Thailand - ORD to BKK, 2 days later to Phuket, luggage and airasia

Our family will fly from ORD to BKK, 2 days later to Phuket for 6 days.

Since international flight has 23kg allowance for one luggage on United. We probably will stuff it right on the mark of 23kg. If we fly AirAsia from BKK to Phuket, what's the best option to get the luggage shipped to Phuket? Thailand Post or pay AirAsia to get luggage to fly with us?

Thanks

Our family will fly from ORD to BKK, 2 days later to Phuket for 6 days.

Since international flight has 23kg allowance for one luggage on United. We probably will stuff it right on the mark of 23kg. If we fly AirAsia from BKK to Phuket, what's the best option to get the luggage shipped to Phuket? Thailand Post or pay AirAsia to get luggage to fly with us?

Thanks

Pay, in advance, for a 20kg bag and pack the other 3kg in your carryon.

The better question is why do you need to take so much to max out your baggage allowance?

Since I don't know if you've bought your ticket or not...

Consider NOT flying Air Asia.

IIRC, all 4 other carriers that fly this route have no charge for the 1st bag of checked luggage. Remember however, that there are 2 airports in Bangkok.

From Ist of October, Most of the LCC's including Air Asia will be flying from Don Mueang Airport (DMK).

This airport is about 50 minutes away by Taxi.

From Ist of October, Most of the LCC's including Air Asia will be flying from Don Mueang Airport (DMK).



That's a bold statement that shouldn't be generalized so much. In terms of the percentage of passengers carried by LCC's I'm sure you're correct, however in terms of actual airlines operating out of DMK, Air Asia is joining Nok and Orient Thai. Those will be the only 3 carriers.

From Ist of October, Most of the LCC's including Air Asia will be flying from Don Mueang Airport (DMK).

This airport is about 50 minutes away by Taxi.

In the OP's case, Don Mueang may be preferable.

They are not flying to Phuket on the same day they fly in (so the time & distance is not an issue). DMK is actually closer to Bangkok than BKK!

And the FIASCOthat is BKK is easily avoided by "escaping" and flying from Don Mueang. ^ :D

I'm not sure it is an option but you could re-pack to meet any weight issues, and leave one or more bags at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) at the 'Left Luggage' service (level 2, or level 4, 100 baht/24 hours/per bag - don't leave anything of value in the bags).

As mentioned by Kris Rao, Thai Air Asia is moving from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Don Mueang (DMK) from 1 Oct. 2012, and I am not sure if there is a similar left luggage service at DMK. This site seems to say there is.

http://www.airportthai.co.th/ewtadmin85_AOT/ewt/donmueang/ewt_news.php?nid=27&filename=sitemap___EN

I'm not sure I would recommend Thai Post, not because it is not safe or reliable (EMS), but they may require re-packing into boxes, and the ship to address might prove challenging?

Another option, for a family, might be to purchase at least one first class ticket, if applicable, in order to get the biggest luggage allowance, then flip a coin for that seat? (I've never flown FD so do not even know if they have any CoS in the front?)

Just select the 25kg option for checked baggage with Air Asia when booking (if that is who you fly) - the fees are not much more than for 15kg or 20kg.

Check-In Baggage (Pre-book)
Domestic (up to 15kg) THB 300
Domestic (up to 20kg) THB 330
Domestic (up to 25kg) THB 428
Domestic (up to 30kg) THB 660
Domestic (up to 35kg) THB 990
Domestic (up to 40kg) THB 1210

http://www.airasia.com/au/en/flightinfo/feeschedule.page#

thank you all. :)

I just booked the AirAsia flight on 9/29/2012. The flight still leaves from BKK. I paid for the 25lb luggage for each person on the trip. It's not that bad at all. $14 or so for 25lbs.

thank you all. :)

I just booked the AirAsia flight on 9/29/2012. The flight still leaves from BKK. I paid for the 25lb luggage for each person on the trip. It's not that bad at all. $14 or so for 25lbs.

Did you bother to check out any other carrier for that day? Unless you purchased the last flight out on FD you could have paid the same or even saved money by purchasing PG (a real airline) with 30kg of bags thrown in inclusive.

It's too late now, but it's good to keep in mind that Air Asia has a reputation of being the cheapest which is often not necessarily true.

I paid for the 25lb luggage for each person on the trip.

Just make sure you don't exceed 25lb for each person.

That would be 25kg, if only our US friends would go metric!

Note that "laptop bags" and anything on your person don't count against you on air asia. And, in my experience, "25 kg" really means "25.9 kg".

The OP already paid for 25kg, but in case anyone else has the same question, one possible solution is to leave a bag with the hotel in BKK. We do that all the time with Airasia.

When my wife and I travel on AirAsia, we can sometimes get away with a single 20kg luggage between us, even on long trips. (going back is a different story, as we buy a lot of stuff while there). Laundry services are cheap, so you don't need more than 4 days of clothes. But perhaps the OP is bringing a favorite bowling ball?