Out Of Control Immigration Lines

[Hawkseye]

LOL trying to leave the impression 'thai passport' lines are actually shorter then the others or even the several 100k baht for the PR was worth it for something...

Ha, Jealousy . If you read the posts you will see everyone says the lines for Thai passport are shorter so it's not me "trying to leave impression" what's more my PR cost me less than 100k NOT "several". Ergo : You're all Bullsh_t!!!

[syd barrett]

Only Thai Airways give this 'service' to their F class passengers at BKK airport, You are escorted from the plane to a waiting electric cart to drive you to immigration, You go through the diplomat channel.

After immigration there is a porter ready with a caddies to pick-up your bags and bring you through customs to your car/taxi, last Saturday he pushed the caddies all the way to my D-max parked in the short term parking tower

Do they also plump your cushions, put tea-cosy's on your hard boiled eggs, squeeze your toothpaste and throw in an erotic massage. If not why not?

[tartempion]

Only Thai Airways give this 'service' to their F class passengers at BKK airport

Flying Etihad business class or having gold status gives you a Fast track card allowing you to use the dedicated VIP immigration counters, you will also get priority luggage handling.

[geriatrickid]

Only Thai Airways give this 'service' to their F class passengers at BKK airport, You are escorted from the plane to a waiting electric cart to drive you to immigration, You go through the diplomat channel.

After immigration there is a porter ready with a caddies to pick-up your bags and bring you through customs to your car/taxi, last Saturday he pushed the caddies all the way to my D-max parked in the short term parking tower

Anyone that's flown in TG's F class, will most likely have the view that the expedited immigration "benefit" is a bit of a sham. Think about it for a minute, and that's all you will need if you have flown long haul on TG: TG's 1st class product really doesn't compare with its competitors;

- The 747-400 seating, and cabin interior is about 10 years out of date.

- The inflight entertainment systems, lavatories, meals and wine list are no better than other carriers and if anything, worse.

However, there are two defining features that matter; On time arrival and cost. A cynic would say that TG better provide the expedited immigration process since their flights are usually late. At least other airlines usually don't have the delays on the BKK routes TG has. TG manages to leave and arrive late. At least that's been my experience.

The kicker though is the cost. Look at the RT 1st class airfares for 2 popular routes. Bkk-NRT & BKK-LHR. Anyone that's worth something does keep an eye on his/her expenses. They didn't get rich by pissing their money away.

(In THB)

BKK-NRT: UAL 61.5K vs TG 71.5K

BKK-LHR: UAE 151K / CX - 159K / AF 170K / BA 386K / TG 334K

A thrifty fellow heading off to Pattaya from London, would pick Cathay over TG and use the 175,000 baht to pay for the bevy of beauties that will massage his bunions and give his big belly a delightful massage. Who cares about the extra 20 minutes with a value proposition like that!

Edited February 10, 2010 by geriatrickid

[Phuket1]

Sounds like Phuket Int Airport on a regular day.

[tooninthai]

I came in on Oman Air at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and there were no queues at all.

Oddly enough, I was met off the plane by some Thai airport 'official' who waltzed me down to passport control with the intention of getting me through quickly - though he was not needed as the queues were non-existant.

Same person took me to baggage claim and got my bags for me.

Seems my name was lifted off the computer for this service. Very nice of them to pick me at random.

[bubba]

I am glad I'll be arriving first class with Thai International and will bypass any lines

Can you elaborate please? Thai Airways first class uses a special line? I have used Thai Airways but never first class.

Would these short lines apply to other airlines? I may be flyin on EVA first class in about one month.

Thanks

Most passengers in First & Business class receive a fast-track coupon. Proceed to the second Immigration Hall at the airport arrivals.

I don't know about other airlines, but Thai Airways business class passengers do not receive a fast track coupon and must queue with everyone else on arrival. On departure, there is a private immigration queue only for Thai Airways first and business class passengers, located just after the checkin counters. The same goes for Star Alliance gold card holders - no special immigration privileges on arrival.

[syd barrett]

I am glad I'll be arriving first class with Thai International and will bypass any lines

Can you elaborate please? Thai Airways first class uses a special line? I have used Thai Airways but never first class.

Would these short lines apply to other airlines? I may be flyin on EVA first class in about one month.

Thanks

Most passengers in First & Business class receive a fast-track coupon. Proceed to the second Immigration Hall at the airport arrivals.

I don't know about other airlines, but Thai Airways business class passengers do not receive a fast track coupon and must queue with everyone else on arrival. On departure, there is a private immigration queue only for Thai Airways first and business class passengers, located just after the checkin counters. The same goes for Star Alliance gold card holders - no special immigration privileges on arrival.

I am amazed to hear that both Emirates and Qatar business class issue fast track immigration coupons for landing at BKK.

I wonder why Thai Airways do not?

[theoldgit]

I am amazed to hear that both Emirates and Qatar business class issue fast track immigration coupons for landing at BKK.

I wonder why Thai Airways do not?

And Cathay Pacific.

