Where's the logic....

Post by **ADW** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:52 am

Can somebody please explaing to me the logic of the new airport.

I've just had a phone call from a driver I have arranged to pick up a friend flying in and the driver can't go to the gate to meet them.

This isn't the first time either.

They won't allow drivers to go and meet arrivals. They have to stand at an exit (no 3 on the 2nd floor for anyone's future reference), and I can't contact my friend to tell him this.

Is this me or is this madness....

Post by **Guess** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:19 am

I don't know the answer but it is normal at many airports at least since 2001. It has always been the case at Heathrow.

I think you will find the logic in either:

Not enough space for everybody who feels like pulling up outside the terminal.

The less time vehicles are there the lesser the chance of one exploding.

Post by **ADW** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:33 am

I'm not talking about parking of the cars, I'm talking about the people themselves. By all accounts, they cannot walk to the arrival gate and meet the person.

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:03 pm

This must be a new plot as I managed to get picked up at the gate by my driver last month. Maybe it’s because of a security alert or a VIP arrival or something of that kind, or maybe they’ve finally worked out that despite having the world’s largest terminal, the arrivals hall is too narrow.

Post by **Guess** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:07 pm

Apologies. That was not clear from the first post. However I would guess that security and/or space for the driver in the terminal and his taxi outside may account for it.

Some airports are pandemonium when there are hundreds of people waiting to meet others.

I am not defending the airport here, just making suggestions. The authorities are very good at prohibiting something without offering an alternative.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:17 pm

Of course it's logical

Thailand - Logic .............

Post by **Big Boy** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:34 pm

I am obviously reading this differently to the rest of you. I think the OP needs to define gate.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:37 pm

I think it's probably fair to say that a much higher proportion of arriving passengers are being met by banner waving taxi/minibus/limousine drivers than at many other international airports. That may be causing a problem. I hope it's one they can get sorted!

Post by **sandman67** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:02 pm

See further

Military Intelligence
Fresh Frozen

etc

Post by **Big Boy** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:14 pm

ADW wrote:

I've just had a phone call from a driver I have arranged to pick up a friend flying in and the driver can't go to the gate to meet them.

By all accounts, they cannot walk to the arrival gate and meet the person.

My reading of this is that they will not allow the driver air-side to meet the people at the physical arrival gate. If that is what is meant, I don't know of any airport that would permit that - VIPs excluded.

If I am reading it wrong, how could anybody distinguish between a taxi driver going to meet a fare from anybody else?

Post by **DawnHRD** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:28 pm

I dunno. There's something weird going on.

I took a dog to Swampypoon last week to meet his new owner & fly to Chiang Mai. I had arranged to meet the guy at the Thai area in the domestic departures (entrance 3 ish). I was pissed off when the driver drove to the parking area. Seems he'd misunderstood & thought I was flying with the dog & thus, he couldn't drop me off at departures because he couldn't accept money there, or the police would have him. There's obviously a crackdown on drivers (maybe they're not licensed taxis or something?)

Anyway, led to a very interesting 20 mins, walking a large white soi dog through revolving doors, taking him in a lift & on one of those escalator/travellators and around the front part of the airport. Bless him, he was good as gold, but it was rather embarrassing.

Post by **richard** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:09 pm

There is a difference between an entrance and a gate

The gate is where they leave customs and arrive on the arrivals forecourt. The entrance could be one of many from the car parks or departure level.

Went with my driver to meet my daughter coming in from the UK. I got confused because 2 flights from the UK arrived almost at the same time. (Eva and Thai). I got the wrong gate. My driver got the right one

Post by **STEVE G** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:22 pm

To add to what Richard is saying, if anyone is having difficulty meeting up with someone at the airport, the entrance doors to outside (not the gates) are numbered from 1 to 10 on both levels, with the numbers displayed over the doors.

Post by **Lev** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:19 pm

Here is an update on the new regulations from the ATTA website:

Attn: All ATTA Members,

Re: Regulation Changes

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has been informed that the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited has changed their regulations regarding the collection of tourists at the 2nd Floor, Arrivals Hall. This is being done in the area of the 2nd Floor and the curb from Gates 3 – 10 for those persons who do not have permission to enter this area. For ATTA members’ representatives who use the services to collect tourists from ATTA, the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited has set the following procedures:

1. The member’s representative must come to the Registration Counters (1st Floor, Gate 7).

2. Have the necessary documentation for the collection of tourists, tour guide I.D. card, and company I.D. card to show to the Airport officer at the counter. If you have a signboard showing the names of the tourists, then the officer must also sign his/her name on it.

3. The Airport officer will exchange a card for you to enter the restricted area. There is also a set time of 1.5 hours for entering the area (the officer will give permission after the flight has landed).

4. The member’s representative will enter the restricted area on the 2nd Floor with the documents to show the staff at the ATTA counters B or C (Gate 6 or 10), as previously done.

5. The ATTA staff will give a card so to call the vehicle for the member’s representative to enter the details to keep.

6. The member’s representative will go to stand to collect the tourists at the Buffer Zone at Meeting Point B on the right and Meeting Point C on the left; both locations are near the escalators on the 1st Floor. It is not permitted to stand near the walkways of the Arrivals Hall.

7. After meeting the tourists, the member’s representative will go to the 1st Floor and show the signboard to the ATTA staff for them to call the vehicle (the same as previously done), and then exchange the card with the Airport officer.

8. The member’s representative must collect the tourists of their own company with the names of the tourists and flight number(s) and this must be shown in the documentation.

These new regulations had been effectived as from 30 June, 2008, as from 00.00 hrs after midnight of Sunday, 29 June, 2008, onwards.

For further information, please contact Mr.Suraphong Promprakai, Mr.Bhanuwath Pimpisan, Mr.Apichai Srisamran Tel. 02 134 4262 , 02 134 4263-4 , 02 134 4266-7.

Best regards,

Apichart Sankary

ATTA President

Post by **DawnHRD** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:36 pm

What a load of crap!

When I go to UK, I arrange for a HH taxi to meet me on my return (always the same one that takes me up). The driver always waits for me at the place you come out into the public area.
According to this, now I'll have to come off a flight from UK & search the parking lots for my taxi & driver? Oooh, considering how knackered & grumpy I usually am after a long flight, that'll be fun!

So, any ideas what's behind this? Tour companies paying a backhander to TAT?