Passengers Requested To Check In 3 Hours Before Flights

[george]

THAI requests passengers to check in to international flights 3 hours in advance

BANGKOK: -- Thai Airways International requests the assistance of passengers flying out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, to checki n 3 hours in advance for international flights and 1 hours in advance for domestic flights, in order to decrease traffic jams routed to and from the airport.

Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI's President, said that following the official opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport on 28 September 2006, there have been several people coming out to the airport who are both passengers and observing public, both inside and outside the airport terminal area. This has resulted in traffic congestion on the roads within the airport area. Therefore, the company requests the assistance of passengers traveling THAI flights to check in as follows:

Domestic flights: Arrive at the airport for check-in at least 1 hours before actual departure time

International flights: Arrive at the airport for check-in at least 3 hours before actual departure time

Passengers flying with THAI may check in to flights at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the 4th Floor, as follows:

Gate 1: Passengers flying Royal First Class and Royal Silk Class for international flights may check-in at Counter Rows A and B

Gate 2: Passengers flying Royal Silk Class and Economy Class for domestic flights may check-in at Counter Row C

Gate 4: Passengers flying Economy Class for international flights may check-in at Counter Rows H and J.

--The Nation 2006-10-04

[wpcoe]

What is a "Flg. Off." ?

Why are passengers domestic flights only requested to arrive one hour before departure time? Isn't that cutting it a bit close, especially if the gates are far away? Don't passengers on domestic flights also use vehicles which would contribute to, and be caught in, traffic jams?

"...there have been several people coming out to the airport who are both passengers and observing public, both inside and outside the airport terminal area." Several people?

And, jumping on the bandwagon, a friend told me he just called United reservations in BKK to see what time they recommended for check-in: "Three hours before." For a flight that leaves at 0645???

[mickmac]

May be they just want the passengers to spend as much time in the shops as possible, afterall there are very few places to go and sit while you wait for the flight.

[ovenman]

And, jumping on the bandwagon, a friend told me he just called United reservations in BKK to see what time they recommended for check-in: "Three hours before." For a flight that leaves at 0645???

Three hours early seems a bit absurd for a flight departing that early in the morning.

[silverhawk_usa]

Maybe I am missing something here but;

If you have "x" number of passengers arriving for 11:00 flight and you now tell the same number of passengers to arrive three hours early, you still have "x"number of passengers arriving at the same time (8:00). How does that cut the traffic?

[ovenman]

Maybe I am missing something here but;

If you have "x" number of passengers arriving for 11:00 flight and you now tell the same number of passengers to arrive three hours early, you still have "x"number of passengers arriving at the same time (8:00). How does that cut the traffic?

I don't think it's designed to reduce traffic per se, I believe the idea is to have passengers aim for being at the airport earlier than normal for check-in and if they do get caught up in traffic, they have extra time to arrive at the airport.

[trajan]

Last Sat morning, I checked into Thai Airways Silk Class (Premium International Departure Check-in Entrance 1, Level 4, Departure Terminal), took an aggregate total of 15 minutes from start to finish (no waiting at sit-down check-in, after that one small podium with smiling Thai attendant for Baht 500 departure tax, 8 dedicated Silk Class exit immigration counters (but only 3 manned, but no waiting), and escalators down to Level 3, Thai Silk Class lounge with self playing piano, free internet terminal zone, showers, slumber lounge, open bars, kids play zone, snack bars with tiny inadequate snacks, but OK soft and hard drinks, espressos, etc.... left lounge because I was curious about the rest of the airport....

walked all over Level 4, Concourses A-G, LOTS of shops and restaurants....more impressive than Changi or Hong Kong in my opinion.... had a 1 hour foot massage for B600 at one of the many Chang Massage Spas...more expensive than downtown but its the airport....(Thai Airways Massage & Spa lounge not opened yet on Level 3, Concourse D)

walked partly over Level 3, Concourses A-D, LOTS of unfinished airline lounges.....(stumbled into a Miracle Lounge by Louis Tavern....partly finished....

Level 2 are departing gates.....

(BUT economy class check-in for TG and other airlines was a circus/zoo with long lines--definately need much more time)...

Edited October 4, 2006 by trajan

[A_Traveller]

What is a "Flg. Off." ?

Flight Officer. I presume the designation comes from his time with the Royal Thai Air Force.

[The Philosopher]

What is a "Flg. Off." ?

Flight Officer. I presume the designation comes from his time with the Royal Thai Air Force.

The Ranks are as follows taken in ascending order directly from the RAF ----

Pilot Officer PO

Flying Officer FO (FGL)

Flight Lieutenant FLT (FGL) probably his last air force rank before moving to civil avaition most service persons are allowed to keep their ranks as letters after their names after retirement from the service

Squdaron Leader SQL

Wing Commander WC

Group Captain GP

Air Commodore ACM

Air Vice Marshall AVM

Air Marshall AM

Marshall of the Royal Air Force GOD

The Thai have copied the rank structure directly from the Royal Air Force really winds up the Yanks but after all the Thais do have some degree of class

TP

Edited October 4, 2006 by The Philosopher

[John K]

Actually this is now normal in the USA. It does take 3 hours to process 500+ passengers through security. If you are flying to the USA then you must expect to deal with their security. I just flew out Sunday and security was at a max. however it was very obvious that security was undergoing on the job training. I went through 3 security checks before boarding. The initial one at the counter, carry on x ray and metal detector entering the concourse, and open inspection and body search at the gate. I was one of the first there and they spent 5 minutes with me alone. It looks like they had 2 Ques set up so you can do the math. Plus all passengers must be onboard and seated 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. There was also a random inspection of checked luggage before you even make it to the ticket counter that I managed to avoid, so all total there would be 4 security checks for some passengers. That could easily make it 10 minutes depending on how many bags you have.

