Bangkok Airways racial profiling & harassment at boarding gate
#17
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,674
Notwithstanding what I said before, I do feel bad for you that you feel like you've been mistreated and yes, it's important to ensure that you get to the bottom of this.
But I have been re-reading this and it did make me laugh ....
The question is, why did you perceive it to be an interrogation?
If an official at an airport is asking you questions you need to answer them all, no matter how stupid they might seem to you.
Where in Thai law does it state that they require you to do this?
Wow! I wouldn't mind being the last passenger to board. Saves me staying seated in that metal tube. In all seriousness, you either want to be the first (so you can put your luggage in the overhead bins) or the last to board (so they store it in the hold for free)
Self importance? Have you ever experienced the TSA? Wow! They really know how to ruin your day
I understand you're upset but thinking the very top executive is going to meet you over this is, like you said before "excessed sense of self-importance"
But I have been re-reading this and it did make me laugh ....
The question is, why did you perceive it to be an interrogation?
If an official at an airport is asking you questions you need to answer them all, no matter how stupid they might seem to you.
Wow! I wouldn't mind being the last passenger to board. Saves me staying seated in that metal tube. In all seriousness, you either want to be the first (so you can put your luggage in the overhead bins) or the last to board (so they store it in the hold for free)
I demand no compensation from Bangkok Airways. However, if the airline’s executives are of decency and want to be accountable for, I will be glad to meet up with the very top executive along with these 2 officials, so we can lay ground for the future that no visitor will be mistreated in such a way ever again.
#18
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 63,597
As noted : business contact of mine in his late 60s asked me to report his (and other passengers’) recent bad experience
There's certainly a sense of DYKWIA coming through the narration.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,674
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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My docs were checked at the gate in different locations, mainly when transiting in said location to China on TWOV. Per se nothing racial or profiling.
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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Usually airlines are more vigilant, but THAT is why the inspect documents.
Immigration officials at the originating airport have no interest at all in the validity of a passenger's documentation at any subsequent stop
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: On a plane
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I used to do document check for various airlines as a hired contractor. Unfortunately it can be quite racially focused. Depending on route, certain profiles present a much higher risk. Given the three hour window of check in boarding, one can't question every pax the same amount and one has to look for those passengers that fit certain profiles and concentrate on them.
The pax in question was called Somchai. This is a Thai name. Yet had a Pakistani passport. If the pax looked very Thai? , spoke Thai? and had a Thai name and was travelling out of BKK, a profiler might wonder why he had a Pakistani passport. I doubt the Profilers at BKK meet many Thais with Pakistani passports.
The airlines generally do ask profilers to interrogate everyone to same degree as it is not right that certain groups get targeted more than others. But if you have 360 pax to check in three hours if you devote 30 secs to each pax and one pax presents a passport and visa which needs to be thoroughly checked (perhaps by calling a rep from the country that issued the visa) you won't process all the pax in time.
Hence, depending on the route some profiles glide through whilst others are interrogated more.
The pax in question was called Somchai. This is a Thai name. Yet had a Pakistani passport. If the pax looked very Thai? , spoke Thai? and had a Thai name and was travelling out of BKK, a profiler might wonder why he had a Pakistani passport. I doubt the Profilers at BKK meet many Thais with Pakistani passports.
The airlines generally do ask profilers to interrogate everyone to same degree as it is not right that certain groups get targeted more than others. But if you have 360 pax to check in three hours if you devote 30 secs to each pax and one pax presents a passport and visa which needs to be thoroughly checked (perhaps by calling a rep from the country that issued the visa) you won't process all the pax in time.
Hence, depending on the route some profiles glide through whilst others are interrogated more.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,168
The information I got was the same as Carguiro mentioned. Anything that flags up is checked manually. Eventually he was boarded too and it is part of parcel of flying these days. Questions will be asked from everyone. I have been asked many times too why I was going to a certain place and then flying from a different airport. Best be honest and tell them. I would not say it is racially profiled especially in Asia. They have much more knowledge than in USA or Europe. In Asia it is profiled by nationality and the route they are flying.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,168
Further to my earlier post the hold up was the lack of documentations and they did have to get in touch with Phon Then before they got the clearance to board him the flight. It is going to happen again to anyone in the same circumstances if they do not have the proper documentations in this case letter of invitations and support in Cambodia etc.