Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - 12 hour connection in BKK

Due to the schedule change on the BKK-SYD route I have now a 12 hour connection in BKK arriving around 7 am and departing 7pm. Both segments are in F. I hope you can help me with a few questions:

I would like to spend some time in the city instead of sitting 12 hours in the F Lounge. Will I be able to go to the lounge first for a shower and then to immigration? I am asking this because there are airports where it is not possible to leave the departure area once through security.

If I leave the airport, do I need to pay the taxes when entering again? If yes, where do I pay them and do they accept credit cards or cash only?

Suggestions for a few hours in Bangkok? When do the attractions like the royal palace open in the morning?

Thank you very much for your help!

Due to the schedule change on the BKK-SYD route I have now a 12 hour connection in BKK arriving around 7 am and departing 7pm. Both segments are in F. I hope you can help me with a few questions:

I would like to spend some time in the city instead of sitting 12 hours in the F Lounge. Will I be able to go to the lounge first for a shower and then to immigration? I am asking this because there are airports where it is not possible to leave the departure area once through security.

If I leave the airport, do I need to pay the taxes when entering again? If yes, where do I pay them and do they accept credit cards or cash only?

Suggestions for a few hours in Bangkok? When do the attractions like the royal palace open in the morning?

Thank you very much for your help!

Assuming that you CAN clear customs and immigration (Fellow FT'ers please confirm)


When you get off the plane you will have an escort waiting for you. Ask them to take you to the First Class lounge. Once in the lounge book your massages, ask if they can hold your luggage (if necessary) enjoy the lounge and then ask them to take you to customs and immigration to clear.

Once cleared I would take the train (either regular or express) to town, then grab a Tuk Tuk and ask the driver to take you to all the common sites (Reclining Budda, Tallest Budda, Royal Palace, etc) If you want to help out the Tuk Tuk driver let him take you to the jewelery store and textile store, then walk around for 5 mins, look interested and walk away. Your driver will get Gas vouchers for taking you there, even if you don't buy.

You may want to buy some souvenirs, Pashminas are very popular, according to my wife make sure you get as close to 100% cashmere as you can. we bought 70% ones last time and they weren't so great. I bought a few silk ties for work that I'm quite happy with.

The driver should wait for you at all the sites even for the Royal Palace which could take 1-2 hours to visit. The Royal Palace is the only place with a "dress code", Men and Women must have legs and arms covered. If you don't have the proper clothing you can "rent" some shirts and pants (Hawaiian Style) for a few dollars. Make sure you rent them Before entering the Palace as it's a lot cheaper outside than inside. I do remember the Royal Palace closing for a couple of hours in the afternoon, it may have been a holiday or a special event. Ask the Tuk Tuk driver at the beginning of your journey.

You can easily spend 4 hours touring like this. Then make your way by Tuk Tuk back to the train and go to the Airport. Our Tuk Tuk driver didn't ask for an amount of money. He asked us to pay what ever we though was right. I think I gave him 900 Baht ($30) for 4 hours. I suspect you will have to pay the departure tax as you cleared customs and immigration. We paid cash (took out some money from an ATM, I don't think they accept credit cards but I may be mistaken). You have to pay before you check-in; make your way to the First Class check-in area and they will take care of you.

Save at least 2-3 hours for the lounge + massage. You will have an amazing time and you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy !

The Royal Palace is the only place with a "dress code", Men and Women must have legs and arms covered. If you don't have the proper clothing you can "rent" some shirts and pants (Hawaiian Style) for a few dollars. Make sure you rent them Before entering the Palace as it's a lot cheaper outside than inside.

When I visited there it was just the opposite. Renting your clothes inside was extremely reasonable, although there was a bit of a line. Renting from a private shop outside was ridiculously priced. But I didn't bother searching around outside much to know if the prices varied. I'd double check the current situation if you need to rent any clothes.

When you get off the plane you will have an escort waiting for you. Ask them to take you to the First Class lounge. Once in the lounge book your massages, ask if they can hold your luggage (if necessary) enjoy the lounge and then ask them to take you to customs and immigration to clear.

Go to the lounge and shower and have breakfast. Recover from the flight, schedule your massage for the afternoon and begin your day.

You will NOT be escorted to immigration. When you leave the F lounge turn left and walk about 50 meters. Just before you get to the transfer security outlet you will see, on the right, a small hallway and an information desk. Go through the hallway and access the escalator down to the 2nd floor where you can then proceed to immigration at D4. If you were able to grab a Fast Track coupon before alighting the plane this will help as you will not have an escort to take you into the Fast Track area.

Once cleared I would take the train (either regular or express) to town, then grab a Tuk Tuk and ask the driver to take you to all the common sites (Reclining Budda, Tallest Budda, Royal Palace, etc) If you want to help out the Tuk Tuk driver let him take you to the jewelery store and textile store, then walk around for 5 mins, look interested and walk away. Your driver will get Gas vouchers for taking you there, even if you don't buy.

You may want to buy some souvenirs, Pashminas are very popular, according to my wife make sure you get as close to 100% cashmere as you can. we bought 70% ones last time and they weren't so great. I bought a few silk ties for work that I'm quite happy with.

