BKK immigration warnings

[Scarlett]

What has precipitated this change?

Are the border agents in a go slow for industrial action?
New processing system?
New requirements for arrival (more biodata being collected)?

I’ve had BKK take up to 30 mins in the past (over last 20 years) but this sounds like something has fundamentally changed.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

What has precipitated this change?

Are the border agents in a go slow for industrial action?
New processing system?
New requirements for arrival (more biodata being collected)?

I’ve had BKK take up to 30 mins in the past (over last 20 years) but this sounds like something has fundamentally changed.

Fewer manual lanes as e-gates rolled out.
No more business/first class lanes.
More passengers overall.
More passengers arriving similar times.

I recall a couple of years ago, the airport stopped biz/first class arrivals, and was promptly chastised by the chairman at TG.
Was back online within the day.

 

[AuSammy]

In general, despite their tourism industry being a bit in the doldrums, the Thai hierarchy seems confused as to what they want to do with tourism.

Tax on tourists/ no tax on tourists.

Visa free conditions extended then contracted.

Medical insurance impost mooted for tourists/ no medical impost.

Airline lounges/ generic lounges / airline lounges.

More changes on visa free conditions yet again foreshadowed in last couple days.

Thailand Revises Proposed Visa & Entry Changes (Not Yet Rolled Out Or Officially Confirmed)

Thailand has now decided that they need more visitors from India and plans to offer them 15-day visa free entry instead of the current visa-on-arrival.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[clifford]

In general, despite their tourism industry being a bit in the doldrums, the Thai hierarchy seems confused as to what they want to do with tourism.

Tax on tourists/ no tax on tourists.

Visa free conditions extended then contracted.

Medical insurance impost mooted for tourists/ no medical impost.

Airline lounges/ generic lounges / airline lounges.

More changes on visa free conditions yet again foreshadowed in last couple days.

Thailand Revises Proposed Visa & Entry Changes (Not Yet Rolled Out Or Officially Confirmed)

Thailand has now decided that they need more visitors from India and plans to offer them 15-day visa free entry instead of the current visa-on-arrival.

loyaltylobby.com

I'm not sure if you've graped it.

TIT, this is Thailand.

 

[Quickstatus]

What has precipitated this change?

2 Dec 2025
Depending on time of day and year perhaps
But also appears to not be a sudden new issue

 

[Scarlett]

Fewer manual lanes as e-gates rolled out.
No more business/first class lanes.
More passengers overall.
More passengers arriving similar times.

Thanks TTR, but some of these seem counterintuitive.
e-gates are supposed to process pax faster and are generally designed to take up less real estate, so in theory this should be increasing the pax flow? Less time per transaction and more transactions taking place per sq m of space in the arrival hall. It should lead to a faster arrival experience. That’s why airports make the change in the first place right? Right?
Surely it’s not just all about sacking people and replacing them with (self check-in anyone???) robots to save on costs?

Also, if you remove dedicated lanes for J/F, this should in theory also decrease wait times overall as dedicated lanes have lesser throughput once the fewer J/F pax are processed. The lane is then kept deliberately ‘less productive’ awaiting the next group of arriving pax eligible for that lane.

2 Dec 2025
Depending on time of day and year perhaps
But also appears to not be a sudden new issue

Can you please check the link QS as nothing is opening for me when clicking on it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Can you please check the link QS as nothing is opening for me when clicking on it.

Fixed - thanks

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Thanks TTR, but some of these seem counterintuitive.
e-gates are supposed to process pax faster and are generally designed to take up less real estate, so in theory this should be increasing the pax flow? Less time per transaction and more transactions taking place per sq m of space in the arrival hall. It should lead to a faster arrival experience. That’s why airports make the change in the first place right? Right?
Surely it’s not just all about sacking people and replacing them with (self check-in anyone???) robots to save on costs?

Also, if you remove dedicated lanes for J/F, this should in theory also decrease wait times overall as dedicated lanes have lesser throughput once the fewer J/F pax are processed. The lane is then kept deliberately ‘less productive’ awaiting the next group of arriving pax eligible for that lane.


Can you please check the link QS as nothing is opening for me when clicking on it.

Only a few nationalities can use the egates.
There was a dedicated first class immigration years ago, then it was removed and combined into the general priority queue with families/disabilities.

Malaysia brought in egates a few years ago and if you arrive at the wrong time... it's an hour++ wait. Longer than before egates existed.
Fortunately, Malaysia is smart enough to keep biz/first lines.

Sucks for BKK

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Are they trying to monetize the fast track?

Undoubtedly.
They have been doing this at HKT for some time.
Previously I think the airlines might have been paying the fast-track fee there on a per-PAX basis.

 

[SeaWolf]

Only a few nationalities can use the egates.

For entering the Thailand you need a Thai, Singapore or Hong Kong passport.
For departure it just needs to be an e-Passport, any country can use the e-gates on departure as long as it's an e-Passport.

 

[I love to travel]

For entering the Thailand you need a Thai, Singapore or Hong Kong passport.
For departure it just needs to be an e-Passport, any country can use the e-gates on departure as long as it's an e-Passport.

When that works that is. Mine did not work the other day.

 

[clifford]

Malaysia brought in egates a few years ago and if you arrive at the wrong time... it's an hour++ wait. Longer than before egates existed.
Sucks for BKK

Never experienced that (and haven't seen the priority lane for business recently, either).

Arrived KUL a few weeks ago from LHR on BA33 and went through the egates in less than 5 minutes.

 

[serfty]

Never experienced that (and haven't seen the priority lane for business recently, either).

Arrived KUL a few weeks ago from LHR on BA33 and went through the egates in less than 5 minutes.

It varies, no issues for me last month, the business queue existed.

Last year at one stage for a period it was horrendous as they had changed access to egates to just a few local countries, but not put on enough counter staff.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry folks, I was just through immigration in no more than 10 minutes, arriving at the short line in priority about 6:25pm on a Sunday evening.

 

[moa999]

They have been doing this at HKT for some time

HKT is more of a cash only no receipt type of priority.

 

[RooFlyer]

30 mins deplane to exit airport.