Immigration Officer Shortage At Airport

[sriracha john]

Recruits needed for immigration officer shortage at airport

BANGKOK – The Immigration Bureau Commissioner admitted Sunday staff shortage was one of the main reasons why passengers had to wait in extremely long queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"The Immigration Bureau has a limited number of staff while Suvarnabhumi Airport is very spacious and comprised of so numerous (immigration) counters. That's why some counters are left vacant without staff and the queues are very long," Immigration Bureau Commander Pol. Lt-Gen. Chatchaval Suksomchit said after inspecting the international airport.

Concerned with mounting complaints, the Royal Thai Police is considering requesting immigration officers attached to the Immigration Bureau but working in other agencies to return to immigration. Also, a number of new immigration officers will be recruited to work in the airport, according to Pol. Gen. Chatchaval.

Meanwhile, he strongly recommended passengers arrive at check-in at least two hours before their departure time.

"Many passengers have missed flights after showing up at check-in less than one hour before scheduled departure. There isn't enough time for check-in and immigration procedures. In fact, after the check-in, about 45 to 60 minutes should be kept for immigration procedures," Pol. Gen. Chatchaval said.

Suvarnabhumi Airport serves some 100,000 passengers daily -- 40,000 departing, 45,000 arriving and 15,000 in transit. However, only 200 immigration officers are on duty per shift. There are four shifts a day. There are 80 counters serving departing passengers and 124 counters for arriving passengers.

It has been estimated that the arrival and departure counters are short of 400 immigration officers every day.

- TNA

[andy1308]

Funnily enough my arrivals experience last Saturday evening was one of the smoothest and quietest I have seen. There were just two people ahead of me in the queue and almost all of the counters were open with similarly short queues. Sadly I still had to wait 30 minutes for my baggage, but that's another story ....

[apetley]

Last Wednesday I took my sister in law to swampy for a flight back to the UK. It took her 2 hours to get through the queues after checkin!

The line was horrendous, back into the checkin area and she was very close to missing her flight.

Not a good way to leave Thailand and a terrible impression for departing tourists.

[astral]

This guy did miss his flight..........

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=172309