Phuket Thailand

K2 · #1 12-01-2007, 13:47

The board of Airports of Thailand Plc yesterday approved the use of Don Muang for domestic flights with no international connections and set March 15 as the possible date for the relaunch of services at the old airport.

IRISH JONNY · #2 12-01-2007, 14:08

I Reckon Ill Be Giving Dm A Visit In April For My Internal Flites!!!!!!!! Thought Id Seen The End Of It......its Back To Haunt Me........55555.........ij

stevem · #3 12-01-2007, 14:09

Avoid Bangkok guys, and transit via Singapore and KL. Thats crazy.

LivinLOS · #4 12-01-2007, 15:10

Un-ficking-real..

The whole international connecting to domestic.. What a mess..

Mav · #5 12-01-2007, 15:17

What would be the Taxi Fare....1000 ?.....Krazee

TanMan · #6 12-01-2007, 16:14

I read this AM that Suvarnabhumi would still be doing domestic flights, but only if connected to an international itinerary.

LivinLOS · #7 12-01-2007, 16:27

Do you mean per airline ??

Cos per passenger that makes no sense.. Ohh your flying internationally you can fly from here.. Your domestic only you cant.. Its not like the planes making 2 stops..

If its per airline it may be a nice backhander from Thai air getting exclusivity..

TanMan · #8 12-01-2007, 16:51

"In an attempt to save costs from expanding Suvarnabhumi airport and to fully use its existing infrastructure, the board led by chairman Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr decided to move to Don Muang domestic flights with no connections to international routes operated by Thai Airways International (THAI) and no-frills carriers. Domestic flights with passengers connecting with international routes will remain at Suvarnabhumi. "

This is the quote from the Bangkok Post... Not sure how they will work out the logistics of itall.. Nor what this means for incoming flights... Just another confusing Thai authority decision. No clarity at all.

LivinLOS · #9 12-01-2007, 17:00

Well reading that.. All of the budgets would not qualify as having connections to international routes.. But I am thinking Thai air could.. I am starting to guess at motivations..

Tho it was the budgets most strongly pushing to get out of the new place and back to DM..

However you slice it.. they have once again made what looks to outsiders as another blunder.. The travel hub of asia.. Somehow I dont see Changi sweating.

LivinLOS · #10 12-01-2007, 17:36

Bangkok Post: Top Stories

Quote:

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen put the brakes on a proposal to move some flights back to Don Muang from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, and said much more talking lay ahead before such a scheme could happen.

There will be, for example, "another workshop to brainstorm a conclusion on the matter late this month or early next month," he said.

The board of Airports of Thailand Plc on Thursday approved the use of Don Muang for domestic flights and set March 15 as the possible date for the relaunch of the old airport.

Thailand.. The hub of U turns.

TanMan · #11 12-01-2007, 19:29

I'll add this:

I flew from Suvarnabhumi domestic terminal to Phuket last week. When I deplaned, all passengers walk through the arrival corridor into the terminal. At this point there were two girls, and a stand up sign, which basically were there to instruct passengers to turn left for "immigration", or turn right if you were a domestic passenger (me), basically letting the customer decide whether they wanted to go through immigration. I must have caught an international flight from Tokyo (with a layover in BKK), because there were quite a few Japanese on board.

The Tokyo passengers had a silver oval sticker on the chests to identify them, but these could be easily peeled off. I left this scene with several unanswered questions:

1. How did the international flight from Tokyo get to the domestic terminal in BKK?
2. Could the passengers have gone through immigration in BKK?
3. If not No. 2, then if an international passenger peeled off his sticker and turned right at Phuket, he would not get stamped in. How long does anyone know how long he's been in the country???

landofsmiles · #12 12-01-2007, 21:37

Domestic flights with passengers connecting with international routes will remain at Suvarnabhumi. "

Well that doesn't compute. OK the most domestic flights to Bangkok with connecting pax will be from Phuket and Chang Mai but there will still be others from Khon Kaen, Chang Rai, Trang, Hat Yai, Koh Samui and just about every airport you can name.

palaceboy · #13 12-01-2007, 22:21

That sounds like an absolutely stupid idea, I'll be arriving from Copenhagen on Thai, and we have a 1 hour connection to Phuket also on Thai, I just can't see how they are going to work that out, TIT.

