Answered9 years ago
Why are immigration queues at Don Mueang Airport so long?
Arrived at Dom Mueang from HCMC almost two hours ago.
Thousands of people and only one Immigration officer at each set of two desks.
Reckon I've got another hour to queue.
Arse!
Thousands of people and only one Immigration officer at each set of two desks.
Reckon I've got another hour to queue.
Arse!
Answer summary
Travelers arriving at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) report long immigration queues, with some experiencing wait times of up to three hours. Frustration is expressed by multiple respondents, with suggestions to avoid DMK or utilize private 'fast track' services to expedite the process. Comparisons to other airports reveal that long waits are not uncommon but vary significantly based on operational efficiency, which many users find lacking at DMK, particularly during peak travel times.
42 repliesnewest first
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Ron *******
4 and 5 hour delays all over Europe. KL can be a regular 2 to 3 hours to get through when flights come in at the same time. Everybody being finger printed slows it down. Last month was 2 hours entering and leaving Manila lining up at immigration. I fly in to Tampa a couple of times a year, don't get me started on that place for the line up to clear immigration. That really is shocking.
Cheap air fares and more people flying along with stricter and stricter security checks means it won't get any better.
Cheap air fares and more people flying along with stricter and stricter security checks means it won't get any better.
Tod *********
It's making the rounds on thai social media websites too about the horrific lines Friday. BUT it's my experience that the lines are like that ALL the time :/
Terary **********
That will teach them to look too closely at peoples papers
Robert ********
Wow, good reason to fly premium class.
Robert ********
I'm sure most travelers do not know about express service (or are too frugal) and for those traveling with families, it is simply too costly.
Tod *********
or a good reason to use an express check in service ;)
Adam ***********
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83/its-all-queue-muchRon *******
All airports worldwide have stepped up security and passport checks.
Reiner *********
Stop cheating....they have. Different wy...nd the immigration us nothing to do wtihmit
Sean ********
OPThis was nothing to do with stepped up security. There were 6 immigration officers working and 8 empty desks (that I counted).
There were 10 flights in from China filled with mainlanders who cannot stand in a single file line. They just stand in a mob and jostle for position to get into the next immigration spot. Its madness.
There were 10 flights in from China filled with mainlanders who cannot stand in a single file line. They just stand in a mob and jostle for position to get into the next immigration spot. Its madness.
Kevin ********
Shocking!
Norman ******
i had 1 hour 15 minutes yesterday at suvarnabhum
Kevin ********
Arrived last night from Penang. Long queues at immigration. Took me 1 hour as well.
Kris **************
Yes, DMK is not running very smooth.
I was presently surprised at BKK. I got in line and the signs said 60 minutes of lines, it only took like 20 minutes though.
In Hanoi, it took 12 minutes from walking out of the plane, to jumping in the taxi, including picking up luggage.
I was presently surprised at BKK. I got in line and the signs said 60 minutes of lines, it only took like 20 minutes though.
In Hanoi, it took 12 minutes from walking out of the plane, to jumping in the taxi, including picking up luggage.
Robert *******
And I read everywhere there are no tourist coming into town. Where did those thousends of people went to?
Sean ********
OPThat was exactly what it was like. No real lines. They (the airport) need to put up barriers even if it means running them all the way to the planes. Force people into single file.
Adam ***********
The lines at Immigration in DMK last week looked horrendous. Can't even call them lines really - more like a mob.
Sean ********
OPAs far from me as possible hopefully. I counted 10 flights coming from different cities in China.
Adam ***********
I used a fast track service coming into DMK last week. THB1200, no queues and no questions. Plus if you want they'll push your trolley / take you to your car / taxi if you want but I just let them go after Immigration.
Reiner *********
So....like everywhere in The World...If thousends come WE have to wait.....Show ME one Airport WHO have Not a Problem then.....relax
Reiner *********
Well thins is it ....then
Ray *********
@Reiner ********
Maybe you look suspicious.... I have never encountered those sort of delays in Europe, America or Asia.Reiner *********
Ray Bingham ma be z not travel a lot .. my last , Miami 2,5 , kualalumpur 1,5, china 2 , all this year only.. I forgot Australia ....2,5 incl check of cloth
Sean ********
OPThere are positions for 2 immigration officers per desk (2 queues). Instead of 2 officers working at each one there was only 1.
Very inefficient. Didn't help that the 'queues' were 5 lines wide and then at the front they tried to merge into one, because Mainland Chinese people can't stand in single file.
Very inefficient. Didn't help that the 'queues' were 5 lines wide and then at the front they tried to merge into one, because Mainland Chinese people can't stand in single file.
Jim ********
There's plenty of European airports with this problem at the moment, all the British papers are moaning about it. But there's also loads of airports that never have this kind of problem. It's not an impossible problem to solve, it's just not a priority for them.
Stéfan ********
Dubai! There... (that was easy)
Sam *****
There are too many efficient airports to count. Bangkok's airports have been rated some of the lowest in customer satisfaction surveys in recent years. Google it. As Thailands government has recently stated, they are trying to attract wealthier tourists instead of trying to increase the current numbers of annual visitors. Making people wait hours at customs is not a great start in sending this message out to the world. I think the OP has every right to be irritated at having to wait hours. It's a rational response. I am not sure he needs to be told to relax though. He seemed perfectly calm to me. I for one am grateful to people sharing their experiences here. We all should be.
Ray *********
I have never had to wait 2 hours anywhere else in the world.......that should help you to recognize how localized the problem is !
Ray *********
I had exactly the same experience last year at DMK but got through in just under 2 hours. No fun "queuing " with hundreds of Chinese.
Tod *********
Just so you guys know, many of the the "fast track services" are offered by private companies and they do Don Mueang & Suvarnabhumi.
Like this company;
Like this company;
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Jeff *****
good info. thanks.
Perry *******
Hmmm
Ian *********
I have come in through Don Muang many times. Rarely do I have more than one person in front. Going out is more a hassle.
Sean ********
OPTook 3 hours to clear immigration. No questions from the IO and no request to see 20,000 baht (I was carrying plenty more than that just in case).
Glen *********
Yes fast track is available at DMK, I use it every time :)
Jhannalyn ********
Welcome to Thailand...
Sam *****
Sorry to hear that mate. I had the same happen before. Now I pay the premium and never flying into Don Muang.
Perry *******
How do you get "fast track" service?
Sean ********
OPActually I'm not 100% sure they do. But there is a priority desk.
Sam *****
I wasn't aware they did that at Don Muang. Nice info thanks Sean.
Sean ********
OPI'm seriously regretting not paying for fast track service.
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