Immigration Fasttrack

[onzestan]

ignore the dorks....

Because we put across another point of view we become dorks.... jeez.

By first telling me I'm a lemming, then accusing me falsely of having commercial interest, then

misquoting a former post of mine, and then implying that I and others complaining about it are all liars because in your experience there never are, never have been and never will be queues at Suvarnabhumi airport.That's not

expressing another point of view, that's being a dork (by want of a better word).

cheers

onzestan

[dekka007]

Whatever

If providing evidence that queues are not normally an issue at SVB then I agree I am a Dork

[trajan]

onzestan, thanks for pointing out the existance of this airport service... thats whats great about this forum

I might look into this for my parents' best friends who are retiring and visit Thailand rather often as a second home (they might particularly appreciate this kind of service)...

please let us all know if it works out for you to your satisfaction

Edited January 31, 2008 by trajan

[onzestan]

onzestan, thanks for pointing out the existance of this airport service... thats whats great about this forum

I might look into this for my parents' best friends who are retiring and visit Thailand rather often as a second home (they might particularly appreciate this kind of service)...

please let us all know if it works out for you to your satisfaction

Thank you !

As I said in an earlier post I won't be using it till June.

This topic has attracted 944 views in it's short existence so there is considerable interest.

Thanks again and cheers

onzestan

[onethailand]

I think it's an interesting idea myself. Definitely might consider it.

But just for the record:

Tuesday 4 pm - no queue at all.

End November and early December, both around 11 pm - massive queues. Between 25-30 minutes wait.

I'm going to consider the silver card myself if queues continue to be long, at least until I can get the remaining documents to get my HK Permanent ID and subsequently APEC card.

[MrChokChai]

i sent them an email to which i got super fast polite reply

what i asked was if they would get me at the airport on my next arrival and if the service was good i would buy the silver package there and then, if poor service or not feel needed then i woud give them the B1500 for single service.

got a great positive response

will let you know later this month

mcc

[onzestan]

i sent them an email to which i got super fast polite reply

what i asked was if they would get me at the airport on my next arrival and if the service was good i would buy the silver package there and then, if poor service or not feel needed then i woud give them the B1500 for single service.

got a great positive response

will let you know later this month

mcc

Thank you for letting us know. Am kinda curious myself.

cheers

onzestan

[stats]

The Silver Package is good and its only THB 12k !!! e.g about USD$400 a years. I have an APEC card myself but i think this TLM card is good for those of u who wants to get in and out of the airport fast.

Edited February 3, 2008 by tytus

[quiksilva]

My parents arrived on a Sunday afternoon about two weeks ago, at about 4pm - immigration lasted 45 minutes, just what you need after a 12 hour flight!

The place was full of Chinese tourists who hadn't filled in their arrival cards.... needless to say they were very interested in this card when they heard about it.

[gunnyd]

Me I cheat (well not really) going through every airport. Being a disabled vet, I just request wheelchair assist throughout my trip, and get taken to the Diplomat/Monks/Pregnant women desk and go straight through. I just have to make sure the wheelchair attendants don't get ahead of my wife, those guys run through the terminal. It's worth the 100 Baht I slip the attendant.

[pgrin]

This company has been around for 7 years. their original budget was 300 million baht from the Thai government. For six years they had a web site with dead links and lots of promises but I have never heard of anyone knowing about or using any of their services. The new website is no better. Many dead links and no information. And they only accept payment by bank transfer?? I wonder were the 300 million baht went?

P

[mangoman007]

Has anyone actually used the TLM fast-track as yet? I am thinking of going for the silver. I just sent them an email

[apetley]

My sister in law wishes that there was a fast track for Passport Control on leaving Thailand.

Took her to swampy last night for a 00.30 Thai Airways flight back to UK.

The queue for Passport control was horrendous, back into the check-in area.

[onethailand]

Surely the TLM Silver card must grant access to the diplomatic line on departure as well? If not, that would diminish the value of getting the card significantly in my eyes.

[onzestan]

Surely the TLM Silver card must grant access to the diplomatic line on departure as well? If not, that would diminish the value of getting the card significantly in my eyes.

Silver card is for both departure and arrival and no limits for 1 year.

cheers

onzestan

[rogerdee123]

Well I will give the first field report.

I got the silver package. Filled out the forms, provide photo for the ID card, etc etc ... my secretary did it all by email (scanned photo and scanned passport).

The arrangement was to meet them at the airport and pay the 12k Baht and receive my ID card as well as escort me thru immigration on my outbound flight. However since I was flying business where there are always short immigration lines so I said never mind meeting me for the outbound flight but meet me on my return.