Captain · #14 12-01-2007, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by palaceboy

That sounds like an absolutely stupid idea, I'll be arriving from Copenhagen on Thai, and we have a 1 hour connection to Phuket also on Thai, I just can't see how they are going to work that out, TIT.

Phuket no problem, but what if your final destination had been Kon Khaen?

palaceboy · #15 12-01-2007, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain

Phuket no problem, but what if your final destination had been Kon Khaen?

Does that mean that domestic flights to Phuket will stay in the new airport ?

LivinLOS · #16 12-01-2007, 23:40

At this stage who knows.. No one can book with safe transfer times.. No one is sure..

Welcome to Thailand..

dawsey · #17 12-01-2007, 23:48

This sounds a nightmare. I am scheduled to land at the new airport at 7 15am on Qatar Airways, and catch an Air Asia flight to Phuket at 10 45am on 28th March

I really don't look forward to having the hassle of transferring to Don Muang for the Air Asia flight with another 5 people + luggage

mars · #18 13-01-2007, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mav

What would be the Taxi Fare....1000 ?.....Krazee

My TG lives not far from DM and a taxi to her house from Suvharnabhumi costs around 350B & 85B tolls.

palaceboy · #19 13-01-2007, 01:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mars

My TG lives not far from DM and a taxi to her house from Suvharnabhumi costs around 350B & 85B tolls.

For me it's not so much the cost of a taxi, it's all the time and problems to change from international flight to domestic, in the past you got a sticker on your shirt and walked straight to domestic departures without having to worry about your luggage, I normally fly Thai Copenhagen Bangkok Phuket and return, and it has worked fine the last 15 years.

mars · #20 13-01-2007, 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by palaceboy

For me it's not so much the cost of a taxi, it's all the time and problems to change from international flight to domestic, in the past you got a sticker on your shirt and walked straight to domestic departures without having to worry about your luggage, I normally fly Thai Copenhagen Bangkok Phuket and return, and it has worked fine the last 15 years.

If your flying Thai Copenhagen - Bangkok - Phuket its my guess they will book you on a connecting flight from suvarnabhumi and your baggage will go through.

palaceboy · #21 13-01-2007, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by mars

If your flying Thai Copenhagen - Bangkok - Phuket its my guess they will book you on a connecting flight from suvarnabhumi and your baggage will go through.

I sure hope you are right, after 10 hours in the air I wouldn't like to change airport.

mars · #22 13-01-2007, 01:44

Bit more news on the subject here, dont worry too much yet even the president of thai airasia has said its not practable

MCOT : TNA English News :

K2 · #23 13-01-2007, 02:08

Thai Airways International is moving all of its domestic routes, except those involving Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, to Don Muang airport once the Cabinet approves its reopening.

THAI going back to the future

Chiggerz · #24 15-01-2007, 11:18

Tanman,

This exact problem happened to my girlfriend japanese) when she came to visit me in Phuket.

If you are flying from Tokyo, when the plane lands in BKK, the passengers get off and wait in transit. When you are checking in your luggage in Tokyo, the Thai staff give you this sticker to put on.

My girl was not paying attention when she landed in Phuket and missed immigration. When i asked if everything was ok, she told me that she did not have to go through immigration. Once i realized what happen i contacted one of the airport staff, and they escorted her to immigration in Phuket (like all the other japanese people did).

For people wanting to avoid immigration, phuket is an easy way to get round it, however your problem is when you want to leave the country, because you will not have a stamp in your passport, and you will not be in their system. This will provide many hours being kept in a room in Phuket airport explaining what happened!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TanMan

I'll add this:

I flew from Suvarnabhumi domestic terminal to Phuket last week. When I deplaned, all passengers walk through the arrival corridor into the terminal. At this point there were two girls, and a stand up sign, which basically were there to instruct passengers to turn left for "immigration", or turn right if you were a domestic passenger (me), basically letting the customer decide whether they wanted to go through immigration. I must have caught an international flight from Tokyo (with a layover in BKK), because there were quite a few Japanese on board.

The Tokyo passengers had a silver oval sticker on the chests to identify them, but these could be easily peeled off. I left this scene with several unanswered questions:

1. How did the international flight from Tokyo get to the domestic terminal in BKK?
2. Could the passengers have gone through immigration in BKK?
3. If not No. 2, then if an international passenger peeled off his sticker and turned right at Phuket, he would not get stamped in. How long does anyone know how long he's been in the country???

stevem · #25 15-01-2007, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by TanMan