transfer flight BKK-HKT

[Talon]

Hi

I'm doing something different for my next visit to Patong in October and need some advise.
I'm flying direct LHR-BKK then using airasia to go to HKT. I may sound like a bit of a newbie here but have never done an international-domestic transfer using two different airlines. I take it I do passport control-baggage reclaim then make my way to departures for the HKT flight?
Then I thought what if I had to do for example LHR-BKK then BKK-KL would this mean having to fill out a Thai tourist visa when I'd only be moving myself and luggage from one terminal to another?

[Dubsox]

Hi Talon,

In answer to your first question, you will go through immigration, customs and baggage claim at Suvarnabhumi, then exit on the second floor and take the lift or moving walkway to departures on the fourth floor...very easy and so much better than it used to be at Don Muang.

As for your second question, I've never transitted through "Suwanapoom" on the way to another international destination but I would guess that you would stay within the inner confines of the terminal building and not go through immigration.

[Talon]

Thanks. I didn't take much notice of the layout the last time I was there and didn't do a baggage reclaim as I was flying with the same airline. I have over 4 hours between flights so can drag my feet a bit.

Originally Posted by Dubsox

Hi Talon,

In answer to your first question, you will go through immigration, customs and baggage claim at Suvarnabhumi, then exit on the second floor and take the lift or moving walkway to departures on the fourth floor...very easy and so much better than it used to be at Don Muang.

As for your second question, I've never transitted through "Suwanapoom" on the way to another international destination but I would guess that you would stay within the inner confines of the terminal building and not go through immigration.

[Ray O'Light]

I've gone from domestic to International flights and it is a looooong walk. After walking a long way I stopped at an info desk to check I was going the right way to be told that I still had 1km to walk!

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by Ray O'Light

I've gone from domestic to International flights and it is a looooong walk. After walking a long way I stopped at an info desk to check I was going the right way to be told that I still had 1km to walk!

You must have been unlucky and been deposited at one of the furthest gates possible. I found leaving domestic was less than a 5min walk into Int Departures.

[Talon]

wow, you must have walked round the whole airport perimeter. You weren't right beside it and headed the wrong direction?

Originally Posted by Ray O'Light

I've gone from domestic to International flights and it is a looooong walk. After walking a long way I stopped at an info desk to check I was going the right way to be told that I still had 1km to walk!

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Ray O'Light

I've gone from domestic to International flights and it is a looooong walk. After walking a long way I stopped at an info desk to check I was going the right way to be told that I still had 1km to walk!

Originally Posted by dawsey

You must have been unlucky and been deposited at one of the furthest gates possible. I found leaving domestic was less than a 5min walk into Int Departures.

Happened to me as well, I left Domestic through the transfer gate and had to walk all the way through the main areas of shops in the middle, right across to the other side of the airport.

As dawsey says, it all depends on where you international flight gate is which could be anywhere in the airport.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Talon

Hi

I'm doing something different for my next visit to Patong in October and need some advise.
I'm flying direct LHR-BKK then using airasia to go to HKT. I may sound like a bit of a newbie here but have never done an international-domestic transfer using two different airlines. I take it I do passport control-baggage reclaim then make my way to departures for the HKT flight?
Then I thought what if I had to do for example LHR-BKK then BKK-KL would this mean having to fill out a Thai tourist visa when I'd only be moving myself and luggage from one terminal to another?

With the first I would suggest that if you do the trip, look to see if your LHR-BKK airline is linked, or a partner of, Thai Airways so that you check your baggage straight through. Exiting and re-entering Suvarnabhumi airport is a major pain in the butt when compared to using the transfer gates.

For your BKK-KL you would probably need to get a transit visa. I have known this happens with other countries, an Indian friend of mine was flying from Amsterdam to Chennai via LHR and had to get a transit visa. I don't know where you would find the answer though, perhaps SVB's website ?

[nelsonone]

First thing to check is whether you are flying BKK airport (Suvarnaboom) to HKT or whether you have to go across to Don Muang (domestic now) to take your Air Asia flight to HKT

If you do have to cross to DM you will definitely go through customs + immigration before you take your domestic flight......and you will be up for a decent transfer trip

[xxmikexx]

You didn't say who you were flying with on the LHR-BKK leg. If it is Thai Air then you should maybe have booked LHR-BKK-HKT. Adding the HKT leg will only cost an additional £40-50 and the ticket is flexible. You can also have a stoppover in BKK if you want. It is also easier on the way back from HKT when your bags are booked all the way thru. Maybe something to consider next time.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by nelsonone

First thing to check is whether you are flying BKK airport (Suvarnaboom) to HKT or whether you have to go across to Don Muang (domestic now) to take your Air Asia flight to HKT

Only 3 airlines operate out of Don Muang...

Thai Airways
Nok Air
One-Two-Go

Air Asia use "Swampy".

[1904]

You arrive BKK, go through immigration, collect luggage, walk via lift or escalators to 4th floor, check in with appropiate airline and use domestic departures - no more visa's as now domestic. If flying domestic from DMG take taxi to DMG (approx 400baht) and same procedure - no need for more visa'a as already in Thai - then have fun in Patong

[sarsbuk]

Air Asia are offering 10 THB flights again!

I just booked my flight BKK - HKT with all the taxes extra charge for luggage it came to 1750THB return!

