Getting into, out of and around the country: airport terminal and immigration queue changes, new flight routes, rail and metro extensions, fare decisions, taxi and ride-hailing rules, and the closures and cancellations that ruin a travel day. We cluster the Thai and English reporting into one story per disruption and refresh several times a day.
Thailand will not reopen its border checkpoints with Cambodia until key concerns such as cross-border crime, illegal imports, and boundary disputes are resolved. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there is no timeline for reopening, and bilateral relations are unlikely to return to previous levels soon.
Don Mueang International Airport will replace handheld metal detector checks with pat-downs for passengers who trigger walk-through metal detectors or body scanners, starting 1 November 2026. The change aims to meet CAAT and ICAO security standards. Passengers should allow extra time and remove metal items while queuing.
Don Mueang Airport reported that in the first seven days of new baggage inspection rules (Oct 16-22), security opened 927 checked bags and found 1,122 prohibited items, including power banks, lighters, and e-cigarettes. The rules allow officers to open checked baggage without the owner present if suspicion arises, with video recording and a notice left inside.
Since October 16, power banks have become the most common prohibited item found in checked baggage at Thai airports under new inspection rules. Passengers must carry power banks in hand luggage, subject to capacity limits, and cannot use or charge them during flights.
Since October 16, airport officials may open and search checked luggage on both domestic and international flights departing from Thailand without the owner present if they suspect prohibited items. The Civil Aviation Authority advises passengers to photograph their packed bags before and after closing them as evidence in case of loss or damage during inspection.
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) will waive tolls at 63 plazas on three Bangkok expressways (Chalerm Maha Nakhon, Si Rat, Udon Ratthaya) from 12:01am to midnight on October 23, 2026, in observance of Chulalongkorn Day. This measure aims to reduce travel expenses and ease congestion during the public holiday.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has denied that its staff searched a passenger's luggage after a complaint, but acknowledges that new CAAT rules allowing checked baggage to be opened without the owner present took effect on October 16, 2026. The airport advises travelers to keep valuables in carry-on luggage, use compliant locks, and expect inspections only when there is reasonable suspicion.
The eastern section of Bangkok's Orange Line MRT will begin trial runs in December 2027, with fare collection starting in January 2028. The first train is expected to arrive in November 2026, while full service is targeted for 2030.
A Thai actor questioned a 5,050 baht charge labeled as airport departure tax on a flight to Vientiane, but a detailed breakdown shows it includes airline surcharges and airport fees, not just a single government tax. The charge partly reflects the increased international passenger service charge from June 20, while a proposed 1,000 baht departure tax remains under public consultation until October 29 and is not yet enacted. Expats should always review ticket price breakdowns to understand what they are actually paying.
Starting October 16, 2026, Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will allow security staff to open checked baggage without the passenger present if screening detects suspicious items. Inspections must be recorded and passengers notified afterwards via a notice inside the bag. Expats are advised to keep valuables, documents, and fragile items in hand luggage and use TSA-compatible locks to reduce damage risk.
Thailand's Transport Ministry is accelerating plans for a common ticketing system on Bangkok's electric rail network from January 1, 2027, capping fares at 45 baht per trip and allowing line changes without a second entry fee. The system will also support EMV payments for foreign tourists.