Phuket Thailand

stevem · #1 24-03-2006, 13:40

Its always been a bit of a joke, but yesterday was amazing. We arrived at about 13:30, unfortunately the Thai Orient flight from Hong Kong arrived just before us. We stood in line and it didnt move for about 20 minutes.

Luckily the misses was standing there and her Thai passport was in her hand and it was seen by someone, so we were taken into the little office and processed in there. Otherwise I'm sure we would have been there for over an hour more.

Phuket is about the slowest entry point anywhere I have ever experienced.

IRISH JONNY · #2 24-03-2006, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Phuket is about the slowest entry point anywhere I have ever experienced.

I AGREE WITH YOU STEVEM ...........IN ALL MY TIMES COMING TO PHT....IVE HAD 3 EASY ENTRIES....THE REST HAVE BEEN LONG AND BORING.....
THEN AGAIN TRYING TO GET IN TO USA WAS AND STILL IS A PAIN IN THE AR5E!!!!!!!!!
IJ

LivinLOS · #3 24-03-2006, 14:27

I said before took me an hour on a sing HKT flight to clear !!

Bad thing for a tourist island..

glassmanengland · #4 24-03-2006, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I said before took me an hour on a sing HKT flight to clear !!

Bad thing for a tourist island..

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to clear immigration at BKK.

I am assuming thats what ill have to do when arriving by thai air, before connecting with thai air to HKT.

Also estimated time from landing at BKK, clearing customs and then moving on to terminal D.

Thanks

Crunch · #5 24-03-2006, 15:53

There's a middle-aged thai bloke who process's one queue..avoid at all costs!
I caught the bugger both ways on my trip in feb. slooooooooooooooooooooooow.

Crustasian · #6 24-03-2006, 15:56

Bangkok are better and have more staff on duty to cover peak arrivals.My average time to clear would be aprox twenty minutes.

By that time you bag is on the belt ready to pick up.

If you are booked in all the way with Thai you and your bag can clear at Phuket so you only transit in Bangkok.

senor123 · #7 24-03-2006, 16:36

My last departure from Phuket (last month) was the most chaotic I have ever seen.
Many many people, no air-con, inefficient departure officials.
All flights were delayed.
Then someone organised extra officers. These new guys were so good at what they did. Got the lines moving, didn't spend time talking to their mates at the next desk, understood the computer system.
In a way it was good to see the problem because when I came in March 2005 there were so few tourists the the immigration officer filled in my departure card for me and thanked me for coming.
If you make your living from tourism it behoves you to be efficient at moving the people in and out of you country.
For me I don't care because I will come to Thailand no matter what the problems but I overheard many tourist complaining about process and vowing they would go somewhere else next time.
Steve

alibaba · #8 24-03-2006, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulUK

There's a middle-aged thai bloke who process's one queue..avoid at all costs!
I caught the bugger both ways on my trip in feb. slooooooooooooooooooooooow.

I think I know which one your referring to Paul.
He's worked there as long as i've been visiting, about 9 years.
I always avoid him.

butterflyblonde · #9 24-03-2006, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by glassmanengland

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to clear immigration at BKK.

I am assuming thats what ill have to do when arriving by thai air, before connecting with thai air to HKT.

Also estimated time from landing at BKK, clearing customs and then moving on to terminal D.

Thanks

There should be no need to go through Immigration at BKK if you are on Thai air from London & Thai air BKK - HKT. (if the flight to HKT is the same day as arrival from London, expecially if the connecting flight is within a matter of hours)

At london your bags will (should) be checked all the way through to HKT, make sure they see you have tickets for the connecting flight, domestic.

When you arrive at BKK, instead of going through Immigration, you should walk further on and will see a mid area which has monitors overhead giving details of the internal connecting flights. You simply watch for your flight number and go through the doors to the left of the monitors to the correct gate, you will be transported by bus from the International terminal to the plane.

