Thailand - Transit departure tax BKK?

We have found TG flights MXP - BKK. Not entirely sure that we want a stopover in BKK as would prefer to go straight on to SIN then have a stopover in HKG on the way back.

Question I have is whether the hefty BKK departure tax is lower if you are only transitting through BKK. We would only change planes as would be booked TG all the way through to SIN.

I suspect the answer is no but thought I would ask!

I think Passenger Departure tax (700 THB approx £14) is only payable if you leave the airport - not for Transit passengers,

You may see a slight decrease in Fuel surcharges (YQ) if you book a transit flight as opposed to a stopover.

Personally, I think a brief stopover in Bangkok provides a great contrast to Singapore and Hong Kong.

You can confirm specific taxes using the ITA website (or mobile apps for iPhone/iPad, Android).

Hope this helps.

Regards, Graham.

It is normally standard practice for travel agents (and airlines) to only charge the 700 THB TS tax if your transit time is more than 24 hours. But if you tell your travel agent (airline) that you'll be exiting the airport during your transit, then I've found they'll normally include it even if the transit time is less than 24 hours. If you will stay in the transit area, you should check that BMI is not charging you for the TS. If they are, tell them you won't be leaving the transit area, so please delete the TS charge. If you don't pay the TS tax but then decide to exit the transit area, you'll have to pay it in cash, in Thai Baht. But if you're charged the TS tax, I think there's no way to recover it if you don't exit the transit area. Thus if you're ever not sure, IMHO it's best to have it ticketed without the TS, provided your company isn't paying for your travel.

Thanks for this information - still undecided on what to do but this does help. Probably will carry straight on to HK.

I've had a planned 23 hour stopover at BKK and paid the tax in cash when I checked in for the return flight last year.

The TG staff in the First area seemed a bit embarrassed to ask for the money.

If you are making a ticketed, direct connection through BKK, you will not have paid the Thai departure tax in your ticket.

If you go landside, for whatever reason, you'll be expected to pay that departure tax when you return airside - even if you've already been issued with a boarding card for your next flight.

It's an odd situation: at most other airports you are allowed a specific time window, airside or landside, as a transfer passenger. However it's also a well-documented situation, discussed in the Thai forum, and a situation I have fallen foul of.

...However it's also a well-documented situation, discussed in the Thai forum...

And with that, this thread finds itself in that very place.

Thread moved to its new home.

GoldCircle
bmi forum mod team

If <24 hrs in BKK and you check-in landside, you will be asked for the tax because you have left the airport. Now if you can get your BP with your first flight (from the same flight that arrived in Thailand), perhaps you can avoid the tax as you already have your BP ??

perhaps you can avoid the tax as you already have your BP ........


....... but without the tax receipt/sticker.

What is the departure tax and how much is it? Do all passengers leaving Bangkok on an international flight have to pay? If so, does the payment have to be in cash (Baht) or will they accept credit card payment?

If I have a 5 hour transit in BKK and want to leave the airport, when and where do I pay the airport tax if I already received my onward BP (issued at originating airport)?

What is the departure tax and how much is it? Do all passengers leaving Bangkok on an international flight have to pay? If so, does the payment have to be in cash (Baht) or will they accept credit card payment?


These days the tax should be included in your ticket, so no need to worry about dealing with it on your actual departure. As noted above it only applies to pax who have entered Thailand. So if you are on an International-International transit you would not need to pay (as long as you stay airside and do not formally enter the country).

I had a case a couple of years ago where for some reason Aeroplan did not include it in the award I booked through them. When I checked in the TG F staff informed me that I needed to pay. As noted by some one else up-thread they seemed a bit embarrassed by this. I was not happy but luckily had enough cash in my pocket.

Unless it has changed recently it is 700 baht.

If I have a 5 hour transit in BKK and want to leave the airport, when and where do I pay the airport tax if I already received my onward BP (issued at originating airport)?

Not sure what you have planned for those 5 hours in transit. By the time you get to the city you'll need to turn around and come back.

These days the tax should be included in your ticket, so no need to worry about dealing with it on your actual departure. As noted above it only applies to pax who have entered Thailand. So if you are on an International-International transit you would not need to pay (as long as you stay airside and do not formally enter the country).

I had a case a couple of years ago where for some reason Aeroplan did not include it in the award I booked through them. When I checked in the TG F staff informed me that I needed to pay. As noted by some one else up-thread they seemed a bit embarrassed by this. I was not happy but luckily had enough cash in my pocket.

Unless it has changed recently it is 700 baht.

I currently have the opposite problem: UA has charged me the departure tax on a 3 hr transit for an upcoming award and refuses to acknowledge I've been eroneously charged.