Passport Control Queue - Departure

[SlowlyMan]

Hey gang. I've got a few hours between flights. Figured i would get caught up on a few things.

 

I flew out last night (Tuesday) at midnight. From what I was told the Passport Control Queue was running about 3 hours. They even held my flight to make time for a few passengers.

 

I used fasttrack. http://fasttrack.in.th/index.php

 

The guy was late and couldn't seem to find me, but he did get me through. It took about 10 minutes, but he warned me the fasttrack Queue has been running 30 -45 minutes, so plan accordingly. It's really a shame we need to pay a premium price for a service that should be a part normal service. And to make it worse having to stand in line 45 minutes for a premium service.

 

I suppose as the word is getting out about the long wait more people are using the fast track services. (good for them I guess) The guy showed me his sheet, he must have had 100 names on the list and he was handling them all himself.

 

I asked why the long lines. His response was they are only using half the available positions. He seemed as confused by this as the rest of us.

 

SO, the moral of the story. If you don;t use fattrack, plan on getting to Swampy at least 4 hours early. If you do use one of the services you better get there at least 2 hrs early. Thats assuming you can get through the airline queue in reasonable amount of time. Fast track won't help you with that.

[Brianrich1]

So what time was your flight leaving out. Is it busy early morning also. Say like if your flight left at 6am would it be long lines at 3 or 4 am

[Perthie]

Another BM posted a couple of days ago that Thai Airways had advised him there were delays at BB due to construction work.

 

Naturally they also suggested he purchase Thai's own fastrack service - which costs $44 each way (arrival and departure). Another $88 to ensure timely processing at a major international airport, seems a little wrong to me.

 

Hope things have eased off by May.

 

Cheers

 

Perthie

[SlowlyMan]

Yes there is construction going on. But Again according to the Fast track guy, they are still only using half the available desks.

 

In regard to your question about time of day. I am sure the queue is constantly changing throughout the day. A lot of international flights leave at night so I'm sure that time is always busy. I have flown out of swampy in the middle of the day domestically and just stuck my nose into the passport control and saw no body in line. Some guys have reported walking right through. It is a roll of the dice to be sure.

 

I hate having to pay for something that should be a part or normal service, but I am also not standing in a line for 3 hrs.

 

If the trend continues, the fast track wait will be long as well. A first class passenger was going through ahead of me. He was beating his chest and such, but it didn't change anything.

[jerry]

And they want to dubbel the tourism to Thailand the next few years ..... so that's 6 to 8 hours waiting time .

 

Was there last Thursday at 1 pm and it was busy but waiting time was about 45 minutes .

I think the 3-4 hours is a little exaggerated as with most air flight compagnies check in starts 3 hours before the flight .

[Brianrich1]

Yeah I have an international flight back to the US. But my flight leaves bkk at 6 am

[Kangarooted]

And they want to dubbel the tourism to Thailand the next few years ..... so that's 6 to 8 hours waiting time .

 

There is plans to install the passport scanners shortly......but they are only for Thai Passports and I don't think they will be installing enough of them but it may shorten the wait somewhat.....hopefully

[jerry]

There is plans to install the passport scanners shortly......but they are only for Thai Passports and I don't think they will be installing enough of them but it may shorten the wait somewhat.....hopefully

 

So your Thai wife/girlfriend is trough in a few minutes and then she have to wait for you for another 3 hours on the other side .

 

Like you say hopefully ...... but 98% of the people leaving Thailand are farang so i'm afraid it's not gonna make much of a difference ............... Thailand

[tsemperor]

Flew on Sunday 9 am flight big line up but got airside in 45 min flights were held including air asia

[SlowlyMan]

Not only swampy.........

i landed at Chicago today. They had only three desks open. i did the bag drag for over an hour. What a surrly group they have working at that place. Sheesh

 

I went to check in for my domestic flight. The ticket agent gave me a hard time about checking in late. I told her there was a long line at immigration. She said i should plan better

[SlowlyMan]

And they want to dubbel the tourism to Thailand the next few years ..... so that's 6 to 8 hours waiting time .

 

Was there last Thursday at 1 pm and it was busy but waiting time was about 45 minutes .

I think the 3-4 hours is a little exaggerated as with most air flight compagnies check in starts 3 hours before the flight .

 

Ya, I'm not sure either. I was on fast track. The three hour number came from people I was chatting with at the gate.

[stanger69]

I wonder if this is exageration or it judt varies with time of day.

I flew in and out earlier this month, arrived at 8:30pm, departed at 10:00am. In both cases was through immigration in 15-20 minutes.

