Greetings all,

Basically, in the next few weeks, i will be travelling to BKK from HKG where i will connect to an ANA flight at 0145. The schedule says that i will be arriving in BKK by CX at 2350. Is this too tight to connect? Because the other alternative would be for me to transit in BKK for 5 hours.

I hope those who frequent BKK and other veterans will advise on this matter.

No - you will have more than enough time.

In Bangkok, the 2 terminals are basically ONE long terminal joined together. In any case, ANA and CX arrive at Terminal 2.

You'd have enough time to connect. Can't promise if any duty free shops would be open though.

You have to head to one of the transfer desks and get your boarding pass. Don't go out otherwise you'll have to pay a THB 500 airport tax.

FWIW, the duty-free shops are open all night.

Thanx for all the reply, i think i will stay with my current itinerary,dun wanna stay to long in BKK.

I am just wondering, in CGK, where i am going to depart, can i say to the check-in person to tag my bags directly to ORD, which is my final destination. I would love not to go out but i have got to take my bags.

If it is possible, does that mean that i am not going to get my bag prioritised (Going from CX biz to ANA biz)?

Ask that your bags be checked through to your final destination, in this case ORD. It doesn't matter whether you have one or several stopovers along the way.

As for baggage priority handling, the airline from your departure city will put its priority tags if you're flying business or first class or are an elite member. At the connecting airport, the next airline will add the priority takes as necessary even though you did not personally check your baggage with them. They should do it automatically but it may be worthwhile to mention your bags at the connecting airport's transfer desk when you check in to claim your onward boarding pass. The good airlines will usually have a walkie-talkie with their baggage handlers and specifically ask the bags to be tagged priority.

Thanx bp888,

I dun know whether u consider ANA to be a good airline but i think that is a very good idea.

However, i always have an impression of BKK airport to be one of those third class airport, please dun blast me on this! And so, depending on time, i am contemplating to just pick my bags and re-check them in. I have to rush once i get to Chicago. What do u think? or should i just get a life and be so less cynical abt things?

ANA is indeed a top-rate airline. And don't be deceived by the appearance of BKK airport, it is a top-notch airport for handling baggage. If I were you I wouldn't worry about your bags getting lost. Just follow what I said earlier -- check your bags through to your final destination. The major factor for bags getting "lost" is insufficient connection time. If you have the time to check-out your bags and re-check them in, that means you have enough connection time. If you check them out, you might cutting into this time. And by the way, in most cases where bags do indeed get "lost", they are found and forwarded to your final destination usually within 24 hours. So if you absolutely must have certain items from your checked bags within 24-48 hours of your arrival at your final destination, I suggest taking them with you as carry-ons. Hope this helps.

Take it from someone who has travelled.... I'd transit in Bangkok anytime over LAX or LHR!

It may not look it... but places like LAX luggage handling actually 'eat' your baggage. I had a piece of Lancel lugguge. Evevrywhere it went... from Singapore to HK to Bangkok, to Delhi, to Paris, to London to Australia to New Zealand. No problem. But after 1 flight through LAX, the zippers broke, my bag got extremely chaffed, and it just looked ' bad'.

Bangkok at that time of the night will be quiet so your baggage will make it. The bigger the airport, the most likely it will be chaotic like London Heathrow when it has to cross Terminals!

Ditto the above comments on BKK. I think they do a fine job with baggage and I've found ANA's service there to be very good (except the FC lounge isn't much).

I'd flw suggestions to simply mention your bags to the ANA ground personnel and remind them to both check on the transfer and tag them priority. They'll probably do it anyway.

Wow! It seems that you veteran travellers have totally changed my view on BKK airport. I guess i shall heed ur advises and just tag my bags from CGK to ORD.

Thanx a lot to everyone who has replied.

You say you're traveling in the next few weeks, so you probably won't be on my flight, this weekend, when I, too, am on CX HKG to BKK, arriving at 2350 (11:50 pm). And I was so looking forward to seeing another FT tag!

I will be transferring from an LAX flight, arriving HKG at 850 pm, leaving at 1005 pm. One Hour and Fifteen minutes seems rather short considering all the time the flight has in the air to incur delays. What kind of delays? I don't know, but it just seems kinda short. Okay, actually, I wanted to do some duty-free shopping, so it seems kind of short.

Anyway, someone told me that, even though its a different flight no., its the same plane that connects through HKG, for flights from LAX - BKK. This would be good. I wouldn't have to worry about the time wasted checking in for a different flight. I was told they let you off for about 45 min while they fuel. If this is indeed the case, and with my shopping skills, I should be able to polish off my list, no problem.

Does anyone know the deal on this i.e. just how a keen a shopper does one have to be on such a stop?