Originally Posted by
Boleslav
thank you for the post, however from this web site it is not a clear yes on going through the immigration in Krabi.
If the final destination is Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, Hat Yai or Samui, passengers have to proceed to Domestic Transfer Check-in Counters - East at concourse D, level 2 before proceed to immigration and security formality. Customs formality will be done at your destination airport.
Thailand changed its connection flight/immigration procedure a few years ago. What you posted from the web site is correct as to current procedure. You will stay airside to do this, but you will pass immigration for connections for these 6 airports in BKK. It is a different checkpoint than the regular immigration areas for entering at BKK. It's pretty well signed once you get there. You will NOT go through immigration at Krabi.
I believe if you already are checked in all the way through to Krabi (i.e. your journey is on one ticket all the way) and have your BP, you probably don't need to go by the Domestic Transfer airline check-in counters. Do stop by if you are on separate ticket and/or don't yet have BP for the onward flight. If your luggage is checked all way to Krabi (check to see if your first airline has an interline agreement with TG), you don't deal with it until Krabi. Pick it up there and you WILL clear Customs there. Yes, it is a split location system Immigration vs Customs,
for these 6 airports only.
Your main issue is timing of when to pass through the transfer immigration checkpoint: right after you arrive, or spend some additional time in the better-equipped international airside then go through immigration closer to your onward flight time.