Thai Airways Passengers Endure Long Delays at Suvarnabhumi

Thai Airways passengers spoke out about landing and waiting several hours before being sent home, urging the airline to overhaul its operations. Outbound passengers queued for hours at check-in counters following multiple flight delays. On September 29, 2569 at 4 p.m., reporters surveyed the Thai Airways check-in area at Suvarnabhumi Airport and found large crowds of passengers arriving and queuing to check in, creating congestion at service counters. Some passengers stood in line for long periods while others chose to sit, unable to stand for so long amid the heavy passenger volume. Several passengers said they arrived at the airport earlier than usual and allowed multiple hours buffer time due to concerns about previous incidents, fearing flights might be delayed or cancelled. They decided to rush to the airport to check in and prepare for travel. Flight status displays showed multiple Thai Airways flights with delayed status on both arriving and departing flights, including TG 661, TG 931, TG 308, TG 344, TG 260, TG 637, and TG 103, as well as TG 551, TG 204, TG 206, TG 302, and TG 659, while some flights still showed confirmed or already-arrived status. Airport and airline staff remained stationed to facilitate service, provide advice, and assist passengers and tourists preparing to travel according to procedures.

A tour company representative, Mr. A, revealed that a flight arrived at Suvarnabhumi on September 28 at approximately 6:15 p.m. Staff did not provide baggage details but only instructed passengers to collect bags at carousel 12. Upon arrival at the carousel, passengers found staff present and asked when they could collect baggage. Staff told them to wait a moment but could not release bags, so they waited approximately 3-4 hours. Eventually, the flight still displayed on the screen but later disappeared, before staff told them to go home and return to collect bags the next day without providing any additional documentation—only instructing them to keep their passports and boarding passes and return the following day.

When Mr. A returned today to collect the baggage, it was ready at the carousel. After presenting the boarding pass, staff escorted him inside to collect the bags, which took little time. Mr. A added that this trip involved taking clients on tour to Guangzhou. The outbound flight had been cancelled, but the return flight was not, which he considered lucky. However, upon returning to Thailand, he could not take baggage home immediately, causing delays. Other clients who travelled together had to contact baggage claim themselves, as each held their own boarding pass. Mr. A travelled from the Raminthra area with friends to collect baggage, having to wade through water to reach the airport. He initially did not understand why baggage could not be moved from the aircraft to the carousel.