Leaving Bangkok early in the morning. Does anyone know about the line ups at that time. Flying Northwest, would like to know if they have a separate elite check in.<BR>Thanks for your info in advance.

The security at BKK is unbelievable. You will be searched at least twice. (My mother was searched three times.) We arrived at BKK for our 8 AM flight at 6, and we just made the flight. It doesn't matter if you have elite check-in. We flew Business Class on United and we still had to have our bodies and luggage searched, just like everyone else.

Just took that flight last week!!! We left our hotel (Royal Orchid Sheraton) at 3:40, took the toll road (40baht) - tell your driver you'll pay the extra to go quicker - and arrived at BKK around 4:10. NW did have a seperate line for elite, it was quick and we were in the lounge by 4:45 or so. More security on your way to board but I didn't think it was out of the ordinary. We did not have our checked luggage searched, they did search our carry on's and we had to take our shoes off, etc. before boarding.

Obviously, different people have diferent experiences flying out of Bangkok. Last I flew out of Bangkok (which was just a couple of months after 9/11), I had the usual checked baggage procedure (they squish a little air out of your bag, and use a sensor to check for explosives, then put a band around your bag - I wish they did that everywhere!). That part doesn't take long, and as I remember, they had a separate line for business class. I can imagine that there are times of the day when the lines ther are very long. The check of carry-ons and body screening was the same as everywhere. It didn't take any longer than anywhere else. Of course, they do profiling plus random searches, as do all airports, so John G, your mother may have just been &quot;lucky&quot;.

I see no difference at all compared with most international airports across the world.

We flew out of BKK in July and found the security there to be no different from other airports.Our experience was the same as Kathie's. <BR>

Casey<BR>I think you have your answer- with one exception, all replies have been that you have nothing to worry about. If you look at all strange you will be searched several times.

Just recently back from Bangkok. Did not have any security problem whatsoever, not even did anyone give you anything. We flew Singapore Air, departure about 11 AM maybe this has something to do with time and which carrier you are on. One thing, be sure to keep about 10/15 of Thai dollars for their airport tax on leaving.No travelers checks or credit cards but US currency ok but will cost more.

As is the case in the vast majority of countries you pay for things in their 'own' currency not a foreign currency. USD is a foreign currency. Departure tax is paid in Thai currency, i.e 500 baht. The security of Bangkok is pretty much the same as elsewhere, though probably a lot different from the U.S ( need I say more! ). The people who complain about the length of time to complete security would no doubt be the very SAME people who would complain adbout slack security.