transpac

There have been periodic problems, mostly for departing immigration, at SBIA/BKK a few times this year, with people missing departing flights.

I have seen recent reports of arriving immigration waits of up to 60-90 minutes at certain times at SBIA/BKK.

I think a position at the airport is probably one of the least desirable in the RTP/immigration organization given the hard work and long hours. Hence staffing is always a challenge.

I normally wouldn't associate August with high season but it does seem like there are a lot of tourists here now from Asia and the Middle East. I see many, many more buses in my neighborhood pulling up to hotels, and the malls are swamped with tourists stocking up on snacks.

dsquared37

As if Thai nationals are the problem.

There is, sadly, no more low season. How I enjoyed those days!

transpac

It looks a bit worse in this photo...regular travelers reported it as being the worst they'd ever seen.

transpac

HERE’S THE NEW IMMIGRATION CARD. IT’S THE SAME BUT WITH LESS SPACE

BANGKOK — Tired of filling out the front and back of those departure/arrival cards – officially known as Tor Mor Six at Thailand’s airports?

After rejecting calls to eliminate the forms entirely following complaints of hours-long airport immigration queues, authorities Thursday unveiled a new version of the document that had already been in the works.

The new card requires the same information entered, but appears to provide less space on a single side to do so.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2...rd-less-space/

dsquared37

That's entirely inaccurate. They ask for MORE information with less space.

Occupation, country where boarded, purpose of visit, length of stay, address, telephone and email are all additional boxes not previously present.

Also, it now appears marketing for AoT is not optional.

transpac

Immigration says all desks were staffed when Suvarnabhumi Airport was overloaded with 4,600 visitors

In another airport horror, the Immigration Bureau insisted that all passport desks at Suvarnabhumi International Airport were staffed on Wednesday afternoon when photos of their lengthy queues were shared online.

Less than a week after complaints from passengers at Don Mueang, Bangkok’s other airport, who had to wait as long as four hours on Saturday to be cleared by immigration, photos of the insanely long lines at Suvarnabhumi let people continue their Thai airport bashing on social media.

AFP journalist Jerome Taylor shared a video of the queues at 4pm on Wednesday, commenting “Imagine being a visitor after a long flight, with tired kids, and this is your first experience of Thailand. Would you come back?”

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/imm...4600-visitors/

transpac

Prayut calls in air force to help at immigration

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday ordered the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to help expedite immigration and customs processes to help reduce waiting times at airports. It is the latest effort...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...at-immigration

transpac

CAAT helps airlines hit by ICAO ban


The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has agreed to allow airlines required to halt international flights during the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) red-flag re-evaluation next month to operate an additional domestic flight per day per route until January.

CAAT director Chula Sukmanop yesterday said the measure was to help airlines that will need to temporarily stop operating international flights from Sept 1 because they have yet to be reissued Air Operator Certificates (Re-AOCs).

Those airlines have to pass an ICAO safety standard inspection due to take place around the third week of next month.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...it-by-icao-ban

Diplomatico

Thai ban on e-cigarettes could lead to '10-year jail term':

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articl...year-jail-term

Oh, and in other silly news, the authorities have banned advertising for infant formula too:

"A new law, which bans manufacturers, importers and distributors from advertising and marketing infant formula milk or powdered milk and other food products for toddlers, will be in effect next month.

The Department of Health has confirmed that the Control of Marketing of Infant and Young Child Food Act 2017, which was published in the Royal Gazette on July 10, will be in effect on September 9."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...ional/30324202

CrazyInteg

Here's a whole book on the subject:
The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
https://www.amazon.com/International...dp/904111100X/

transpac

I still see a lot of foreigners smoking these things (I honestly don't know the details of the various smoke delivery systems) openly in public, with RTP and sidewalk police nearby. Sidewalk police are set-up in tourist areas in Bangkok to catch foreigners littering cigarette butts, imposing a fine of 2,000 baht.

That said, these vaporizers and the liquids can be seen in many, many, many Thai markets, so it's all a bit confusing.

From GOV.UK site:

You can’t bring vaporisers (like e-cigarettes and e-baraku) or refills into Thailand. These items are likely to be confiscated and you could be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years if convicted. The sale or supply of e-cigarettes and similar devices is also banned and you could face a heavy fine or up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty. Several British Nationals have been arrested for possession of vaporisers and e-cigarettes.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...ws-and-customs

dsquared37

I see the same group of foreigners loitering at the mouth of Suk Soi 13, right beside RTP's big tent, every night I've walked by. And near other RTP tables are hookers, sex toys and bogus drugs.

Gotta love the Watthana district.

Kalboz

Thailand will now offer 10 year retiree visas

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/new...ed-geeza-visa/

HT: http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....irement-visas/

transpac

And a new "professional/investor" four-year visa...FDI levels have been down, and increasing in nearby countries.

the government announced on Friday a plan to introduce a four-year free visa grants for certain experts and those investors who get approval from the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI). For many years, foreign investors have requested that the Thai government offer them a more convenient way to get work permits and provide longer stays in the country. They had complained that the current two-year visa grant offered via the BOI was too short.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/deta...ional/30324330

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/b...t-green-light/

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic...t-green-light/

Kalboz

Latest reports indicate that Yingluck Shinawatra has fled Thailand to Singapore!