The circus at the BKK arrival fast track continues
May 13, 2012, 6:22 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Very useful post, thank you!
Would that mean TG C passengers are entitled to use both the rightmost counter in the C gates area AND the central Suvarnabhumi Premium counters, or only the former?
He explained to me that the central "Suvarnabhumi Premium" counters have now a counter here too and all arriving passengers have to show the new golden premium cards if they wish to be served there (he had a nice stack beside him), EXCEPT for TG C (and the anyway escorted TG F) passengers who can show the TG boarding card instead. It appears that TG finally made a deal with "Suvarnabhumi Premium" which is not too early and a good thing.
May 13, 2012, 7:05 pm
#62
Original Poster
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As per my investigation ANY "premium" counter, but NOT the diplomatic counters. But this being Thailand things can change, but were like that 2 days ago. I will write TG trying to get more information.
May 13, 2012, 9:00 pm
#63
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
It seems there is a fundamental issue here - in Asia there are those that expect to be able to pay for faster immigration services. Sure this does not happen in Americas, Europe or Australasia.
Putting things in perspective, there are certain countries where citizens take longer than non-citizens to make it though the passport control (like Canada for instance). At least the likes of Thailand / Malaysia / Hong Kong got it right - citizens are able to breeze through passport control, albeit that visitors may endure a very long wait.
Back to the topic, I am not sure which immigration control (near C concourse or near E concourse) is faster, if there is no fastrack. I arrived on a E concourse flight and walked into the C concourse passport control instead and was out faster than anybody else on my plane. My suspicion is that C concourse passport control is faster given that E/F/G concourse people all crowd into the E concourse passport control area. I guess the exception is when people are bussed in - how often does that happen ?
Putting things in perspective, there are certain countries where citizens take longer than non-citizens to make it though the passport control (like Canada for instance). At least the likes of Thailand / Malaysia / Hong Kong got it right - citizens are able to breeze through passport control, albeit that visitors may endure a very long wait.
Back to the topic, I am not sure which immigration control (near C concourse or near E concourse) is faster, if there is no fastrack. I arrived on a E concourse flight and walked into the C concourse passport control instead and was out faster than anybody else on my plane. My suspicion is that C concourse passport control is faster given that E/F/G concourse people all crowd into the E concourse passport control area. I guess the exception is when people are bussed in - how often does that happen ?
Last edited by zhaobao; May 13, 2012 at 9:08 pm
May 15, 2012, 12:57 am
#64
Join Date: May 2012
Location: USA and BKK
Posts: 24
zhaobao,
the buses take people from plane to terminal frequently. at many times of the day, the hall next to one concourse (C/E) is busier than the other (C/E). but you can never be sure which will be the busy one. if the one you come to first is overwhelmed with people, it is worth the 100 meter walk to the next one. you did the best thing, bypass the first one (where all your plane mates went) and go to the next one. it is a gamble, next one could be worse, but i've taken the gamble many times and it pays off every time.
one time when i went to the next one due to overcrowding at the first one, i asked a gal near the entry if it was open. that is how empty it was. i thought they had it closed and that is why the other one was so bad. this was in the afternoon. one hall was in complete disarray and the other one didn't have any people at all.
ps. it took me about 10 r/t flights into bkk before i even knew they had two immigration halls !!!!!! (not counting the middle one for premium/diplomats)
the buses take people from plane to terminal frequently. at many times of the day, the hall next to one concourse (C/E) is busier than the other (C/E). but you can never be sure which will be the busy one. if the one you come to first is overwhelmed with people, it is worth the 100 meter walk to the next one. you did the best thing, bypass the first one (where all your plane mates went) and go to the next one. it is a gamble, next one could be worse, but i've taken the gamble many times and it pays off every time.
one time when i went to the next one due to overcrowding at the first one, i asked a gal near the entry if it was open. that is how empty it was. i thought they had it closed and that is why the other one was so bad. this was in the afternoon. one hall was in complete disarray and the other one didn't have any people at all.
ps. it took me about 10 r/t flights into bkk before i even knew they had two immigration halls !!!!!! (not counting the middle one for premium/diplomats)
May 15, 2012, 2:32 am
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
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Fast track / any track or how to remain OT
To remain OT, could people actually really flying TG C report about their experience with fast track upon arrival ?
May 15, 2012, 5:37 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CGN
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We could restart the whole thread by answering the most honourable boardmember somkiat's question where this f*#§%&" fast track counter is , I have never noticed anything other than the diplomat system which Thai uses for arriving F passengers . And which I also use if arriving for example on award ticket from Mongolian Airways with a seat in the last row economy .
The interesting question is what would happen if white man approaches a counter for Thai nationals , never tried this .
The interesting question is what would happen if white man approaches a counter for Thai nationals , never tried this .
May 15, 2012, 10:58 am
#68
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CGN
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Posts: 337
I have in the meantime been supplied with the coordinates of the Fast Track , sorry for any inconvenience caused .
Same source recommends usage of Thai nationals counter if accompanied by Thai national . The idea has something I must say .
Same source recommends usage of Thai nationals counter if accompanied by Thai national . The idea has something I must say .
May 17, 2012, 12:44 am
#69
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: SQ KF *S, TG ROP *P
Posts: 178
I went through BKK immigration, the counter opposit gate D4. Normal lines was packed, but moving, I turn right and went to the Fast Track counter, which was not manned, so went on to the diplomatic counter, showed my boarding pass and was processed. the Fast Track counter officer came back after my passport was stamped.
May 24, 2012, 8:40 am
#70
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Singapore
Programs: TG*G, SQ, QF
Posts: 911
I used the premium counter (i think, signs for Emirates etc around it..) with my TG Royal Silk boarding pass a couple of weeks ago without a murmur from either the girl guarding the entrance or the girl behind the counter. The main immigration was busy but not diabolical... however I think all i managed to do was swap a 20min wait for immigration into a 30 min wait in the luggage hall... 
Jun 8, 2012, 11:08 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Marco Polo Club, Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 91
Fly C class on TG regularly. Once (maybe January) they were giving out Fast Track passes and there was a TG Fast Track area on the RH side of the RH immigration hall. Subsequently, no cards have been given out, but a 'C' class boarding pass seems to allow entry to Fast Track. This week, no queues in the main immigration area!!
Life is so much simpler with Cathay.
Life is so much simpler with Cathay.
Jun 10, 2012, 9:56 am
#73
Join Date: Dec 2004
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In mid-May, coming in on TG 432 DPS-BKK, once again no Fast Track passes. We pulled in mid-way out Concourse C, so it was a bit of a hike to Immigration. Didn't take long to get through the regular lines. Didn't try any special lines.
Jun 10, 2012, 10:57 am
#75
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Last week coming off TG659 ICN-BKK around 1pm saw middling queues in the main C immigration area, went to the rightmost counter (not the 'priority' one which is for the elderly and families with babies), showed C BP, and was landside before the flight's scheduled arrival time.