We are staying at the Marriott Riverside resort (on the west side of the river) in southern downtown Bangkok.

What amount of time should I allow for travel to/from BKK to the hotel?

It very much depends on the time of travel. I always seem to taking the UA or NW flight's out which depart around 7am. This means that I tend to leave for the airport from my hotel around 4:30am. Traffic is nil so the total travel time is no more than 30 minutes (and I always ask the driver to take the toll road). No idea what the travel time would be if your flight leaves mid-day.

CS

Why so much time? are Thai customs long or other reasons?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
Why so much time? are Thai customs long or other reasons?</font>

Sweet Willie,

I was thinking of flying NW 2 which departs at 6:05am. Leaving the hotel at 4:30am gets me to BKK around 5:00am. This gives me an hour to check-in which is actually a little short for an international flight (don't they always say 90 minutes minimum for international flights). I seem to make it anyway. If I was flying UA (which leaves around 7:00am), than I would leave the hotel at 5:30am. Again, at that time of the morning, there is no traffic and 30 minutes to the BKK is about right.

F.Y.I., the last time I flew out of BKK on UA three weeks ago, EVERYONE had ALL their carry-on luggage hand searched at the gate. Not random. EVERYONE.

CS

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ChinaShark:
EVERYONE had ALL their carry-on luggage hand searched at the gate. Not random. EVERYONE.</font>

do you know about domestic flights in Thailand?

thanks Chinashark.

Sweet Willie,

No, sorry, not sure about Thai domestic flights. Haven't been on a domestic Thai Airways flight in awhile.

CS

For domestic flights, I would usually arrive 30 minutes before the flight, when I have a ticket, that is. They have installed a machine to check hand luggage since -- not the 9.11 but -- the TG aircraft the prime minister was going to take blew up at the domestic terminal along with part of the jetway.

thanks to all, my trip is in less than a week.

what's the ? about domestic flights (with TG I guess?).

I made, in late sep (after the 11th) several domestic flights ex/to BKK on TG.

The taxi 'ride' is the same, the domestic airport is linked to the International one by a long 'tunnel-sort of) Footway (takes about 10 minutes to walk).

With TG checking in is very very fast (many check-in stations) and security is like in the 'old times' in the USA. Friendly, fast, efficient. You must proof your identity too.

I checked in 40 minutes before the flight, boarding starts approx 15-20 minutes before departure time.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 12-18-2001).]

what's the ? about domestic flights (with TG I guess?).

I made, in late sep (after the 11th) several domestic flights ex/to BKK on TG.

The taxi 'ride' is the same, the domestic airport is linked to the International one by a long 'tunnel-sort of) Footway (takes about 10 minutes to walk).

With TG checking in is very very fast (many check-in stations) and security is like in the 'old times' in the USA. Friendly, fast, efficient. You must proof your identity too.

I checked in 40 minutes before the flight, boarding starts approx 15-20 minutes before departure time.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 12-18-2001).]


Anyone with more recent check-in experiences for Domestic flights @ BKK? I will be flying out on TG.

Anyone with more recent check-in experiences for Domestic flights @ BKK? I will be flying out on TG.

Used the dom terminal a couple of times last year - would allow 45 mins, simply because the place was mobbed on one occasion. We were in C so the lines weren't too bad, but Y looked busy.

Time to clear security was no more than 5 mins though...

Anyone with more recent check-in experiences for Domestic flights @ BKK? I will be flying out on TG.
As of last month it's still very efficient. You can usually check in, get your bags X-rayed and have your ID checked in less than 10 minutes total.

As of last month it's still very efficient. You can usually check in, get your bags X-rayed and have your ID checked in less than 10 minutes total.


I agree 100% with that opinion. Domestic is a dream.

Traffic to the Airport is another story, but once there... like butter or as the Thais would say 'qwalm ngai' (state of easiness).