[syd barrett]

I am amazed to hear that both Emirates and Qatar business class issue fast track immigration coupons for landing at BKK.

I wonder why Thai Airways do not?

And Cathay Pacific.

And Cathay Pacific do or don't issue fast-track Immigration coupons in Business Class?

[theoldgit]

And Cathay Pacific do or don't issue fast-track Immigration coupons in Business Class?

Sorry, Cathay Pacific do issue fast-track Immigration coupons for their Business Class customers.

[khunjake]

Sorry, but "F" or "B" class on TG is absolutely pitiful. About 12 years behind every other airline and the food is always terrible in any class you travel with them.

[theoldgit]

I travelled First Class on Thai from London, asked for one of the selections from their menu and was told sorry it's finished - there were two of us travelling in first.

[Donnyboy]

I travelled First Class on Thai from London, asked for one of the selections from their menu and was told sorry it's finished - there were two of us travelling in first.

imagine whats going on behind in cattle then

[merijn]

I fly every other week with Emirates to BKK in Business Class and receive always the fast track VIP card from Emirates. ( arrive around 08:30 or 12:00 )

Average time from plane to taxi +/- 10 Min. ( no luggage )

I also have the Thai Long Stay Card and a nice person is waiting for me at the plane and brings me to the taxi while carrying my hand luggage.

When departing with Emirates I also receive a fast track card so I can use the VIP/Diplomatic lines at departure. ( or my Thai Long Stay card if I wish )

[Furbie]

I am glad I'll be arriving first class with Thai International and will bypass any lines

Can you elaborate please? Thai Airways first class uses a special line? I have used Thai Airways but never first class.

Would these short lines apply to other airlines? I may be flyin on EVA first class in about one month.

Thanks

Most passengers in First & Business class receive a fast-track coupon. Proceed to the second Immigration Hall at the airport arrivals.

I don't know about other airlines, but Thai Airways business class passengers do not receive a fast track coupon and must queue with everyone else on arrival. On departure, there is a private immigration queue only for Thai Airways first and business class passengers, located just after the checkin counters. The same goes for Star Alliance gold card holders - no special immigration privileges on arrival.

I am not 100% sure they don't issue fast track for TG business class - but I will say, a TG business class passenger was having an absolute fit in the fast track area because they would not let him in (this was entering Thailand). He kept insisting he was entitled to fast track, and the staff kept saying only first class. Not sure who was right, but it was getting ugly. I was gone before it got resolved.

Guys - date someone in the airline industry working at Swampy airport. You can be met and taken right through if she has the right connections.

[KhunDave]

I'm going through (outbound) on a tight-ish connection next week. Domestic flight on Air Asia, so have to go landside to check in for the international sector. Anyone know how the queues are around 8pm at the moment?

Edited March 22, 2010 by KhunDave

[Mr Conrad]

Came through arrivals on Friday the 19th March at 19.00 hrs off EK372 , only about 4 people in each line at immigration seemed like plenty of booths manned as well.

Much better than my February arrival on same flight, maybe they have sorted whatever the problem was on the arrival side ??

Best Regards

Mr Conrad

[Nignoy]

I flew into Suvarnabhumi last Friday, about 4pm, and it took an hour to get through immigration. One problem is that some lines feed two desks and some only one (if one desk is closed). It's difficult to know which line to join when you arrive at a packed hall. Maybe they should use a single queueing system?

But 2 1/2 hours? Must have been a system problem as Briggsy says.

Outbound on Sunday morning, circa 9:30, there were longish queues at passport control but I still got through to the shopping mall in less than 30 minutes.

took an hour to get through immigration

But 2 1/2 hours? Must have been a system problem as Briggsy says.

If it takes u 1 hours they must have a problem as well, isn't tourist friendly to wait for 1 hour after a fleight of 12 hours(with children).

I maybe just lucky till now

we always have to allow a minimum of 2 hours to clear immigration when arriving on early morning flights at brisbane airport,on occasions we had a wait longer than 4 hours, and of course the day they forget to plug in the luggage scanners the wait was more than 8 hours, pehaps immigration in swampypoo were trained in brisbane

[ALFREDO]

As one Poster stated, have a Thaiwife or have same me, children with a Thai-they have my Family name in theire Thai Passports

and to go with them threw the Thai Passport line was always accepted and no problem.

And also true, try, if the first Immigration checkpoint near your arriving gate is jammed walk to another one usualy not far, can make a big difference.

[bdenner]

Haven't read all of this but departing at 08:00 a few weeks ago saw the lines stretching out into the 'checkin' area. Took about 20 mins to get to the immigration counter.

IN all fairness MOST of the problems I saw were the results of 'Stupid' Farang not having filled out their departure card!

[wpcoe]

And also true, try, if the first Immigration checkpoint near your arriving gate is jammed walk to another one usualy not far, can make a big difference.

Last time I arrived (earlier this month), I noticed big TV monitors at the entrance to the Immigrations hall with various camera angles of each Immigrations hall, so you could make a semi-informed decision about which Immigrations hall to use.