orchidfan
-
Posts
1103 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Downloads
Posts posted by orchidfan
-
-
One annoying thing are the 7's that do not sell alcohol due to "apparently " being "close to a school or Wat"
I have 3, 7's nearby me but 2 can't sell alcohol (one used to but was stopped)
Crazy!
I don't know of any schools (including primary schools or Wats) anywhere near these shops! And I ride around the general area a lot.
It's no big deal (two mom and pop shops in same locations do!) But must be a real Revenue loser for those 7's who can't
-
1
-
-
On 4/8/2024 at 12:57 PM, DrJack54 said:
Reentry permit desk is zone 2 after security and prior to passport.
On left side of passport check ques
They provide an option 200b service fee and do it all for you. Photo included.
Optional.
Dr Jack, has that not changed location from the above photo, to somewhere after one has finished with Immigration?
I seem to recall reading this on AN some time ago.
Can you kindly clarify as I too need one later this month.
-
2 hours ago, bkk_mike said:
In Hong Kong, you use Octopus for the small purchases. It came out early and is basically accepted everywhere and is quicker than paying cash.
If Rabbit could have managed to do the same - get accepted by everyone from market stalls to McDonald's for small purchases, you wouldn't need cash in Thailand either.
The last time I used cash here was the hairdressers in January, and I took it out of the ATM especially for that. But the last time I used cash was my last trip to Thailand - because the ridiculous ATM fees effectively force you to take out large amounts of cash.
I spend many months a year in Hong Kong and have used the Octopus card there for over 2 decades.
A while ago they introduced a new Octopus card with your photo on it and entitles "Elders" to pay only $hk2 for most bus,ferry and train trips.
Excellent !
Here in TH , being on marriage extensions where I'm required to photocopy months of pages of my bankbook, deducting or withdrawing small amounts constantly (QR code payments etc ) soon fills up the book, as evidenced when doing an "Update"
I've already required several new bank books...which is a slow procedure in the bank as many of you know.
So I withdraw larger amounts from the ATM periodically, leave the bulk of it safely at home, and only put back 500 or 1000 baht into my wallet.
IF I find myself wanting to buy something of higher value, then I use my BBL Debit card
-
2 hours ago, Mike Lister said:
By people like you I mean, the wait and see what happens brigade.
The options for using agents in the future, assuming tac clearance certificates are required at some point, involves too much conjecture and whatiffery for me to be able to comment sensibly. Needless to say, it would make life more difficult and certainly more expensive, rather than the obverse.
To quote Napoleon when asked what his "strategy" was before going into battle.
He replied...
"I just turn up and see what happens "
(Mind you, it didn't work out well for him at a couple of battles 🤔)
-
1
-
-
On 3/27/2024 at 3:00 PM, MarkT63 said:
How did someone so thick become a millionaire in the first place??
Agreed.
The self~made millionaires , I knew, who worked long and hard for their wealth back "home", were usually VERY tight with their money......to the point of having to twist their arm to get them to buy their round of drinks.
I suspect this guy had come into his money easily.....but who knows!
-
1
-
-
11 hours ago, treetops said:
It was explained earlier in the thread that the flight carries on to Dubai so they're checking no-one gets off that shouldn't.
Yes that's correct, however this flight has always carried on to Dubai and I've never seen this procedure before (over many flights from Hkg to Bkk.
As I mentioned earlier, one cabin crew mentioned that Thai Immigration had requested this so that no pax roll up to Immigration without their boarding pass. Which seems to have replaced the TM6 on airport arrivals.
-
14 minutes ago, gargamon said:
Wasn't it immigration cattle class you were complaining about? Avoided if you fly business.
No it was the special "Priority" line for the aged, disabled, families with small kids etc that I was commenting on.
-
On 3/24/2024 at 8:20 AM, gargamon said:
Stop your whining and fly business class. No lineups in VIP line.
Well, point taken, and I have flown Biz class on longer flights (Oz to BKK etc) but hardly worth the cost on a 2hr flight from Hong Kong.
Plenty of reasonable French red and white wines available on EK in cattle class.
-
On 3/24/2024 at 7:44 AM, sikishrory said:
What you describe sounds relatively normal.
I arrived at BKK a bit over a week ago at 1am and was surprised how fast the immigration officer was able to make sense of the mess of a passport I have. I always hand it over with the visa page open to help them but they always scan front page first.
Showing a boarding pass when boarding a plane is sometimes required and sometimes not. Last week it wasn't.
You point out the first arrival hall being full. This seems to be a change. The first arrival hall is now for Thai passports and you have to walk a bit further for the second.
Strange that they are so understaffed as you say though
Thanks for your comments.
Note that is was the checking of boarding passes whilst DE~planning, at each aircraft exiting door which greatly slowed things up.
I had never experienced this before!
-
On 3/22/2024 at 3:43 PM, Mister T said:
Wife just had a call from that number, rang twice then stopped. I had the same number call me last week but I knew the +69 was a scam number. Really do wonder how they get our numbers as they are not given out to anyone except friends and family.
