Fast-track for Gay Couples at Suvarnabhumi Thru February

[Guest thaiworthy]

Especially useful for those entering the Kingdom late at night. After all, the faster us gays can hit the bars soon after arrival, all the better. 

 

 

For the month of February, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) and Immigration Bureau to launch “Amazing Thailand, Amazing Romance” which will "enable couples, straight or gay, traveling together to expedite their arrival in Thailand," reads a press statement obtained by Fridae.

It is the first time such campaign has been launched. The fast track immigration access will be only be available to those entering Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

 

TAT advises in a press statement:

 

Couples who visit the “Amazing Thailand, Amazing Romance” counters -- located at both the East Concord (which receives passengers from Gates A, B, and C) and the West Concord (which receives passengers from Gates E, F, and G) -- can register for the “premium lane” and avoid traffic at immigration. Registration only takes a few minutes and requires that one partner provide basic information including name, country of residence, length of stay and e-mail address. The information will be used solely to provide updates to travelers regarding TAT’s upcoming events, promotions and activities.

 

Once registered, travelers will be given pink heart-shaped stickers with the “Amazing Romance” logo, which will entitle the holders to use the “premium lane” for a fast track through the immigration process. Registrants also will be given key chains with the Thailand tourism mascot, “Sook Jai (Happiness),” to welcome them to Thailand. The counters will open between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. and that souvenirs are limited in numbers.

 

http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2013/02/05/12221.thailand-welcomes-same-sex-couples-to-use-premium-lane-at-bangkok-airport-in-feb

 

The "Amazing Romance" mascot (below) looks like a sperm to me! Someone has a sense of humor! 

 

Maybe we can get dale1 to pass  out condoms as well. Straight couples are invited, too. Does anyone get the feeling that this is just plain silly?

 

[Bob]

Does anyone get the feeling that this is just plain silly?

 

Perhaps more stupid than silly.  Now I can dream of showing up at BKK on an Airbus 380 loaded with all couples and just me alone.  As I sail through the empty slots for the "regular/single" folks, I'll laugh my hind end off watching the 245 couples standing in the premium line....haha.

[Guest fountainhall]

No, it's far from silly. It's a way for the TAT to gather a large free database of information for future promotions!

 

But it definitely is a dumb idea for travellers. Will it work? Highly unlikely. The premium lanes generally have about 3 or 4 counters open. If a full A380 has arrived and most of the front-end passengers are disembarking, they already have their "Premium Lane" passes and can go direct to the counters. "Couples" will have to spend time filling in their details after arrival, meaning the lines they join may well be longer than they'd have found at the main immigration area, especially if several jumbos arrive at around the same time. Then what of the genuine first and business class passengers? If they have to wait longer than their usual 5 minutes or so, there will be a lot of angry expletives directed at love-birds!

 

Two other points. The promo says the lanes will only be open for "couples" till 9:00pm. Presumably that's because someone at the AOT vetoed a plan to extend into the late evening peak. Those counters are actually open as long as there are flights arriving and are usually very busy between 9:00 pm and after midnight.

 

And - "couples" don't get fast-track clearance on departure. So it's a pretty meaningless deal for travellers, as far as I can see.

 

Oh - and how will they root out the many non-"couples" who will say they are couples just to try and get through Immigration more quickly?

 

"No, really, officer - this boy is my lover. I promise you he's not my son!"

 

Dumb!

[Guest]

Right, so Thailand sees fit to discriminate against single people now?

 

Or should I just try to pair up with some other random single passenger to get in the fast queue?

[Guest thaiworthy]

Or should I just try to pair up with some other random single passenger to get in the fast queue?

 

They should consider themselves lucky to be paired up with you, Z! 

[Guest]

They should consider themselves lucky to be paired up with you, Z! 

They would be more likely to either ask for 1000 baht or run off.

[Guest fountainhall]

Did anyone hear the outcome of this experiment? Any idea how many gay couples used the facility?

[KhorTose]

No, but we will be returning from a week in China during this period. What I intend to do is what I always do. I am going to go with my Thai partner to the Thai only counter. It is legal, but not widely advertised. We do this going in and out of the country. No problems and fast.

[Guest fountainhall]

According to the OP, the experiment ended in February. 

 

Another issue. Your partner can probably go through the machine-readable gates. As a foreigner, you can't. Does it still work?

[Guest scottishguy]

There's no Gay Marriage or CP in Thailand - yet they use fast-track immigration for "Gay Couples" to drum up business?

 

Bizarre.

[KhorTose]

Another issue. Your partner can probably go through the machine-readable gates. As a foreigner, you can't. Does it still work?

We don't know about the machine-readable. Several years ago the gate immigration officer stopped us and told us that, as a couple, we could both go to the Thai booth and we have been doing that ever since. Done that about eight times now.