Immigration lines in Bangkok...

[MARKUK]

have noticed on my last few visits that the immigration waiting times are getting better, flew in last night and there was no one in the q, got dealt with immediately, few months ago when i came in the q was right down to the duty free shops.

Well done if this continues!!

[kahuna]

It's been pointed out many times on the forum...there are three immigration stations at the airport...

If the first one has long lines keep walking to the second or third station...one of them is gonna be vacant...

[MARKUK]

strange i always use the first one, i know theres more than one for leaving but i thought it was just one for arrival - oh well stupid me i stand corrected!!

[kahuna]

You ain't stupid mate...we've all done it...My first time through the new airport I followed the crowd and stood in line for 30 minutes waiting to clear immigration...It wasn't until I looked at a map of the airport that I discovered the other two stations...FYI...the middle station is usually less crowded...

[jaime24]

have to say i never new that either, so will have to keep my eyes open, as last time i waited 40 mins to get through immigration!! not good when thats valuable LB time going to waste

[Road Runner]

Last two times coming in were mid-afternoon arrivals.  Each time it was very crowded and took 25-30 minutes to get through immigration.

Both times returning was worse.  Both late night departures and all three immigration stations were absolutely chocker.
Took about 45 minutes to get through.

I think it very much depends on the time you travel as I have come in/out at different times and only had about a 10 minute wait.
I have always found the departure queue worse than the arrival though.

RR.

[MARKUK]

yeah time has a lot to do with it i got in midnite last nite so was quiet, managed to land at 11.55 get through immigration into a taxi, check into hotel and be in a bar at 12.40 not bad

[azza33]

I always go to the middle one on my way into BKK now... its so quiet last time lady didnt even realise i was there LOL

Leaving is always a pain, no sure why but its always chockers when i am leaving LOS

[Guest]

(MARKUK @ May 15 2008,10:13) yeah time has a lot to do with it i got in midnite last nite so was quiet, managed to land at 11.55 get through immigration into a taxi, check into hotel and be in a bar at 12.40 not bad

Yeah well next time, take a shower as well you smelly git

[SukhumvitRoad]

The same advice goes for immigration when you depart Bangkok. There are also three sections, but the one on the far left side of the airport is reserved for TG business and first class. As a rule, everyone else ends up jamming into the middle section, but there is another on the far right of the airport.

When I last left Bangkok about a week ago, the middle section was so jammed that the lines almost spilled back out into the check-in area. It would have taken at least an hour to get through. I checked out the right side section and found a dozen desks manned and maybe a total of ten people waiting for all of them put together. I was through in less than a minute.

[kahuna]

I always depart through the far right station and never have a wait longer than a few minutes...

The time of day likely does play some part...I usually fly EVA out of SFO and arrive late morning and depart late afternoon...I suspect that has something to do with the shorter departure lines....

[Road Runner]

  Yoouuu were loouuky!   150 of us in plastic bag in't middle of septic tank......      Errr.... sorry wrong sketch....    


End of February arrived about 10.30pm  looked at all three positions.
The right hand one was apparently the least crazy  -  I would guess there were 500-600 people squashed into a space designed for about 400.
You should have seen the others!
Took 45 minutes to go through the queue I chose. The one beside did go a bit faster admittedly.


Last week arrived same time.  Realised that things were nearly the same as Feb though only about 400 people this time.
Managed to pick the slowest queue in the middle station this time. Took about 45 minutes again.


What always astonishes me is that they never move passengers to empty stations or move staff from other locations to speed up the processsing.
I know TIT!    

RR.

[kahuna]

I'm not always lucky...I can always find the line where everyone forgot to fill out their entry card...