New airport update

[Stewart]

Well, I have to say the immigration queues are MUCH less now that they have moved many of the domestic flights back to Don Muang.

Still refuse to fly TG though...those check-in queues are still horrific

[mardhi]

Maybe a stupid question - but why would domestic flights, lead to shorter immigration queues?

Either that or the staff from King Power duty free have been moved to immigration duties I heard a story recently that all the original toilets, supposedly lost were infact built, but they bricked them up and put a carpet on the floor, some sheleves on the wall and hey presto extended the duty free shops. Of course, they will still need to replace all the toilets, washbasins etc as these are probably being sold in Chatakuk market at discounted prices......

Cheers
Mardhi

[rxpharm]

Agreed, the TG check in counters are a zoo - but if you happen to have Star Alliance gold status card it makes life easier.

Update on the public taxis - they still have not moved to arrivals level yet - so the announcement on Thai Visa forums was a bit premature. Hopefully it will change soon.

[stogie bear]

I never pay any attention to those blowhards on ThaiVisa.com... More rumors on that daft tabloid website than in a Natiional Enquirer special on whether Nicole was an alien working for the Kennedys!

[Snick]

Queues were still a nightmare last sunday at 6am. Must have been 4 giant lines of 200+ each. Thank God I was flying Cathay !

[Stewart]

Maybe a stupid question - but why would domestic flights, lead to shorter immigration queues?

No idea - just something I have noticed, especially leaving the country. The queues at passport control going out were almost as bad as DM, now much more manageable

[kahuna]

Lost in Translation...

[rxpharm]

The liquids and gel restrictions have been implemented at the new airport as of June 1st. Reports of longer queues and waiting times mean that you should plan accordingly when making your way to the gate. Give yourself an extra 30 min until things settle down.

Here is an article from The Nation, May 29/07

Liquid, gel rules look set to hit King Power hard

Airport retailer expects carry-on restrictions to cost it Bt3 bn

Duty-free operator King Power International Group expects its sales to fall by 20-30 per cent or aboutBt3 billion when limits are placed on the amount of liquids and gels passengers can take onto aircraft.

Narong Pornpiriyakulchai, outlet-operations director, said sales would fall dramatically, particularly during the first three to six months of the enforcement, which starts on Friday. However, the situation is expected to return to normal after that time because passengers will have a better understanding of the issue.

Narong said sales of water, alcohol, perfume and gel products would be most affected.

Apart from its duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the group runs similar businesses at the provincial airports of Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket.

King Power has targeted sales of more than Bt10 billion this year. The figure is double that of 2006 because it has opened a large area at Suvarnabhumi and a duty-free complex in central Bangkok.

The Civil Aviation Department yesterday had a meeting with airlines and operators to prepare for the implementation of the rules on liquids.

According to the department, all passengers are required to cooperate with airlines and agencies. Each passenger can carry 1,000cc of liquids and gels, and all items must be packed in a transparent, resealable plastic bag. The products include water, beverages, creams, lotions, oil, perfumes, sprays, hair gel, bath gel, all types of foam, toothpaste and body spray. Excepted are foods, medicine and baby milk, but they must be of suitable size.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has ordered international airlines to enforce the measures for security reasons relating to the threat of terrorism.

The measures are already being enforced in most Western countries. Australia started implementing the rules on March 1, and Singapore followed on May 8, but many countries have not yet introduced them.

Civil Aviation Department director-general Chaisak Angkasuwan said Airports of Thailand, airlines and King power would provide information to help passengers follow the rules.

"All parties will provide passengers with plastic bags until the end of this September. After that passengers will be required to handle it themselves," Chaisak said.

The ICAO will visit Thailand on June 27 to check enforcement of the rules at Suvarnabhumi and one provincial airport.

Thai Airways International and Malaysia Airlines have announced they are ready for implementation.

Suchat Sritama



The Nation

Best advice would be to put all liquids and gels in your checked baggage and bypass the queue. If it is picked up on x-ray, you may get delayed if you were not checked at the liquids and gel queue.

[Torurot]

Yet another POINTLESS and STUPID so called "security" measure.
What next, wearing clothes a threat?

[TiaoLang]

I passed through the airport twice in the last ten days and got through immigration without any time difficulty - no longer than 10 minutes.

With regards to the liquid restrictions, there is still some confusion. My friend went into the Burberry shop to purchase aftershave. When she enquired of his destination, Manchester, he was told that no liquid can be purchased for the flight.

However, when I went to a separate shop to buy chocolate and some water a total different scenario resulted. The chocolate and water was placed into a large sealable clear bag with the instruction not to open until the flight.

I can only summise that some staff are informed of the correct procedure and certain shops have the correct packaging.

At the hand luggage checking area I was asked if I had any liquid in my hand baggage and all bags were scanned - no problem.

Do you think this is a deliberate mistake to allow some shops to sell liquid anothers not.

Regards.

[Guest]

You cannot have any liquids more than 100ml in size each. It is no good if they are 200ml, almost empty. If the container is >100ml, it is destroyed.

Where this falters is that it is 'voluntary' notification of liquids. There are some inspections and some captures on the scanner, but I'd say it's 50/50 if they actually find your liquids. Anyhow, it would be stupid to try and get through it with your $75 USD perfume and have it destroyed, or even worse, a nice bottle of scotch.

I did not see the 'sealed bags' in Bangkok yet, but I did see that in Jakarta. I bought 2 bottles (of size >100ml), and they were put in this bag that is sealed, and allowed on the plane.

Now to fuck you up totally, the Philippines, of course, bastion of security and law enforcement for the world, has implemented a NO LIQUIDS policy, i.e., zero. I had a 10ml medical cream for my skin, and I had to f------g go back re-check my luggage, re-go through immigration, re-go through security. The security guards had huge bags of confiscated liquids. I'm sure it was all designed for the staff to get some freebies.

For Thailand, to recap, store all your liquids in a clear plastic bag. None over 100ml, and all is ok.

[TiaoLang]

I dispute what you say. I had a 330ml bottle of water that hadn't been opened that I purchased at a restaurant in the terminal. When I then bought chocolate at a separate shop both items where then placed in the large sealed bag. Big enough to put a litre of scotch in there.

When I went through final security, I was asked if I had any other liquids in my hand luggae. I said no and it was scanned with the sealed bag.

I was then able to drink the water on the plane.

It all depends on which shop you go into. Some are prepared for the new procedure others aren't.

I flew from Bangkok on the morning of the 7th June with Qatar to Manchester.

Regards.

[rxpharm]

From the Thai Airways Home page re: the liquids and gels restrictions - as per Ziggy's post. However it seems that enforcement is uneven right now.

[SamplerDoc]

Great Info Guys....
Do You Guys Think The New Airport is Any Faster in Regards to:

A.   Getting Us From Plane to Bkk NEP Any Faster?
and
B.   Clearing One Thru Immigration Lines Any Faster?

[TiaoLang]

An English couple are at ManchesterAirport bound for Benidorm for two weeks. A trip of a lifetime and they have saved hard to enjoy the trip.

They approach the security check area and the guard, Tim, askes them if they have any liquids in there hand luggage.

"Yes" replies the male traveller, "I have some aftershave, toothpaste, shampoo and various other items". Tim informs him that these items are not allowed on the plane due to new security procedures.

The male traveller is cheesed off, he is about to lose all of his grooming products. "But what about my mousse?" he pleads.

Tim responds without raising his head - "Oh she is OK."