Phuket Thailand

Nanook · #1 29-11-2006, 18:00

At the moment I am trying to organize a new trip to Phuket early March. As someone said earlier, the LOS Blues will fade, once you book your new trip…

This time I want to fly in from Amsterdam and as direct as possible. My choice is either to fly AMS-SIN-HKT or AMS-BKK-HKT.

It is a bit tough to get a reasonable schedule together for a reasonable price. Moreover, since I have no experience using the new BKK airport, I’d like some info on this one as well. I have read through previous posts already, but maybe one of you can give me some more advice.

Do you have to change between an international arrival hall and a domestic departure hall?
What would be a safe transfer time at the new BKK airport? Would about 3 hours be enough?
I guess, it might be best to book a direct flight from AMS to BKK or SIN and then use a local budget airline to HKT. I know my way around in Sin, but would you have to clear customs and pick up your luggage in BKK before continuing your journey?
Is there any of you (Dutch) BM’s, who can give me some information what would be a decent airline combination to use? Or what are your experiences.

Although I have lots of flying experiences, this time I want to loose as little time as possible. Checking various websites, I get more confused.

Looking forward to your opinions.

Thanks,
Nanook

Crustasian · #2 30-11-2006, 02:35

I have used China Airline a few times between BBK and AMS.It is a reasonably good carrier with attentive staff.

If you are coming into BBK and then changing to a low cost carrier you will have to clear customs and immigration in Bangkok.(It saves the hassle of doing it at Phuket so not a bad thing)

If I had the choice,however,I would go via Singapore and get a low cost flight from there and miss out Bangkok completely.

stevem · #3 30-11-2006, 02:49

Airlines which fly AMS/BKK non stop are

China Airlines
EVA
KLM

Airlines which fly AMS/SIN non stop are

KLM
Singapore

Any airport where you connect to a cheap airline, there are no interline agreements in place, so you need to clear immigration, collect luggage, clear customs, change terminals (possibly), recheck in, clear immigration.

Sometimes its a hell of alot easier to pay the premium to have a through checkin.

Nanook · #4 30-11-2006, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Airlines which fly AMS/BKK non stop are

China Airlines
EVA
KLM

Airlines which fly AMS/SIN non stop are

KLM
Singapore

Any airport where you connect to a cheap airline, there are no interline agreements in place, so you need to clear immigration, collect luggage, clear customs, change terminals (possibly), recheck in, clear immigration.

Sometimes its a hell of alot easier to pay the premium to have a through checkin.

Thanks Stevenm. Yes, I know all the direct flights to either SIN or BKK. It was actually the connecting flight which was troubling me to get a nice schedule.

For the time being, I think I will fly KLM to SIN, arrive 16.15 and then take the evening flight (arround 21.15 or so) to Phuket with Tiger. Then I should land there around 10.00pm, rush to the hotel, shower and go to MTB for a certain obvious reason

...

Now just wait until I know for sure I can take the time off. Should know early January...

stevem · #5 30-11-2006, 16:42

I dont know what date you are travelling, but here's an interesting connection that came up that operates Mon and Fri, Austrian Airlines nonstop Vienna to Phuket

OS 372 AMS 10:30 VIE 12:25 737 0 C9 D9 J9 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 G9 V9 W9 S9 E9 K7 L3 T0 O0
OS 021 VIE 14:15 HKT 06:45 +1 767 0 C8 D2 J0 Y5 B0 M0 H0 Q0 G0 V0 W0 S0

LivinLOS · #6 30-11-2006, 17:03

hmm.. Might be able to find a Euro budget carrier into vienna..

That then really starts to look like a winner..

