Automatic Gates To Ease Congestion At Suvarnabhumi Airport

[anterian]

What I don't understand is that if you go to Bangkok immigration to renew your visa, they have this number ticket machine and seats where you wait until your number appears. So why cannot they do the same at the airport, these machines are not expensive, many hospitals, and post offices use them.

Anterian, maybe I am missing something, but wouldn't a snake line achieve essentially the same result?

No with a snake line you still have to stand and hold your place, with the ticket number you can go and sit down, visit the toilet, even return to duty free if a very large queue.

true, but I guess I just want to get through customs asap... standing is no problem.

" standing is no problem." Just wait until you are in your late 70's, you might change your mind

[fiercesnake]

Way to go Khun deputy transport minister...just one flaw in your cunning plan are not the vast majority of personages being held up actually non-thai passport holders, therefore installing these will actually do very little to easy any congestion ?

Ahh yes he has a cunning plan! You just don't understand the depth of Thai politicians and senior public servants. You forget this is THAIland for Thais, so the emphasis is to be sure not to inconvenience THAIS in THAIland! When you realise this you will see the wisdom of his cunning plan!

[JimsKnight]

Bitter long term expats ===== <deleted> ??? The problem is tourists waiting in their long lines. How will the tourists watching Thais whiz through special lines just for them create anything but resentment ??? Except to reinforce right off the bat that farangs will be treated as second class people here.... :-)

The actual solution to this problem ?? HIRE MORE IMMIGRATION STAFF.......

Actually most countries have special lines created for their citizens, its kinda a perk of being a citizen of that particular country, so absolutely nothing to do with Farangs/second class people..this is the same the world over.

Not in the UK there isn't! You are EU subjects and all herded together due to the dim-brained glory's of socialism!

[Payboy]

For Pete's sake. Allow people to express their opinions, even if you don't happen to agree.. Jumping on their case like this just puts you on the same level! Live & let live. Move on.

I'm thinking you haven't received the memo.

[tlansford]

Bitter long term expats ===== <deleted> ??? The problem is tourists waiting in their long lines. How will the tourists watching Thais whiz through special lines just for them create anything but resentment ??? Except to reinforce right off the bat that farangs will be treated as second class people here.... :-)

The actual solution to this problem ?? HIRE MORE IMMIGRATION STAFF.......

Actually most countries have special lines created for their citizens, its kinda a perk of being a citizen of that particular country, so absolutely nothing to do with Farangs/second class people..this is the same the world over.

Not in the UK there isn't! You are EU subjects and all herded together due to the dim-brained glory's of socialism!

Same same. EU nationals pass through right through the fast lane, and the second-class Americans et al take the snake queue and get stamped...

[Soutpeel]

Bitter long term expats ===== <deleted> ??? The problem is tourists waiting in their long lines. How will the tourists watching Thais whiz through special lines just for them create anything but resentment ??? Except to reinforce right off the bat that farangs will be treated as second class people here.... :-)

The actual solution to this problem ?? HIRE MORE IMMIGRATION STAFF.......

Actually most countries have special lines created for their citizens, its kinda a perk of being a citizen of that particular country, so absolutely nothing to do with Farangs/second class people..this is the same the world over.

Not in the UK there isn't! You are EU subjects and all herded together due to the dim-brained glory's of socialism!

But you did note I used the term "most' countries..

[herb59]

from my experience it seems there are a certain traveller that holds the ques up and that is one who hasn't filled in their transit card correctly, this not only frustrates the immigration officer but also those waiting behind....there is no real solution to this but it really does make your blood boil!

send them back to the end of the queue, as long its not a major fault.

[skippybangkok]

Way to go Khun deputy transport minister...just one flaw in your cunning plan are not the vast majority of personages being held up actually non-thai passport holders, therefore installing these will actually do very little to easy any congestion ?

They free up immigration staff who can then man the non-Thai booths.

Lol..... seems some one shoots and thinks later.

[PEP]

personally it doesn't effect me as I travel business and always go fast track

I am considering a business class flight. Can someone post details of this "Fast Track" facility please?

[khaowong1]

Way to go Khun deputy transport minister...just one flaw in your cunning plan are not the vast majority of personages being held up actually non-thai passport holders, therefore installing these will actually do very little to easy any congestion ?

They free up immigration staff who can then man the non-Thai booths.

But your assuming the technology that will be put in place does not a require a body next to it to show people how to use it !.....similar to what happens in banks, where bank staff are standing there to show people how to use the ATM LOL, and of course you assume the technology will even work properly when installed...dont forget we are in a country who is buying high "quality tablets" for school children at THB 2000 a pop

Didn't I read somewhere that it's now closer to THB 8000 a pop?

[khunron13]

It's great that they are finally implementing some minor measures to address the problem. Kudos for that!

What is so irritating about this whole mess is how long it took them to acknowledge there was a problem. And I do consider it a problem since the Pooyai's in charge started throwing out excuses once they realized they could no longer ignore the issue. If they had addressed it BEFORE they zoomed past max capacity, they would have saved themselves a ton of bad press!

[Nisa]

What I don't understand is that if you go to Bangkok immigration to renew your visa, they have this number ticket machine and seats where you wait until your number appears. So why cannot they do the same at the airport, these machines are not expensive, many hospitals, and post offices use them.

Anterian, maybe I am missing something, but wouldn't a snake line achieve essentially the same result?

No with a snake line you still have to stand and hold your place, with the ticket number you can go and sit down, visit the toilet, even return to duty free if a very large queue.

Only it would at least double the time you wait since now you would have to wait for people to be called and then make it to the counter. It is irritating too when they call numbers at immigration only to see people not paying attention and taking their time getting to the empty chair with a clerk doing nothing but waiting.