Immigration Delays Departing BKK
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Immigration Delays Departing BKK
Over the past few weeks, perhaps related to the bombing incident last month in Bangkok (although I'm not sure why) there have been many, many first hand reports of upwards of two-hour waits to clear Immigration when departing Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport (BKK).
For those departing you may wish to consider giving yourself some extra time?
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...t-immigration/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...irport-122012/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...t-of-thailand/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...eck-in-delays/
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Forum Immigration thread: Warning on current immigration clearance time
For those departing you may wish to consider giving yourself some extra time?
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...t-immigration/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...irport-122012/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...t-of-thailand/
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...eck-in-delays/
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Forum Immigration thread: Warning on current immigration clearance time
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 6, 2012 at 7:55 am Reason: add link to FT TG Forum thread on same topic
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SIN / HKG / AKL
Programs: *G (NZ SQ), MPC Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 394
I was there last weekend and can confirm immigration was an absolute zoo departing on Sunday afternoon. If you have an APEC card be sure to ask where the express entrance is so you can avoid the queue.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,764
Departing pax in premium cabins can (assuming that their carriers participate, CX does) use the crew immigration and security screening areas for departures. I was there about five hours ago (Sunday, 4 March, around 1700). Four immigration officers open, I was the only one in the area.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Yangon
Programs: LH, PG, BA, SPG, HH
Posts: 319
For about the last 6 weeks both arriving and departing immigration have been a total nightmare. However you can still be lucky I arrived about 5pm last Wednesday and there was only a short queue at immigration. But arrived at 7pm the previous Friday anf the immigration queue was all out of the immirgration area, down the ramp and snaking around the terminal.
Sometimes it is worth checking out the other immigration area if the first one you come to is very bad. Unlikely that the other one will be empty but it may not have as bad a queue.
If you do not have fast track then I would allow an hour to get through immigration at the moment when departing.
Sometimes it is worth checking out the other immigration area if the first one you come to is very bad. Unlikely that the other one will be empty but it may not have as bad a queue.
If you do not have fast track then I would allow an hour to get through immigration at the moment when departing.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Departing pax in premium cabins can (assuming that their carriers participate, CX does) use the crew immigration and security screening areas for departures. I was there about five hours ago (Sunday, 4 March, around 1700). Four immigration officers open, I was the only one in the area.
And where are these special lines, both for arriving and departing passengers?
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
TG has a special departure immigration area for C/F pax that only TG uses. You'll be through in a flash.
TG also has a setup for arrival C/F pax but it has apparently changed in the last few weeks (from using Fast Track cards to simply using your BP) and I haven't been able to glean more info. Lines might be long here, but shorter than the normal immy lines.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Supposedly UA does; can't say as I haven't flown them in/out of BKK in years.
TG has a special departure immigration area for C/F pax that only TG uses. You'll be through in a flash.
TG also has a setup for arrival C/F pax but it has apparently changed in the last few weeks (from using Fast Track cards to simply using your BP) and I haven't been able to glean more info. Lines might be long here, but shorter than the normal immy lines.
TG has a special departure immigration area for C/F pax that only TG uses. You'll be through in a flash.
TG also has a setup for arrival C/F pax but it has apparently changed in the last few weeks (from using Fast Track cards to simply using your BP) and I haven't been able to glean more info. Lines might be long here, but shorter than the normal immy lines.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,790
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Off to the TG thread no though!
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,160
Supposedly UA does; can't say as I haven't flown them in/out of BKK in years.
TG has a special departure immigration area for C/F pax that only TG uses. You'll be through in a flash.
TG also has a setup for arrival C/F pax but it has apparently changed in the last few weeks (from using Fast Track cards to simply using your BP) and I haven't been able to glean more info. Lines might be long here, but shorter than the normal immy lines.
TG has a special departure immigration area for C/F pax that only TG uses. You'll be through in a flash.
TG also has a setup for arrival C/F pax but it has apparently changed in the last few weeks (from using Fast Track cards to simply using your BP) and I haven't been able to glean more info. Lines might be long here, but shorter than the normal immy lines.
Inbound BKK from NRT, I have received a FastTrack Pass in UA F, but never in UA C. Unless during high season or other busy time (CNY, etc), I have not had to wait long coming into BKK at the 2300 hour arrival time though.
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 263
I have had luck getting a FastTrack Pass from UA for outbound BKK-->NRT flight. I usually have to ask, and I think it is given as a perk to a 1K versus being in the C cabin.
Inbound BKK from NRT, I have received a FastTrack Pass in UA F, but never in UA C. Unless during high season or other busy time (CNY, etc), I have not had to wait long coming into BKK at the 2300 hour arrival time though.
Inbound BKK from NRT, I have received a FastTrack Pass in UA F, but never in UA C. Unless during high season or other busy time (CNY, etc), I have not had to wait long coming into BKK at the 2300 hour arrival time though.