Hello folks.

I'm planning on booking the following itinerary on EK and PG (Bangkok Airways) from Milan to Ko Samui. Since booking all the flights in one itinerary is substantially more expensive, I ask you whether I am asking for problems if I book the following itinerary in two tickets:

Ticket 1: MXP-DXB-BKK-DXB-MXP on EK
Ticket 2: BKK-USM-BKK on PG

On the way back, I will be stopping over at BKK, so no problem there. On the way out, though, I only have a 2h20min layover at BKK. Will EK check my bags to USM even if on two tickets? If not, will I have enough time to go through customs/immigration and check-in again for the USM flight?

The PG flight is the last flight of the day, so taking a later flight is not an option (EK arrives at 6.40pm, PG leaves at 9.00pm).

Thanks in advance!

i know when i had to book 2 tickets for my international trip, EK wouldn't check my luggage thru. i had to collect them, go thru immigration and recheck them with the next airline.

this was in the States fwiw

They did it for me once going LHR-DXB-SYD and then SYD-ADL on QF. I think I did have to pick them up in SYD though and then put them on a bagdrop or something to go through customs but can't remember.

I tried another time going through SIN to HKT on TR but they couldn't do it.

What you can try is calling up EK and ask although most likely they won't be able to tell you or they just tell you anything to get rid of you.

There is no problem to check in your bags all the way down to USM. I did it on several occassions - just make sure that you have printed copy of your ticket for BKK-USM flight. Once when you arrive to USM you will be directed for separated baggage belt to go through customs channel.
It happened even once that when I was transitting in Dubai I was given boarding card for my BKK USM flight while boarding DXB-BKK flight.
Just make sure that you inform agent during check in that you need your bags to be tagged for USM.
Enjoy your time in USM - it is great place.

I have a different experience. I was flying from Luang Prabang (am pretty sure it was PG) via BKK to DXB. My baggage in Luang Prabang was def interlined so that I picked up my luggage in DXB (or in MXP in your case).

I have done this a couple of times in the past, requirement was always to show them the flight booking on paper.

This is not possible if you're arriving on an intl flight to the States due to customs clearance. You have to collect baggage, clear customs, and then drop bags for the next flight. They would be able to do it on the return flight leaving the US as there are no customs checks at your stop over.

sorry what i meant was since my tickets weren't on the same itineary the EK desk wouldn't let me check the bags with them, i had to take it up to delta.

in the past when my company had arranged the flights on the same itineary the bags would be checked thru or via their desk in JFK

AFAIK they would not check bags all the way through. At your first port of entry in the US (JFK), you would have to clear customs, and then check in for the domestic flight. I haven't tried doing this, so I'm not sure, but that is my understanding.

that's correct, however right outside of customs in JFK there's a desk that EK will allow you to check your luggage back in. since i saved bout 1300 dhs buyin a seperate ticket, they made me take the luggage with me on the skytrain to delta and checkin the luggage there. in the past when the company paid, they would pay the extra charges to keep it on 1 itineary and Ek would allow me to just drop off right outside of baggage/customs.

Thanks very much for all your answers.

I think I'll go with the separate tickets, given the positive experiences reported in the thread.

Another question: am I correct in thinking that immigration will be taken care of in BKK, whereas I will go through customs at USM (similar to what happens in the Schengen area, i.e. immigration at first port of entry and customs at arrival airport)?

Thanks again & take care

Yes - correct. You will go through passport control in BKK and customs in USM.

Nice to hear. Am hoping to do this REP to HKG via BKK , PG to EK next month. Have a very tight connection in BKK so would be very good if I could interline...

I travelled from BHX to KUL to LGK with the last leg being on Malaysia airlines and the first part on EK. I had to collect my baggage at KUL and check in again for the LGK flight even though everything was booked on one itinerary. It didnt bother me though as it was a quick experience and not much of a fuss so you should be ok if this is what you end up doing.

Also had to do the above on the return journey.