TotallyOz Posted December 19, 2015 Posted December 19, 2015 I got into Thailand last night on a flight from Dubai and the airport lines were packed. I did fly Business Class and got a free bypass to the Premium Lane but that was still packed and took over 30 minutes. I know, that is not a bad wait time for most countries but for here and the Premium Lane, it was the slowest I have seen in a while. The airport both inside and outside was packed. The immigration officer said that this weekend was supposed to be the busiest of the year for incoming tourists. It sure looked like it. Quote
vinapu Posted December 19, 2015 Posted December 19, 2015 certainly things are picking up, I arrived on 2nd and as reported somewhere else lines were longest I saw in 12 trips even if it was 2 a.m. Quote
paulsf Posted December 19, 2015 Posted December 19, 2015 When I arrived on Dec 7, at 10pm, they had 8 premium lanes open. I have never seen more than 4 open at 1 time. i was able to walk right up to agent. My best arrival ever. Luggage waiting, and taxi to Silom 275. Quote
TMax Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 My last two trips the lines were long and took a fair while to clear Quote
Guest Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 My recent arrival was fine, although I always walk from the plane at a very fast pace on the presumption that my fellow passengers are adding to the queue. Seeing another plane unload is a reason for finding more pace too. The queue often tends to double in length afer I join it. Quote
Guest anonone Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 I am with z909. The faster the walk the better. In my mind, every person that I pass when walking to immigration is just one less person I will have in the line in front of me. Quote
vinapu Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 I'm on losing end of all this since I like to fly at the end of aircraft so obviously I'm one of the last in line . But there's benefit of this , luggage is usually waiting already and lines for taxi are short with all people gone already TMax 1 Quote
Guest alkoe Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 after such a long flight i really don´t care how much I wait in line - i´m happy that i don´t need to sit any longer ;-). And i use he waiting time to look in the beautiful faces of the asian Boys in the surrounding - after the arriving in Bangkok I´m just happy to be back in LOS! And I´m in vacation - really no need to hurry. Quote
vinapu Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 And I´m in vacation - really no need to hurry. it's why I sleep so little when on vacation, this way it seems I'm extending them Moses 1 Quote
Moses Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 Christmas time. TH is popular destination, so I don't wonder with long lines, and with peak prices everywhere, and busy tuk-tuks... That why I prefer to visit TH before Dec 15 or after Jan 15 - more than half of tourists are gone already. ChristianPFC 1 Quote
firecat69 Posted December 20, 2015 Posted December 20, 2015 Agree arrive by 12/10 Departure date not as important at least for airports. Quote
TMax Posted December 21, 2015 Posted December 21, 2015 The longer I stay in line the more I am going to enjoy the massage later on and the fun that follows thereafter. TotallyOz, floridarob and DivineMadman 3 Quote
floridarob Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 I got in the other day at 5am.... no lines at all. I usually go to the departures level and take a taxi from there..... never a wait and no airport surcharge Quote
a447a Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 I arrived around 3:45 on the 21st and there we're long lines at Immigration. But they've lifted their game and the line was moving continuously and I was through in about 20 minutes. It took exactly 1 hour from when we landed to when I arrived at the hotel. I always try to be the first off the plane and literally run to Immigration to miss the lines, but if 3 or 4 aircraft land at the same time, there's nothing much you can do about that. I just wonder where all the tourists I saw at the airport are hanging out. Last night Soi Twilight was deserted around 10:30. Hotmale was also empty when I arrived but more customers came in for the show. Still, there were heaps of empty seats. BTW I didn't spot a single Chinese tourist at the airport. Have they all been frightened away? Mind you, I'm heading up to Chiang Mai for New Year - there's no way I'd be standing anywhere near Central World on NY eve. I go to CW or Siam Paragon every night for dinner and don't feel safe. The security guards don't bother checking people's bags; they're too busy checking their phones. Maybe the Chinese have the right idea and are holidaying elsewhere this year. Quote
firecat69 Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 You"re constantly on airplanes and you don't feel safe in malls???? There is a better chance in this world of getting killed crossing the street then by a terrorist. Certainly a much better chance being killed in a car between Bangkok and Pattaya. Sick of this BS in the USA about people being scared. Record number of people shopping, on planes, at sporting events, eating out. The only people scared are the politicians who worry they can't use their disgusting scare tactic to obtain votes. vinapu 1 Quote
Alexx Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 Maybe the Chinese have the right idea and are holidaying elsewhere this year. Not at all, there are record numbers of Chinese tourists in Bangkok right now, and I'd have to say they are all over town. I always tend to run into a bunch of them at my local 7/11, last time a Thai friend went there he was offered a yuan exchange deal he couldn't resist. Keep your eyes open, sooner or later you're bound to see some. ChristianPFC 1 Quote
