What are the experiences and tips for fast track immigration at Thailand's airports?

Feb 21, 2023
2 years ago
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sawadee khar, just arrived in Pattaya πŸ’ͺ🏽 incredibly long journey but worth it. Thought I'd share experience this evening of immigration: landed, from leaving plane to baggage collection was less than 11 minutes! Mega queues at immigration (we got off a very full plane -A380) and lots of others arriving. Booked both the golf buggy and fast track immigration with an airport service; super easy, very professional and polite. The staff were lovely and immigration officers were exceptionally nice and speedy! Very impressed. However baggage claim was chaos and took ages, but can't help that. Great experience won't do without it again. Stressful journey too, but now time for some well deserved Chang 🍻 chok Dee
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A recent arrival in Pattaya shared a positive experience regarding fast track immigration, highlighting a quick transition from the plane to immigration despite long queues. They utilized a paid airport service for both fast track and a golf buggy. Other comments discussed the chaotic baggage claim process, the costs associated with fast track services, and various travel requirements such as health tests before flights. Users engaged in discussions on whether the fast track service is worth the cost, with mixed opinions on its efficiency and value.
FAST TRACK RESOURCES / SERVICES
Sohail ******
Beautiful brother
Scott *******
Golf buggy?!? I don’t think invalids even get this option. You have been scammed. Learn from it and don’t make the same mistake next time.
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Scott ******
not sure how it's a scam if I searched for the service, happy to pay the price for my convenience. I've learned I wouldn't do without it again. For 16 years coming here and in MY opinion very useful and worthwhile for me πŸ‘πŸ½
Stephen ********
Some gjrls will do anything for attention
Andy *********
After sitting in a plane and airports for in some cases 24 hours or more, now it is important to save 10 minutes of walking (much of that on people movers) and use a golf cart?

Which costs more than 2k B according to one post here.

Different strokes I guess.
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy ********
nah about 30quid. Some people need it due to mobility issues πŸ‘πŸ½
Wayne **********
I just go through the Thai immigration lines with my family πŸ˜ƒ
Mike ********
Welcome to thailand, it’s always the same untill you get to your accommodation and relax,. Enjoy your stay,.
Jim ********
"Khar" that's a new one to me?
Iunian *****
Andrew *********
I was in and out Thailand so many years due to working here and other Asian countries, used fast track many times as eligible due to flying business class. Never questioned by immigration once, yet when going thru general immigration line was questioned several times due to my passport having many old B Visas.

Fast track is exactly that, hand passport over and get stamped immediately.
Paul *******
@Andrew ********
gotcha. Yes, once you've spent some time working in Thailand and subsequently move elsewhere but then return as a visitor, questions start getting raised. For this reason, even if I end up moving to another country or back home for work, I'll continue to use marriage visas to enter Thailand, even for short visits. Otherwise, I could end up being questioned like you were.
Paul *******
What did they question you about and what's wrong with old B visas? They're legit and proof you're a businessman or were working in Thailand.
Andrew *********
@Paul ******
was questioned when coming in visa exempt, when i was working in China, officers saw old B visas and just kept saying i was here to work, i explained i previously worked here but now in China, showed my contract but they just kept saying you here for work. On all these occasions i ended up talking to supervisors who quickly allowed me through once situation explained.

Under same entry conditions at fast track, never asked a single question.
Nui **********
Golf buggy? How did you book that? I have asked for my parents with AOT (airport of Thailand) they said they have only wheelchairs. Ps they came with Thai Air royal silk

Thanks
Brian *********
@Nui *********
I just booked with them and my document says this is not a fast track document, have I just wasted my moneyπŸ™„
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ********
all was fine for me ☺️
Brian *********
@Madz *****
I am flying economy, I asked them and they said no use for me🀣
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ********
****************************
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ********
yeah I flew economy too this time, hence why I booked the extra service πŸ‘πŸ½
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nui *********
just through limousine Bangkok services... I'll find the link
Val **********
@Nui *********
if your parents are elderly the wheelchair is a good option as you also get priority through immigration, even if only one uses a wheelchair.
Nui **********
@Val *********
Thank you
John ********
Yep Baggage claim was very bad it was over a hour before they were able to get the suitcase
Klint ******
Cha cha
Greg *********
Last week off plane to Street 20 mins 6:30pm
Russell *******
I struggle to understand why everyone is prepared to pay the extremely high flight costs ,it's double and so many people traveling.
Paul *******
@Jeffrey ******
depends where you're coming from. If you're anywhere within striking distance of Thailand (Vietnam, Indonesia etc.) Then flying isn't necessary. It's particularly easy to get to Thailand from Vietnam by land and doesn't take very long either. A bit more of an involved process from Indonesia, though doable from as far away as Bali by doing some island hopping (most ferry rides are short) though since domestic airfares are cheap, one could easily fly from anywhere to Medan, then take a boat to Penang or Port Klang (Penang is best if a boat is available). Once there, getting to Thailand is a doodle. Flights available to many parts of the country from Hat Yai, if wanting to save some time.
Russell *******
@Paul ******
lots of good information there , thanks.

