Warning on current immigration clearance time
Nov 26, 2012, 12:18 pm
#481
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 887
I'll be flying HKT-BKK-PEK----ORD eventually. But, will I have to process exit immigration in BKK before going to PEK or will this be done in HKT? Also, how much time should I allow there? I am considering changing my flight:
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Nov 26, 2012, 4:54 pm
#482
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
You can be stamped out of the kingdom in HKT if you are planning on spending the layover time in the airport. If you have a longish layover and want to head into town then deal with immigration in BKK.
Nov 27, 2012, 3:53 pm
#483
formerly RZachSmith
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: U.S.
Posts: 187
In a couple of weeks, I'll be arriving in Y on TG 921 at 6:20am, Connecting to a domestic TG flight which departs at 8:00am. Anyone have any recent insight on the busyness of immigration at this early hour? I'm trying to determine if I should hire an arrivals service.
Nov 27, 2012, 4:19 pm
#484
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BKK.DPS
Programs: P THAI,Diamond HYATT
Posts: 3,290
The Thai transfer from Unternational to Domestic is very painless. Upon exiting your aircraft the "Transfer to Domestic" signs appear. Follow these signs, there is a passport check then it is onwards to the Domestic terminal, your bags have already been sent, so there is no problems. It is a breeze, 8am sounds like the Chiang Mai, enjoy your holidays you have picked a beautiful spot
Nov 27, 2012, 4:49 pm
#485
formerly RZachSmith
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: U.S.
Posts: 187
The Thai transfer from Unternational to Domestic is very painless. Upon exiting your aircraft the "Transfer to Domestic" signs appear. Follow these signs, there is a passport check then it is onwards to the Domestic terminal, your bags have already been sent, so there is no problems. It is a breeze, 8am sounds like the Chiang Mai, enjoy your holidays you have picked a beautiful spot
Nov 27, 2012, 10:01 pm
#486
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
Hi,
I will arrive on Tuesday morning with TG in C from FCO at 6:05am, and connect to USM on TG in Y at 07:45. I recall from 2 months ago that I need first to go to Immigration, fill-in the form, pay for the visa, queue and wait to get it (was pretty fast last time) and only then sprint to the other side of the terminal, for the domestic flights.
Is there any change now? With both flights being on TG, any chance to clear Immigration in USM? Any other faster options? Flights are on 2 sepparate tickets, i do expect though luggage to be sent all the way to USM.
I will arrive on Tuesday morning with TG in C from FCO at 6:05am, and connect to USM on TG in Y at 07:45. I recall from 2 months ago that I need first to go to Immigration, fill-in the form, pay for the visa, queue and wait to get it (was pretty fast last time) and only then sprint to the other side of the terminal, for the domestic flights.
Is there any change now? With both flights being on TG, any chance to clear Immigration in USM? Any other faster options? Flights are on 2 sepparate tickets, i do expect though luggage to be sent all the way to USM.
Normally to transfer from International to Domestic you can go through the transit immigration area, but if you have to do Visa on Arrival, you must go through the main immigration area, and then hop back to Departures upstairs. Depending on how many flights there are coming in from India (and there would be a few in the morning), the wait at VOA could be as short as 10 minutes to as long as 90 minutes. So if you are conencting to a domestic flight and requries a visa (even though VOA available), get the visa BEFORE you fly.
Do tell us what actually happened.
Nov 27, 2012, 11:00 pm
#487
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
I'll be flying HKT-BKK-PEK----ORD eventually. But, will I have to process exit immigration in BKK before going to PEK or will this be done in HKT? Also, how much time should I allow there? I am considering changing my flight:
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Nov 27, 2012, 11:04 pm
#488
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
In a couple of weeks, I'll be arriving in Y on TG 921 at 6:20am, Connecting to a domestic TG flight which departs at 8:00am. Anyone have any recent insight on the busyness of immigration at this early hour? I'm trying to determine if I should hire an arrivals service.
Nov 27, 2012, 11:42 pm
#489
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
I'll be flying HKT-BKK-PEK----ORD eventually. But, will I have to process exit immigration in BKK before going to PEK or will this be done in HKT? Also, how much time should I allow there? I am considering changing my flight:
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Recent guidelines show that International-to-International connections require only 60 minutes and no need to retrieve bags or go through immigration, but better double-check to be safe.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/city...t-transfer.htm
Last edited by zhaobao; Nov 27, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Nov 27, 2012, 11:44 pm
#490
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
Nov 28, 2012, 12:01 am
#491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
I am not talking about the queue at the main immigration. The line at the transfer immigration (and security) can be quite long.
Nov 28, 2012, 8:30 am
#492
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 887
I'll be flying HKT-BKK-PEK----ORD eventually. But, will I have to process exit immigration in BKK before going to PEK or will this be done in HKT? Also, how much time should I allow there? I am considering changing my flight:
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
Current Layover Time: 5 Hours
Option 1: 3 Hour Layover
Option 2: 2 Hour Layover
Changing the flight obv would give me more time in HKT and less at BKK airport.
I'm more concerned about your transit in Beijing than anything else. It's never clear whether you need to clear immigration at Beijing, despite being an international-to-international connection. And if immigration is required, you should budget at least 120 minutes. Previously, baggage handlers in Beijing and Shanghai were known to not have been trained on "connecting flights, off goes the bag to the connecting plane".
Recent guidelines show that International-to-International connections require only 60 minutes and no need to retrieve bags or go through immigration, but better double-check to be safe.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/city...t-transfer.htm
Recent guidelines show that International-to-International connections require only 60 minutes and no need to retrieve bags or go through immigration, but better double-check to be safe.
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/city...t-transfer.htm
Thanks everyone!
Dec 7, 2012, 9:35 am
#494
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Programs: DL 1MM Platinum, UA 1k, HH Silver, BonVoy Platinum
Posts: 1,146
Awesome tip on the fasttrack website, I didn't know that existed.
I also go through fasttrack when on Thai, and I've noticed that they don't have the signs up guiding you to the area (it is baggage claim 1-? entrance for immigration, right side, into the Crew/Diplomat area, then there are 2 desks for fast track). Agreed it is always fast, and combine it with no luggage and a taxi from the dropoff area and you are very quickly on your way. But note that Thai airways does not give out the arrival fast track passes in C any longer, but you just need to show your boarding pass in C to the immigration guy. I think on Emirates they still hand out fasttrack passes and it is possible to load up on those if you see that the normal lines are empty.
I'm tempted to try the golf cart ride! Could easily get burned by an offload bus from plane to immigration, but deboarding at E6 and the golf cart would be great!
I also go through fasttrack when on Thai, and I've noticed that they don't have the signs up guiding you to the area (it is baggage claim 1-? entrance for immigration, right side, into the Crew/Diplomat area, then there are 2 desks for fast track). Agreed it is always fast, and combine it with no luggage and a taxi from the dropoff area and you are very quickly on your way. But note that Thai airways does not give out the arrival fast track passes in C any longer, but you just need to show your boarding pass in C to the immigration guy. I think on Emirates they still hand out fasttrack passes and it is possible to load up on those if you see that the normal lines are empty.
I'm tempted to try the golf cart ride! Could easily get burned by an offload bus from plane to immigration, but deboarding at E6 and the golf cart would be great!
Dec 23, 2012, 11:41 pm
#495
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Programs: QF gold, HH Diamond, VA plat, Aegean Gold
Posts: 683
j fastrack and how long to get through at 1330
Hi what are the current fasttrack arrangements for arriving business passengers Thai airways. Also how long to get through immigration at 1330 thanks