Help!!! 1 Hour between Flight Connections...

[donald1]

Hi Guys.....Excited about coming back this Saturday to Thailand but I am not familiar with the Suvarnabhumi Airport layout.
I am flying in Thai Airlines International from Sydney and arrive at 16:25. I then have to go through customs and transfer to Bangkok Air which leaves at 17:25 to Chaing mai.
Is anyone familiar enough with the airport to tell me my route? I know it will be tight but I will have no checked luggage just a carry on piece.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.....

Just follow the signs. It is linear, so you'd be hard pressed to get lost. Once you come out of Customs, you'll need to go up two floors to the departure area. Domestic departures are at the far left of the terminal. Don't dawdle, you will barely have enough time to make it under the best of conditions. Best to have a Plan B in mind in case you don't.

if your Bangkok Air flight is supposed to take off at 17:25 and its all on-time, check-in for that flight will close at 16:45. your chances of landing at 16:25, taxiing to the gate, walking from the gate to customs, getting through customs then up to the domestic check-in before 16:45 are pretty slim.
as the Bunny says, make sure you have a plan B.


For minimum flight connecting time, we would like to recommend as below;
International to Domestic 1.15 hours
http://www.bangkokair.com/information-s ... IN&lang=en (http://www.bangkokair.com/information-service/index.php?id_page=airport_check_in&id_nav=4&page=INFO_SERV&code=AIRPORT_CHECK_IN&lang=en)

I understand from other forums there is a 'fastrack' procedure through customs which you have to pay extra for. I have never used it as always had plenty of time but might be worth you considering it in case of lengthy custom queues. Cant't remember which website but you should find it through google. Best of luck with the connection.

I understand from other forums there is a 'fastrack' procedure through customs which you have to pay extra for. I have never used it as always had plenty of time but might be worth you considering it in case of lengthy custom queues. Cant't remember which website but you should find it through google. Best of luck with the connection.

You mean immigration, not customs.

Bangkok Airways may have a desk in the transfer area. If so, they would probably escort a passenger with a short transit time through immigration. They might be able to check you in and issue a boarding pass directly, as well -- assuming you have no baggage. I would call them to ask.

Yes sorry meant immigration - should be no problems with customs. My last trip it took exactly 40 minutes from plane landing to clear immigration, collect luggage and exit airport - so does vary a lot. As you say definately best for poster to contact Bangkok Airways to find out the procedure so no time is wasted.

[ceejay]

assuming you have no baggage
Beach Bunny is right about that. To have any chance at all, you need to be travelling with cabin baggage only.

[Beachlover]

Get yourself a seat near the door on the plane... minutes will matter.

Good luck with your connection, but when you get back to Sydney I suggest you shoot whoever made your flight bookings - one hour to transfer between an international flight and a local one is totally unsafe and no reputable travel agent should make it. If, of course, you made all the arrangements yourself I believe there are websites which will advise you on assisted suicide arrangements.

[Sen Yai]

Hi Guys.....Excited about coming back this Saturday to Thailand but I am not familiar with the Suvarnabhumi Airport layout.
I am flying in Thai Airlines International from Sydney and arrive at 16:25. I then have to go through customs and transfer to Bangkok Air which leaves at 17:25 to Chaing mai.
Is anyone familiar enough with the airport to tell me my route? I know it will be tight but I will have no checked luggage just a carry on piece.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.....

donald1, don't listen to all the 'advice' from the scaredy-cats (and rabbits) here - you'll have plenty of time in transit. Since you are booked in THAI and Bangkok Air, you will be checked in to you final destination when you board in Sydney and will be given both boarding tickets. If you have baggage, this will be checked thro' to CNX. You will then be met at the gate at Suvarnabhumi and escorted to the transit desk by an airline rep. You will clear immigration in Chiang Mai.

An announcement is made on every international TG flight landing in BKK telling you that passengers travelling to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket....will clear immigration at their final destination, but most members of this board are too busy worrying about their chauffer driven limo to Sunee Plaza to pay any attention.

Since you are booked in THAI and Bangkok Air, you will be checked in to you final destination when you board in Sydney and will be given both boarding tickets. If you have baggage, this will be checked thro' to CNX. You will then be met at the gate at Suvarnabhumi and escorted to the transit desk by an airline rep. You will clear immigration in Chiang Mai.

