Bangkok and Other Airports - Your Recent Experience - Busy, OK or Quiet. Please Add your Experiences.

[CampariO]

Landed at 6 p.m. at Swampy. First immigration was just closing down, only a few passengers. Second Immigration was deserted as well. A couple  of booth open with 2-3 passengers each. 20 minutes later my suitcase arrived. 

[Horizondave]

When I arrive in two weeks time it should be 5.30am, just wondering what is open at that time. Are the food concessions open on the mezzanine floor, are the money changers open on the entrance area to the station or is it a little later they all open.

[Sherlock]

4 hours ago, Horizondave said:

When I arrive in two weeks time it should be 5.30am, just wondering what is open at that time. Are the food concessions open on the mezzanine floor, are the money changers open on the entrance area to the station or is it a little later they all open.

Yes and yes to your questions. Last May I flew in on THAI from CPH landing at 05:15, and Magic point (food court) was in full swing and the 3 exchange booths next to each other on the basement level were open as well.

[Horizondave]

21 minutes ago, Sherlock said:

Yes and yes to your questions. Last May I flew in on THAI from CPH landing at 05:15, and Magic point (food court) was in full swing and the 3 exchange booths next to each other on the basement level were open as well.

Excellent news. I am on a 7.30 a.m. bus to Hua Hin and my Finnair flight lands around 5.25 a.m. so time for a bite and maybe check out the exchange booths in the basement.

[Butch]

I know this info is slightly outdated, but unless something has change for the better at Swampy / LHR, it may still be relevant I hope. This is from my return trip in March / April.

LHR T2 Departures- The EVA check in desk is at the "Costa" end of the terminal (left hand side) as opposed to the THAI which is right at the other end (Very near the pub). Check in opens just before 1700, as usual with LHR it is pretty good and well organised. As I checked in a backpack with straps, I needed to take it to the special luggage area which is mid way just past the security entrance, and hand it over the the guys there - reason being that the straps can catch on the machine conveyor so they just put it in a tray. It took all of 1 minute.

Costa in pre entry has plug sockets for charging, as does the Queens Arms pub at the opposite end. I tend to sit in the area on the right of Costa where I can leave my trolley the other side of the metal barrier and keep an eye on it. The food at the Queens arms is half decent and not as costly as you might think, plenty of room to get your luggage trolley in there as well.

Usual security hold ups, any metal and laptops etc into the tray, the line moved fairly well and security was smooth. Once inside I just grab my pre order Duty Free (which takes bloody ages) and head for the Dragon Lounge. EVA gate opens around 20:30 and is a long walk , usually Gate D46 If I remember.

Suvarnabhumi Arrivals

I'm always impressed how quickly the de plane at SVB is , a walk to immigration doesn't take long and the system seems to be much better these days, slick and efficient. Baggage does tend to take an age to come out though, so I usually get my SIM while waiting. ATMs are also in the baggage reclaim and the rate is better for me than the Kasikorn or money changers. I tend just to pull my Taxi money and Sim card cost, so around 2k baht give or take.

On my last 2 trips it's been around 30 - 45 minutes for baggage to come through off the BR68 inward. might have something to do with the fact I'm usually very early at check in, so my bags are loaded first, but I've no idea.

After baggage reclaim it's the usual melee in arrivals, I just look for my Taxi board being held up by the delightful Nam Taxi lady then settle in for the drive into town.

Suvarnabhumi Departures

The EVA BR067 into LHR check in is chaotic to say the very least. There are ground staff assigned to sort out the queue but they're not very good at all (clueless actually).

There's no check in priority for Premium Econ, the business class line can be used if the queue is long though.

My tip would be to get to the airport before 0800 for the check in, and just join the queue, otherwise it gets very long very quickly.

I always choose bag wrap as well, for 200 or so baht.

again, once checked in the security at immigration has the normal queue but it is quite efficient these days. Once thru the Airport is pretty decent, I usually go to Mcdonalds or Burger King for some food. Plug sockets for charging are dotted around here and there, Duty free always offers good prices as well for booze.

LHR T2 Arrivals

Seems to take forever for the bloody Aircraft to get from the tarmac to the apron, then once off the plane a long walk to immigration which is staffed by the usual bunch of gestapo wannabe's. Given that I used to work very closely with HM C&E, the attitude of these wankers is luckily not representative of the majority.

