BANGKOK – Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok will start using its new 24-hour Automated Border Control (ABC) passport gates for departing passengers on Thursday. The move should help cut down lines and make departures easier for travelers.
Earlier, the airport tested the gates in mid-February, but only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Now, the immigration checkpoint is ready to run the automated gates all day and night, deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Periswiwatana said Tuesday.
ABC gate requirements for passengers
To avoid problems at the gate, passengers should confirm they meet the ABC rules before joining the automated line:
- Must be at least 120 centimeters tall
- A passport must have at least six months’ validity left
- A new passport must be at least 14 days old before using the gate
- Carry-on bags (including extended pull handles) must not exceed 120 centimeters in height
Who should use the manual immigration lanes
Some travelers should still go to the staffed counters:
- Pregnant women, for safety and comfort
- Passengers who need a passport stamp, because the automated gates do not print a physical stamp, the travel record stays in the system
Lalida also said the airport is adding more automated gates. The goal is to have 31 units installed across Don Mueang by April.
She added that the upgrade is part of broader changes to support international travel, ease crowding during busy hours, and improve passenger flow.
Thai Airways baggage policy change
Meanwhile, passengers flying Thai Airways International are being told to allow extra time for check-in at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Long lines formed on Monday after the airline introduced a new checked baggage policy.
Under the updated rules, the baggage allowance changed from weight-based limits to a piece-based system. The number of bags allowed depends on the ticket class. For example, first-class passengers can check three pieces, while economy passengers can check up to two.
On the first day of the change, a system issue caused problems at self-service kiosks. The kiosks could print boarding passes, but they could not issue baggage tags for THAI passengers. As a result, travelers had to line up at check-in counters to get baggage tags before loading bags onto flights.
That issue led to long waits at THAI counters for both domestic and international routes.
The Suvarnabhumi Airport public relations office said Tuesday that Thai Airways passengers should plan for extra time before departure and follow airline updates for the latest information. The airport office also said THAI was working to fix the issue, and that the kiosks continued normal service for other airlines because the problem only affected THAI.
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