Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:25 pm Today's flight was smooth as silk, and I like the fact the Cambodian airlines like to put foreigners at the exit seats. I think they're scared an overactive Cambodian passenger will take a shortcut after landing.....

Everyone was handed out a paper card as usual. They were also available on the (large) tables in the airport. Nothing points to a 'trial period' for the app. No announcement, no recommendations, nothing.

It will be probably scrapped sometime this year like Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand did.

cabron wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:51 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:25 pm Today's flight was smooth as silk, and I like the fact the Cambodian airlines like to put foreigners at the exit seats. I think they're scared an overactive Cambodian passenger will take a shortcut after landing.....

Everyone was handed out a paper card as usual. They were also available on the (large) tables in the airport. Nothing points to a 'trial period' for the app. No announcement, no recommendations, nothing.

It will be probably scrapped sometime this year like Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand did.

Thailand simply scrapped it, Cambodia apparently is looking for a digital replacement.

Not having to scribble down mostly the same information again and again, and not having something stapled into my passport, definitely sounds like an improvement to me.

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:27 pm Not having to scribble down mostly the same information again and again, and not having something stapled into my passport, definitely sounds like an improvement to me.

In 2023 I spent time in:

Thailand
Cambodia
Germany
China
Malaysia
The Netherlands

Germany and The Netherlands (EU), are my home base, so no app required, that would only require me to install four different apps last year if every country followed suit.

Luckily, Malaysia uses a web portal to pre-notify your arrival, China simply puts a small sticker in your passport when using the 72 hour visa-exemption, Thailand ditched the whole poor redundant thing, and Cambodia is aiming to use an app to replace a piece of paper collecting redundant information.

The whole 'arrival card' is a redundant concept in itself, useless bureaucracy, and replacing it with an app is just a silly idea IMHO. Collecting the same information twice is not just silly, it's also contrary to the basic rules of information collection.

It's just as silly as an airline offering 'online check in', ending the check in process with the announcement: "Please report to the check in desk for a document check".

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:01 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:27 pm Not having to scribble down mostly the same information again and again, and not having something stapled into my passport, definitely sounds like an improvement to me.

In 2023 I spent time in:

Thailand
Cambodia
Germany
China
Malaysia
The Netherlands

Germany and The Netherlands (EU), are my home base, so no app required, that would only require me to install four different apps last year if every country followed suit.

Luckily, Malaysia uses a web portal to pre-notify your arrival, China simply puts a small sticker in your passport when using the 72 hour visa-exemption, Thailand ditched the whole poor redundant thing, and Cambodia is aiming to use an app to replace a piece of paper collecting redundant information.

The whole 'arrival card' is a redundant concept in itself, useless bureaucracy, and replacing it with an app is just a silly idea IMHO. Collecting the same information twice is not just silly, it's also contrary to the basic rules of information collection.

It's just as silly as an airline offering 'online check in', ending the check in process with the announcement: "Please report to the check in desk for a document check".

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind if all the countries I visit get rid of arrival cards and the likes altogether. Hopefully we'll live to see the day!

You pretty much always have a choice between app and website though, so you don't really need to install all those apps. Personally I'd use the app for countries I visit frequently, and Cambodia tops that list.

Ah yes the document check, I don't like that either. I can fly from Bangkok to Phnom Penh with an electronic boarding pass on my phone and without any document check at the counter. Unfortunately, the same isn't true for the opposite direction. Which sucks.

Funny that you should mention the EU. I could spend every single day of the year there without any need for a visa or an arrival card, and yet, the less time I spend there, the happier I am. Between putting up with whining Germans or a Cambodian arrival card, it's an easy choice.

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:40 pm

Ah yes the document check, I don't like that either. I can fly from Bangkok to Phnom Penh with an electronic boarding pass on my phone and without any document check at the counter. Unfortunately, the same isn't true for the opposite direction. Which sucks.

Wouldn't that be the other way around? I always have trouble in Thailand because the airline wants to see my visa so online check in bounces for me. My (Cambodian) wife's online check in is never a problem.

Today, at BKK airport a couple, seemingly from Africa, were denied boarding by the airline for the flight from BKK to PNH because they didn't have a visa, and couldn't flash enough cash on the spot to cover for that. Airlines seem scared Cambodia will deny entry for certain persons, forcing the airline the take 'm back at their own expense.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:47 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 3:40 pm

Ah yes the document check, I don't like that either. I can fly from Bangkok to Phnom Penh with an electronic boarding pass on my phone and without any document check at the counter. Unfortunately, the same isn't true for the opposite direction. Which sucks.

Wouldn't that be the other way around? I always have trouble in Thailand because the airline wants to see my visa so online check in bounces for me. My (Cambodian) wife's online check in is never a problem.

Today, at BKK airport a couple, seemingly from Africa, were denied boarding by the airline for the flight from BKK to PNH because they didn't have a visa, and couldn't flash enough cash on the spot to cover for that. Airlines seem scared Cambodia will deny entry for certain persons, forcing the airline the take 'm back at their own expense.

At Phnom Penh Airport, I've never had any luck with my electronic boarding pass. Immigration sent me back to the counter when I tried, to get the official paper version. They don't really perform a "document check" though in my case, sometimes they just print the boarding pass right away and sometimes they ask me how long I'll stay in Thailand. I've heard from others that they are actually being asked to show a visa or re-entry permit, and maybe an outbound ticket, so YMMV.

In Bangkok, it depends on the airline. Thai immigration doesn't have any issues with electronic boarding passes when flying out. Not having an African passport might help in any case.

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 12:57 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:14 am

cabron wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:27 pm

Kammekor wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 3:08 pm

Doc67 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:41 am

I flew in from BKK on 16th Jan and they were still handing out paper cards on the plane. Is the app up and running yet?

It's available in the app store and seems to work.

Reluctant to test it, you have to scan your passport to use it.

You can do it manually, that's what I did, I cannot scan it, perhaps my phone is too old A12.

Will use the bic in my backpack instead..... Most flight to Phnom Penh aren't that entertaining I will be too busy to fill.in the card.

In the rainy season they can get quite interesting. Filling in a card with your trusty BIC might prove difficult too.

Obv I am getting old but the font on those cards is soooo small. Nobody else has issues filling them out? It reminds me of those cards you used to scratch off to put the code in for your phone. I had to take a picture of it and enlarge it

ressl wrote: ↑Sat Jan 27, 2024 10:34 pm Guys, honestly, I don't care about filling 2 cards on a 2 hour flight, where I have nothing to do anyway. My point is: last time I exited the plane at 15:15 and at 15:25 I was sitting on a motorbike taxi. Show my ANY other international airport in the world where this is possible as well

It's the best little International airport I have been to for speed and ease. As for National Capital Airport it must rank as very close to #1. If you get leave/arrive at times right, you can drive into town in less than 30 mins. With hand luggage, that's 45 mins from walking off the plane to walking into your accommodation. Does anyone know any quicker or easier one to depart and arrive in?

In less than 2 years the fun will be over when the new airport opens in the middle of nowhere, for the benefit of absolutely nobody, except the people who conveniently owned the land before they chose the location
and the soon-to-be-created taxi mafia.

The site is shaping up nicely to create a total exclusion zone to prevent your Grab drivers and independent drivers and tuk tuks from getting anywhere near you. The car park and the approach roads are already in, and the distance from the outside world and the terminal is looking in excess of 3km. Zoom in and take a look.

It's about 24km to Independence Monument so what price for the taxis? $40? $50?



Old and New

Quite a walk to escape their controlled zone