Trip#4 Some Improvements

[rogerdee123]

Just completed trip number #4 thru Suvarnabhumi outgoing international.

Arriving via hotel limo at 6AM, traffic backed up about 1km for the departure driveway close to the terminal. The outside driveway was clear. Traffic (AOT) cops were trying to get taxis in the "inside" Lane to pull over into the outside lane. I asked my Limo driver to do the same but he was stubborn. Although I was flying economy I ended up getting out near the First Class check-in area due to the traffic jam.

Arriving at the terminal the economy check-in lines for Thai were again backed up to the doors.

However I was pleasantly surprised that there was no chaos at the Thai Gold Card check-in. This improvement is because the stern woman Thai staff person wasn't there trying to manage the gold-card passengers. Thus passengers could walk right up and stand in line at the counter and thus the Gold Card check-in lines weren't backed up and merging into economy check-in lines and the Gold card check-in sign wasn't obscured by the crowd.

Again I was pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to Business. I've been a Thai Gold Member since it started in the early 1990s and this is only the second time I've been upgraded.

Immigration lines were backed up to the walls. This was despite almost 80% of immigration officers at the counters. i.e. 80 percent of the counters were staffed. Why is this airport so <deleted> crowded?

The Thai Business lounge was crowded and had no place to sit again. So I decided to have another adventure and went in search of the CIP First Class lounge. I have a "Priority Pass" card that gets me into this lounge. I finally found it near the "F" terminal. Compared to the CIP FC lounge at Don Muang this lounge is cramped and very very small. Seats for 28 passengers (yes I counted). Also miniature tables hardly large enough for two persons' coffee and snacks. Aisles were blocked with handbaggage.

After leaving this lounge I spotted the CIP business lounge which is quite large and had very few passengers. That's where I'm going next time!

Compared to my last trip, there was an improvement in the gate. Now very large area with plenty of seats. However toilets were not so clean. I needed to sit on the crapper and in addition to the pissy floor, there wasn't any toilet paper. I snatched some paper towels and hoped it wouldn't clog the toilet. As I sat down to take a shit, I was in for an unpleasant surprise. Balls in the Water!!! The water level in this toilet is unusually high!!!! ######!! Maybe this is why there are footprints on the toilet seat! Anyway I managed to unload. But I'll spare you the gory details.

This time for boarding there were two separate doors for business and economy passengers (not that this bothered me before). When seated in the plane a friend walked by and said he almost was bumped because the plane was overbooked. Aha ... that's why they upgraded me. For a moment I thought maybe Thai had become smart and was upgrading passengers to sooth the Suvarnabhumi experience.

While still parked at the gate, the map projected on the bulkhead informed the passengers that it was 1:05AM (actually it was about 8AM) and that we were 17 miles from the airport. But I guess this cannot be blamed on AOT.

I'll be back again next week and check out improvements in the arrival hall.

Edited October 21, 2006 by rogerdee123

[Maestro]

While still parked at the gate, the map projected on the bulkhead informed the passengers that it was 1:05AM (actually it was about 8AM) and that we were 17 miles from the airport. But I guess this cannot be blamed on AOT.

This is interesting.

The clock was probably set to UTC (Universal Time Co-ordinated), also known as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Not very helpful for the passengers.

The 17 miles probably referred to the distance from Don Muang Airport, the old Bangkok International Airport. Now, this might be worrying, if the plane's computers are still programmed to take off from and land at Don Muang.

---------------

Maestro

[crockett]

Again I was pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to Business. I've been a Thai Gold Member since it started in the early 1990s and this is only the second time I've been upgraded.

Star Alliance was inaugurated in 1997 (not early 1990s) with Thai as one of it's founding members.

Since then, I have received complimentary upgrades 2-3 times a year.

Maybe you should ask more often?

[crockett]

On another note: If you re-qualify for gold status in the 2-year evaluation period, you automatically

get a complimentary upgrade. Doing 50,000 miles in 12 months gets you even two upgrades

[JimGant]

And if you're flying United Airlines......their ticket counter is "L" with drop off point "6" on the Departure Level.

But they're not one of the many airlines listed on the "6" kiosk, as their counter location was a last minute change -- and apparently changing signage on these kiosks isn't easily done. At least they weren't listed as of Oct 17th.

Liquids and gels in carry-on luggage adheres to Stateside rules, namely: small tubes/bottles that can fit into a single 1-quart ziplock bag is ok. I didn't remove the ziplock bag from my carryon when going thru the security screener, and had no problems at both Bangkok and Narita (which also officially endorses the ziplock bag rule). However, Stateside, I found out they want the bag removed and placed in a container for separate screening (I hadn't done that and was thus pulled aside).

Again, this was United going Stateside. Other carriers and destinations may have different rulings -- but I only checked with United.

[rogerdee123]

Hi Crockett

Maybe you're right and I should ask more often for upgrades.

But Thai Royal Orchid Plus began in 1991 or 92 (can't remember). Maybe Thai was a founding member of Star Alliance in 97 but the Thai ROP program already existed. In those early days if you were a Gold member, they would meet you at the gate at Don Muang and escort you thru immigration.

To be completely correct, I also must say that I receive a certificate for complimentary round-trip upgrade everytime my Gold status is renewed (every two years). I was referring to upgrades upon check-in and I think you are also. So in that regard perhaps you are correct and I should ask for upgrades. I'm flying Thai tomorrow and I'll ask for one.

Again I was pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to Business. I've been a Thai Gold Member since it started in the early 1990s and this is only the second time I've been upgraded.

Star Alliance was inaugurated in 1997 (not early 1990s) with Thai as one of it's founding members.

Since then, I have received complimentary upgrades 2-3 times a year.

Maybe you should ask more often?

[CymruAmByth]

Anyway I managed to unload. But I'll spare you the gory details.

Bit late now !

[crockett]

To be completely correct, I also must say that I receive a certificate for complimentary round-trip upgrade everytime my Gold status is renewed (every two years). I was referring to upgrades upon check-in and I think you are also. So in that regard perhaps you are correct and I should ask for upgrades. I'm flying Thai tomorrow and I'll ask for one.

Ok rogerdee, point taken. This makes it more clear.

Hope you get an upgrade tomorrow.

Good luck

crockett