Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) plans to revise airport screening procedures, transitioning from handheld metal detectors to manual searches by October. This change aims to enhance safety following recommendations from the United States Aviation Security Assessment Program (USAP). However, airport workers have expressed concerns about passenger reactions to the new process.

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The revised screening, planned for full implementation by January 2027, follows the USAP's recommendations for improved security standards. Reportedly, the CAAT has yet to announce these changes officially. The new approach will include manual searches performed by officers of the same gender as passengers, in addition to walk-through metal detectors and body scanners.

Airport officers are authorized to search bags deemed suspicious without notifying passengers beforehand. These searches must be recorded and can be shown to passengers upon request. Concerns about delays and discomfort have been raised, as manual searches involve physical contact and could lead to complaints, especially if valuables are lost.

In addition to these screening changes, Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced an increase in passenger service charges (PSC) for international flights, from 730 baht to 1,120 baht, effective June 20. This has sparked debate, with some warning it could deter international travelers, as the charges may exceed those at major global airports.

Former Democrat Party leader Samart Ratchaphongsit emphasized that increased PSCs should enhance airport facilities rather than increase profits, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• Thailand will shift to manual airport passenger searches by October.

• Officers can search bags without prior notice, leading to concerns.

• International flight service charges will rise on June 20.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 23 Feb 2026

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"officers of the same gender as passengers"....so can lady boys search women??

What if a lady boy is searched? Who does the searching??

I am being half serious, but it does raise an issue?

At least give us the choice of which gender you want to be touched by.

So now they're going to strip search you and charge you 600 bht for the pleasure. Whilst Somchai is searching your bags for valuables to nick. Welcome to the Land of Scams 🤣😂

Searching your bag without your presence, what could possibly go wrong?

So let me see if I understand this, they can search your bag without permission, so when you get to your final destination, and the next day your gold cufflinks are missing, you would know that there is a chance they were stolen during "inspection?" HOW would you know that????

Groping passengers and "inspecting their privates" ... that should go smoothly without blowing up immediately. 555

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

At least give us the choice of which gender you want to be touched by.

Well said. If I can choose the agent like you do in a go-go bar not only I will support it, I will proactively insist on being searched. Loose pants with front pockets loaded with search-worthy items will be the norm.

46 minutes ago, Mises said:

Searching your bag without your presence, what could possibly go wrong?

it does not say anything about searching bags without one being present, just that no prior notice is required. It mentions metal detectors and physical searches so it appears to be regarding carry on luggage,

How much advance notice, currently , are passengers generally given prior to a search?

Badly written article open to misinterpretation, the passenger service charge increasing by 50% is more relevant to most people I would imagine, could that be why it was only mentioned at the end ?

More inefficiency and longer airport security lines. And what are they looking for? Safety is not the issue, when was the last time a plane was hijacked? This is nothing more than a blatant attempt to search our property without a search warrant or probable cause. Rights of privacy are out the window, we are all pawns in a Machiavellian government takeover. Just look at ICE in the USA. Between CCTV cameras , specialty doorbell and home cameras, and these types of intrusions, we have no rights of privacy. Face it, we live in an Orwellian world. The global mantra of "safety" is merely an excuse for authoritarian regimes to increase their control. Another sad move in the name of safety.

I am sure Thailand can find more things to deter tourist.

1 hour ago, Rockhopper said:

I am sure Thailand can find more things to deter tourist.

who is thinking up these idiot schemes, its getting worse by the day

4 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"officers of the same gender as passengers"....so can lady boys search women??

What if a lady boy is searched? Who does the searching??

The Dutch or Germans would be up for that at a guess.

3 minutes ago, sungod said:

The Dutch or Germans would be up for that at a guess.

Or even maybe the Indians, this way they can try and get their necklaces back.

What I want to know is: where is that immigration hall?

I’ve been doing weekly trips to Singapore for medical treatment for the last 5 weeks and both incoming and outgoing flights the immigration hall in Phuket has been heaving, mostly with Russians from what I could discern. One day there was even a queue to get INTO the immigration hall.

Waddya bet the cutest will get extra attention. They could be carrying bombs, well, anywhere.

4 hours ago, Mises said:

Searching your bag without your presence, what could possibly go wrong?

Well they could find the bomb or gun the passenger is carrying, that would count as having gone wrong for the passenger.

I bet if a bomb ended up on a plane which was not detected then the people who moan non-stop about this search would be the first to moan about it.

I for one am in favour of this search as it will make us safer.

If we are search by a man and do not have homosexual tendencies then no problem as we know who we are, if a person is a homosexual then that will be a bit of a bonus to his trip. 😃

4 hours ago, Mises said:

Searching your bag without your presence, what could possibly go wrong?

Pay attention. It's search without your permission.

4 hours ago, JustinTyme said:

So let me see if I understand this, they can search your bag without permission, so when you get to your final destination, and the next day your gold cufflinks are missing, you would know that there is a chance they were stolen during "inspection?" HOW would you know that????

