I have to give Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) credit for a smooth and efficient arrivals experience despite the pandemic. I made it from my aircraft to the arrivals hall in less than 15 minutes.
Arrival Experience In Bangkok BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport [2021]
After arriving in BKK on ANA, passengers were invited to disembark as if it was a normal flight. The arrivals hall was quiet, but looked no different than usual, at least initially.
However as I approached the main terminal hall, I as greeted by row after row of blue plastic chairs. There were hundreds of them stretching as far forward as the eye could see.
Everyone was taking a seat in the next available chair so I did the same.
Here I expected quite a long wait, but the line moved rapidly.
Masked workers in blue vests asked each passenger if they had their paperwork. They then glanced at it, not for detail but just to make sure the requisite components were there like proof of medical insurance and quarantine hotel booking.
Four minutes later, I was directed to a counter where a government agent (based upon the uniform) more closely checked my paperwork.
Recall, I had flown from Los Angeles to Washington to Cairo to London to Tokyo to Bangkok over the preceding five calendar days and taken my PCR test in Los Angeles. Would my PCR test, now almost five days old, be accepted?
The agent was a bit confused about the date, but when I explained I had begun my journey in Los Angeles, she accepted my test and allowed me to proceed.
For the next few minutes, I journeyed down the long corridor toward the immigration counters, just as I would normally do when arriving in Bangkok. Lines were not long.
The blue arrival forms are still necessary and are presented to the immigration agent who stamps them, tears off your departure card (you need not fill it out in advance), and stamps you into the Kingdom of Thailand.
From there, you proceed to baggage claim, gather any checked items, and exit. Outside, dozens of representatives will be waiting, each representing a different hotel.
Whether you are participating in Test And Go or Alternative Quarantine, after you find your hotel point of contact your name will be checked against a list. You are not allowed to leave that area without an escort.
CONCLUSION
I was surprised at how easy the arrival process was at Bangkok BKK. Arriving travelers were quickly and efficiently processed and I made it from the plane to the arrivals area in less than 15 minuets, which may be an all-time record for my many trips to Bangkok over the years.
I took these pictures on the way out – the airport is like a ghost town in the morning:
Hey Matthew, great post. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have a question regarding PCR-RT test. I have a similar case next week, but I have two 25hr layovers in between, before landing in BKK. I was almost sure I’m gonna need to do quick test somewhere during my journey. Did he confirmed your test with his supervisor or he didn’t care that much and just let you go?
No check with the supervisor was necessary. ANA checked me in London and combed though every detail, but determined the test was valid because it began less than 72 hours from my first point of departure to Thailand. I think there is some wiggle room, but I was ready to re-test in London if necessary. Thankfully, it was not necessary.
PCR test is required for boarding the plane, and should not be more than 72 hours old at check in. There is no need to worry about the date/hour of the PCR test at arrival in Bangkok.
Connections > 24h usually count as a stopover, rather than a transit. Better check with the airline upfront.
When it comes to COVID theatre, this looks to be Shakespearean quality. Thailand is a beautiful country, but there are plenty of other amazing countries that don’t involve jumping through so many hoops. Hard pass for now.
Europe and maybe UAE/Qatar/a few middle east spots are the only realistic worry-free destinations for US travelers right now. Asia and Oceania is still in June 2020.
No idea why countries, including the US,, are testing for a disease that is endemic in their native populations. Bizarre.
LMAO, well said!
There are reports in the US that not an insignificant number of Covid-19 patients with the omicron variant were fully vaccinated and even had a booster. One woman was in her 20’s and healthy.
Therefore, not traveling, eating out, and leaving the house should be reduced for the sake of yourself and others. For example, Matthew has small, unvaccinated children, who occasionally die from Covid-19. He also has parents that live in the area. Earlier, I supported Matthew for his travels because it provides a service to all. Now, I leave it up to him and hope he will exercise good judgment. Everyone should not be lulled into thinking “omicron doesn’t result in hospitalization” because the variant is too new to know.
As for the trip report, so interesting!
Any talk of “the children” comes from a mind crippled by fear and completely incognizant of relative risks. About 750 children have died with COVID-19 in the US, most with comorbidities. That is a fraction of the number who die in motor vehicle accidents. Do you let your children get in cars? Stop the insanity of safetyism.