The driver should wait for you at all the sites even for the Royal Palace which could take 1-2 hours to visit. The Royal Palace is the only place with a "dress code", Men and Women must have legs and arms covered. If you don't have the proper clothing you can "rent" some shirts and pants (Hawaiian Style) for a few dollars. Make sure you rent them Before entering the Palace as it's a lot cheaper outside than inside. I do remember the Royal Palace closing for a couple of hours in the afternoon, it may have been a holiday or a special event. Ask the Tuk Tuk driver at the beginning of your journey.

You can easily spend 4 hours touring like this. Then make your way by Tuk Tuk back to the train and go to the Airport. Our Tuk Tuk driver didn't ask for an amount of money. He asked us to pay what ever we though was right. I think I gave him 900 Baht ($30) for 4 hours. I suspect you will have to pay the departure tax as you cleared customs and immigration. We paid cash (took out some money from an ATM, I don't think they accept credit cards but I may be mistaken). You have to pay before you check-in; make your way to the First Class check-in area and they will take care of you.

Stay away from the tuk tuks unless you know what the fare should be. 900 THB for a few hours of tuk tuk is absurd and you were a sucker. Sorry to be so blunt. Point 2: always arrange a price before you get into the tuk tuk.

Take the train to Phaya Thai and transfer to BTS. Take BTS to Saphan Taksin (toward Wang Wiang Yai - you'll need to transfer at Siam). Once at Saphan Taksin take the river ferry up to Tha Tien for Wat Pho or Tha Chang for the Grand Palace. The stops are adjacent and can easily be walked between. Across the river at Tha Tien is Wat Arun, the x-river ferries are 3 Baht. Throw in some lunch at the Royal Navy restaurant just to the south of Tha Chang and you'll have a reasonably full day in Bangkok. At this point you can either retrace your steps through public transpo or hop into a taxi to the airport.

From the palace area the cost should be about 270-300 Baht on the meter, depending upon traffic, plus tolls which should be 45 + 25 baht.

Save at least 2-3 hours for the lounge + massage. You will have an amazing time and you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy !

Agreed.

I am asking this because there are airports where it is not possible to leave the departure area once through security.
Thank you very much for your help!

Hi Subria, security at BKK has changed very rapidly over the past weeks, and the procedure SHOULD be that if you leave the airport, that your luggage should accompany you, or once through the transit security, that is where you stay. If you are going through the airport in the next 21 days, I would expect some difficulties if you wish to do what you require. After that, everything should revert to normal:p

If you are going through the airport in the next 21 days, I would expect some difficulties if you wish to do what you require. After that, everything should revert to normal:p

Do you mean that after 21 days, we should be able to go upstairs when we have an onward domestic connection, like was possible up until last month? If so, I wish I'd known that sooner. I just booked a few days ago all my Thailand trips for the rest of the year and cut TG and BKK out of it due to this issue. Oh well, maybe next year I'll be able to use TG again.

Hi Subria, security at BKK has changed very rapidly over the past weeks, and the procedure SHOULD be that if you leave the airport, that your luggage should accompany you, or once through the transit security, that is where you stay. If you are going through the airport in the next 21 days, I would expect some difficulties if you wish to do what you require. After that, everything should revert to normal:p

In this case left luggage can't possibly remain open (you are leaving the airport without your luggage) and a passenger can't cancel/change a trip.

What about forced overnights?

This just doesn't sound feasible.

You'll be met on arrival and taken to the First lounge (which involves going through security check). Freshen up, have breakfast, relax, then ask the staff at the front desk to mind any carry-on luggage you don't want to take down-town. I've done this several times and always they're agreeable to holding onto your goodies. Book in a massage for that evening. Then leave the lounge, go back to the arrivals level (downstairs) and clear immigration, use the fast-track.

Take train or taxi (THB300 to 400) downtown, enjoy your day. AVOID TUK TUKs AT ALL COSTS. They are nasty, over-priced, DANGEROUS tourist traps. My advice, use a regular taxi with aircon. When you get in, make sure they reset the meter.

As for downtown, advice already provided is pretty good. If your flight to SYD
was a bit later you could visit the night markets - always fun for some street food, dodgy entertainment, and market shopping.

Regarding departure tax, in my experience you'll rarely need to pay this if you're on a through connection. Maybe I've just bene lucky, maybe not. Either way, you'll have your onward boarding pass already so just go straight through passport control on arrival at the airport.

Happy travels.

Thank you very much for all your help. In the end it does not seem too bad that Thai rebooked me on the later SYD-Flight. Would certainly be nice if I could use the Lounge for a shower after the long flight, but it worries me a bit that we could be trapped in the airport for 12 hours if there is no return after transit security.

@BKKROP
Why do you think everything will be back to normal in 21 days? Are the changes only temporary? And would it help, if I only checked my bags to BKK?

Thank you very much for all your help. In the end it does not seem too bad that Thai rebooked me on the later SYD-Flight. Would certainly be nice if I could use the Lounge for a shower after the long flight, but it worries me a bit that we could be trapped in the airport for 12 hours if there is no return after transit security.

@BKKROP
Why do you think everything will be back to normal in 21 days? Are the changes only temporary? And would it help, if I only checked my bags to BKK?

Stranger thiings have happened, but of all the things to worry about, not being able to leave the transit area is not on my list of possibilities.

note that if you leave the airport you will probably need to pay the Bangkok departure tax... so leave some extra time for that.