Huge queues at THAI counter at Bangkok airport

[webfact]

Sanook Thai caption: Queues right up to the doors

 

Sanook reported that queues at the THAI check-in at Suvarnabhumi  were so serious that even getting to the airport three hours ahead of time might not be enough. 

 

They had a "viral" video that showed the full extent of the misery facing outbound travellers as the line stretched all the way around the airport to the main doors. 

 

It was posted on Facebook by Fah Walaiphan a CEO.

 

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She posted that there were just not enough staff present and the situation was serious despite arriving two and a half hours ahead of her flight.

 

Staff said there were 1,000 people waiting. 

 

Fah advised arriving five hours ahead of time.

 

She said she had a migraine for hours due to the stress even though she eventually managed to board her flight. 

 

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[PJ71]

When was this? is this for domestic or intl travel?

[actonion]

TAT said  thousands were supposed to be arriving,      not leaving 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

When was this? is this for domestic or intl travel?

I would suspect International. The video is the International terminal.

[Shuya]

Ah yes.... smooth as silk

[ThailandRyan]

5 hours ahead recommended, what a farce. Call in more workers or get the CEO and upper muckey mucks to man a counter....

[StayinThailand2much]

This is bad news. Flying out in September. I don't care about THAI, as, due to very bad experience, I won't ever fly with them again, but, I guess, I'll bite the bullet and prepare on spending half a day at the airport, one way or another. Wondering how this even works, do they open check-in 5 or 6 hours before a flight now?

[bkk6060]

Should have booked business class 5 minutes and done.

[Excel]

43 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I would suspect International. The video is the International terminal.

But maybe someone shouted buy one upgrade get one free and all the Thais stampeded ????

[The Fugitive]

4 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

This is bad news. Flying out in September. I don't care about THAI, as, due to very bad experience, I won't ever fly with them again, but, I guess, I'll bite the bullet and prepare on spending half a day at the airport, one way or another. Wondering how this even works, do they open check-in 5 or 6 hours before a flight now?

Although we only flew internally on VietJet early May, check-in via web/APP didn't work and when attempting to check-in at the totems a member of staff ordered us to go to the main check-in desk (even though we only had hand luggage). If that was normal and still persists..............

[ChaiyaTH]

Same issue in Amsterdam, people have to wait like 4+ hours to checkin, rows starting outside, now forced to only have 1 piece of luggage as everyone wants hand luggage costing much more time for security screening procedures too. The entire reason in general being shortage of workers they laid off before covid + paying bad.

 

Will contribute together with higher energy cost to very little tourism recovery, I suspect. Unless Chinese all go with mass tours again, I don't miss them.

 

People might think covid is over but all the ripple effects just start to take place now, and long from over. Personally hope TH focuses on ganja hemp products and more + only '10-15 million' tourists a year forever. Way better, very few liked it during the outmost peaks in 2015-2016 etc with hitting like '40 million'. 

Even the numbers might be arrivals in reality, whatever the real number is, it was too much at the peak years.

Edited June 4, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[StayinThailand2much]

13 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Although we only flew internally on VietJet early May, check-in via web/APP didn't work and when attempting to check-in at the totems a member of staff ordered us to go to the main check-in desk (even though we only had hand luggage). If that was normal and still persists..............

So, how long were the queues then? And I presume, for your domestic flight, they didn't even need to ask passengers to show their apps and paper certificates for vaccination proof. I figure, with the same number of staff, it doubles the time at the counter, so 4 hours sounds realistic.

 

On the bright side, does anyone know, whether there is an AirAsia office at Suvarnabhumi?

I could use the extra time to quiz them about what happened to one of my cancelled flights that never got refunded in any way.

Edited June 4, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[daveAustin]

Could believe it. Was pretty busy couple months ago even… don’t take much to push Swampy over the edge. But yes go Business to avoid that misery. ????

[ezzra]

Is there anything that works right in this country anymore? everything seems to be either too hard, too slow, not working too many changes or no information...

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

When was this? is this for domestic or intl travel?

03 มิ.ย. 65 (22:35 น.)

 

Check in aisle H/J is Thai Airways international.

 

Great to see they're getting full pax loads at last.

[ChaiyaTH]

Actually to add on, I doubt Thailand even has enough staff, if it did manage to get back 10 million + tourists out of nowhere. Starts at airports but the problem is in almost every industry and staying for years.

 

People need to make more babies, ASAP, and stop the woke stuff with fakeness on over population, there is shortages upcoming next. Otherwise it will be transhuman robots ruling over us with the elite.

 

My new bar will do free barfines if you intend to make a baby.