Then you will have to clear immigration at phuket airport as you have not done this already at BKK, there are signs in the aiport pointing to immigraton.

jimholio · #10 24-03-2006, 17:27

I was sitting in front of the plane this trip so only took me roughly 10 min to be on the outside. Last time it took about 40 min or so.

Nicke · #11 24-03-2006, 18:21

I wish I could use "visa on arrival" desk but they point me to the ordinary queue, but long time ago it was no problem to use that one if you had a visa.

I wonder if the camera thing is really of any advantage for the immigration? Its a big disadvantage for all tourists arriving here with those long clearing times.

I like the system in KL, they have desks for Malaysian passports, Expats and tourists. I would love to see an Expats desk here too.

LivinLOS · #12 24-03-2006, 18:24

The governor recently blasted the local immigration system in the gazette didnt he.. They said it was in the interests of security nd he didnt cut them much slack..

marc26 · #13 24-03-2006, 23:00

vancouver is by and far the worst place i have ever been to regarding passport control.
all 3 times it has taken over an hour just to show my passport.

cambodia was slow when i went only because they were learnign the new computer system

Lucky7 · #14 24-03-2006, 23:59

Coming in to Phuket Airport wasn't a problem at all. Leaving was another story. I think it really depends on the immigration officer really. The line we were on in HKT when wasn't moving at all while the others were going right through.

Seriously it's nothing compared to the internation lines at JFK. For US citizens and residents, you go through a checkpoint where they look through your carry-ons at the gate to your plane leaving BKK then you have to deal with the immigration when you arrive at JFK. They've been really strict and thorough ever since 9/11.

butterflyblonde · #15 25-03-2006, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky7

Coming in to Phuket Airport wasn't a problem at all. Leaving was another story. I think it really depends on the immigration officer really. The line we were on in HKT when wasn't moving at all while the others were going right through.

.

Isn't that always the case ? Whichever queue you join, the others move quicker

stevem · #16 25-03-2006, 14:46

Well this morning at Phuket Airport was the worst I have ever seen it. Took 45 minutes to just get inside, and then immigration was a joke. They would not let the airline staff take passengers through quickly as flights were due to leave in 10 minutes, like mine.

In the end after arriving kerbside at the airport at 07:50, I was onboard my flight at 10:25 which was due to leave at 10:15, and this was all waiting time.

Was interesting listening to comments from other people in the immigration lines, perhaps immigration should put their own people in the lines, just to listen, but then again that would mean that they actually cared.

Iltis · #17 06-04-2006, 04:16

so far i was lucky when entering thailand...never had to wait more than 15 minutes but i guess that's just luck. different thing in the states...i get angry every time about their stupid questioning and stuff...

barfly · #18 06-04-2006, 04:38

After reading this thread I will always clear immigration at BKK. I've been lucky to fly business class (upgrade) recently and the fastest I move in Thailand is between the plane(get off before cattle class) and immigration and I've been first in the queue and 5mins max to get through.

junkhouse · #19 06-04-2006, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Its always been a bit of a joke, but yesterday was amazing. We arrived at about 13:30, unfortunately the Thai Orient flight from Hong Kong arrived just before us. We stood in line and it didnt move for about 20 minutes.

Luckily the misses was standing there and her Thai passport was in her hand and it was seen by someone, so we were taken into the little office and processed in there. Otherwise I'm sure we would have been there for over an hour more.

Phuket is about the slowest entry point anywhere I have ever experienced.

It is the reason I only book tickets as far as BKK

Apart from the obvious I mean, queue moves faster there allthough last time it was a nightmare.
Lucky I got to go through the with the Thai passport holders or it would have taken ages

Don't know if they do that as a rule if you travel with a Thai national holding a thai passport but I saw 2 other couples doing the same so I'll be sure to head for that desk on next arrival...

Crazy_Matt · #20 11-04-2006, 14:20

I was wondering if I should go to BKK 1st for shopping - After this thread most definatley. Thanks for the tips fellas. Keep it up.