Immigration Problems At Suvarnabhumi Airport

[tomgeorge]

The current immigration problems at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport do not seem like they will be going away anytime soon. Passengers have become disgusted over incredibly long waits of 3-4 hours at peak times to clear immigration control at the almost six-year old airport and it looks like they will be for the foreseeable future.
Immigration officials have pointed to a number of different reasons for the delays but one of the most intractable may be the physical size of the airport and the number of people that are now trying to use it on a daily basis. Originally built to accommodate 80,000 people per day, the airport is now handling 16-180,000 arrivals and departures per day with an increase of another 14,000 per day expected over the next five years.
Compounding the problem is the current shortage of capable immigration officials. There are now only 1,045 officers, about 20% below the ideal complement of personnel. This situation is being addressed as well as possible but the physical limitations must also be addressed if the wait times are to be shortened, according to immigration officials.
So for the foreseeable future be prepared to get to Suvarnabhumi 3-4 hours before any international flight you may be taking or risk missing your flight.

[Perota]

Fly business, you will get the "golden pass" that allows you to use the VIP channel and go hassle free through the customs in less than 5 mn.

And if you manage to keep it (they usually collect it at the custom desk but not always), you can use it again for your next trip when you travel in cattle class.

[Kurgen]

I did a visa run a week ago and it was much better than the last time I went through about a month ago. About 15 mins to get out and about 10 mins to get back in, it was very quiet on the way back in though.

[toslti]

I went through on Thursday last week at about 0930 and whilst the queues were busy it still only took 12 minutes to get through. The snaking lines moved smoothly and every booth on the right hand set as it were was open and people were being queue managed efficiently.


I came back in on Sunday evening at about 1900 and it was very busy... apparently only one runway was in use for some reason and it was all a bit backed up. EY and QR were in with assorted ragheads in abundance and the lines were backing up. However each line had 3 or 4 staff looking after it who were sorting out the usual issues like 'you need to fill in the card you bloody muppet' and 'please sign where it says signature' etc before you got to the desks so the process was a lot smoother. Again, all booths were open and I was through in about 15 mins of joining the queue.

By the time I got to baggage reclaim the belt had finished and my case removed and set aside... but that was more the long walk from the aircraft to the Immigration that accounted for that time rather than the time in the queue.

[nigelandjan]

Her's a tip worth trying ,, if your with your Thai Mrs ,, get her to have a quick sawattee dee ka with the nearest immigration lady supervising that mile long snake queue your in and with any luck she will life the barrier up and direct you into the Thai only lane . This worked for us in and out recently

Oh yes almost forgot the wife was travelling on her UK passport

[Neep]

I arrived at around 1500 on Sunday and it was a breeze to get through. I walked up to the first line and was second in the queue. I actually had to wait for my bag this time, which hasn't happened for a while. Its normally at least a 30 minute wait to get through without my partner or a fast pass ticket.

Big difference to when i left a month or so ago. Even the fast pass line took 20 minutes to get through whereas you normally just stroll through.

The queue to get into the immigration area looked like the worlds saddest congo line and spanned the length of the airport. There was a vast horde within the immigration area, and by my rough guess-timation obtained from the refection in the glass roof there was well over a thousand people in line. Goodness knows how many were queuing to get in.

I spoke to a couple of guys in the lounge that said it took them 2 hours to get through but that was only because they jumped the queue.

I made a few comments to the fast pass representative that met me, and say i doubted the wisdom of closing an immigration area for refurbishment during high season. I also said that alot of the tourists would remember this and may not be back next year. He agreed it was pretty shite, though not in those words.

When we were away from anyone else he told me that he felt the problems in the airport came down to the fact that they kept changing bosses, and each one changed the policies of the previous chief.

[harrybarracuda]

Fly business, you will get the "golden pass" that allows you to use the VIP channel and go hassle free through the customs in less than 5 mn.

And if you manage to keep it (they usually collect it at the custom desk but not always), you can use it again for your next trip when you travel in cattle class.

I'm afraid that doesn't work as long as the employees in Immigration continue to skive off.

Going out on April 10th they had a massive queue of people in fast track and half of the desks unmanned.

Yet as usual there were plenty of people milling around with paper in their hand, stopping for a chat and distracting the few employees who were working.

They're a lazy bunch of c**ts and that's the biggest source of the delays.

[nigelandjan]

I also said that alot of the tourists would remember this and may not be back next year. He agreed it was pretty shite, though not in those words.

They couldn't care less about that

[nigelandjan]

They're a lazy bunch of c**ts and that's the biggest source of the delays.
__________________

Bet you didn't say that at the desk when you got there Arry

Anyway FFKS how could you get inspired to do anything else on six quid a day ?

[Kwang]

Did you check the other immigration point, Neep ?

It only takes 3 planes to land a few minutes apart in the same side of the airport to make a line of 1000 passengers.