An pretty sure my mobile number is given to the bank AND Immigration.
What could go wrong with that !
-
38 minutes ago, oldestswinger said:
But.......the prime minister insisted that he had ordered the queues to disappear. Maybe that was just on the days that he was travelling.
I have to say that the zigzag queue next door appeared to be moving pretty well.
As I said in the original post, a guy way back in that line (bright lime green shirt...hard to miss) exited Imm at the same time as I did in the "Priority" queue.
IF they had had the 4 Imm booths open instead of 2, things would have been faster.
-
10 minutes ago, khunjeff said:
This was because your plane (EK 385) was continuing on to Dubai, and they wanted to be sure that no one was getting off at the wrong destination. It isn't a new requirement - they've done this for years for flights where BKK is only an intermediate stop and continuing passengers are required to remain on board.
As others have noted, this is the standard procedure that the machine runs automatically. The officer can stop it after the first hand is scanned - if she sees that you already have prints on record, and the first hand matches those - but that doesn't always happen.
Yes I am well aware that EK385 goes on to Dubai as I fly it many times from HKG to BKK and return (3 this year and more planned) and I have NEVER shown my boarding pass to cabin crew before deplaning ....nor has anybody else on the many flights I've taken hkg bkk with Emirates . Dubai pax have to remain onboard.
As for the IO, she took a longer than usual time to visually scan my PP before the stamping was done.
(She was a good looking lady so it wasn't totally painful!)
At most (in this lane) I've only ever put right hand fingers on the scanner for a nano second before the OK and heading on.
Definitely more thorough "care" being taken by them than in the past.
And yes, I know this is just one.of those Thai short lived "Crackdowns" and won't last !
Unlike, as one Thai man said to me...
"Marriage is like a police Crackdown that never ends" 😅
-
29 minutes ago, Chivas said:
Perfect response
Nothing in OP was remotely valid as regards any "new" checks
I don't think I mentioned anything about "new checks" in my piece.
Only the widely mentioned affect that their (supposed) Crackdown might have on us.
I could clearly see that the IOs were being far more meticulous and following "full procedure".....as I guess they should.....but weren't so thorough in the past....in my experience.
-
12 minutes ago, G_Money said:
OP, free up some of your cash and pay for the buggy service.
Yes, I noticed several rented buggies going by on the way. Mostly occupied by young people ! Not oldies.
-
4 hours ago, Bday Prang said:
Finger prints and photos have been standard for quite some time, Boarding passes have been required to be shown at immigration at least since covid, although it only actually tells you this at the immigration desks. Many people , myself included, often discard their boarding pass once they have successfully boarded the plane so its not a bad idea that airline staff check one is in possession of it before leaving the plane. It would be even better if the requirement was mentioned earlier in the journey, something printed on the ticket to that effect for example'
I can't see that anything in the OP is relevant to any crackdown on any foreigners entering Thailand, either long or short term visitors.
Looks pretty much like business as usual to me
I have been traveling between HKG and BKK regularly over the past few years and have "normally " passed Imm with a quick look at the boarding pass, stamp the re~entry permit and on my way.
The other night was the first time (for me) to get such a meticulous check (as for every pax, not just me) and the 2 hands fingerprints and photo in this "priority lane".
It was a noticeable difference....or maybe they were just (now) doing their job properly !
I don't know what the farang ahead of me's problem was, but I am guessing he didn't have his boarding pass.
He should have been moved aside and let following people through.
I agree with you that this Thailand requirement for the boarding pass should be made better known in advance.
At least Emirates did their best to ensure everyone leaving the aircraft had one. And if they didn't, they had some way of replacing it ~ I think with a phone image.
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
A lot has been said about the Imm "Crackdown" on Foreigner arrivals and how it might affect we "long term" foreigners living here.
I arrived late last night, on an EK A380 from Hong Kong.
Firstly, the walk from where the A380 gates are to Immigration is Long (despite the moving 'travelators'(?).....especially if you are over 70 yo !
De boarding of the full A380 was especially slow as every passenger was now required to show their boarding pass to cabin staff when they reached the door - the crew member where i left the aircraft hinted that this was a new Thai Imm requirement!
Then after that long walk - "Arrival Hall 1" is closed off ( for some reason -- maybe full already?)
So, more walking to "Arrival Hall 2"
Finally I get to Hall 2 and, of course, take the "Priority/ Disabled" line.
The queue(s) to this "Priority" ( in name only) lane were quite long, as were the normal arrival zigzag lines.
BUT only 2 out of 4 positions manned, and moving VERY slowly as Imm officers carefully scrutinized passports and boarding passes.
One westerner in my line took forever to be processed - some people swapped lines , but really to no avail - just as slow.
Problem was not only the documents check, but the "fully monty" of finger prints of both hands and thumb, and photo !!!!
I was following a Korean couple with toddler - never follow families! - so again, took forever.
In my case, I had PP and boarding pass ready - plus re-entry permit, but was still very slow..
I had noticed one man earlier on in the main arrivals queue opposite who was way back in the zigzag and we both left Imm to get our bags at the same time!!! So much for the Priority Line.