Nanook · #7 30-11-2006, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

I dont know what date you are travelling, but here's an interesting connection that came up that operates Mon and Fri, Austrian Airlines nonstop Vienna to Phuket

OS 372 AMS 10:30 VIE 12:25 737 0 C9 D9 J9 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 G9 V9 W9 S9 E9 K7 L3 T0 O0
OS 021 VIE 14:15 HKT 06:45 +1 767 0 C8 D2 J0 Y5 B0 M0 H0 Q0 G0 V0 W0 S0

Thanks Stevem. I think to flying out of AMS on Friday March 2nd and leave Phuket on Saturday March 10th. I'll check out their website. Assume you saw it there?

stevem · #8 01-12-2006, 02:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

Thanks Stevem. I think to flying out of AMS on Friday March 2nd and leave Phuket on Saturday March 10th. I'll check out their website. Assume you saw it there?

Nope got it from the Apollo reservations systems. Looks like OS21 VIE/HKT 02MAR is already looking very full.

The return flight ops TUE/SAT

OS 22 HKT 10:05 VIE 15:55 767 0

Nanook · #9 01-12-2006, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Nope got it from the Apollo reservations systems. Looks like OS21 VIE/HKT 02MAR is already looking very full.

The return flight ops TUE/SAT

OS 22 HKT 10:05 VIE 15:55 767 0

Thanks. Meanwhile I checked the Austrian Airlines website. All is already full on those direct flights except business class, but that is way too expensive. Even combinations of AMS-VIE-HKT with HKT-BKK-VIE-AMS or vice cersa, is already full. Since I cannot change the dates of traveling, I will probably fly via Singapore. For now the schedule is not really terrible and the combi with KLM and Tiger will be about € 850 as it seems now.

Anyway thanks a lot for your help.

wakeboycam · #10 01-12-2006, 20:04

I like to use Eva because you arrive really urly in the morning. Now you can have a little nap in the hotel and be fit for a full day. In the evening you take BKK Airt to Phuket. Although i did that the next day. I like to have a day in BKK to check Nana and MBK ;-)

Nanook · #11 01-12-2006, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboycam

I like to use Eva because you arrive really urly in the morning. Now you can have a little nap in the hotel and be fit for a full day. In the evening you take BKK Airt to Phuket. Although i did that the next day. I like to have a day in BKK to check Nana and MBK ;-)

Yeah, I understand, but for me, I want to move on to Phuket as fast as possible to see my gf.
For the moment I have a China Airlines/Nok Air combination via Bangkok or KLM and Tiger Airways via SIngapore. EVA is already fully booked according to their website.

PS: Goed van NEC tegen Feijenoord

Nanook · #12 18-12-2006, 15:57

Well, since the recent developments, my plans have changed a bit.

In stead of flying to Phuket, it seems I will be heading for Udon Thani to visit my gf at her house. I must say that I am looking forward to it. Unfortunately the workload limits my time, so I can just stay for a little over one week. Mai pen rai.

Looking at the various options, it seems that I fly out of AMS using China Airlines on March 2nd. Eva Air is already full for this schedule.
Then I intend to take NokAir further to Udon Thani.

So the scheduled arriving time in BKK at 7.10am on 3/03/07 and the NokAir website mentions 2 connecting flight possibilities, being:
A. flight DD-9208 departing 09.35am
B. flight DD-9210 departing 12.20pm

The funny thing is that DD-9208 is only mentioned in the schedules, but not available for internet booking.

So my questions are:

How much time would be needed to get off the plane, go through immigration, get your luggage and go to Nok Air check-in? Can that be done in a little over 2 hours and be intime for the connecting flight?
If I book the 12.20 flight, would it be possible to change that in BKK to the 09.35 flight, should I arrive earlier as scheduled?
Any recommendations how to kill 5 hours in BKK if need be?

If anybody has some info about Udon, then that's welcome too.

Thanks for your recommendations.

arealhighlander · #13 18-12-2006, 17:08

3 weeks ago we went through the new airport at BKK. Came in on Qatar flight arriving 0700. We were clear Immigration and had our bags by 0815. Our 12Go flight to Phuket wasn't till 1045.

Allowing for delays (and remembering you will have to check your bags into NOk Air at least 30 mins before the flight (check the min time they allow between check in and flight) you shoudl be OK.

