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[QUOTE=AussieDoug;1259359]The fast track is for Premium passengers, that is those in First or Business class and those with a VIP pass, like the APEC card for instance. If you retain your First or Business class boarding pass you should have no trouble.[/QUOTE]Yes. I thought that too until I tried to go through the line.
[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1259473]Yes. I thought that too until I tried to go through the line.[/QUOTE]Correct: fast track is for diplomats, officials, crew, holder of fast track pass, apec card and first / business class passengers.
The lattest either get a card on the plane or, if flying Thai, just need to show their boarding card showing the flown class.
They do check the possession of those titles, mind you. Usually one doesn't have more than a couple of people in front.
[QUOTE=PinkPearl;1259173]"The 20-25 age group in particular seem to have no fear of HIV at all."[/QUOTE]Could well be that they have not lived the tough years when HIV was hitting also on "normal people" (ie no druggies and people living borderline) being also an invisible desease people can't actually spot a carrier.
[QUOTE=Bionicman;1259656]Correct: fast track is for diplomats, officials, crew, holder of fast track pass, apec card and first / business class passengers.[/QUOTE]Last I was there, I saw they also allowed old people, mothers with young children and monks.
[QUOTE=Wolvenvacht;1259686]Last I was there, I saw they also allowed old people, mothers with young children and monks.[/QUOTE]There is a line for old people (70+) , children etc. To the right of the regular immigration lines. The VIP counter
(fast track) is about 100 meters past the herd.
[QUOTE=Lord Farquard;1259693]There is a line for old people (70+) , children etc. To the right of the regular immigration lines. The VIP counter[/QUOTE]That's the one I mentioned indeed.
Do you think I can get through with some make-up, a wig and a pram with a baby-like doll in it?
Or maybe shave my head and wear an orange dress?
[QUOTE=Wolvenvacht; 1259697]That's the one I mentioned indeed.
Do you think I can get through with some make-up, a wig and a pram with a baby-like doll in it?
Or maybe shave my head and wear an orange dress?[/QUOTE]Sometimes when that line is not busy they will send a person around to gather up the "strays" and send them to that line, but don't hold your breath, on two occations I guess I looked really old to them and they sent me over. Asians look younger to westerners, so I guess that westerners look older to Asians.
[QUOTE=Wolvenvacht; 1259697]That's the one I mentioned indeed.
Do you think I can get through with some make-up, a wig and a pram with a baby-like doll in it?
Or maybe shave my head and wear an orange dress?[/QUOTE]The latter might get you bumped up from economy class to first / business on Thai. At least that happened to the monks on my last Thai flight.
[QUOTE=Bionicman;1259658]Could well be that they have not lived the tough years when HIV was hitting also on "normal people" (ie no druggies and people living borderline) being also an invisible desease people can't actually spot a carrier.[/QUOTE]When was the "tough years" you speak of? Of course HIV is a much less scary thing than it was 20 years ago when Magic Johnson got it.
"The Public Health found that only 39 per cent of young girls use condom regularly."
[url]http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/11/25/national/national_30089295.php[/url]
"Older men, younger women. A good thing"
"It turns out that older men chasing younger women contributes to human longevity and the survival of the species, according to new findings by researchers at Stanford and the University of California-Santa Barbara."
[url]http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/s.en-091207.html[/url]
"I have a doctor friend whose pet theory is that if a man can make it to 55 without any major problems (cancer, stroke, etc) , then it's likely that he'll live into his old age without any major problems. Therefore, those are the guys with better genes. So should be the ones to breed."
[url]http://terb.ca/vbulletin/showthread.php?375838-Older-men-younger-women-A-good-thing[/url]
[QUOTE=How14;1259932]When did thai people have the ability to think about the future?[/QUOTE]You could even omit "about the future" but then would need to replace "have the ability" with "take the effort"
I love this guy's videos. At first, he seems boring. He has a LOT of videos about Thailand. He covers a lot of aspects of moving around in Thailand not covered on here. How to rent a motorcycle. How to take a train or bus. What to eat. How to talk to other people. He warns against pitfalls there (such as drugs). He's started his own service- which actually seems worth it. Here's the link. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdQrSe6qMlk[/url] Just flying to one of these countries on my own, well, it's a little intimidating. I wish they had more of these on other countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, etc.
I'm sitting in the CIP lounge in BKK heading to PP. I just came through immigration at 12:45. It looks like most of the booths were manned. I stood in line for about 10 seconds before I was called up to be processed. Then it took the agent about 15 seconds to process me. It appears they are doing some type of expansion as far as the number of booths is concerned because I had never been in that particular area when leaving out of the country. I usually go through on the far right but this section was well before that, more towards the center.
[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1260463]I'm sitting in the CIP lounge in BKK heading to PP. I just came through immigration at 12:45. It looks like most of the booths were manned. I stood in line for about 10 seconds before I was called up to be processed. Then it took the agent about 15 seconds to process me. It appears they are doing some type of expansion as far as the number of booths is concerned because I had never been in that particular area when leaving out of the country. I usually go through on the far right but this section was well before that, more towards the center.[/QUOTE]At 11:30, the lines were back out to the moving walkway, estimated time to get through was 50 min. I did not stop to look and see the booth staffing, as I went through the VIP lanes.
There was no one at the VIP counters and luggage was just starting to arrive after I went through, and I was the first one off the plane. I can not comment on the cause of the back up, but on the average if I do not get a VIP pass, the time in line around noon is 1/2 hour. The lines have been that long for the past year, that is with 10 flights to BKK. I think it has more to do with too may flights arriving at the same time, I can not see any help by moving the domestic flights to the other airport, as they do not have to pass through immigration. But what do I know.
[QUOTE=Lord Farquard; 1260468]At 11:30, the lines were back out to the moving walkway, estimated time to get through was 50 min. I did not stop to look and see the booth staffing, as I went through the VIP lanes.
There was no one at the VIP counters and luggage was just starting to arrive after I went through, and I was the first one off the plane. I can not comment on the cause of the back up, but on the average if I do not get a VIP pass, the time in line around noon is 1/2 hour. The lines have been that long for the past year, that is with 10 flights to BKK. I think it has more to do with too may flights arriving at the same time, I can not see any help by moving the domestic flights to the other airport, as they do not have to pass through immigration. But what do I know.[/QUOTE]I don't know if it clarifies anything, but although you and Mr. E are both talking about immigration, you were traveling in opposite directions (arrival vs. Departure).
My arrival around 4pm 2 weeks ago only required a 5 minute wait at immigration.
The most important factor is clearly how many flight are arriving / departing at the same time.