2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

"elderly and disabled." These are available....on the far right hand side going up the ramp to Immigration. Over 65s...and disabled

Even the priority lanes on the right hand side had very long queues a week ago.
A long wait wherever you went.
Clearly something is very wrong when the main queues were backed out of the immigration entrance a long way down the corridors.

40 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Last time I was there it was between the two immigration areas.

Premium class passengers have not been permitted to use that zone for several years already. There was then a brief time when they could use the area next to the Thai passport counters instead, but that was also done away with quite a while ago.

Bad luck landing that day....

47 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Why don't they just use the automated machines for arrivals ?

I've read that they are for Thai people only. Foreigners not allowed to use them.

Holders of Singapore and Hong Kong passports can also use them.

8 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, the money is to cover the cost of stupid foreigners that travel to Thailand and end up in hospital without an insurance.

Even if you believe the numbers that the government cites for unpaid foreign medical bills, the entire amount comes out to less than ten baht per visitor - which does make one wonder how the other 290 baht will be spent.

20 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

Premium class passengers have not been permitted to use that zone for several years already. There was then a brief time when they could use the area next to the Thai passport counters instead, but that was also done away with quite a while ago.

Thanks. I'm over 70 and have used it. But I last entered Thailand at the end of 2022 so admit I'm not up to date.

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I travel enough, but at no other airport I see long waiting times to pass immigration.. Longest I had to wait was 10 minutes in all my travels except here in Thailand. There should be counters for visaholders and reentries, and for elderly and disabled.. The priority lines could be used for that, but we are not allowed. These lines are often empty.

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

"elderly and disabled." These are available....on the far right hand side going up the ramp to Immigration. Over 65s...and disabled

I think in fact the category is known as 'Senior Citizens'. There are dedicated Priority Immigration and Security lanes for passengers aged 70+, families with infants, pregnant passengers and those with disabilities.

2 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Over 70 for priority lane, not 65

The priority lane is also shared with large families which can make the wait even longer than the ordinary line. One family in front of me had 6 kids and grandparents and a father that endlessly argued with Immigration staff. Took almost an hour for them to clear.

2 hours ago, Dakhar said:

I have yet to see fast track for entering thailand.

I used it in May 2023, but not left Thailand since then.

If the author of the Facebook post was Thai, so didn't have to wait in the "kilometre" long queue, how do they know it was taking three to four hours to be processed?

1 hour ago, J Branche said:

No traveler, or social media post was about 1 hour processing time

Something has changed in past 2, 3,4 weeks. It's a Secret, Security issue, or lack of proper staffing.

Travelers just want Reasonable processing times. 2 Hours or Less

There's a War on Farangs going on. The Nominee Scandal (over-shadowing the Civil Service scandal) is a pogrom. Anutin dislikes 'dirty foreigners' and has chosen now to wage it. He did nothing whilst a Senior Minister in THREE previous administrations; why is he getting his knickers in a twist now?

Yes but the head of the airport knows some powerful people and is very friendly with them. So too the immigration bigwig. They are more than qualified to handle these situations at the airport because they know people and people know them.

2 hours ago, NemoH said:

But all major airports now have queues stretching from Hours - was in Brussels - 2 hours, I heard in Paris - 3 hours.

Just the new normal to ruffle your feathers.

The Big Boys don't want you flying in them tin birds over the oceans to exotic lands.

#StaySafeTraveLocal2026

100% in

No traveler, or social media post was about 1 hour processing time

Something has changed in past 2, 3,4 weeks. It's a Secret, Security issue, or lack of proper staffing.

Travelers just want Reasonable processing times. 2 Hours or Less

I've been flying into Swampy once a month for the past 3 years, and until this spring it was never more than 10 minutes or so. This year, my luggage has beat me to the carousel every time. In fact, they have taken our bags off the carousel before we get through Immigration because they looked so sad going around and around.

The long waits seemed to coincide with implementation of the TDAC. Hmmmm...

4 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

"elderly and disabled." These are available....on the far right hand side going up the ramp to Immigration. Over 65s...and disabled

Full of families of Indians with 1 granny in a wheelchair.

4 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I travel enough, but at no other airport I see long waiting times to pass immigration.. Longest I had to wait was 10 minutes in all my travels except here in Thailand. There should be counters for visaholders and reentries, and for elderly and disabled.. The priority lines could be used for that, but we are not allowed. These lines are often empty.

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

"elderly and disabled." These are available....on the far right hand side going up the ramp to Immigration. Over 65s...and disabled

Not over 65s but over 70 and disabled.. or with a private butler service of at least 1700 THB

It is holiday season in Europe. Europe also has a heath wave with daily new record temperatures. So people go to Thailand, because its not as hot as Europe. At least that is my theory, and I will stick to it 😎

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I've read that they are for Thai people only. Foreigners not allowed to use them. Now, there's a surprise

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

he post claimed queues overflowed into main walkways, blocking access to priority lanes and Thai passport channels,

I think that is the whole issue... Thai people had difficulties to go to their counters

3 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Over 70 for priority lane, not 65

I just turned 70 and will be going out of Phuket to the USA in October. I've been wondering if there is a priority land for elderly. I've heard there is but no one can confirm. Several friends said get a wheelchair, which I don't want to do. Anyone know about priority for elderly in Phuket?

