Unfair criticism of Thailand’s immigration is unacceptable although other functions at airports could be improved upon

[webfact]

 

 

 

Opinion –

By Thanaphum Charoensombatpanich

There is no doubt that the pictures of people standing in long lines at the immigration counter at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport is something that can easily be avoided but is it fair to criticize the work that the immigration staff are doing, and my answer would be a big no.

 

The long lines that have been circulating on social media outlets about inbound passengers having to wait for a long time and crowds gathered around the immigration counters and into the hallways leading to the immigration, is not a new phenomenon in Thailand and to be fair to everyone, not uncommon around the world.

 

Pictures of how crowded the Suvarnabhumi airport’s immigration counters were when nearly 80 flights landed on Sunday circulated like wildfire to a point where the Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) came out to accept that these were real pictures and not fake news.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/45591/opinion-unfair-criticism-of-thailands-immigration-is-unacceptable-although-other-functions-at-airports-could-be-improved-upon/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-11-03

 

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[soi3eddie]

There's an easy way for immigration officials to avoid criticism and that's simply to open all counters (in and out) and get the staff to process passengers quickly. Is it really beyond their ability? They know the flight schedules and when it's likely to be busy <deleted>! 

 

[Sparktrader]

Phuket took no time. All counters open no one in front of me.

 

 

[Lacrimas]

More counters and the problem is solved

[Laughing Gravy]

It is just and fair and Thailand has had issues at immigration in the airports for many years. It is time to take responsibility for criticism and not behave like a child "throwing their rattle out of a pram".

 

Accept the criticism, learn from it and the country and system will benefit.

[ThailandRyan]

17 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Phuket took no time. All counters open no one in front of me.

 

 

There is a difference in flying during the day instead of arriving late evening like most international flights do.......but then you knew that already.

[Orinoco]

Tosspots have had, the last 2 years nearly off. to sort this out.

Amazing Thailand.

[yeahbutif]

Probley all based on money and greed.... If they can't Handle the amount of people or planes..they should not allow them on flight schedule....... Bit like a nightclub compassity. Full Should be full...

 

[brianthainess]

You will NOT criticize !  we will lose face ????

[Sparktrader]

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

There is a difference in flying during the day instead of arriving late evening like most international flights do.......but then you knew that already.

7pm arrival not midnight. I would guess BKK gets 10x the amount of flights at 5pm to 8pm being a major airport. Phuket and CM are a breeze.

 

Flying into Phuket and out of CM is the way to go.

 

 

[jacko45k]

27 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

There's an easy way for immigration officials to avoid criticism and that's simply to open all counters (in and out) and get the staff to process passengers quickly. Is it really beyond their ability? They know the flight schedules and when it's likely to be busy <deleted>! 

 

We saw these overcrowding situations in the past, pre-Covid, it was as if they had no idea how many flights were expected and they were short of staff....seems to happen less than the computer failures at Heathrow!

[internationalism]

they should simplify their entry requirements.

I don't remember anywhere in europe travellers being fingerprinted and photographed - passport scan and glance at passenger, 10 seconds procedure.

That thai procedure gives an impression of entering police state. Doesn't create holiday mood for tourists. 

Despite those and many other immigration measures, thailand is heaven for criminals. Their system doesn't work properly.

The main fault being probably manpower - unqualified, corrupted, unmotivated and lazy, bureaucratic. So many stories of immigration officers being biased and downright rude - just from my personal experience at border crossing and in immigration offices.

The second is probably poor digital data processing. Outdated systems, not integrated with world's security data. That's how travellers to and from thailand can use stolen/lost passports - that, as well as fake passports made in thailand itself.

 

Another story are visas from thai consulates. There were cases of fake visas being sold in Kuala Lumphur. That is not responsibility of immigration. But shows that thai police was not cooperating with ministry of foreign affairs to detect this scam

 

 

 

 

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, internationalism said:

they should simplify their entry requirements.

I don't remember anywhere in europe travellers being fingerprinted and photographed. That gives impression of entering police state. Doesn't create holiday mood for tourists.

Despite those and many other immigration measures, thailand is heaven for criminals. Their system doesn't work properly. The main fault being probably manpower - unqualified, corrupted, unmotivated and lazy, bureaucratic. So many stories of immigration officers being biased and downright rude - just from my personal experience at border crossing and in immigration offices

 

 

Oz is a police state. Thailand is a breeze. I had salt in my bag. They asked what it was, I said salt. They said ok. Takes 3 secs to do fingerprints. 

[internationalism]

2 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Oz is a police state. Thailand is a breeze. I had salt in my bag. They asked what it was, I said salt. They said ok. Takes 3 secs to do fingerprints. 

that is rather customs duty to check luggage for strange items, unless immigration interrogates and look for some clues in personal belongings 

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Oz is a police state. Thailand is a breeze. I had salt in my bag. They asked what it was, I said salt. They said ok. Takes 3 secs to do fingerprints. 

So Thai Immigration checked your bag?  You meant the people running the scanning and x-ray machines, they are not immigration.  Had you had water in your bag you would have had to toss it....

[Sparktrader]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

So Thai Immigration checked your bag?  You meant the people running the scanning and x-ray machines, they are not immigration.  Had you had water in your bag you would have had to toss it....