All and all for the minor inconvenience of arriving early in exchange for piece of mind, well worth the wait.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

What is a "Flg. Off." ?

Why are passengers domestic flights only requested to arrive one hour before departure time? Isn't that cutting it a bit close, especially if the gates are far away? Don't passengers on domestic flights also use vehicles which would contribute to, and be caught in, traffic jams?

"...there have been several people coming out to the airport who are both passengers and observing public, both inside and outside the airport terminal area." Several people?

And, jumping on the bandwagon, a friend told me he just called United reservations in BKK to see what time they recommended for check-in: "Three hours before." For a flight that leaves at 0645???

Flying Officer ( Lieutenant equivalent )

[AlexLah]

Took a flight to Jakarta last Sunday morning.

Flight scheduled at 08:00. I arrived at 06:00 which gave me enough time (in DM) to stroll around a bit after check in and immigration.

But hel_l was I wrong when thinking I should have perhaps even more time in the new airport.

I barely made it (just arrived at the plane at 07:50) and it was not that busy at the check in and at immigration.

Oh, and I did not even stoped anywhere to buy something.

Guess I will just follow the three hour recommendation for the time being.

[Chang_paarp]

Maybe I am missing something here but;

If you have "x" number of passengers arriving for 11:00 flight and you now tell the same number of passengers to arrive three hours early, you still have "x"number of passengers arriving at the same time (8:00). How does that cut the traffic?

I think you will find it is code for:

Our systems don't work yet. Expect long waits as we try to figure out what to do. We cannot criticize the airport so the traffic will have to do.

[stoneman]

Last Sat morning, I checked into Thai Airways Silk Class (Premium International Departure Check-in Entrance 1, Level 4, Departure Terminal), took an aggregate total of 15 minutes from start to finish (no waiting at sit-down check-in, after that one small podium with smiling Thai attendant for Baht 500 departure tax,

I thought the departure tax was being raised to 700 baht at the new airport...Did they do away with that idea?

[womble]

Maybe I am missing something here but;

If you have "x" number of passengers arriving for 11:00 flight and you now tell the same number of passengers to arrive three hours early, you still have "x"number of passengers arriving at the same time (8:00). How does that cut the traffic?

I think you will find it is code for:

Our systems don't work yet. Expect long waits as we try to figure out what to do. We cannot criticize the airport so the traffic will have to do.

It can't be the traffic because they still want people on domestic flights to arrive the usual 1 hr before. So why is that then, does the traffic not effect domestic travellers???

No I think it would effect everyone the same if there was any traffic problems.

It's other things that for whatever reasons they can't admit.

[bina]

THREE HOURS IN ADVANCE, STANDARD IN TEL AVIV FOR THE PAST 10 YRS OR SO...security stuff usually, it takes forever to open every tube of toothpaste , drink from every bottle of water etc....

we are used to waiting on line for security for everything; to get a bus u have to take in to account 20+ minutes just getting in to the bus terminals after being let off the bus... no last minute dashes anymore...

)

[thaigene2]

May be they just want the passengers to spend as much time in the shops as possible, afterall there are very few places to go and sit while you wait for the flight.

YUP! Exactly..

Did anyone who has lived here more than a year or three EVER have any doubts about what a new airport is all about? Did anyone EVER think one of the richest guys in Thailand would allow something as insignificant as a change in big boys to interupt his monopoly cash flow (and I don't mean AIS)?TIT - play it to your advantage - I admire him (well ok no I don't but ya know 'who ever said life was fair'?..). If you don't understand this - sorry - but we're under 'special' rules at present..Thailand is about 'special' people..and it looks like it always will be (sadly). Daughters are always named "Porn" - what's that all about anyway? Is that racist?

[onlooker]

Daughters are always named "Porn" - what's that all about anyway? Is that racist?

Hopefully the above comment was made in jest. Or perhaps ignorance isnt always bliss?

There's a simple explanation for the 3 hour check in requirement. It's so everyone who wants to use the one of the half a dozen public toilets has enough time to do so.

[astral]

They are probably trying to emulate KLIA

where the queues for foreigners to pass Immigration are ridiculous.

Last weekend there were 4 immigration officers processing foregn arrivals

and it to 40 minutes to negotiate the queue.

[pantarei]

What is a "Flg. Off." ?

Flight Officer. I presume the designation comes from his time with the Royal Thai Air Force.

The Ranks are as follows taken in ascending order directly from the RAF ----

.............

The Thai have copied the rank structure directly from the Royal Air Force really winds up the Yanks but after all the Thais do have some degree of class

TP

The Philosopher -- spoken like a true Kant.

[Gumballl]

I believe that it was suggested that you show up 3 hours prior to your flight. But believe me, you do not have to. It is only a suggestion!

Show up 5 minutes before your flight if you wish. Unfortunately, not I nor anyone else assure you that you will actually get to board your flight.

Just use some F-sense. Big deal if your flight is during the wee hours of the morning. I bet you show up at a decent time at your destination. Would you rather leave BKK at 6pm, and show up at your destination at 4am???

[fxm88]

Actually this is now normal in the USA. It does take 3 hours to process 500+ passengers through security.

Next time take the bus.