Sydney will issue a boarding pass for a domestic flight in Thailand, on a different carrier to your international flight? I would be amazed. I would confirm that with the airline rather than taking it as gospel from here. If it does happen, please let us know.

The official minimum connection time international to domestic flight at Bangkok is 2 hours. I would also be very surprised if an airline issues a boarding pass for a connection less than minimum - but whatever good luck with your connection and hope it works out.

[Davey612]

It looks to me that the OP purchased the Thai and Bangkok Airways ticket separately. Maybe via the web? If so, he can check in via Bangkok Air's website 24 hours ahead of time. According to Bangkok Air's FAQ, the minimum time to be at the airport's check in counter using this method is 40 minutes. So, the OP has 20 minutes between arrival (assuming on time) to go to the transfer desk (assuming there is a Bangkok Air check in counter there), check in, and go through immigrations at CNX. It can be done, if everything runs on time.

Why not see if BKK air can move you onto a later flight for a modest fee?

Donald1,

Easy, just use Imagelimo VIP escort service where you will be met at the Aircraft door, and whizzed through immigration and taken to you Domestic flight gate in no time.
contact rob@imagelimo.com

One possible reason: there are much, much cheaper options for exactly the same service. Last time I pointed that out, though, my link was mysteriously deleted by you-know-who.

[quiet1]

One possible reason: there are much, much cheaper options for exactly the same service. Last time I pointed that out, though, my link was mysteriously deleted by you-know-who.
How is Aunt Agnes, by the way?

One possible reason: there are much, much cheaper options for exactly the same service. Last time I pointed that out, though, my link was mysteriously deleted by you-know-who.
How is Aunt Agnes, by the way?

Shhh...handful of Raisinets.

[donald1]

Thanks for all the help. One of you are spot on with your advice ( Sen Yai) and I thank you for that. I have spoken with BOTH Bangkok Air & Thai Air and YES they do have an agreement where they will book me through to my final destination which is Chaing Mai. I get my boarding pass for the connecting flight attached to my flight out of Sydney. I will indeed just have carry on luggage so that will help although if I did have checked luggage it would be checked right through to the Bangkok Air flight. Another point, Bangkok Air "official time" for connections is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Again Thanks everyone and as always I know I can count on a good answer sooner or later on here. See ya soon.

[Beachlover]

lol... the hopes of this entire board are pinned on whether he makes this flight.

Hi Guys.....Excited about coming back this Saturday to Thailand but I am not familiar with the Suvarnabhumi Airport layout.
I am flying in Thai Airlines International from Sydney and arrive at 16:25. I then have to go through customs and transfer to Bangkok Air which leaves at 17:25 to Chaing mai.
Is anyone familiar enough with the airport to tell me my route? I know it will be tight but I will have no checked luggage just a carry on piece.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.....

donald1, don't listen to all the 'advice' from the scaredy-cats (and rabbits) here - you'll have plenty of time in transit. Since you are booked in THAI and Bangkok Air, you will be checked in to you final destination when you board in Sydney and will be given both boarding tickets. If you have baggage, this will be checked thro' to CNX. You will then be met at the gate at Suvarnabhumi and escorted to the transit desk by an airline rep. You will clear immigration in Chiang Mai.

An announcement is made on every international TG flight landing in BKK telling you that passengers travelling to Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket....will clear immigration at their final destination, but most members of this board are too busy worrying about their chauffer driven limo to Sunee Plaza to pay any attention.

Yes, reading the other posts, I couldn't imagine that things would be so complicated. I think there even will be people waiting for 'transit' passenger at the entrance of the gate.
Btw.....I'm usually very anxious to get asap into a smoking room; transport to Pattaya is my least concern :bounce:

[donald1]

just an update as promised.....
Sydney flight was 20 minutes early , but that was not needed. Was indeed checked through to Chaing Mai on Bangkok Air by Thai Airways. Luggage was sent through. In Bangkok went to a special transfer area for Chaing Mai, Chain rei and another Thai destination with their own check in and Customs and immigration. No lines at all. Was at my gate in 10 minutes with 45 minutes to spare.
Thanks for all your help guys.

[Beachlover]

Oh thank goodness, we can all start breathing again lol.

Glad you made it through.

[krobbie]

This is good information for others with the same issues. Nice to see the Suvarnabhumi airport get a big tick for organisation and readiness.

Cheers
Krobbie