Also, do you have to take your shoes off for security if you are 70+? In the USA you don't. Last time I was asked to take my shoes off at Phuket security there weren't any chairs so I had to sit on the luggage counter holding everyone up. Made no sense to me. But.....

Thanks for any input you guys have.

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No, the money is to cover the cost of stupid foreigners that travel to Thailand and end up in hospital without an insurance.

Best of luck that they will be compensated and the Hospital account finalized by the scheme

2 hours ago, Spilornis said:

E gates are fast becoming standard all around the world.

Even India now has e gates for foreign passports albeit with a once only cumbersome registration process.

What is the roll out timetable for Thailand

The digital hub of Thailand will investigate the possibilty of e gates for incoming tourists around 2050 maybe.. Everything is so slow in decisions and being delayed and delayed. Only to control everybody and everything sadly enough

4 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

I just turned 70 and will be going out of Phuket to the USA in October. I've been wondering if there is a priority land for elderly. I've heard there is but no one can confirm. Several friends said get a wheelchair, which I don't want to do. Anyone know about priority for elderly in Phuket?

Also, do you have to take your shoes off for security if you are 70+? In the USA you don't. Last time I was asked to take my shoes off at Phuket security there weren't any chairs so I had to sit on the luggage counter holding everyone up. Made no sense to me. But.....

Thanks for any input you guys have.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport go To the very far end of the airport down near where the post office is and there is a check-in there for disabled people , elderly people 70 and over , families with small infants. I go there every time you don’t have to take your shoes or your belt off. At the entrance, the staff my question you, show them your passport and tell them you are over 70

3 hours ago, Searat7 said:

Over 70 for priority lane, not 65

I've never heard of this, is it for real, a lane to the right at immigration? I just turned 70 soooo...

If waiting for an hour to start your vacation in Thailand is the biggest problem in your life, you need to calm down and breathe and appreciate your privilege.

90% of the people in the world can't afford to vacation in Thailand, FULL STOP. 😃

Wow. If that's Thailand's attitude as well, good luck becoming a regional air hub, which seems to be one of their declared goals.

People will vote with their wallets and Thailand will wonder why so many of them are spending their sweaty tourist cash elsewhere. In fact, they already are...

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No, the money is to cover the cost of stupid foreigners that travel to Thailand and end up in hospital without an insurance.

Thank you for the info.

I'm sure every Baht, will go to do just that. , , .

2 hours ago, SBNZ said:

Flying in next week and dreading facing long queues after a long flight. What's the word on using the Thai lanes with the Thai Mrs? I have heard people talk of doing this in the past but have never actually done it myself. Is this still possible?

I do that frequently when we travel together. Thai Customs have no issues. American passport here. Process together. Good luck let the Mrs do the talking 😃

6 hours ago, temuFarang said:

I love passing through Singapore. It’s a model of efficiency.

6 hours ago, temuFarang said:

I love passing through Singapore. It’s a model of efficiency.

At Changi, they won't stamp your passport even if you ask for it.

The hapless TAT is trying to figure out why tourism numbers keep dropping, and why Thailand has a bad name at the stage of the game.

When I arrive back in Thailand a couple of weeks ago the ques were longer than I'd ever seen them before and were likely at least 2 hours long. Thankfully I have both my Thai wife and my Eva Gold Card which I always use to bypass the ques.

Thailand really needs to clean up its act and get their act together. The neighbors are gaining on Thailand as they're simply making more effort and they are infinitely more efficient. Immigration knows long in advance when flights are arriving in this kind of thing should never, ever happen. They already have enough bad press from all the changes that are taking place with immigration and visas, and Thailand is no longer considered tourism friendly.

19 minutes ago, Jack Hammer said:

At Suvarnabhumi Airport go To the very far end of the airport down near where the post office is and there is a check-in there for disabled people , elderly people 70 and over , families with small infants. I go there every time you don’t have to take your shoes or your belt off. At the entrance, the staff my question you, show them your passport and tell them you are over 70

Thanks. I was wondering about Phuket? Probably will have to give someone 200 baht, I guess.

41 minutes ago, Peabody said:

Full of families of Indians with 1 granny in a wheelchair.

Often because she is too fat and lazy to walk . I have first hand knowledge of this when I was wheelchair bound . Even more so in Heathrow where at arrivals the Indians would have electric cars waiting for them after walking up the ramp from the plane .

About 3 or 4 years ago there was outrage because at Heathrow terminal 3 arrivals people had to wait 7 hours to be processed through immigration , apparently the automatic passport machines were playing up .

So, they want more tourists to come, but have no process to make sure said tourists do not waste time in an immigration line....Classic!