MegatopLover

The question of whether Thai Airways passengers in First and Business Class have access to Fast Track immigration channels at Suvarnabhumi has been perenially unclear. The experiences described in the TG forum vary widely. The TG.com website suggests so. F pax seem to get it, though some need to request it. F pax get the diplomatic channel on the right side of the main immigration areas. J pax haven't been feeling the love lately.

So imagine my surprise today when the IFS on SQ 976 passed out "Suvarnabhumi Premium" passes to everyone in First Class and, he said, everyone in Business too. Ours in First had a "First Class" legend on it, in addition to a "Thailand Elite" logo and lots of nice imagery, including a golden sculpture making a very welcoming wai. The IFS agreed that people had been asking for these for a long time, and they are a welcome new thing. Based on what he said, it appears that these passes are available to all airlines interested in participating.

I'm not sure when it started. I believe this is the first report on FT, at least the forums I frequent. It was not available when I arrived in late August (J from SIN), and nothing was available at Suvarnabhumi when I arrived in late November (hence the diversion to UTP). So I could only hazard a guess that it started within the last couple of months, perhaps very very recently.

The Suvarnabhumi Premium area is a whole separate area, totally different from the East and West immigration halls guarded by the monkey warriors. You kind of have to look for it, like most things at BKK. It's near the main crew channel and some official/diplomatic channels. There is an overhead sign reading "Suvarnabhumi Premium," and there's a funny little cave-like passageway that opens into the area-- nothing like the huge ramps between the monkey warriors. Once inside the SP zone, there are desks with SP logos on them, with CIP/Business Class desks on the right, dedicated First Class desks just left of center, and Thailand Elite, Diplomatic, and Air Crew desks farther to the left.

The only thing that's wierd about getting to the SP zone is that, I think, it's a bit of a hike from where the travellators stop. You know, the ones that end right in the duty free shops beneath the monkey warriors? The little cave passage way is a hike from that. And I think it's right in the middle of a long travellator that goes from one monkey warrior to the other. But, hey, we can't ask for everything.

For folks who wanted to Fast Track immigration when arriving in F/J on non-TG flights or J on TG flights, wait no more. You now have dedicated channels. Your wait at immigration will be shorter. Your wait at baggage claim will be longer.

N.B. If you don't get a card authorizing you to use Suvarnabhumi Premium channels on your next premium-class arrival, ask your FA for one to encourage your airline to participate. (I have no idea if all, most, or few are participating.)