Body scan on international arrival

[john smith]

To settle a bet does one go through a body scan on arrival at Bangkok airport?  My friend believes AI which says yes. I say this only happens at departure and AI is wrong.

[Patong2021]

At 2ndary screening for some high risk individuals, otherwise for 99% of people, NO.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Have you asked your friend why he needs to know the answer to this?

[NanLaew]

5 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

At 2ndary screening for some high risk individuals, otherwise for 99% of people, NO.

 

Since there's no primary body scan security screening inbound, how can they do secondary screening? Maybe after they get flagged-up at passport control and taken aside?

 

There's security screening for those CIS passengers transiting airside from international to domestic and vice-versa.

 

Maybe that's what is confusing AI?

[novacova]

35 minutes ago, john smith said:

To settle a bet does one go through a body scan on arrival at Bangkok airport?  My friend believes AI which says yes. I say this only happens at departure and AI is wrong.

Your “friend”? What contraband do you plan on bringing in? 

[Crossy]

8 minutes ago, novacova said:

Your “friend”? What contraband do you plan on bringing in? 

 

And where is he planning on concealing it?

 

I believe they are x-raying all arriving baggage before it gets to the carousel, but that's about it unless you get selected to have your bags x-rayed at the customs post on the way out.

[john smith]

 Slightly irritated by two of the comments in particular the one with "Friend" in inverted commas please let me explain. My " friend" is an eighty three year old lady with arthritis in both shoulders. She was scared that the officers might  not understand her inability to lift her arms and not understand her refusal to do so. Previously she has only flown to Europe and how Asian airports work and the possible lack of English was a matter of considerable concern. Her son Googled the question. The first AI answer there was wrong. I have a small for fun bet on the question. Thank you to those who actually answered the question sensibly. I shall pass on the information.

[soi3eddie]

1 hour ago, john smith said:

She was scared that the officers might  not understand her inability to lift her arms and not understand her refusal to do so.

 

She should talk with the security staff and explain her ailment that prevents her raising her arms. There are werll trained female staff who can easily, and sensitvely screeen her, in private, if neccessary. It is no big deal. Just talk to the security staff.

 

[VBF]

13 hours ago, Crossy said:

<snip>

I believe they are x-raying all arriving baggage before it gets to the carousel, but that's about it unless you get selected to have your bags x-rayed at the customs post on the way out.

Do you really believe that @Crossy?

 

Not arguing for the sake of it but I rather think that would be too time-consuming and labour intensive and that most airports world-wide select either:

A random sample of cases to scan

and/or

Ones where the security / customs forces have prior negative information about the owner.

 

Of course you may have inside knowledge in which case (pun intended 🙄) I would be wrong.

 

Either way, I have no issues if they want to take a look at my T-shirts.

I have been selected by Customs once in over 30 years visiting Thailand - they must've approved of the T-shirts! 😎

 

[DFPhuket]

I travel extensively in the region, and the only place where I’ve occasionally encountered body scans on arrival is Singapore, typically for flights from specific countries. At BKK, I’ve never seen body scanners used for arriving passengers. However, customs routinely x-rays luggage, and if they had any suspicions, they would conduct a pat-down or another type of body search.

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, VBF said:

Do you really believe that @Crossy?

 

Not arguing for the sake of it but I rather think that would be too time-consuming and labour intensive and that most airports world-wide select either:

A random sample of cases to scan

and/or

Ones where the security / customs forces have prior negative information about the owner.

 

Of course you may have inside knowledge in which case (pun intended 🙄) I would be wrong.

 

Either way, I have no issues if they want to take a look at my T-shirts.

I have been selected by Customs once in over 30 years visiting Thailand - they must've approved of the T-shirts! 😎

 

 

A couple of articles: -

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1219878/all-arriving-luggage-to-be-x-rayed-at-main-airports

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/perspective/30375894

 

Whether this ever actually happened I know not, hence my "I believe".

 

Like you, I don't give a flying flip if they see my dirty laundry unless they think my socks are a bio-hazard (my site boots are another thing altogether and need handling with full HAZMAT gear).

 

[norfolkandchance]

Get Wheelchair assistance from the Airline and she'll sail though.

[khunjeff]

17 hours ago, Crossy said:

I believe they are x-raying all arriving baggage before it gets to the carousel

 

3 hours ago, Crossy said:

Whether this ever actually happened I know not, hence my "I believe".

 

I remember the announcement that they were "going to" implement that system, and had wondered whether it ever really happened. Since typically no new system is put in place at any AoT airport without a dozen press releases, speeches, demonstrations, and announcements that the event makes Thailand the best in the world, however, and given that there has been no such circus, I'm inclined to think that the system hasn't been implemented. 