When my checked bag has been searched after drop off and before departure at BKK, AoT places a sticker with a reference number on the bag saying as much. I finally worked out it was the rechargeable battery in my electric toothbrush that was being detected. That now goes in my hand carry so no longer happens.

Cufflinks? How quaintly old fashioned. I doubt any security staff have any idea what they are so you'll need a more convincing hypothetical.

Back on topic: the way I read this hopelessly inaccurate news item is that security screening will be largely unchanged, but instead of a 100% reliance on wands and scanners, some (and not all) pax will be randomly selected for a pat down.

Nothing to see (or feel) here. Move along now.

6 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"officers of the same gender as passengers"....so can lady boys search women??

What if a lady boy is searched? Who does the searching??

I am being half serious, but it does raise an issue?

Waiting for the offended Tik-Toks from bearded behemoths that are called "Ma'am" back home 🙄

This new program is designed to offer an enhanced sense of well-being, for those who didn't get enough affection on their Thailand trip. Nobody should be left out when it comes to TLC.

2 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

who is thinking up these idiot schemes, its getting worse by the day

Indeed! One step forward - two back. A bit off topic, but similar to my bank discontinuing online banking.

"Oh, don't worry, Sir, you can use our App on your phone - much better"

"Can I have your App, then, please?"

"No, sorry Sir, you're too old - maximum age limit 70 years of age"!!!

Well, well, why does this not really come as a surprise.

Apart from the pleasure of getting patted down by Somchai or Apinya it will also create another hundreds of jobs for the crown which spent 6 years in primary, 6 years in secondary and then another 4 years in university with a degree in political science or business administration. Lovely indeed!

38 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, well, why does this not really come as a surprise.

Apart from the pleasure of getting patted down by Somchai or Apinya it will also create another hundreds of jobs for the crown which spent 6 years in primary, 6 years in secondary and then another 4 years in university with a degree in political science or business administration. Lovely indeed!

Indeed! More jobs for the boys and the girls and the in betweenies

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Cufflinks? How quaintly old fashioned. I doubt any security staff have any idea what they are so you'll need a more convincing hypothetical.

2 hours ago, Legal Lifeline said:

Indeed! More jobs for the boys and the girls and the in betweenies

"Inbetweenies" - every day is school day; thank you for today's lesson. Hilarious!

On 2/23/2026 at 9:58 AM, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) plans to revise airport screening procedures, transitioning from handheld metal detectors to manual searches by October. This change aims to enhance safety following recommendations from the United States Aviation Security Assessment Program (USAP).However, airport workers have expressed concerns about passenger reactions to the new process.

Get today's headlines by email

The revised screening, planned for full implementation by January 2027, follows the USAP's recommendations for improved security standards. Reportedly, the CAAT has yet to announce these changes officially. The new approach will include manual searches performed by officers of the same gender as passengers, in addition to walk-through metal detectors and body scanners.

Airport officers are authorized to search bags deemed suspicious without notifying passengers beforehand. These searches must be recorded and can be shown to passengers upon request. Concerns about delays and discomfort have been raised, as manual searches involve physical contact and could lead to complaints, especially if valuables are lost.

In addition to these screening changes, Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced an increase in passenger service charges (PSC) for international flights, from 730 baht to 1,120 baht, effective June 20. This has sparked debate, with some warning it could deter international travelers, as the charges may exceed those at major global airports.

Former Democrat Party leader Samart Ratchaphongsit emphasized that increased PSCs should enhance airport facilities rather than increase profits, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• Thailand will shift to manual airport passenger searches by October.

• Officers can search bags without prior notice, leading to concerns.

• International flight service charges will rise on June 20.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 23 Feb 2026

View full record

Well they will have plenty of time on their hands once the 30 visa is implemented as the numbers coming will be massively reduced. 🤷🏼

10 hours ago, Mises said:

Searching your bag without your presence, what could possibly go wrong?

and go missing.

Temptation when coming across valuables can be strong. Even if "supposedly" being filmed.

The only thing this Brain Fart will accomplish is giving jobs to a bunch of lackies who despise their jobs...

And inconvenience and piss off a whole bunch of passengers...Maybe most of them...

Plus it will hold up a whole lot of lines...

And for what?

Unless every single passenger is given a full-on police style

body search....The whole body search brain fart becomes pointless..

Were they not gloating a few years ago about how great the new body scanners and metal detectors were..And saying the airports are now safe because we now have the latest security tech....

No need to get upset over an inaccurate summary. The same procedures used elsewhere will now be followed in Thailand. That's all. CAT 113 was updated: The regulation, which outlines procedures and methods for security screening in civil aviation, has been revised to align with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s security standards and recommendations. If you set off the alarm when you go through the scanner, or if an object is observed on the visual scanners, there will be a pat down. This is the same procedure used at airports in Japan, USA, Canada, EU etc.

8 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Were they not gloating a few years ago about how great the new body scanners and metal detectors were..And saying the airports are now safe because we now have the latest security tech

They were part of the corruption scandal being claimed when Mr T was trying to get Swampy opened way back when!