Immigration chief hits back: Sunday missed flight claims are rubbish

[webfact]

Immigration chief hits back: Sunday missed flight claims are rubbish

 

Picture: Sanook

 

BANGKOK: -- Immigration chief Natathorn Phrosunthorn has hit back at claims that more than a dozen people missed their flights on Sunday because of slow service and empty counters at Suvarnabhumi airport.

 

The claims were made in a Facebook video and still photography post that alleged 13 people missed flights and only 6-10 counters were open at departures.

 

Natathorn told reporters that the peak time rush on Sunday was totally normal for the 6am to 9am period. He said that all 18 counters were manned and that staff were taking 45 seconds to one minute to process each passenger.

 

He admitted that four passengers had missed their flight - but they were to blame for that. They were four Cambodian passengers leaving for Phnom Phen, he said, who got through immigration as normal but then dallied on the other side and didn't make it to the gate on time.

 

Sanook.com said they had probably gone shopping or had a meal or even got lost because of unfamiliarity with the airport.

 

The chief reminded passengers of the need to make sure they have plenty of time - one to two hours is the recommendation - to clear all airport formalities, especially during peak times.

 

He said no action would be taken against the Facebook poster.

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-02-28

[fruitman]

And what will this chief do to speed up the immigration process?? Waiting 2 hours in line is no fun and ruins the reputation of Thailand.

 

And what happened to the tourist who made a picture while standing in the qeueu for hours?? She got arrested, we all saw it happening. She made a picture of the unmanned counters while there were 3 officials standing there behind them talking to eachother.

[petermik]

Any form of criticism of anything thai related is denied,nothing new here

[MarkusAUST]

Is he going to accept that 2 hour queues are not acceptable and that if 18 counters aren't enough to deal with rush hour, (especially if they were all manned, Lol!), that they need to build some more?

[trogers]

He spoke the truth, which TAT should include in their flyers - international airports here in Thailand requires 2 hours to process all required formalities.

 

Coupled with the horrendous traffic, you should make your way to the airport 4 hours before your flight departure.

Edited February 28, 2017 by trogers

[DM07]

It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?!

[Bluespunk]

"Natathorn told reporters that the peak time rush on Sunday was totally normal for the 6am to 9am period. He said that all 18 counters were manned and that staff were taking 45 seconds to one minute to process each passenger."

 

Yeah, right.

Edited February 28, 2017 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He admitted that four passengers had missed their flight - but they were to blame for that. They were four Cambodian passengers leaving for Phnom Phen, he said, who got through immigration as normal but then dallied on the other side and didn't make it to the gate on time.

Yeah, right.

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Sanook.com said they had probably gone shopping or had a meal or even got lost because of unfamiliarity with the airport.

Stupid foreigners, eh...

[fruitman]

21 minutes ago, MarkusAUST said:

Is he going to accept that 2 hour queues are not acceptable and that if 18 counters aren't enough to deal with rush hour, (especially if they were all manned, Lol!), that they need to build some more?

 

Yes or at least they could give the tourists in line for 2-3 hours something to drink, fresh cold mangojuice or so.

[tukkytuktuk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He admitted that four passengers had missed their flight - but they were to blame for that. They were four Cambodian passengers leaving for Phnom Phen, he said, who got through immigration as normal but then dallied on the other side and didn't make it to the gate on time.

Blame the Cambodians! Easy target!

[MadMuhummad]

34 minutes ago, trogers said:

He spoke the truth, which TAT should include in their flyers - international airports here in Thailand requires 2 hours to process all required formalities.

 

Coupled with the horrendous traffic, you should make your way to the airport 4 hours before your flight departure.

From personal experience I've never had a major issue and I'm notorious for cutting things fine. I usually arrive with around 90 minutes before flying and have never missed yet.

Every business gets overwhelmed at times.

[craigt3365]

Quote

He said no action would be taken against the Facebook poster.

Incredible that this is even an option.  Draconian comes to mind.

 

 

[d4291797]

Amazing Thailand!!!


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[daveAustin]

Chaps, just not worth reading this sort of tat and getting worked up. You know how the children react (it is NEVER their fault), and that aspect of non-accountability ain't gonna change anytime soon. They might actually do something about, but will not admit wrongdoing.

[chasggg]

If anybody is mug enough to leave it until the last minute then it serves them right....... If you arrive for an international flight, at the recommended 3 hrs before(same recommendation everywhere) you get on that flight. It's as simple as that.