 

4 hours ago, VBF said:

Not arguing for the sake of it but I rather think that would be too time-consuming and labour intensive

 

Inline baggage x-ray systems do exist, and are largely automated. At Incheon in Korea, I've had my bag come out with a little device bolted to the handle and playing music. When you go past the customs officer with that device, you're sent to a nearby station where another officer looks at the number on the device and pulls up the x-ray image that triggered the inquiry. (In my case, it was a few bottles of wine which I was permitted to bring in, so the guy simply removed the music box and sent me on my way.) 

 

So yes, it's not unrealistic to believe that BKK could also install and operate a similar system - though whether they've actually done so is still unclear.

[AgMech Cowboy]

I've lived here 20+ years and have never been scan coming into the country.

 

Why would you ask AI? Google should answer that just as well, no?

[richard_smith237]

23 hours ago, john smith said:

To settle a bet does one go through a body scan on arrival at Bangkok airport?  My friend believes AI which says yes. I say this only happens at departure and AI is wrong.

 

If you are referring to the same 'style' of body scanner that one passed through when undergoing security screening upon departure, the answer is no - there is no body scan that anyone goes through on 'standard arrival' (when not in transit).

 

The only 'body' scanning that I have ever encountered on arrival are 'thermal' scans conducted my the MoPH (Ministry of Public Health) when checking for Covid and Influenza at times of outbreak. 

 

Also note: There are 'x-ray' machines for baggage when going through customs on arrival - sometimes (very rarely), customs will ask you to scan your bags. 

 

IF you are in 'transit' and will transfer onto either Domestic or International flights, then yes, you will undergo further security screening which will include body scans. 

 

 

My AI (chat GPT) - also confirms this...  Thus I would suggest the question asked of AI lacks a certain clarity. 

 

 

[VBF]

11 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

A couple of articles: -

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1219878/all-arriving-luggage-to-be-x-rayed-at-main-airports

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/perspective/30375894

 

Whether this ever actually happened I know not, hence my "I believe".

 

Like you, I don't give a flying flip if they see my dirty laundry unless they think my socks are a bio-hazard (my site boots are another thing altogether and need handling with full HAZMAT gear).

 

Hadn't seen either of those articles, so as I suggested, I was wrong - thanks. 👍

Still doesn't make any difference to my behaviour of course....

[VBF]

8 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

 

I remember the announcement that they were "going to" implement that system, and had wondered whether it ever really happened. Since typically no new system is put in place at any AoT airport without a dozen press releases, speeches, demonstrations, and announcements that the event makes Thailand the best in the world, however, and given that there has been no such circus, I'm inclined to think that the system hasn't been implemented. 

 

 

Inline baggage x-ray systems do exist, and are largely automated. At Incheon in Korea, I've had my bag come out with a little device bolted to the handle and playing music. When you go past the customs officer with that device, you're sent to a nearby station where another officer looks at the number on the device and pulls up the x-ray image that triggered the inquiry. (In my case, it was a few bottles of wine which I was permitted to bring in, so the guy simply removed the music box and sent me on my way.) 

 

So yes, it's not unrealistic to believe that BKK could also install and operate a similar system - though whether they've actually done so is still unclear.

Didn't know any of that - as i said in my reply to Crossy above 👍

[steven100]

On 12/25/2024 at 3:03 PM, john smith said:

To settle a bet does one go through a body scan on arrival at Bangkok airport?  My friend believes AI which says yes. I say this only happens at departure and AI is wrong.

 

what are you or your friend trying to hide to bring in ?   drugs ?

 

If that's your motive I hope you get caught,  your question raises suspicion.

[Dexxter]

I suspect all incoming luggage is X-Ray scanned before reaching the carousel. When you exit the secure part of the airport you have the choice of passing through the "Nothing to Declare" exit. If you are observant you will see RFID type detectors (same as you see that prevents shoplifting in stores) that you have to walk past before leaving the secure area. Most people pass these without any issues, however, I suspect if the previous X-Ray showed something suspicious the security person monitoring the X-Ray would place an RFID tag onto/into the luggage which sets off the alarm at exit. This would be preferable to the X-Ray person examining the luggage which would hold things up and also because there is no physical connection with an actual passenger and the luggage. This is just my personal theory and I have no proof.

 

I might be testing my theory in January when I return to Bangkok with a collection of shoes and bags that my Thai wife left behind in Australia last time she was there. I hope I won't be slugged some form of tax or tariff on her shoes and designer bags. 😟

[khunjeff]

21 hours ago, Dexxter said:

If you are observant you will see RFID type detectors (same as you see that prevents shoplifting in stores) that you have to walk past before leaving the secure area.

 

I've noticed those, and had the same thought as you did. But they light up (a blue light, I think?) with every person who passes through, so I'm not sure...it's certainly possible that an RFID tag would generate a light of a different color, or a sound, but I have yet to see that happen 🤷