E Gates as usual are crap and the queues are long. I've noticed that you should try to avoid getting in line behind any woman wearing a Hijab, as it confuses the system. Easier said than done though. E gates take forever, then by the time you're through them your bags are usually waiting, but that depends on industrial action etc. Last time a random guy was taking bags off the conveyor and sticking them on the floor as it was taking so long to get thru immigration, people were just stuck. I gave him a hand, just to help clear the backlog and hopefully get our bags. It took about an hour for the bags to arrive .

I've no idea why LHR T2 is so useless on arrivals. It's a shithole.

 

Edited September 3, 2023 by Butch

[Stillearly]

38 minutes ago, Butch said:

 

Suvarnabhumi Arrivals

I'm always impressed how quickly the de plane at SVB is , a walk to immigration doesn't take long and the system seems to be much better these days, slick and efficient. Baggage does tend to take an age to come out though, so I usually get my SIM while waiting. ATMs are also in the baggage reclaim and the rate is better for me than the Kasikorn or money changers. I tend just to pull my Taxi money and Sim card cost, so around 2k baht give or take.

 

 

It's usually better to take the maximum cash withdrawal possible out of an ATM ( 30,000 Baht ) because the fee ( currently 220 Baht iirc ) is fixed whatever you withdraw 

[KWA]

I departed Suvarnabhumi at 02:30 this morning (Monday 4th Sep) so through check in etc about 23:45 on Sunday 3rd).  I was flying Qatar Business Class so fast track security and immigration but what struck me most was how quiet the whole check-in area was.

I entered at door 1 and had to get up to about door 7 for the Qatar desks and apart from one lengthy queue (I think at Etihad) there was a distinct lack of people in the airport at that time.

[CalEden]

I arrived about 3 weeks ago on a Wednesday night at 23:10 BKK. Airport surprisingly busy. Because late arrival (Biz Class) paid for the thread's airport service   Bangkok Airport Fast track Immigration service with VIP Meet & Greet service. (limousine.in.th)      golfcart pick up service at gate, priority immigration, limo service to hotel. GF meeting me at Airport. 

The service agent with a placard with my name on it, met with golfcart at plane offramp gate. Whisked me within minutes to priority immigration. A short queue at immigration, but service agent escorted me to a closed desk staffed with immigration officer. Never been so eagerly/rapidly processed took about forty-five second process to stamped passport. 

Another service agent met me at baggage pickup. I had time to get some money. My luggage was amongst the first to arrive at conveyer. Met GF at Limo and on way to hotel within 20 minutes from debarking plane. Very pleased with Airport service.    

[boydeste]

14 hours ago, CalEden said:

I arrived about 3 weeks ago on a Wednesday night at 23:10 BKK. Airport surprisingly busy. Because late arrival (Biz Class) paid for the thread's airport service   Bangkok Airport Fast track Immigration service with VIP Meet & Greet service. (limousine.in.th)      golfcart pick up service at gate, priority immigration, limo service to hotel. GF meeting me at Airport. 

The service agent with a placard with my name on it, met with golfcart at plane offramp gate. Whisked me within minutes to priority immigration. A short queue at immigration, but service agent escorted me to a closed desk staffed with immigration officer. Never been so eagerly/rapidly processed took about forty-five second process to stamped passport. 

Another service agent met me at baggage pickup. I had time to get some money. My luggage was amongst the first to arrive at conveyer. Met GF at Limo and on way to hotel within 20 minutes from debarking plane. Very pleased with Airport service.    

That sounds great. How much did that cost please?

[Stillearly]

14 hours ago, CalEden said:

I arrived about 3 weeks ago on a Wednesday night at 23:10 BKK. Airport surprisingly busy. Because late arrival (Biz Class) paid for the thread's airport service   Bangkok Airport Fast track Immigration service with VIP Meet & Greet service. (limousine.in.th)      golfcart pick up service at gate, priority immigration, limo service to hotel. GF meeting me at Airport. 

The service agent with a placard with my name on it, met with golfcart at plane offramp gate. Whisked me within minutes to priority immigration. A short queue at immigration, but service agent escorted me to a closed desk staffed with immigration officer. Never been so eagerly/rapidly processed took about forty-five second process to stamped passport. 

Another service agent met me at baggage pickup. I had time to get some money. My luggage was amongst the first to arrive at conveyer. Met GF at Limo and on way to hotel within 20 minutes from debarking plane. Very pleased with Airport service.    