If your plane is one of 3 that lands in the East terminal then keep walking to the West Immigration, many times it won't be as congested, and vice versa.

Use the same logic when leaving Swampy too

The staff won't tell anyone that the other immigration is empty

[Loy Toy]

I always show my work permit and go through the Thai Passport channel waiting at most 20 minutes when it is really packed.

When questioned I just tell them I pay Thai taxes and they process my re-entry.

[Neep]

Did you check the other immigration point, Neep ?

It only takes 3 planes to land a few minutes apart in the same side of the airport to make a line of 1000 passengers.

If your plane is one of 3 that lands in the East terminal then keep walking to the West Immigration, many times it won't be as congested, and vice versa.

Use the same logic when leaving Swampy too

The staff won't tell anyone that the other immigration is empty

When i left last time one of the immigration areas was closed for refurbishment which was a large part of the cause of the ridiculous delays.

When i arrived on Sunday there were no delays at all and i was second in line so i was pleasantly surprised.
I have walked on to the next area in the past and have found it can make a small difference. Its a bugger when you get to the next one and find it is actually worse than the one you abandoned.
I typically arrive at 1500 so as you say there are often a few big flights coming in at that time.

If you are lucky you will get chatting to someone to pass the time. If you are unlucky you will be behind a group of chinese or russian tourists.

I noted the addition of rope barriers this time, which in a busy time will hopefully stop the annoying cunts jumping into another line because their friends line is moving more quickly.

[Kwang]

Its a bugger when you get to the next one and find it is actually worse than the one you abandoned.

I have done that too, then gone off and had a cigarette in that disabled toilet opposite West Immigration

[nevets]

Its no good if they dont man/woman all the desks , people are waiting to go through and half the desks are empty.
Not enough staff at swompy to take breaks and man/woman the desks.

[klong toey]

I decide to try a different company to the one i recommended in a another thread, fast track and limo cost 1300 baht will let you know if they are okay.
I printed off a voucher so paying cash on arrival better than handing over credit card details to a company you have never tried before.

[CNF55]

I decide to try a different company to the one i recommended in a another thread, fast track and limo cost 1300 baht will let you know if they are okay.
I printed off a voucher so paying cash on arrival better than handing over credit card details to a company you have never tried before.

That sounds quite reasonable.

Look forward to hearing how it went.

[Fondles]

I always show my work permit and go through the Thai Passport channel waiting at most 20 minutes when it is really packed.

When questioned I just tell them I pay Thai taxes and they process my re-entry.

I used to show my work permit, these days I just tell somchai the security guard I have work permit so can I go through Thai line and he ushers me towards it. Immi dude/gal has never blink an eye.

[nidhogg]

Went out the country last week, about 10am - less than ten minutes to clear immigration. They have slightly changed, so you join a central queue and get directed to free booth, rather than waiting in one line in front of a booth - which is good for me, as I always pick the wrong bloody lane....

[david44]

Of course they dont realyy care as its a distress monopoly situation. The underpaid officers have the same number of faces to deal with in aday. Pre screeing having forms availble and ticket queues would assist passengers by why would they bother,no tip no service

[david44]

Is it correct there is more than one immigration channel leaving,last week there was a screened area and the Express track

[Smug Farang Bore]

Fly business, you will get the "golden pass" that allows you to use the VIP channel and go hassle free through the customs in less than 5 mn.

And if you manage to keep it (they usually collect it at the custom desk but not always), you can use it again for your next trip when you travel in cattle class.

Many of my mates n I do just that but the fekers have started changing the design more often.

As for the fast track. I went past it the other day and it was a massive bun fight in there too.

Six years old , hub of S E A. . .

Place is a joke

[Mr Earl]

Fuckkin android is actin up

[Mr Earl]

If only Thailand would follow the leed from their friends in Malaysia.
Going into and out of Malaysia is the most painless and efficient anywhere.
They scan your passport and place a small computer generated strip sticker with a 90 day entry. When you leave they retreive the little strip. No filling out stupid arrival and departure cards.
The Thais waste so muchs time fucking about with the stupid 30 and 15 visas on arrival.
One really wishes they would get a clue.

[harrybarracuda]

They're a lazy bunch of c**ts and that's the biggest source of the delays.
__________________

Bet you didn't say that at the desk when you got there Arry

Anyway FFKS how could you get inspired to do anything else on six quid a day ?

I've repeatedly said that if they were compensated based on the number of passengers they process correctly in a day, they might be a bit more fucking keen to work at a healthy pace instead of skiving off.

However, as long as the boys at the top are trousering all the cash, that will never happen, and anyway it's a good idea and Thais don't have a fucking clue what a good idea is.

[DrAndy]

The current immigration problems at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport do not seem like they will be going away anytime soon.

they have, essentially, gone away