The way it works (now) is ... you email them your flight details. They will meet you and escort you thru immigration for outbound and inbound. For outbound I think I will email them and then phone them from my mobile when I'm on the expressway about halfway to the airport ... btw they provide a phone number for reaching the airport staff. This may also come in handy for inbound when one hasn't emailed the detail or has changed flights or whatever.

My return flight arrived at 5:30AM. Their staff met me at the gate holding a sign with my name on it. And walked me thru the Immigration Desk for Diplomats then went with me to the luggage belt and offered to get me a limo or watever. Never mind I said, I'll take a normal taxi. So they continued to escort me out to the taxi stand. This wasn't really necessary for me ... all I really care about is getting thru immigration quickly. In the future I'll probably say good bye right after immigration.

Their staff had my ID card and as arranged I paid them 12,000 baht for the one year membership and got the receipt. I may try going thru the diplomatic immigration line with just the ID next time. Since they accept the APEC ID card .. they should accept this one.

With the ID card they gave me a booklet that lists hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, spas, golf courses ect that give discounts to the ID Card holders. Frankly I never use the hotels they have listed. The better hotels on the list were only offering discounts off published rates of 10% - 20%. Actually I can usually do better than this by just speaking Thai and asking for a lower price. However some of the hotels up-country and in Phuket/Samui/Pattaya were offering as much as 50% discounts ... but again this is usually about what I get anyway for speaking Thai and bargaining for the "Thai Resident's rate". The restaurant discounts are usually in the neighborhood of 10%. But anyway I wasn't expecting these discounts so it's a plus although I probably won't use the card for these discounts more than a couple of times a year.

I fly in and out of Bangkok several times a month. Yes sometimes the lines are short and sometimes long. It depends on when you pass thru. If it's a peak traffic period it can indeed take a long time to get thru immigration. Someone mentioned 45 minutes and this has happened to me a few times.

Whether it's worth 12k or not really depends on how much you use it. I think I'll get my money's worth.

[astral]

I however had the misfortune to arrive on 2 occasions when hundreds of chinese that hadn't filled out their TM card had arrived just before me.

A little pre-screening would cure that.

A quick check as you enter the immigration area,

and told to go back and fill in the card before joining the queue.

A fast track lane at Immigration for First and Business class passengers would also help.

It works in KLIA and many Middle East airports, why not Bangkok.

[PattayaParent]

Or what about ONE lane for those that haven't filled in their Immigration cards and all the others available to those that HAVE.

Would maybe encourage those returning to fill them in next time?

[IMA_FARANG]

Not to expensive if you're a regular traveler.

Considering the fact, that it never took me longer than about 15 minutes to pass immigration, that I have my retirement visa already, that I don't need another mobile phone, well there is not too much left.

What kind of mobile phone do they offer in the 72k package? A Nokia 1101? No thank you, I prefer to keep in contact with the immigration personally.

If you don't need it good for you.

I however had the misfortune to arrive on 2 occasions when hundreds of chinese that hadn't filled out their TM card had arrived just before me. Had to stand in line for over 90 minutes one time whilst my suitcase was making rounds on the luggage belt.

I don't need that and if I can avoid it it's well worth it for me after a flight of over 12 hrs. There have been numerous complaints about long queues at immigration so it can happen. I also have to add that I'm over 65 and in not to good physical condition so once again if you don't need it good for you.

There are however people that will consider this possibility as a god's end and those are the people I wanted to share this information with. We don't all have the possibility to apply for an Apec card because of where we are born.

It's easy to criticize but please keep in mind that there are people on this planet that can benefit from such a service, I just wish there was something similar available in Europe at the same pricelevel.

Thank you.

onzestan

I also have to add that I'm over 65 and in not to good physical condition

I'll pass this on to you...it worked once for me...if it doesn't work you wont lose anything.

I once had a problem with my leg that made it difficult for me to walk long distances. I arrived in BKK and made that long hike from the plane to immigration. I was tired, so i sat down in a chair at the rear of all the queues. Perhaps I looked unwell or tired. At any rate a young Thai woman wearing an immigration uniform came up to me and asked me if I didn't feel well. I said no, I was just tired. She asked me if I was waiting for a stamp on arrival (visa). I said yes, I would get into a queue and soon as I was rested. She offered to take my passport, onward ticket, and boarding pass and get a stamp for me. She was gone about 10 minutes, then returned with my visa, ticket, and passport. She told me to simply walk thru past the guard. I checked my passport and I had a valid stamp in it so I did as she said. I also noticed that other immigration officers were going thru the queue, amd doing the same thing to women with childen or very old people who found it hard to wait in the queue.