 

[Brianrich1]

I wonder if this is exageration or it judt varies with time of day.

I flew in and out earlier this month, arrived at 8:30pm, departed at 10:00am. In both cases was through immigration in 15-20 minutes.

 

Check out my thread I just posted. It's an article in there. The thread is. Sorry to say it now confirmed. Long ques

[jamesb]

SlowlyMan, what airline were you on with the Chicago nonsense? I fly in and out of there all the time and if I received attitude like that I would have complained. Typically (if you are a frequent flyer) the airlines will throw you 25K miles (to use on your next trip). An airline agent telling you to plan better for customs is just a bit too much attitude......

[SlowlyMan]

American - They were always surly, but since they filed chapter 11. things have been worse at the customer service end.

 

I generally try to avoid them, but this trip was booked through Vayama, so i didn't have a choice

Edited March 27, 2012 by SlowlyMan

[Edge RIP]

Check out my thread I just posted. It's an article in there. The thread is. Sorry to say it now confirmed. Long ques

 

It might have been more helpful to keep information in one place? LINK to article.

 

 

.

[pubstud]

This situation sucks big time wherever it is, we all pay a departure tax, built into our airfares, this departure tax is meant to be used for airport facilities such as immigration and customs. In Australia the tax = $27. In Thailand I think it's 700Bt. Multiply this amount by the number of passengers flying out of the country each day and you have an enormous amount of money. We are paying for a service but we are getting shitty service. It's not our fault if there are long lines at certain times of day. It's up to the professionals running airports to monitor the situation and ensure there's addition staff available for peak periods.

[Edge RIP]

Any up to date reports would be appreciated.

 

Although delays at Arrivals can be a real PITA, it is Departures which is the real stressor.

 

How long to allow so as not to miss our flight?

 

Has anyone here actually missed their flight despite checking in at a reasonable time?

 

 

.

[fatjack1]

This situation sucks big time wherever it is, we all pay a departure tax, built into our airfares, this departure tax is meant to be used for airport facilities such as immigration and customs. In Australia the tax = $27. In Thailand I think it's 700Bt. Multiply this amount by the number of passengers flying out of the country each day and you have an enormous amount of money. We are paying for a service but we are getting shitty service. It's not our fault if there are long lines at certain times of day. It's up to the professionals running airports to monitor the situation and ensure there's addition staff available for peak periods.

 

That concept at Swampy cracks me up

[pubstud]

That concept at Swampy cracks me up

 

So there's no such thing as an international-stardards airport control board that monitors airports around the world? I believe there are international inspectors monitoring safety issues. But nobody monitors passenger service? I suspect the Thais deliberately allow long lines in departure to force people to pay the hefty fees for fast track. Beats me how they always get away with this shit.

[lordarunotai]

We are paying for a service but we are getting shitty service.

 

Seems these days to apply to more and more things in Thailand

They want our money but they dont want us here.

[fatjack1]

So there's no such thing as an international-stardards airport control board that monitors airports around the world? I believe there are international inspectors monitoring safety issues. But nobody monitors passenger service? I suspect the Thais deliberately allow long lines in departure to force people to pay the hefty fees for fast track. Beats me how they always get away with this shit.

 

Sometimes it doesn't feel like there is anything professional about Thai public services.

[pubstud]

Just out of interest I've found Swampy to be a very impersonal cold unfriendly place with unhelpful staff. I always spend a few hours at S'Pore airport (both Changi and the budget terminal) on my flights to and from Australia and I'm always aware of a big difference in friendliness & helpfulness of staff at the two airports. At S'Pore I find smiles and genuine friendly custom service; at BKK it's like I'm a fucking pest interupting them from talking with their workmates. Of course these observations are in general, there's always exceptions.

 

But no doubt someone will reply if the Thai airport staff are unfriendly & unhelpful it must be the farangs' fault. It's always the farang' fault.

[Edge RIP]

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

But no doubt someone will reply if the Thai airport staff are unfriendly & unhelpful it must be the farangs' fault. It's always the farang' fault.

 

As long as you understand that, then all is good.

 

.

[pubstud]

As long as you understand that, then all is good.

 

.

 

Well it's the truth isn't it. Thais can never be wrong about anything. You see it every day in this forum and other forums. A group of Thais assult a lone farang and kick the crap out of him and other farang post - great, serves the cunt right, he must have asked for it....You see guys posting on this forum that it's the punters faults if the gals pull runners and scams as the quality of the punters has deteriorated....yeah, well never mind that crap...ever heard of work ethic?