worldatlarge Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 Aren't you glad that our visits this year helped Thailand to get a record amount of visitors? http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/12/25/breaking-records-30-million-visited-thailand-year I sure would have taken the free round trip with hotel offered by Thai Airway to go back another time! http://www.traveldailynews.asia/news/article/60468/thailand-fetes-record-29-millionth Quote
Travellerdave Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 In one of the British newspapers recently there was a quiz where one question was to pair up countries with a list of tourist visitors they received. I haven't saved it but I recall that Thailand was in third place behind USA (120 million) and France (85 million). Thailand was ahead of UK and Australia. Quote
a447a Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 Alexx, you're right. I saw quite a few in Soi Twilight tonight- Freshboys, to be exact. But nowhere near as many as on previous visits. And I've yet to see many in Siam Paragon. Normally they are lined up outside Louis Vuitton, but not this time. Firecat, my feeling unsafe is based on : A) the reports of 10 Syrians who slipped into Thailand and whose whereabouts are, as yet, unknown. B) the previous bomb that exploded outside Siam Paragon C) the general increase in terror attacks this year D) the bombing of Erawan Shrine It's not a general fear of being a victim of terrorism. Bangkok has been specifically targeted before. I would not have that same fear if I was, say, in Germany or Italy. And I certainly do not trust the authorities here to keep Bangkok safe. Have you not seen all those policemen sitting outside the Erawan Shrine engrossed in their mobile phones? Have you not seen the security guards In the shopping malls just letting people enter without any checks? Have you not seen the lack of security at the BTS stations, where the security desk is unmanned? It's a joke. Merely windows-dressing. As for the safety of aircraft, I feel safer there than anywhere else. And as far as getting involved in a traffic accident on the way to Pattaya, you're missing the point. It would be an "accident," not the result of someone purposely crashing into my car. "You"re constantly on airplanes and you don't feel safe in malls????" The security measures taken at airports is way and above any such measures in any shopping mall. ChristianPFC 1 Quote
firecat69 Posted December 25, 2015 Posted December 25, 2015 Really maybe some places the airports do a good job, certainly not Thailand which you are flying in and out. Airports are all window dressing. USA spends tens of Billions $ on airport security and the last undercover test they failed 87% of the time. The people who put on the food and booze etc have minimal screening before hiring and almost none after. How come you didn't add Paris to where you would feel safe, oh thats right they got attacked. So will Germany , there is no doubt just a matter of time The only almost completely safe place in the world would be departing BenGurion Airport in Israel. Trains in HongKong , KL etc , no policeman that I have seen. No where in Europe is safe.. Bottom Line I don't care . The odds are still minuscule of me encountering any of those problems. I have not and will not change one thing that I do because of some perceived threat by stupid politicians and media. vinapu, floridarob and paulsf 3 Quote
TotallyOz Posted December 25, 2015 Author Posted December 25, 2015 a447a I understand that I don't think the police in BKK will keep us safe from anything that will happen. But, I don't see this place as a major target. I think the bombing was a one off thing and doubt anything major will happen. But, you are right, you just never know. I feel safe when in Thailand but I do so not because of anyone making me feel safe but just the sense that I get. My hotel is right near where the bombing occurred and I have no worry walking by it every day or going in that or any other area. I do feel safe in USA as well. But, I was in New York 911 and I moved out of there 1 year later so I guess I didn't feel as safe as I did before that happened. Quote
firecat69 Posted December 26, 2015 Posted December 26, 2015 I know I am getting old But I lived in Montreal 2003-2009. Lots of trips from you with your Fur coat and 1/2 a dozen boys in tow by Train in winter to at the time the best Nude Strip Bars in the World. I'm pretty sure all those trips were from NYC. So I guess you didn't run scared as fast as you think. HeHeHe TotallyOz 1 Quote
worldatlarge Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 Just visited 3 out of the 4 strips bars of Montreal last night and I can confirm that Montreal still has the BEST Nude Strip Bars in the World !!! And their "contact dances" in those little room can get really "contacty" now with some of the guys !! You would have to try it again Firecat! Quote
kokopelli Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 Just visited 3 out of the 4 strips bars of Montreal last night and I can confirm that Montreal still has the BEST Nude Strip Bars in the World !!! And their "contact dances" in those little room can get really "contacty" now with some of the guys !! You would have to try it again Firecat! Not to be a spoiled sport, but just what does this have to do with long lines at Immigration in Thailand? Unfortunately some of the topics on this forum just go on and on for no reason at all. Quote
firecat69 Posted December 27, 2015 Posted December 27, 2015 I don't think it was that far off target until the last 3 posts including yours. HeHe It was about arrivals at BKK that morphed into number of visitors and safety both in air travel and and travel generally in this time of fear. (Not Me) I suppose I could have sent Michael a PM instead of posting it but this is not a very busy time for any Boards so anything that keeps posts coming is ok with me, even if off topic. Quote