Also regarding switching airlines, I was always of the understanding that you ALWAYS had to clear Customs at your first port of entry into a Country. Hence even if you flew Thai to BKK and then onwards to Phuket, you would still have to get your bags and clear Customs?

I dont know what Nok are like for allowing changes. You might be safer getting the later one and seeing if you make the earlier one if they will let you on. Certainly more chances than if you miss the early one will they let you on the later one free (probably make you may again!)

For time killing 5 hrs (will be closer to 2-3 as you will have all the Immigration/baggae etc to do) not worth leaving the airport.

Go for a nice massage at the massage place there (its GREAT after a long flight!)

faultytowers · #14 18-12-2006, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by arealhighlander

Also regarding switching airlines, I was always of the understanding that you ALWAYS had to clear Customs at your first port of entry into a Country. Hence even if you flew Thai to BKK and then onwards to Phuket, you would still have to get your bags and clear Customs?

With Thai , you definately do not have to clear customs at BKK , you stay airside and do passport/customs at Phuket.

With other airlines it depend if you can check your luggage all the way through , and if they issue your onward boarding pass. A lot of the "big" airlines will do this but not sure about "low cost carriers".

arealhighlander · #15 18-12-2006, 22:28

Ah OK,

probably because Phuket is an International airport hence they have the immigration/customs facilities.

Nanook · #16 18-12-2006, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by faultytowers

With other airlines it depend if you can check your luggage all the way through , and if they issue your onward boarding pass. A lot of the "big" airlines will do this but not sure about "low cost carriers".

As far as know, low cost airlines don't do that. You just have to clear immigration and get your suitcase and then check-in as if it was a new flight and not a through connection.

Also often when you use the "big" airlines want you to do so, if the airlines you intend to fly with don't belong to the same group, like e.g. Star Alliance or Sky Team. Of course there are always exceptions, but this is my experience anyway. That is why I raised the question earlier, since the last time I was in BKK, was in 1994 and then there were no low cost airlines yet.

wakeboycam · #17 19-12-2006, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

PS: Goed van NEC tegen Feijenoord

We staan zelfs 7e ongelovelijk

faultytowers · #18 19-12-2006, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by arealhighlander

Ah OK,

probably because Phuket is an International airport hence they have the immigration/customs facilities.

This is from the Thai air site, and applies to their flights , but would also be the case if you are "checked through" on other airlines.

Quote:

International to Domestic

If your final destination is Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, or Phuket, you then proceed to Transfer Check-in desk on the second floor of concourse A/B. The Immigration and Customs formalities will be done at your destination airport. Transferring to other domestic airports or having baggage checked only to Bangkok , you must land, pick up your baggage, proceed through Passport and Customs Control formalities and check in at Row C on the fourth floor of PTC.

stevem · #19 19-12-2006, 03:15

Its a compicated matrix these days of which airlines interline which each other. Best and really only solution, ASK the airline when booking.

If your connecting onto one of the low cost carriers, forget it, you'll be clearing immigration and customs and will need to recheck in for the next flight, regardless of where you are. Even if you are connecting from a low cost carrier to another flight on the same low cost carrier, you'll need to recheck in.

Nanook · #20 19-12-2006, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboycam

We staan zelfs 7e ongelovelijk

Ja, en wij derde...
I Live in The Hague, but am Ajax all the way...

stevem · #21 19-12-2006, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanook

but am Ajax all the way...

I love ajax too, its cleans my bathroom really well.

Nanook · #22 19-12-2006, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

If your connecting onto one of the low cost carriers, forget it, you'll be clearing immigration and customs and will need to recheck in for the next flight, regardless of where you are. Even if you are connecting from a low cost carrier to another flight on the same low cost carrier, you'll need to recheck in.

That is what I thought as well, but wasn't really sure. Think I will take the advise and book the later (12.20Hr) flight and then see if I can get a seat on the earlier one, if I arrive ahead of schedule and the procedures at the airport go smooth.

Anybody experience with Nok Air and their Nok Plus section? They have more weight allowance and if I look at all the goodies I have to bring, this might be my choice.