It’s a good point, it boils down to poor risk management. Interesting stats I read: 66 kids age 5-11 died of COVID in the US from Oct 2020 – Oct 2021. Almost all of those had pre-existing medical issues. In the same time period 650 kids in that same age group died in car accidents, and 88 died of the flu.
And remember there were no vaccines for that age group during the entire year period. So even an unvaccinated child is 10 times as likely to die in a car crash than die of COVID, yet nobody freaks out every time a kid rides in a car.
What’s the step by step for getting into Thailand now for vaccinated Americans? I heard that on December 15th the Thai government will ease restrictions further. I don’t know if that’s true though. I’d like to go in January.
Please see this post:
https://liveandletsfly.com/thailand-test-and-go-guide/
We heard that on 16 Dec PCR testing and one-night quarantines would no longer be required (rapid antigen only), but that may change due to omicron.
Damn omicron
Thanks for the info *_*/
Any further information on the end of one night quarantine with the implementation of a rapid test on December 16? I am arriving on December 19 and am hoping that is the case.
Did you even read any of this? Fill out a few forms. Go to hotel to sleep off jetlag and when you wake up the test result is returned and you leave. Have also done Test and Go at BKK. Thousand times less convoluted than UK and less burdensome than nearly any other country in Asia (at least for foreigners). Testing everyone on arrival is not theater and forcing everyone to have insurance is just common sense. Biggest issue for thailand is not the burden of getting in. Prepandemic most visitors were from other countries in Asia. That market has been cut dramatically given challenge to returning back to many countries in the region. Dealbreaker for many western travels shouldn’t be entry requirements. It is masks. Everyone wears them, even outside, and I don’t see evidence that’s changing anytime soon. So if you hate masks, you can write off most of Asia for many years to come.
Thanks Matthew. Great post as always. The pics of those chairs dramatically demonstrates we are a long way from having COVID behind us.
I have a team based in BKK and like you have transited BKK more times than I can count. For ground transportation to and from BKK I can highly recommend the AOT Limousine Cars. I have used them for years and they are always less expensive than the hotel car, easy to book with counters both inside and outside baggage claim, and there are several price points. English is spoken and if you book your return car when booking your outbound car there is a price break. Cars are clean, drivers in white uniformed shirts, water and hand wipes normally provided.
The new train is also good, but not direct to most hotels.
Thanks for the tip, Mike. I’ve used the train several times…not the quickest or easiest with a transfer required, but doable and cheap.
Yet 2 years ago you landed after a long flight give your fingerprints on a machine that had not been cleaned or sanitizer anywhere then the world got covid thank you bkk
Guess what? That hasn’t changed. Fingerprinting still exists and is not wiped between visitors.
Good point.
Efficiency and Thailand are not usually at all synonymous.
The Thai elite, we know who THAT means, are so overtly desperate to have the country open.
I do have a question though what exactly does the proof of insurance entail and how did you show proof?? If you have some type of insurance plan here in the US of A, is it just matter of getting a letter or what??
Matt, I read this article before I read the previous two. I still wonder if one can get a letter from ones insurance company here in the US of A….
I would think so, but for $15 it wasn’t worth the hold queue.
Yes, it’s as simple as that. A statement of coverage from your US provider showing at least the required amount of coverage and it must specifically say that any costs related to treatment of COVID-19 are covered.
I have CIGNA travel coverage through my employer in the US and have used their statement of coverage with no issues when entering Thailand over the last 18 months (most recently 2 weeks ago).
Thanks for the datapoint!
Hello how are you do you have any worries or any long wait in thailand please tell me how is it for
Well, that’s only for three days. I have connections with Thailand so when I go it between 3-6 weeks at a time.
Greetings Matthew
We’re you able to exchange currency & get a SIM card? In the past all was readily available in the baggage claim area?
Still available, but most currency exchanges in town were closed. I’m going to do a post on this.
I arrived last night from USA and can confirm Matt’s report. Very easy and painless. Only interesting thing for me was getting to Hyatt Place. The person who administered the test had full blown hazmat uniform with shield. Doesn’t she realize everyone she is testing has been vaccinated and just had negative covid test done? Talk about paranoid.
Yes. Was probably the same woman. That part of the report is coming tomorrow.
Yes, we probably had the same woman. Total overkill. I’ll cover that part of the trip tomorrow.
