Surprised no one has addressed this subject so far so I will. Please note this is about Departure and Arrival procedures for PHUKET airport (with a little bit about Swampy thrown in) and lets try keep it on track for people affected by the current restrictions/regulations, etc. I also hope to clear up a few incorrect rumors that have been floating around on the Net. I'll break this into two posts as its a bit long-winded.

 

Departure:

 

Flew out to Swampy last Thursday. Having heard that there would be additional measures in place I decided to give myself an extra hour. Parked my vehicle at a place I use across the road (B100 a day) across the road and walked to the airport. there was clearly plenty of spaces in the car park though. Up the escalator to the Departures floor, in through the door and a thermal Camera was set up to monitor everyone entering the building. No queues and straight through the first security check.  With Thai Smile (other airlines may differ) you have to physically check in at their desk. I understand other airlines maybe/are restriction the size of  luggage but they had no issues with my 20l daysack (I had a smaller bag if needed to put a few bits in if I had had to check the bag. 

 

After receiving my boarding pass (window or aisle seat sir) I headed towards the Gates. Just before  the second security screening AOT had a checkpoint where people could either scan in a QR code, or in my case have a form filled in for them. This form was then handed over to someone just prior to the security checks. Through the checks and into a virtually deserted departure area. Most of the shops shut. May have been hand gelled at one or other point but can't remember at the moment.

 

Social distancing within the departure area with allowable seats marked, Didn't stop some people from ignoring them though and there was no enforcement. Despite it being a mask area some also seemed to think it was beneath them with masks below their noses. 

 

Called to board and they took a section of about ten rows at a time. Temp check at the boarding gate then onto the a/c and gelled, along with a small tube of sanitizer. two peole per row with a vacant seat between them and there were probably about 60 people on the flight anyway. No refreshments of any kind served due to the restrictions but we did get a bottle of water on arrival. We  de-barked 5 rows at a time. Gelled agai onleaving the boarding gate and again on leaving the airport.

 

One thing to note; If you are headed for Pattaya book transport in advance- the buses are NOT running and the taxis will try to gouge B2000 for the trip. I bat them down to B1600 inducing tolls.

 

To recap- this was a painless experience- I did not need to have arrived so early and breezed through all the restrictions. Its a slight delay, not a significant one. 

 

 

Arrival at Phuket:

 

Departure procedures at Swampy very similar- Thermal cam at door, physical check in and form/qr code just before security. I pretended to scan the qr code and they didn't even notice (I don't have the net up on my phone all the time) Down through the airport to the gate- again very quiet and most shops closed. Gelled before the security then down to the gate to wait for the flight, Social distancing went to pot as they crammed us all on the same bus to take us to the plane. Similar procedures on the plane again.

 

On Arrival-  de-planed again by rows, thermal cam set up then gelled and form/QR code just before baggage claim. On departure another QR code or book signed. 

 

Again to recap, I got to Swampy early but there were no delays. Internet rumors of people having to have a COVID test were just that- rumors.  A very easy process in all but this was mainly due to the lack of travellers. As/if passenger numbers increas ther could be delays, more so at Swampy with a larger volume of flights.

2 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Arrival at Phuket:

 

Departure procedures at Swampy very similar- Thermal cam at door, physical check in and form/qr code just before security. I pretended to scan the qr code and they didn't even notice (I don't have the net up on my phone all the time) Down through the airport to the gate- again very quiet and most shops closed. Gelled before the security then down to the gate to wait for the flight, Social distancing went to pot as they crammed us all on the same bus to take us to the plane. Similar procedures on the plane again.

 

On Arrival-  de-planed again by rows, thermal cam set up then gelled and form/QR code just before baggage claim. On departure another QR code or book signed. 

 

Again to recap, I got to Swampy early but there were no delays. Internet rumors of people having to have a COVID test were just that- rumors.  A very easy process in all but this was mainly due to the lack of travellers. As/if passenger numbers increas ther could be delays, more so at Swampy with a larger volume of flights.

I'm surprised that there enough flights departing that they need to use the buses. I'd have thought they'd want to avoid this.

11 hours ago, madmitch said:

I'm surprised that there enough flights departing that they need to use the buses. I'd have thought they'd want to avoid this.

I believe AOT charges the airline an additional fee to use the jet bridges. One would think they'd waive that charge in order to avoid crowding people on a bus.

 

2 hours ago, DrDave said:

I believe AOT charges the airline an additional fee to use the jet bridges. One would think they'd waive that charge in order to avoid crowding people on a bus.

 

Yep, its an additional cost. Strangely leaving Hkt and arriving Swampy it was air bridges at both ends. Leaving Swampy it was bus that end,  air bridge this end. Thainess. ????

 

All in all the whole experience was pretty painless. the only place I failed was by not checking whether the buses were running from the airport to Pattaya- should have thought that bit through beforehand.

 

We know what happens when we assume things. Already booked the next trip with lessons learned.???? 

 

 

An  update- flew up and back last week. Not much change at the Phuket end, other than more places have opened up in the Domestic Arrivals lounge. Bkk Airways lounge was open and they are now serving light refreshments on the flight. Social distancing in place on the flight up, but not on the way back.

 

Coming back from Swampy the entry to the departure gates is just a checkpoint IIRC there used to be a scanner there in the past but I may be mistaken, the only security check was at the gate. Bkk Airways lounge there is open as well.

 

As an aside be wary of booking Bkk Airlines at present. I booked two flights this week, only to have both cancelled within 15 hours. To me they seem to be running a racket courtesy of COVID- book a cheap flight ( I had Swampy return for B1990), then have it cancelled and have to book an alternative  more expensive flight. They know the refund process puts people off but I may be tinfoil hatting this. Their schedules are all over the place at the moment.