No domestic. I drank the water I had. Didnt have to toss it. They were friendly. Far more friendly than Oz. Oz scanners are all soup Nazis like in Seinfeld. Most miserable people out.

 

Thai staff in general way more friendly.

 

 

[internationalism]

1 minute ago, Sparktrader said:

No domestic. I drank the water I had. Didnt have to toss it. They were friendly. Far more friendly than Oz. Oz scanners are all soup Nazis like in Seinfeld. Most miserable people out.

 

Thai staff in general way more friendly.

 

 

if domestic there is no immigration and no customs. You mean airport security

[Sparktrader]

Just now, internationalism said:

if domestic there is no immigration and no customs. You mean airport security

Yes more friendly. Immigration no issue either. No card to fill out. Quick fingerprint scan. Never been asked where Im staying. Sawadee Khrup, Khorp Khun Khrup. Done.

 

 

[RafPinto]

Easy solution:

 

1 counter for "Indians" only and the rest for others.
Should be through immigration in a few minutes.

[ThailandRyan]

7 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Yes more friendly. Immigration no issue either. No card to fill out. Quick fingerprint scan. Never been asked where Im staying. Sawadee Khrup, Khorp Khun Khrup. Done.

 

 

I have never been through immigration here in Thailand while flying domestic, only time I filled out cards was during Covid when we flew out of Phuket and then when I landed in Udon Thani as they wanted to see the vaccination certs, but not anymore.  Never done a fingerprint scan either flying domestic, I think your confused, as thats only for international arrivals.  Did you fly back to Oz and then Return through Phuket?

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

I have never been through immigration here in Thailand while flying domestic, only time I filled out cards was during Covid when we flew out of Phuket and then when I landed in Udon Thani as they wanted to see the vaccination certs, but not anymore.  Never done a fingerprint scan either flying domestic, I think your confused, as thats only for international arrivals.  Did you fly back to Oz and then Return through Phuket?

Im not confused, you are. Im talking about both domestic and international. Phuket is both. Both a breeze. Nice staff at both.

 

Immigration 20 seconds. Baggage took 2 mins cause i had salt.

 

 

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, Sparktrader said:

Im not confused, you are. Im talking about both domestic and international. Phuket is both. Both a breeze. Nice staff at both.

 

Immigration 20 seconds. Baggage took 2 mins cause i had salt.

 

 

 

 

So your saying you went through Immigration flying domestic...thats laughable because you do not and I fly regularly in the country.....No immigration check through at all.  Fly into HKT, off the plane walk down the corridor, down the escalator, and over to baggage, pick up the bag and out the front door.....Flying out of Phuket, Check in at the counter, walk through the breezeway, have your bag scanned, and then head to your gate, no Immigration checpoint either.

[Sparktrader]

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

your saying you went through Immigration flying domestic...thats

Is English your first language? I flew international. Then a few days later flew domestic.

 

"Both" means 2 flights.

 

 

[ikke1959]

Last month we came back from Europe and there was a short waiting time, not more than 5 minutes. However not all counters were open and more officers came to open their counter. I am wondering why don't they have a clue of the number of airplanes arrive at what time so they could be prepared. And why all the pictures constantly in and out, at local immigration offices ..... Do it once in a good 21st century computer system and finished...

The officer was very friendly by the way something that made me happy as in the past it was often very impersonal and unfriendly

[soi3eddie]

10 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

The officer was very friendly by the way something that made me happy as in the past it was often very impersonal and unfriendly

In hundreds of entries over the last 25 years cannot say that I have ever had any unfriendly officers or even been questioned at all. It's nearly always, hello, scan fingers, take picture, stamp, stamp and thank you from me. Job done. Earlier this year on doing away with TM6 I was simply asked "are you staying at your condo address?" And that was all. No need for them to be friendly or rude. Just do the job efficiently! 

[Orinoco]

57 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Oz is a police state. Thailand is a breeze. I had salt in my bag. They asked what it was, I said salt. They said ok. Takes 3 secs to do fingerprints. 

That's funny when I was working in oz.

work visa done on line, 1 day for reply and issue.

Automatic passport scanning at Perth airport, done. no waiting.

Customs no problem.

But had to giggle at the racial profiling of the most of the customs guys. 

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Is English your first language? I flew international. Then a few days later flew domestic.

 

"Both" means 2 flights.

 

 

But I thought you have been in Thailand for months already while traveling around or was that all lies. If you landed from an international flight months ago, yes it was a breeze and not what this OP is about..stop the misinformation or tell us you just arrived on an international flight since October.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Sparktrader said:

7pm arrival not midnight. I would guess BKK gets 10x the amount of flights at 5pm to 8pm being a major airport. Phuket and CM are a breeze.

 

Flying into Phuket and out of CM is the way to go.

 

 

It's not really convenient to fly into Phuket when my condo is in Bangkok. 

[Sparktrader]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

But I thought you have been in Thailand for months already while traveling around or was that all lies.

No buddy. I was here 2 months ago then left, then came back.

 

I dont live here.

[Sparktrader]

Just now, JonnyF said:

It's not really convenient to fly into Phuket when my condo is in Bangkok. 

True. Do what suits you. Phuket and CM suits others.