bangkok immigration queues at airport?

Question

hi, how long is the average time to clear immigration for international arrivals at bangkok? is there a dedicated business/first queue available?
many thanks

Answer 1

The average clearance for foreign tourists arriving at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport can range between 10 and 30 minutes, depending upon the nationality and day of the week. Fridays are usually the most hectic since people arrive in Thailand for the weekend, especially foreigners working in nearby countries and tourists. There are no First or Business class queues at the airport for immigration.

Visitors who require a visa-on-arrival usually need 10- 15 minutes more since they have to submit a completed application form, pay the fee and show proof of their departing flight, at special counters.

Thai nationals have special immigration counters at the airport.

Answer 2

Thai Airways first class international passengers have a shuttle (golf cart) waiting at the aircraft gate to pick you and will shuttle you right through immigration fast track.

This is the only service available in Bangkok if you want to avoid the immigration Queues.

I would contact Thai Airways for information.

I just came back 3 days ago from an internation trip. The big issue with immigration is what time does your flight arrive and how many other flights are arriving at the same time?

If yours is the only flight, it can go rather quickly as I was through immigration in about 5 minutes on a flight that arrived at 9:00 AM.

Be aware you could be in for one heck of a walk from your gate to immigration. It seemed like I walked for at least 10 minutes before hitting immigration.

However if you arrive around 11:00 PM or Midnight or 1:00AM, there are tons of international flights arriving at that time and you could be in immigration for 30 minutes or more.

Another issue is the airport taxis on the first floor have stopped using the meter plus 50 baht fee. They have a new chart with flat rates depending on your destination. Whereas my fare use to be 250 baht the flat rate is now 600 baht.

You can go up to the top floor and try to catch a taxi that is dropping off passengers and get the actual meter rate.

Have a good trip.

Answer 3

I live in Bangkok and travel through the airport frequently, I came through last week and there were no lines, I was in and out in less than two minutes. Unfortunately, usually the queues are around 15-20 minutes, maybe as much as 30 minutes or so depending on how many international flights have just arrived. They are pretty good about opening up more counters as the lines get longer and there are quite a few counters. Sorry, no 1st or business class lines, only queues for diplomats, air crew, foreign passport holders, Thai passport holders and one Thai Elite counter as the above person mentioned.

Answer 4

I have been through the new airport twice since it opened and it takes between 10-45 minutes depending on the length of the line. And unfortunately the area you wait in is one of where it is sunlit and sometimes warm. Bad idea, using sunlight. There are 3 or 4 sets of immigration kiosks cause there are like 18-20 baggage claim carousels lined up. So the farther you walk the closer to the lower numbered carousels you will get.

They also said they were moving the taxis from first floor to... And it did not happen.

There is a Thailand Elite card you can apply to but this is going through changes. The current membership cost is 1,000,000 baht or was. It allows you express visa or special visa, express renewal of visa, etc. Plus discounts from supporting members. It is offered by TAT or the Tourism Authority of Thailand. But, it is under scrutiny by the current government. It was designed for foreign business people who travel to Thailand alot or foreigners who live and work in Thailand. I would wait a while if you were interested. They said they would "probably" lower the price of the membership and cut back the services. And they were trying to figure out how to do that. And this was late 2006.

Below you will find the website for the Elite card and the better website I think for the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Good luck and be patient.

Answer 5

i arrived around 11pm last trip, walking from the farthest left wing of the new airport. it look like an un-painted big greenhouse to me(very worm in there). and it took me almost 30 mins on the immigration checking point.

there is only thai nationality and foreigner counters.
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Answer 6

Deartest MLT, I wonder myself about it. Will leave Thailand soon but come back in June (Business-class) but have never seen after living for years over here that they make a special effort.