This only happened one time....but if you are in that situation....give it a try. Sit down at the rear and looked hurt or very tired.

If it doesn't work....you didn't lose anything, did you?

[Gravelrash]

There are and always have been two Thailands. Those with the money live in one and generally get treated as kings, those without exist in the other are merely tolerated. It is hierachical, the Thais are used to that system and will quickly place you accordindly.

This would seem like a cheap way to get a taste of that other world, perhaps save some tme and at least be treated well at the airport. If then enroute to the Nana it will be the only taste you will get.

This forum sometimes seems like a backpacker convention with many boasting their prowess at never having to spend a baht, something to reflect upon as to why you are on that next visa run. Being frugal is common sense if funds are tight, but hardly a badge of achievenment to boast about nor qualifying to rip into others who may think something this could be a good idea. They are merely playing the Thai game.

[rogerdee123]

A short follow-up to my previous report ....

I had an outbound flight and decided to try using the Silver Thai Longstay ID card without the escort. It worked fine. Went unescorted up to the Immigration Counter for diplomats and handed the officer my passport, ticket and ID Card. No problem.

[hagler]

There will always be people with more money than sense. And gawd dont they flock to LOS.

[sfokevin]

They offer a Thai Driver License... Wonder how that works?... Do the take care of all the hassles of applying?

[onzestan]

Thanks rogerdee123.

Good to know it works.

Hagler, plse note that priorities are different for different people. if you don't want to pay for a bit of privilege that's your prerogative, but don't dispute me mine.

cheers

onzestan

[rogerdee123]

There will always be people with more money than sense. And gawd dont they flock to LOS.

Well hagler all I can say is .... Aww gawd !

[merijn]

I received my silver card a few days back.

They waited for me at the gate from my incoming flight from Phuket and escorted me al the way to check-inn and lounge for my international flight.

I explained to them that this was not necessary as i fly business class but they politely replied that this was also an learning session for one of there new staff.

I have to say they where very polite and carried my luggage and so on.

Yes you have to pay a fee of course but i think it is money well spend.

I fly on an monthly basis and because of the new regulations I have to do the immigration in BKK .

After an long flight the last thing i want to do is waiting an long time before the immigration counters.

Until about 6 months ago the lines where just fine but from 6 months until now the immigrations halls are just packed with people. ( I arrive always around 13:00 ).

Because I have to get an domestic flight I don't have too much time for this kind of delays and besides that I just hate it.

So in the end I think it is money well spend.

[stevemcqueen]

They offer a Thai Driver License... Wonder how that works?... Do the take care of all the hassles of applying?

Yeah,what do they do for you as regards a driving licence??

Is there a "fast track" for that?

Any experiences,anyone?

[onzestan]

I received my silver card a few days back.

They waited for me at the gate from my incoming flight from Phuket and escorted me al the way to check-inn and lounge for my international flight.

I explained to them that this was not necessary as i fly business class but they politely replied that this was also an learning session for one of there new staff.

I have to say they where very polite and carried my luggage and so on.

Yes you have to pay a fee of course but i think it is money well spend.

I fly on an monthly basis and because of the new regulations I have to do the immigration in BKK .

After an long flight the last thing i want to do is waiting an long time before the immigration counters.

Until about 6 months ago the lines where just fine but from 6 months until now the immigrations halls are just packed with people. ( I arrive always around 13:00 ).

Because I have to get an domestic flight I don't have too much time for this kind of delays and besides that I just hate it.

So in the end I think it is money well spend.

Thanks for the update

onzestan

[lardy]

Has anyone actually used the TLM fast-track as yet? I am thinking of going for the silver. I just sent them an email

I used this service on February 7th this year. It was very good. I was met off the plane taken straight thru immigration (VIP channel) bags collected and they even told my wife in a waiting car to arrive at a certain time. I was off the plane form the Uk thru immigration and in the car in 10 minutes flat. Cost 1500 baht but i see they had removed the one time trial off their website now??

I come 3-4 times a year and often experience long delays which is not so good after 13+ hours travelling.

[onzestan]

Has anyone actually used the TLM fast-track as yet? I am thinking of going for the silver. I just sent them an email

I used this service on February 7th this year. It was very good. I was met off the plane taken straight thru immigration (VIP channel) bags collected and they even told my wife in a waiting car to arrive at a certain time. I was off the plane form the Uk thru immigration and in the car in 10 minutes flat. Cost 1500 baht but i see they had removed the one time trial off their website now??

I come 3-4 times a year and often experience long delays which is not so good after 13+ hours travelling.

It is still in place. Just send them an email for details, oh and thanks for the update.

cheers

onzestan

Edited April 7, 2008 by onzestan