From touchdown to getting my bag was under 30 minutes. Walked down to the bus but the next seat was at 18:30 so took a taxi too Jomtien.its 850baht well spent.

[adammike]

7 hours ago, OJAS said:

I can most certainly assure you that CDG (Paris) do (IMHO at any rate) take an excessively long time for all-comers (EU citizens or whoever), based on my last 2 trips there. And definitely no priority lanes for those with limited mobility (like myself) or over 70 like at BKK that I could see either!

 

Last time in June, I was confronted with a chaotic queue at immigration which took around 40 minutes to get through. Just what I needed after a 3-hour flight delay caused by a major thunderstorm at BKK. And, to crown it all, the bloody RER B to the city centre was up the creek!

I use the automatic gates at Schipol to depart and arrive,don't know if my UK passport will still work after March 2019? Will probably have to get an Irish passport, thanks granny. 

[OJAS]

19 hours ago, irishken said:

Ill be giving this lane a go if their is long waiting times at the other desks. 

Thai wife and two small children with Thai passports with me,i can't see them turning me away. 

You will probably be OK. Last time I used the priority lane at BKK Departures in June, there was a farang couple with their 2 small children in front of me, and they didn't appear to experience any problems.

[Jip99]

On 10/26/2017 at 8:44 AM, Dipterocarp said:

Last time I flew in to BKK there were long lines, and many unmanned immigration desks at 3:30 PM!

Even at the premium lane, at least 50 people ahead of me. I am in the Thailand Elite program, after about 10 minutes wait my escort disappeared briefly then I was ushered through the airline crew channel.

 

Never seen anything like it. If this is a what high season 2017 has in store for travelers there will be major delays.

 

How long ago was that.