Edited February 28, 2017 by chasggg

[canthai55]

1 hour ago, trogers said:

He spoke the truth, which TAT should include in their flyers - international airports here in Thailand requires 2 hours to process all required formalities.

 

Coupled with the horrendous traffic, you should make your way to the airport 4 hours before your flight departure.

Read it again - or keep trolling every topic ...

 

The chief reminded passengers of the need to make sure they have plenty of time - one to two hours is the recommendation - to clear all airport formalities, especially during peak times.

 

Clearing Security, Passport Control, Walk to your departure gate. 

Edited February 28, 2017 by canthai55

[whatawonderfulday]

So the problems were solely related to foreigners, in this case Cambodians. Of course incompetent immigration officials, piss poor management of them by their superiors had absolutely nothing to do with it.  Ignorant and Xenophobia is bliss, more so here in Thailand were it will probably be rewarded with some stupid title and a board appointment on a national company for which he would have no experience when he eventually retires.  Nepotism, corruption, stupidity are the Hubs in Thailand

[trogers]

1 hour ago, trogers said:

He spoke the truth, which TAT should include in their flyers - international airports here in Thailand requires 2 hours to process all required formalities.

 

Coupled with the horrendous traffic, you should make your way to the airport 4 hours before your flight departure.

 

11 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

Read it again - or keep trolling every topic ...

 

The chief reminded passengers of the need to make sure they have plenty of time - one to two hours is the recommendation - to clear all airport formalities, especially during peak times.

 

Clearing Security, Passport Control, Walk to your departure gate. 

Read what again? Is there a difference between what you and I wrote, with exception of horrendous traffic?

[Xaos]

I been late twice and after i told staff they took me short cuts, like vip or staff way.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Katipo]

Thank heavens for the Fast Track line 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Sanook.com said they had probably gone shopping or had a meal or even got lost because of unfamiliarity with the airport.

We believe you o great one. Better rush the media gag bill through fast. Your slip is showing. 

[elgordo38]

3 hours ago, DM07 said:

It's always someone else's fault, isn't it?!

The first rule of being a government official learn to be a buck passer. The buck never stops there. If all else fails suppress the truth (a work in progress)

[Mook23]

2 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

So the problems were solely related to foreigners, in this case Cambodians. Of course incompetent immigration officials, piss poor management of them by their superiors had absolutely nothing to do with it.  Ignorant and Xenophobia is bliss, more so here in Thailand were it will probably be rewarded with some stupid title and a board appointment on a national company for which he would have no experience when he eventually retires.  Nepotism, corruption, stupidity are the Hubs in Thailand

Blatant nepotism, etc. In the west it's more refined/covert. Same same but different......

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by Mook23

[manhood]

My experiance the last couple of times i flew out of Suvarnabhumi: the queing for immigration on departure times is getting longer and longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So there is something wrong without any doubt!!!!

 

But yes...in Thailand nobody feels or is responsible for anything and that goes through nearly all official departments or government offices and as we say: the fish stink from the head!!!!!!!!!!

[Jackin1960]

How magnanimous of him not to take action on the Face Book poster! 

[Jackin1960]

32 minutes ago, twizzian said:

Lying is a genetically inherited trait for the Thai race.

 

Lying! Thai's don't do that, they just have a different view on truth.

[Shawn0000]

5 hours ago, fruitman said:

And what will this chief do to speed up the immigration process?? Waiting 2 hours in line is no fun and ruins the reputation of Thailand.

 

And what happened to the tourist who made a picture while standing in the qeueu for hours?? She got arrested, we all saw it happening. She made a picture of the unmanned counters while there were 3 officials standing there behind them talking to eachother.

 

Nothing unusual, take pictures inside an airport, particularly the secure areas, and you are likely to be taken away for questioning, they are worried about terrorism by the way.

[natway09]

TAT has been promoting Thailand & has been so successful in bringing the lower end tourists here

(which I think is a major marketing blunder)

with no thought whatsoever to the infrastructure to handle the vast numbers.

These people do not help Thailand at all, spending very little money & putting an overburden on immigration,

internal transport, water resources, sewerage & rubbish disposal to name a few.

What TAT should be doing is to market the middle to upper end & stop just looking at bodies

but to reciepts

[jcb2001]

The wife and I went thru the immigration line on Monday morning, the 27th of Feb.  Processing was smooth about 10:00AM.  It only took about 20 minutes.

 

Do you think Sunday's complaints had something to do with the speedy processing on Monday?