If you want to be in the play, then you have to dress the part.
Ok this made me laugh, but, to be fair, the vax isn’t as widely available as it is here in the states. And a majority of the vax available is the Chinese one, so to be fair, yes, it’s over kill but possibly she or her family might not have been vaxed or she got the Chinese one…
Definitely agree Mark.
I arrived at my hotel and confined to my room. At 3.00pm I was called downstairs passed many other guests, all wearing masks, to a Nurse in a Hazmat suit and Double face mask. Even though I was negative in London 48hrs ago, back to room confined until cleared at 01.00am!!
A bit O. T T.
In reply to previous comments, I think the Antigen tests are cancelled because of new STRAIN. Still Test and Go with PCR.
Hello how are you do you have any worries or any long wait in thailand please tell me how is it for pir sahib
Do you need hardcopies of all the documents?
Thanks for Sharing Matt – I just sent this to a coworker who is traveling to Thailand bc her dad is sick. I am curious why didn’t you book a direct flight to Thailand? or are you doing to get miles ? Apologies if you already explain in a previous post.
Hi April, I explain my routing choice here:
https://liveandletsfly.com/bangkok-l-1011-trip/
In response to your earlier comments on my “fixation” on the fact that the sex trade is a major source of tourism dollars for Thailand.
It seems you are ok with Thailand being the world leader in children being made available to perverts since they are a “cheap” place to visit. Tell me, what hotel, food and other experiences are there that you can’t experience elsewhere in the world? Your promotion of this country is embarrassing for someone of your stature. You have no business dealings there so every trip you take, and article you write about the place is showing your acceptance of their refusal to deal with the problem.
Honestly I think you are better than this. And I’ll never apologize being “fixated” on pointing out a place in 2021 where tourists can rent children of almost any age for sex.
Thailand is a great economy and is more diversified than the sex trade.
Go there for yourself and see if you have different experiences. I have heard a lot of good things about the place.
Obviously ypu going on the sex trade crusade as in every Mathew post abput Thailand you wrote these things. The children sextrade country is Cambodia btw which is trying to fight against pervert. And when you asl about what food you cannot get in other country it shows me like you never been there.Otherwise you would know the things do not taste the same outsode of Thailand. One of the reason i very rarely go to Thai rest abroad.
The man doth protest too much, methinks. Fanzine is totally right in that Cambodia is a haven for pedophiles. Even before COVID-19 it was much poorer than Thailand and lawless to boot.
I would argue there is more underage sex trafficking and, in general, sex trafficking here in the USA than there is in Thailand. In Thailand things are mostly above board in the sex business. Pimps are pretty much unheard of. Although prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, it’s out in the open. Authorities turn a blind eye to it partially because the elites make money off of it.
Let’s take a look in our own backyard first regarding exploitation in the second trade. I would argue it’s much worse here than in Thailand.
I’m thinking you guys were all fine with visiting South Africa in the 80’s as well. At some point people have to stand up and stop making excuses like it’s cheap and the food is good to justify visiting the place. Kids are being openly exploited and there are travel companies specifically running trips there for it.
And no, if Cambodia is worse it doesn’t justify it.
Really?? What companies specifically in this day and age are organizing trips to Thailand in order to procure underage prostitutes?
The incidents of sex trafficked minors are more numerous in the USA I would hazard a guess.
You sir are a moron.
Absolutely. My Thai wife and I returned to Bangkok 4 weeks ago and we were completely floored how smooth everything went. Immigration officers etc were meeting us before the counters to guide us to the nearest empty one and trolleys were lined up next to the baggage conveyor belts. Why was it not always like that…..
Were digital versions of all the documentation fine for the border agents?
Yes.
How do I get my phone Sim card? I have always gone directly to dtac and changed from my USA sim and either renewed or got a new one. Will the hotel let me renew/change my sim card?
I had the same experience at Bangkok, so efficient and safe. Coming back to Melbourne was so different, everybody herded into one congested line.
I have visited Thailand for over 30 yrs. I’m older with some medical issues (diabetic). Many Thai people are scared of the vaccines and will not take them,, which may increase community transmissions. The WHO is saying older people over 60 with medical issues should not travel where their is high community transmissions. Thailand is at
T a 71% vaccination level. I am cancelling my flight this year with a heavy heart. I am terrified of COVID-19