LHR/MEL/Europe FF

I refrained from giving a particular hotel leaving it up to the OP's preference... but one is the Thong Ta Resort. Rooms from USD23 incl round-trip transfer.

Main site is here - but discounts available through agoda etc: http://thongtaresortandspa.com/index.htm

domerdeb

Thanks much. I was wondering if someone in the know would recommend getting a room. I wasn't sure it would be worth going through immigration, etc. for.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

With 9 hours (perhaps a fraction more if your flight arrives early), and given the main TG lounges will be closed anyway, I would suggest getting an hotel.

You will have access to priority immigration clearance both on arrival and departure. If you check your bags right through (don't collect in BKK) that will save more time.

Arrival at 0130 should get you out and well on the way to (or even at) your local hotel by 2 am. Departing your hotel at 730 or 8 would get you back to the airport and in the lounge within 45 mins. Time for you to have a 30 minute free massage (included with your J ticket) and off to board the plane.

The TG business lounges are pleasant enough, but there's no 'wow' factor to make them worth hanging around for to maximise lounge time.

Leaving the airport may incur a 700 baht departure fee - but this is not always recouped.

Alternatively, you might want to arrive, wander around the airport for an hour, then have a full, or just foot massage (paid for by you) which would take an hour or so, leaving just another hour before the lounges open.

yewgene

Had a 6 hour transit in BKK over the weekend, and there wasn't any departure fee imposed on me.

If time permits, you can venture into the SQ silverkris lounge too, their food & alcohol offerings are way better than the TG counterparts. They serve coconuts too!

BinSabai

but SQ lounge closes even earlier than TG lounge (latest 2330), opens later (0630) and is quite remote to most of the international departure gates

yewgene

True, that's why i mentioned "if time permits". Or if domerdeb's flight is near gate C.

dsquared37

And in the past few years i've been hit less than 10% of the time. LHR/MEL/Europe FF was just saying that pax leaving the transit area are subject to the tax but it's not often collected.

yewgene

Learned something new today!

Curious though, how would immigration know if a passenger leaving is a transit pax or a genuine bkk-arrival pax?

dsquared37

It has nothing to do with entry immigration but is all about departure. The only times I've been requested to pay is at the check in desk; some have reported being stopped at exit immigration.

luvFclass

Hopefully Missus LFC will be lucky and "not" be requested to pay the exit tax at the airport next week.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

It is entirely random and seems to depend on how eagle-eyed the immigration agent is. However, if asked to pay it is a requirement. I'd say it's a 50-50 chance.

BinSabai

I would not call it entirely random!
chances are much better that you do not need to pay if you already are in possession of the boarding pass (from initial check in or from transit desk before you leave transit area through immigration). If you have to normally check in again and get your boarding pass, chances are high you have to pay.
Having the boarding pass already, chances are less then 50% that you have to pay as dsquared37 confirms

dsquared37

I've never been in possession of my onward BP and have always checked in at the desk in these situations. Still, the percentage of times I've been asked to pay up is very low.

domerdeb

Thanks very much to all who chimed in. Having received some assurance that I can get in and out of the airport easily, I made a reservation at the Thongta Resort with a very good rate from booking.com. Problem solved, and I can get that complimentary massage with my J class ticket during my four hour layover on the return.

vd0t

There is also an EVA air lounge, how does that compare to the TG and SQ lounges?