I am booking the similar for my next trip , but without the porter and limo 

Edited September 5, 2023 by Stillearly

[CalEden]

9 hours ago, Stillearly said:

I am booking the similar for my next trip , but without the porter and limo 

I did not book porter service. Although the baggage service staff/limo escort staff handled my very heavy luggage (which included 4 bottles Tsarine Champagne and 6 pounds of ground coffee). 

When the service first meets you, they take your photograph and forward it to the other agents for seamless pass offs between agents. I rented the Camry limo late model new. 

[CalEden]

9 hours ago, boydeste said:

That sounds great. How much did that cost please?

Rate specification:

 

Description		Bookcode	Rate		Amount
VIP fasttrack arrival service	1 pers.	VIP3080209380A	1x	1150	1150
Golfcart arrival service	1 cart(s)	VIP3080209380A	1x	1299	1299
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok to Bangkok	Limousine	NOR3080209380	1x	950	950
						+
Total amount					3399	baht

Edited September 6, 2023 by CalEden

[boydeste]

3 hours ago, CalEden said:

Rate specification:

 

Description		Bookcode	Rate		Amount
VIP fasttrack arrival service	1 pers.	VIP3080209380A	1x	1150	1150
Golfcart arrival service	1 cart(s)	VIP3080209380A	1x	1299	1299
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok to Bangkok	Limousine	NOR3080209380	1x	950	950
						+
Total amount					3399	baht

Thanks.

[Horizondave]

Never booked any fast track service, probably because my baggage is always likely to be arriving after I have passed through immigration. I suppose I can't see the value in it.

Probably only once in all my years traveling to Bangkok (37), have I thought it might have been prudent to use a service. On that occasion, II just paid an immigration officer 500 baht to let me through fast track to make a bus.

Then again, if you have the money, why not.

I would use a decent limousine service though, if with friends or family, but solo I just go with the flow.

[boydeste]

12 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Never booked any fast track service, probably because my baggage is always likely to be arriving after I have passed through immigration. I suppose I can't see the value in it.

Probably only once in all my years traveling to Bangkok (37), have I thought it might have been prudent to use a service. On that occasion, II just paid an immigration officer 500 baht to let me through fast track to make a bus.

Then again, if you have the money, why not.

I would use a decent limousine service though, if with friends or family, but solo I just go with the flow.

I think it very much depends upon arrival time. If you rocked up and the queue is to the bottom of the long ramp and some, 25 quid would be well spent methinks, but if for 500b you can make it right, then happy days.

[Horizondave]

6 minutes ago, boydeste said:

I think it very much depends upon arrival time. If you rocked up and the queue is to the bottom of the long ramp and some, 25 quid would be well spent methinks, but if for 500b you can make it right, then happy days.

Think I have only ever strolled up with the queue down the bottom of the ramp just the once, that was the 500 baht right there. Maybe it depends on the flights I take.

In 10 days I will be on a flight arriving 5.25am, hoping that is not a busy time.

[Krapow]

You just need to kidnap a Thai or a child, you then get quickly ushered to the Thai Passport or Child queue, and avoid all those disgusting sex tourists,  sorted 

[Bazle]

45 minutes ago, Krapow said:

You just need to kidnap a Thai or a child, you then get quickly ushered to the Thai Passport or Child queue, and avoid all those disgusting sex tourists,  sorted 

Not necessary if you are 70 or over! 😀

[Krapow]

4 hours ago, Bazle said:

Not necessary if you are 70 or over! 😀

Wouldn't know 

[Derek Dangleberries]

4 hours ago, Bazle said:

Not necessary if you are 70 or over! 😀

Or look 70 or over .....

[Bazle]

1 hour ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

Or look 70 or over .....

No, you won't get away with that! Not unless you get your passport changed. 

[Bazle]

3 hours ago, Krapow said:

Wouldn't know 

You WILL do, sooner than you expect!

[CampariO]

Went through Swampy's departure security check and immigration within 10-15 minutes today at 2 p.m.

Half of the immigration booths were open with 10 passengers each queing up.

[KWA]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned on here, but the new satellite terminal is planned to soft open on 28th September.  I arrive on 28th September and was not looking forward to the experience, but it seems initially only Emirates, Thai Air Asia X and Thai Vietjet will be operating from there so I should avoid it

[CampariO]

Landed around 5:45 p.m. at Swampy. Immigration had a queue of 20-30 people as another plane had just arrived. Went to the VIP fast track as I was with the wife, nobody cared. 4 booths opend, 1 passenger at each.

3 Minutes later I was at the baggage carousel. Meanwhile the queue at the regular immigration had dispersed.