All in all, a very slow , painful experience ( compared to other arrivals I've had here this year).
I know we probably shouldn't compare airports, but HKG Imm arrival ( for me) - 3 minutes - put ID card in the machine, then thumb print and gates open and off to get the bags
Even non-resident arrivals handled quickly and efficiently ( if there's a problem person they are stood aside and dealt with so as not to hold up the following people)
HKG has currently over 60 million arrivals per year and pre-covid, over 90 million. So, similar numbers to Thailand.
Just thought I'd pass on my latest experience, for what it's worth.
-
6
-
3
-
4
-
9
-
7
-
1
-
2
-
20 minutes ago, still kicking said:
No, return flight 10th of April 760 AUD or 537 US dollars depends on the day
Ok. So out of Oz let's talk AUD.
My browsing for later in the year was about 50% higher than that.
(Take a look)
So ×2 (Thai wife) in THB makes it very expensive.
Even SQ, with a couple of hours stopover in Changi is /was much cheaper.
We'll go with SQ I think.
Pre covid, we used to pay around THB18,000 each...now it's double.
-
3 hours ago, still kicking said:
What price hike? I just booked Perth BKK with Thai air for just $537 and that is non-stop return.
One way ?
What time of year,because this is not reflected on their booking website !!!
-
On 2/29/2024 at 6:07 AM, D M G said:
Visit Singapore and learn
And Hong Kong .....the Imm guys from here DO go on "fact finding " junkets" to SIN a.d HKG etc, but never seem to learn or implement anything once back in LOS.
(Spent 20+yrs in HK Dept. of Civil Aviation...so first hand observations and experience in a MUCH busier airport than BKK)
-
4 hours ago, Sluglord said:
Well, that's just personal opinion that has nothing to do with reality.
I never fly that airline and have never flown that airline despite having flown ... no idea.. a million miles perhaps?
Yes, personal opinions and experiences tend to form the major part of this "open" forum.
-
1 hour ago, bradiston said:
Online check-in? Sure, web check-in lines might be shorter, which is about the only advantage. But the airlines can't issue boarding passes as far as I know, and if you've check-in bags you have to go to the check-in counter in any case. Also the check-in staff check any entry requirements at your destination like onward travel bookings.
Yep..it's mainly for the very short (usually) check in line instead of waiting in slow moving zigzag line for 20 to 40 minutes.
And yes, the boarding pass they email me can't be used in many places (maybe Dubai for EK), and of course the bags have to be checked in anyway, then issued with a new,hard copy,boarding pass, which is necessary to show in Bangkok, for example. I keep these carefully as they are hard "evidence" of my travels and "missed" 90 day reports (I know the entry and exit stamps are in the passport, but a bunch of collated boarding passes are easier, I guess.
Of course the check in staff had my passport for 5 minutes so could peruse my status at the destination.
But I've never been asked a single question by them....presumably because it's all kosher
-
2 minutes ago, Sluglord said:
It's not always available, especially on intl flights
True. But 90+% I fly Emirates, they email me about 48hrs ahead with a link to online checkin.
So I was mainly referring to my experiences with them....and the OP photo appears to be at Emirates checkin counters (?)
-
2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:
It's almost always a long and slow wait in the lines. After this visit by the esteemed PM, it will improve dramatically...for a couple of days!
I just cant understand why people don't do online check~in and join the much shorter queues. Maybe something to do with their Sim cards and data roaming.
I departed BKK a few days ago on EK, (check in line T/U as depicted in the OP report) and online checkin line very short , but dozens waiting in the other lines. All done in a few minutes.
On another note I also tried the "Fast/Priority line for the first time, as I already had a re entry permit.
It wasnt fast track and took ages to get through.
The main hold ups appeared to be small family groups....especially of middle eastern and Southern Asian origin.
Not sure I'd bother with that again !
I was only a cheap old Economy pax, but the people who had paid for expensive tickets must have been p***ed off
-
3
-
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
2 hours ago, wadsy said:I thought lithium/iron battery fires weren't able to be extinguished by water as they supplied their own oxygen? Must have been something other.
I guess you mean Lithium ION batteries??
-
4
Phuket Hospital Appeals for Respectful Conduct from Russian Patients
in Phuket News
Posted
As I have previously mentioned, I often travel to and from Hong Kong where my Thai wife and I have permanent residency (no local language skills etc as required here).
I mainly go for a change of scene and weather, but also for the excellent (almost free) medical care.
Every appointment slip or registration clearly states that these services are primarily provided for HK residents and that other foreign walk ins may be treated in an emergency, BUT AT THE FULL COST of the procedure plus medicines.
This is NOT "robbing" the foreigners, and is clearly stated, so no misunderstandings.
Last year I was in the waiting room for a regular check up when a nonresident man (foreigner tourist?) started getting agitated and rowdy about the time it was taking to be seen.
The staff tried their best to appease him, but with no success after 10 minutes, 2 armed policemen (not security guards) arrived and hauled him away.
They don't mess around there!