[Datsun]

Originally Posted by dizbuster

Only 3 airlines operate out of Don Muang...

Thai Airways
Nok Air
One-Two-Go

Air Asia use "Swampy".

One-Two-Go also fly to the new airport from Phuket....

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Datsun

One-Two-Go also fly to the new airport from Phuket....

Talk about make things confusing !! 55555 !!

[Talon]

Hi

I'm going EVA then air asia. I had a check and they aren't in that allience thing. My air asia flight will be leaving from BKK. So just a matter of finding the correct checkin desk. I looked at a few other airlines and all were £300 and more dearer. Even the ones with transfers onto BKK from the likes of Dubia and HongKong(21hrs) were more expensive.

Originally Posted by xxmikexx

You didn't say who you were flying with on the LHR-BKK leg. If it is Thai Air then you should maybe have booked LHR-BKK-HKT. Adding the HKT leg will only cost an additional £40-50 and the ticket is flexible. You can also have a stoppover in BKK if you want. It is also easier on the way back from HKT when your bags are booked all the way thru. Maybe something to consider next time.

[Datsun]

Originally Posted by dizbuster

Talk about make things confusing !! 55555 !!

Yes, can be a bit confusing, I remember that I was very nervous when booking connecting flights from Bangkok to Phuket my first time, tripple checking that my connecting flight was leaving from Suvarnbhumi and not Don Muang. But think the information is very good on the airlines homepage's which flight go to which airport.

[sarsbuk]

Originally Posted by Talon

Hi

I'm going EVA then air asia. I had a check and they aren't in that allience thing. My air asia flight will be leaving from BKK. So just a matter of finding the correct checkin desk. I looked at a few other airlines and all were £300 and more dearer. Even the ones with transfers onto BKK from the likes of Dubia and HongKong(21hrs) were more expensive.

Talon

I flew the same flight 2 months ago and will be flying with Eva in August also.

2 months ago I had giving myself 2 hours from arrival time to change over to the Air Asia flight to Phuket.

Eva took off from LHR late. We landed late and by the time I did immigration, collected baggage etc I only just made the flight.....

When booking my Air Asia flight for August I have chosen a later flight.
If I am early I will see if they will let me board the earlier flight.

But I don't mind sitting in the airport for 4 hours waiting!!!

[Talon]

what did you think of Eva? I'ts my first time flying with them after using thai and malay. These two airlines seem very close as far as service and comfort go. Will I bought down to earth with a bump (not literary I hope!).

Originally Posted by sarsbuk

Talon

I flew the same flight 2 months ago and will be flying with Eva in August also.

2 months ago I had giving myself 2 hours from arrival time to change over to the Air Asia flight to Phuket.

Eva took off from LHR late. We landed late and by the time I did immigration, collected baggage etc I only just made the flight.....

When booking my Air Asia flight for August I have chosen a later flight.
If I am early I will see if they will let me board the earlier flight.

But I don't mind sitting in the airport for 4 hours waiting!!!

[sarsbuk]

I have not flown Thai or Malaysian. BUT I do fly often with my job and they are good... For the price you can't go wrong!!!!! Stewardess's are pleasing to the eye, food is ok, movies are good. Ciggies are cheap with their duty free!

Have a safe flight.

[dizbuster]

Originally Posted by Talon

Hi

I'm going EVA then air asia. I had a check and they aren't in that allience thing. My air asia flight will be leaving from BKK. So just a matter of finding the correct checkin desk. I looked at a few other airlines and all were £300 and more dearer. Even the ones with transfers onto BKK from the likes of Dubia and HongKong(21hrs) were more expensive.

Are you trying to say that the BKK >> HKT trip is £300+ ? I can't believe that you've got a flight from LHR to BKK for less than that so I am assuming that you were quoted that by those airlines you mention for the onward leg i.e. from BKK >> HKT. If that's the case then something must have got lost in the conversation as a Business Class return flight booked through the Thai Airways website is Thb8,050 which is around £130. A flexible Economy ticket is Thb6,450 (restricted Economy is Thb4,640) working out just about £100 (£75).

Originally Posted by Talon

what did you think of Eva? I'ts my first time flying with them after using thai and malay. These two airlines seem very close as far as service and comfort go. Will I bought down to earth with a bump (not literary I hope!).

I have flown with Eva Air in their Evergreen Deluxe class and that was good. I've only heard good things said about their Economy class seats, which are among the biggest in the class, i.e. on a par with Thai.

[xxmikexx]

Originally Posted by Talon

Hi

I'm going EVA then air asia. I had a check and they aren't in that allience thing. My air asia flight will be leaving from BKK. So just a matter of finding the correct checkin desk. I looked at a few other airlines and all were £300 and more dearer. Even the ones with transfers onto BKK from the likes of Dubia and HongKong(21hrs) were more expensive.

Talon

I may well be going again in October myself. I have just had a look at LHR-BKK direct flight prices for late October and at this long range then EVA is much cheaper (£250) than Thai, BA & Qantas so I see why you booked them.

I routinely monitor the prices and I find that ThaiAir will have periods when there are the most expensive, then they will drop down a lot (and I jump in and book). BA/Qantas tend to keep the same (higher) prices more consistently. Occasionally BA will have a sale (as they are now).