Edited June 4, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[NanLaew]

4 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Is there anything that works right in this country anymore? everything seems to be either too hard, too slow, not working too many changes or no information...

This forum for the bellyachers seems to running like clockwork.

[NanLaew]

12 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

On the bright side, does anyone know, whether there is an AirAsia office at Suvarnabhumi?

They didn't have an office as such when they flew from BKK and doubt if they have one at DMK. I think all their customer service interaction is done online, via app, etc..

[herfiehandbag]

7 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Is there anything that works right in this country anymore? everything seems to be either too hard, too slow, not working too many changes or no information...

It is the inevitable consequence of 8 years of restoring happiness to the nation.

[StayinThailand2much]

16 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Is there anything that works right in this country anymore? everything seems to be either too hard, too slow, not working too many changes or no information...

Well, they advertise it as "Amazing Thailand", don't they? (As in: "It's amazing how many people the guy killed with only this ladies’ purse gun…" ????

Edited June 4, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[The Fugitive]

6 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

So, how long were the queues then? And I presume, for your domestic flight, they didn't even need to ask passengers to show their apps and paper certificates for vaccination proof. I figure, with the same personnel, it doubles time at the counter, so 4 hours sounds realistic.

 

 

The queues were longer than pre-Covid, that was very evident. You're correct, nothing asked re; vaccinations. Another thing that was different to pre-Covid days was that they weighed our carry on bags (all together, there were 4 of us on the booking). We were 4kg over the 4 X 7kg and Mrs had to pay 1,100 baht. Security at X-Ray pulled out a mobile 'phone power bank and queried it's size? My neice now has no power bank!   

[NanLaew]

5 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Actually to add on, I doubt Thailand even has enough staff, if it did manage to get back 10 million + tourists out of nowhere. Starts at airports but the problem is in almost every industry and staying for years.

It's a global affliction. The nightmares that began at Manchester (MAN) during the Easter break have simply multiplied ten-fold a couple of months further on. Airlines are canceling flights, three-hour check-in, baggage isn't being loaded, there's a shortage of staff across the board.

[herfiehandbag]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

03 มิ.ย. 65 (22:35 น.)

 

Check in aisle H/J is Thai Airways international.

 

Great to see they're getting full pax loads at last.

Indeed, who knows, they may have to start ringing round to see if they can buy back all the seats they have sold off!

 

Unless that was the queue for the doughnuts?

[StayinThailand2much]

20 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

Security at X-Ray pulled out a mobile 'phone power bank and queried it's size? My neice now has no power bank!   

Damn, I was planning to take a few for my hiking holidays in Oz and NZ (where there are no sockets). Guess, instead of relying on my phone, I'll have to buy a couple old-school maps there. - Welcome to the early 1990s...

 

Power banks were no issue before the pandemic. Why now?

Edited June 4, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Excel]

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Damn, I was planning to take a few for my hiking holidays in Oz and NZ (where there are no plugs). Guess, instead on using my phone, I'll have to buy a couple old-school maps there...

Just buy a Solar charger

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, Excel said:

Just buy a Solar charger

Better yet a solar back pack. I use one here when we head out on hikes.

[NanLaew]

7 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Damn, I was planning to take a few for my hiking holidays in Oz and NZ (where there are no sockets). Guess, instead of relying on my phone, I'll have to buy a couple old-school maps there. - Welcome to the early 1990s...

 

Power banks were no issue in 2019. Why now?

Due to the lack of recent, frequent travel and familiarity with the rules, maybe a combination of both passenger and staff being unfamiliar with the limitations on battery size? I'm pretty sure that airline websites, the check-in and security desks at airports have this information posted somewhere.

[The Fugitive]

17 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Damn, I was planning to take a few for my hiking holidays in Oz and NZ (where there are no sockets). Guess, instead of relying on my phone, I'll have to buy a couple old-school maps there. - Welcome to the early 1990s...

 

Power banks were no issue before the pandemic. Why now?

Found this, https://www.coolblue.be/en/advice/which-power-bank-can-you-take-on-the-plane.html

[StayinThailand2much]

1 minute ago, The Fugitive said:

Found this, https://www.coolblue.be/en/advice/which-power-bank-can-you-take-on-the-plane.html

That's good. But has security check staff at Suvarnabhumi read the article, too? Also, how to know how many I can take with me? Just one, or is two or three still okay?

[The Fugitive]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

That's good. But has security check staff at Suvarnabhumi read the article, too? Also, how to know how many I can take with me? Just one, or is two or three still okay?

The guy's saying check with your airline in advance. As you say though, will security be in agreement? Reading about my home airport (Ringway, Manchester U.K.) it's prohibited items in outgoing passenger's hand luggage that's causing most problems.