Partial relief on the way for airport arrivals

By Jitraporn Senwong
The Nation

 

File Photo

 

The Cabinet on Tuesday ordered more manpower and check-in counters at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi international airports starting next month.

 

Deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said the move was in response to chronically crowded conditions at the airports as the number of tourists needing visas on arrival grows steadily.

 

Manpower will be boosted at both airports and Don Mueang will get more check-in counters, boosting the number to 16, she said. 

 

Suvarnabhumi will have more Immigration staff checking passports and issuing visas.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also ordered that problem-solving guidelines be clearly explained to all airport staff so everyone’s in accord on procedure, Traisulee said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375454

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-27

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Not before time. I flew out of Swampy two weeks ago and my flight and many others were delayed as it was taking so long to get through immigration. 6 out of 10 counters open! I am flying back at the weekend and am praying I don't see the same nightmare queues coming in, as i had on the way out, but not at all confident in that.

19 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Partial relief on the way

yes why start implementing complete solutions to a problem?

 

wheres the corruption in that?

6 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

yes why start implementing complete solutions to a problem?

 

wheres the corruption in that?

For a moment it sounded like you were referring to Heathrow...

I flew in to Swampy on Sunday morning landed at 10.50 am, by  11 .30 am I was on the platform at the  Air Port Rail link station, no problems .

Yes, they where a lot of immigration counters empty , but compared with  two months ago when I left it is a lot better, they seam to have got they bio metric finger printing worked out now. 

Next month? Why not immediately?

there was never a reason for so many unmanned immigration booths, when they can see that many arrivals are inbound and hundreds if not thousands will be queuing up .

It's the same at Tesco Lotus; long queues; poor service. Few tills open/many unmanned. I go to Big C now.

Came through on friday morning at 8am, not a person there walked straight through, a few counters manned, i came in a month ago at 2pm and spent 90 mins in a immigration line! 

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

boosting the number to 16

but forgot to mention only 8  will be  staffed!,,,,,desks  look  nice  though, especially  for the photo shoot..........cue ugly  minister

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not before time. I flew out of Swampy two weeks ago and my flight and many others were delayed as it was taking so long to get through immigration. 6 out of 10 counters open! I am flying back at the weekend and am praying I don't see the same nightmare queues coming in, as i had on the way out, but not at all confident in that.

Try that company - I will do same next week - seems they are still able to navigate you through fast lane track: https://www.limousine.in.th/fasttrack.php

When are they going to get a fast track lane at 7-11....

2 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

When are they going to get a fast track lane at 7-11....

when the four other  staff  looking at their  phones  standing next to the  tills  put  them  down

I hope at least some of the "new staff" they're promising to bring on at Swampy and DM can speak at least a bit of Indian... After all, they are the new savior market for Thailand tourism, after the Chinese market kinda "sunk".

Same thing at my favorite happy end soapy the other day...crowded with belly jutting patrons on queue !

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not before time. I flew out of Swampy two weeks ago and my flight and many others were delayed as it was taking so long to get through immigration. 6 out of 10 counters open! I am flying back at the weekend and am praying I don't see the same nightmare queues coming in, as i had on the way out, but not at all confident in that.

Arrived back at 7pm this evening and straight through.....very few flights. I was expecting chaos!

11 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not before time. I flew out of Swampy two weeks ago and my flight and many others were delayed as it was taking so long to get through immigration. 6 out of 10 counters open! I am flying back at the weekend and am praying I don't see the same nightmare queues coming in, as i had on the way out, but not at all confident in that.

I feel for you, they just have no idea on how to run an airport. Pity one of the many committees never research places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and see best practice in operation.

Speak Indian? Don't quite think that's a language. Maybe try Canadiane, Americane and Britainne?

I hope at least some of the "new staff" they're promising to bring on at Swampy and DM can speak at least a bit of Indian... After all, they are the new savior market for Thailand tourism, after the Chinese market kinda "sunk".

12 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Not before time. I flew out of Swampy two weeks ago and my flight and many others were delayed as it was taking so long to get through immigration. 6 out of 10 counters open! I am flying back at the weekend and am praying I don't see the same nightmare queues coming in, as i had on the way out, but not at all confident in that.

Give them a break, they ONLY have a population of 69 million, hard to find good help!

They already have the manpower. If they simply gave up on the inane, oppressive, and ridiculous T-30, they would have thousands of agents with time on their hands. They have the counters, they have the personnel, they have the flight schedules. All they need is competence, caring, respect for foreigners who help to support their economy, and organization. 

That’s the best news I’ve heard all day!

 

The lines at immigration coming in have been atrocious.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Cabinet on Tuesday ordered more manpower and check-in counters at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi international airports starting next month.

Something that immigration seemed to have not been able to grasp as the problem!

If the queues get any longer we will be standing there needing executive relief never mind partial relief. 

I must be missing something here. Long queues at immigration suggests large numbers, yet this is not born out by casual observation on the ground, Businesses relying on tourism are struggling. Where are they all going?

I'd welcome some stress relief

If they had just staffed those counters they already had, this problem wouldn't have been nearly as big. I've never seen them fully staffed, no matter when I've flown in or out and regardless of how busy it has been.

I suspect that Immigration officers do not like to work at the airports since there is no longer any tipping and it is a long hard day snarling at the arrivals.  Heck even those that are there avoid it!

What a bunch of moaners.

11 hours ago, mikebell said:

It's the same at Tesco Lotus; long queues; poor service. Few tills open/many unmanned. I go to Big C now.

Where we live up until a couple of years ago Tesco was the only supermarket then Makro arrived which I appreciate is a different selling concept

What a breath of fresh air greater range of fresh produce and excellent service something that Tesco does not understand.

They will not order anything for you the stock answer being “ only what is on the shelf” Makro will order anything even spare parts.

The staff are happy and friendly and perhaps no small wonder that many of the former Tesco staff are working there.

13 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Next month? Why not immediately?

there was never a reason for so many unmanned immigration booths, when they can see that many arrivals are inbound and hundreds if not thousands will be queuing up .

Ron, you of all people know that training is required for the ultimate quality professional work.

I flew into suvarnabhumi yesterday, flight arrived at 5pm, I was in my taxi by 5.25, only 1 person in front of me at immigration, never known it so empty????