I was more curious about people coming from Europe,as to whether these people arriving are traveling on tickets they brought before all the prices went up or are they all paying the new prices. With the apparent recession in Europe,it would suprise me if the majority are prepared to pay that amount. πŸ™
David **********
Natalie Maria I always do, yes, but my son booked these flights. His return flight is about double the cost next week. Its worth planning a longer holiday if it saves you a lot on the airfare!
David **********
Natalie Maria thai air asia flew on jan 30 and only booked one week before
Martin *********
@Russell ******
because they can.
David **********
@Russell ******
if you are flexible with dates and times there are still flights as cheap or cheaper than before. More routes continue to reopen over march.
Russell *******
@David *********
ok I didn't realize that. Every time I have looked it's close to 3x pre Covid19.

Thanks πŸ™
David **********
@Russell ******
you will have to search really thoroughly, look over the whole month on a site like skyscanner that allows that but then book direct with airline. My son fly Brisbane to Phuket for around $300 Aussie recently
Russell *******
@David *********
ok , great thanks. That sounds like a fair price πŸ˜‚
David **********
@Russell ******
yeah some flights are $2000. Might have to do an annoying long stopover in KL like I did to score the really cheap flights.
Jeffrey *******
@Russell ******
No other option but to pay the fare. You got another way?
Russell *******
@Jeffrey ******
no of course I don't have another way , but I think I would not just pay what ever the airlines change and would stay at home
Craig **********
@Russell ******
for some of us this is home
Paul *******
Enjoy πŸ™ where did you book the buggy and fast track immigration out of interest
Kevin *************
Just take hand lugage strait upto the gate no carousell , out of airport in 20 mins
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kevin ************
it crossed my mind, but can't cram in everything I need for 2 weeks
Martin *********
@Kevin ************
you obviously live here he obviously doesn't
Jw ********
So waiting for those bags, how much time did you save getting out of the airport versus everyone else? Zero!!! Except you paid the money for the scam.🀣
Madz ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jw *******
not really a scam if I found a service I wanted to pay for 🀣 and I didn't need to be out before anyone, just didn't want to be stood in the immigration queue πŸ‘πŸ½
Yuri ***********
Do i need any test Atk or doc .before flights ..thanks.enjoy
Paul *******
@Yuri **********
only for some destinations. This includes Myanmar (if you're unvaccinated; previously they required you to be both vaccinated and tested, but this rule changed back on October 8, 2022), the Philippines (vax or test), Hong Kong (everyone needs to be tested, except for arrivals from mainland China and Macau) and mainland China (all non-Macau or non-Hong Kong arrivals need a PCR test before departure). Hopefully this will be scrapped within the coming 2-3 months.
David **********
@Yuri **********
nothing needed
Riny ************
$37.50 now but not available at the moment
Paul *******
Why not?
Riny ************
@Paul ******
not mentioned on the site. I check every day
Jeffrey *******
Fast Track Immigration : What does this give you when you arrive?
Brandon ************
@Jeffrey ******
separate line that is supposed to be faster
Chris *******
Just leaving BKK for Dubai.Massive queues at security and passport control.Many people missing flights!
Karim ***************
How much did you pay for fast track?
Brandon ************
@Karim **************
there's so many online. The prices vary wildly. They are on booking websites like Klook but you can also find directly from agent websites. I think the cheapest you can get is around $30, and the golf cart is more expensive than that but it scales better because the golf cart price stays the same for x number of people.

I think I paid around 2500β‚Ώ for fast track and private transfer because I was going to be arriving at like 2am and didn't want to deal with finding a ride. There was also a slight discount for booking both at the same time through the agency I found. I didn't get the golf cart though.
Brandon ************
Baggage claim can easily ruin the advantage of fast track. The airport authority has given a warning to the contractor handling baggage that they need to shape up or be replaced.

That probably just means they need to hand a brown envelope full of cash to the correct person at the AOT to declare the problem solved for at least 6 more months.
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