Phuket

Talbotman · #1 21-12-2005, 05:28

ON my recent trip to los i had to stand in a que for 2 hours and 20 minutes just to clear passport control at bangkok airport. the ques were at least 200 deep at every desk ,was i just unlucky because of my arrival time 2.30 pm friday afternoon or have any other bms experienced this recently. it has always been a hassle this part of a trip to los but never this bad usually only 15-20 minute wait.

fun2have · #2 21-12-2005, 05:31

yes usually 20 minutes at the most to clear at bkk, i know those eye scanners, slow it up, but 2 hours after a long trip your patience would have been wearing thin.

Coolhand · #3 21-12-2005, 12:12

I think I waited in line about 45mins to an hour, and it would have been longer if I hadn't foregone a visit to the smoking room, as I was one of the first off the airplane.

Having said that all the immigration desks were manned, and I am told it is much worse in the USA.

A friend of mine came through in October and had a tight schedule, she persuaded the guy who patrols the queue to let her use the Thai only one and got through straight away.

aussie dollar · #4 21-12-2005, 12:42

40 mins around 11am monday for me,eye scanners seemed to be a problem,
some went through quickly others seemed to take ages
hope the new airport will be better whens it open ?

Latino4life · #5 21-12-2005, 13:01

About 20-25 minutes at Phuket airport and somehow it always take a couple of minutes longer for me...

Probably they don't have many south American passport holder visitors...

IRISH JONNY · #6 21-12-2005, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

ON my recent trip to los i had to stand in a que for 2 hours and 20 minutes just to clear passport control at bangkok airport. the ques were at least 200 deep at every desk ,was i just unlucky because of my arrival time 2.30 pm friday afternoon or have any other bms experienced this recently. it has always been a hassle this part of a trip to los but never this bad usually only 15-20 minute wait.

I ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME ON DEC 31

HOPE THIS DOENT HAPPEN TO ME OR ILL MISS MY FLITE TO PHUKET......I WILL HAVE AROUND 2 HRS TO CATCH MY FLITE TO PHT !!!!!
IJ

Lord_Farquard · #7 21-12-2005, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

ON my recent trip to los i had to stand in a que for 2 hours and 20 minutes just to clear passport control at bangkok airport. the ques were at least 200 deep at every desk ,was i just unlucky because of my arrival time 2.30 pm friday afternoon or have any other bms experienced this recently. it has always been a hassle this part of a trip to los but never this bad usually only 15-20 minute wait.

I have been through at 0200 in the morning 10 folks in each line and it took 1 1/2 hours, 1100 in the morning 30 folks in each line, took 20min. Go figure.
The longes that I have wated ws without the new security measures. I always give my self 3 hours to go through the system, rather sit and wait for my plane, than sit and wait for the next one.

fun2have · #8 21-12-2005, 14:38

Perhaps if it looks dodgy IJ, perhaps show the thai officals your ticket, to phuket.

maybe you will have some luck, or perhaps you could say I am IJ and the bars of patong need my business urgently.

have a good tour IJ

IRISH JONNY · #9 21-12-2005, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by fun2have

Perhaps if it looks dodgy IJ, perhaps show the thai officals your ticket, to phuket.

maybe you will have some luck, or perhaps you could say I am IJ and the bars of patong need my business urgently.

have a good tour IJ

GOOD IDEA..........
BUT THEY MITE TAKE ONE LOOK AT ME..SEE THIS BIG FAT OVER WEIGHT BALD GUY AND SAY......LETS SAVE THE PHUKET TGs !!!!!! FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER DAY ~
IJ

fun2have · #10 21-12-2005, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquard

I have been through at 0200 in the morning 10 folks in each line and it took 1 1/2 hours, 1100 in the morning 30 folks in each line, took 20min. Go figure.
The longes that I have wated ws without the new security measures. I always give my self 3 hours to go through the system, rather sit and wait for my plane, than sit and wait for the next one.

agree with you, i try to leave between 2-3 hours, because i like to have a smoke and beer downstairs outside the domestic terminal near the taxi queue.

but now TB has said that long to clear in bkk i maybe will definately aim for 3 hours just to be safe.

Lord_Farquard · #11 21-12-2005, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by fun2have

agree with you, i try to leave between 2-3 hours, because i like to have a smoke and beer downstairs outside the domestic terminal near the taxi queue.

but now TB has said that long to clear in bkk i maybe will definately aim for 3 hours just to be safe.

