Originally Posted by
te36
Trying to figure out how close i can cut it for an upcoming trip
How much time should i plan to arrive before plane departure in BKK internationally (to europe) ?
a) with star alliance gold leaving on star alliance
c) without frequent flyer benefits
No checked luggage.
Could i get through with boarding pass only on smart phone / printed (EU passport going to EU).
As stated above the lines for immigration is the uncertain part here. Lines can be short and be longer (I experienced 30 min or so in April for a early AM TG depart. to CPH).
But I will tell you what I do when I have a flight departing BKK around midnight/early AM.
Normally, I plan to be a the airport 1h - 1h30min hour before the flight. This is to check-in bags and obtain a BP. Normally there are no queues for check-in this late (as the majority of pax have already checked at the time shortly before check-in closes). This means leaving the city by taxi minimum 2 hours before the flight (normally from Silom or Sathon area). The good part is that there is hardly any traffic at this hour and going to the airport will take you 45min maximum (often 30-35 min) - you dont need to select highway/toll way at this hour.
I think you will need to collect a BP at the check-in desks as the immigration officer will stamp it. After collecting the BP you proceed to security check upstairs - even without status this is normally quickly done with (it takes max 5 min to get through). Then comes the immigration! This can be time consuming if you are unlucky and several flights will be leaving for China at the same time as your flight, which means that there can be lines at immigration. You may also be lucky that there is no queue/hardly any queue; then immigration takes 2 min. If no queue there is plenty of time for shopping or visiting a lounge. If immigration takes long time (which is 20-30 min in my book) you need to go straight to the gate.
I'm sure some may consider the above too tight/cutting it too close but I'm OK with it. I hate leaving the city too early as often I'm out with friends for dinner and drinks and I like arriving at the airport late/shortly before check-in closes. The benefit is that the lines for check-in (and I also believe at immigration) get shorter the later you arrive and the airport is way more calm when most of the pax for the many early AM flights have been dealt with already and are waiting at the gates. Try arriving at the airport around 10PM for an early AM departure, then you will see lines and people everywhere!