There does not seem to any pattern. Last trip, 1 1/4 hours to clear immigration, walk to domestic, check in and get to my new gate. Oh well, I guess that is what the lounges are for.

steve w · #12 21-12-2005, 18:24

i've never had to wait more than 20 minutes.it must have been the peak arrival time for planes to be that long ,or were some desks shut

butterflyblonde · #13 21-12-2005, 19:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

ON my recent trip to los i had to stand in a que for 2 hours and 20 minutes just to clear passport control at bangkok airport. the ques were at least 200 deep at every desk ,was i just unlucky because of my arrival time 2.30 pm friday afternoon or have any other bms experienced this recently. it has always been a hassle this part of a trip to los but never this bad usually only 15-20 minute wait.

Was similar for me too, took about 90 mins to get through, its' that fcukin eye scanner

IRISH JONNY · #14 21-12-2005, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflyblonde

Was similar for me too, took about 90 mins to get through, its' that fcukin eye scanner

I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU HAD GLASS EYES?
IJ

faultytowers · #15 21-12-2005, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU HAD GLASS EYES?
IJ

You wouldn't see how long the f*cking lines were .555555555

wakeboycam · #16 21-12-2005, 21:36

Its not an eye scanner. They just take a picture of your face and compare it when you leave the country again to see if your the same person. It took me last time just 5 mins but it was 5 am and there was nobody else except from my plane.

Coolhand · #17 22-12-2005, 01:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflyblonde

Was similar for me too, took about 90 mins to get through, its' that fcukin eye scanner

It doesn't help that between 14:00 & 17:00 there are 19 international & non-CIQ flights arriving at Terminal 2. Its their busiest time. My flight arrives slap bang in the middle with 12 flights arriving in the 90 minutes before it.

chref · #18 22-12-2005, 02:43

sorry if this is a silly question but , i want to know if in the Bangkok airport when you came from another country for ex. from country of Europe they will take a photo from you ? or you must give your fingerprints ? to their system like when you go to USA,
and if is it true , that they make it to all passengers ?
sorry for my English !
thanks to all !

Coolhand · #19 22-12-2005, 02:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by chref

sorry if this is a silly question but , i want to know if in the Bangkok airport when you came from another country for ex. from country of Europe they will take a photo from you ? or you must give your fingerprints ? to their system like when you go to USA,
and if is it true , that they make it to all passengers ?
sorry for my English !
thanks to all !

Chref, they have cameras on all the immigration desks and take a digital photo of you when you arrive. No fingerprints, yet.

nkped · #20 23-12-2005, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboycam

Its not an eye scanner. They just take a picture of your face and compare it when you leave the country again to see if your the same person. It took me last time just 5 mins but it was 5 am and there was nobody else except from my plane.

Only seemed to take a few seconds for the photo, but I suppose a few seconds times several hundred means a lot longer line.

Bobby · #21 23-12-2005, 17:22

I queued one time more than 1 hour inPhuket airport (at around 6AM) but the worst time was last july in Istanbul at around midnight.

dizbuster · #22 23-12-2005, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkped

Only seemed to take a few seconds for the photo, but I suppose a few seconds times several hundred means a lot longer line.

What also doesn't help, is everyone seems to walk right up to the desk and stay there, then after a few seconds they are asked to move back and stand on the two "painted footprints" on the floor so that their photo can be taken.

Perhaps doing this straight after passing over their passport i.e. without waiting to be told, then this would save time as well.

cooperspooky · #23 23-12-2005, 19:00

It took me about 45 minutes to get through at midnight but I didn't have any eye scan and nobody took my picture unless they did it without me knowing. The problem is, when you have long lines at immigration, you know you are going to have long lines for the taxis.

Dojoden · #24 23-12-2005, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talbotman

ON my recent trip to los i had to stand in a que for 2 hours and 20 minutes just to clear passport control at bangkok airport. the ques were at least 200 deep at every desk ,was i just unlucky because of my arrival time 2.30 pm friday afternoon or have any other bms experienced this recently. it has always been a hassle this part of a trip to los but never this bad usually only 15-20 minute wait.

My recent trip OUT of Los Angeles warranted a beautiful wait of 2hour 30 minutes this past weekday. Lovely dont you think. The flight into Japan was about 10 minutes. Fcuking crazy if you ask me......................
DD