50 minutes to connect in BKK
 

I received a phone call telling me that there was a flight schedule change on our flight from BKK-USM (Koh Samui), and that I currently only have 50 minutes to connect to that flight from my HKG-BKK flight, and that is not enough time, so I requested she put me on an earlier flight so I won't miss the connection. Since I used my UAL miles to redeem the ticket, she told me that earlier flights are all sold out for that day and to choose other dates. But we are meeting the family in USM who are travelling from other country arriving that day, so my dates are not flexible. So she said she will call me back.

An hour later another agent called me back and say that my flight is ok. I asked him which flight did you put me on? He said the same flight but just schedule change on the BKK-USM and I have 50 minutes to connect. I then mentioned that the earlier phone call indicated that I do not have enough time to connect, will I make the connection? The agent replied, that it's ok.

So which agent is right? Is 50 minutes enough time to connect from International to domestic? They only have 2 flights going to USM from BKK, and we are on the afternoon flight (the last flight for the day by Thai Airways). . . what would happen if we don't make the connection, as we will also have checked in luggage.

Did you try doing a search before posting?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thai-...times-bkk.html Post #5 answers your question - tight but doable.

Does it? :confused:

It doesn't give any minimum connecting time. And the fact that TG doesn't sell the combination of flights the OP is referring to implies that in general they don't consider it an OK connection.

Yes, I did thanks. However, even post 4 SASDC8 mentioned with the 1 hr,15 min being tight for high season.

SASDC8 "1 hour and 15 minutes from international to domestic (TG-TG and *A-TG) should be fine in the low season including immigration, baggage collection and check in again. My best time is 37 minutes including a cigarette outside and a coke to go from the lounge.

In the high season it might be a bit tight."

We are going around Chinese New Year. .. I don't think it's quite low season and we have only 50 minutes instead of 1 hr 15. . .hence my concern. . . plus the conflicting opinion of the agents is a bit of concern. ..When I checked online, TG does not even offer this connection as an option any longer on their web.

Under normal circumstances you would never need to get your luggage and re-check it for this connection. However, due to the minimal cnx time, TG is well within their right to deny through check.

When you say you 'talked to....', who exactly are you talking with? UA?

Yes both agents who called me to inform me of the flight change were from UA.

As you seem to consider your arrival on this very day an important matter I recommend to travel a day earlier or use another carrier for the onward flight . Even if all Flyertalk members decide to leave a fruitful comment to your favor a 15 minutes delay of your incoming flight would spoil the party anyway .

50 minutes is not a valid connection

[KVS Availability Tool 6.3.0.R2/Diamond - Reference: Minimum Connection Time [MCT]: BKK/TG-TG]

Unfortunate situation and since you are on a UA award ticket, not a lot of wiggle room. Scenarios:
1) You keep plugging away at UA and an award seat on the early HKG-BKK flight opens up. Likelihood around Chinese New Year period: very slim. Pros: Problem solved without additional outlay. Cons: No backup plan in case you gamble and lose.

2) See if there is an award seat on the next morning TG BKK-USM flight and switch to that. You'd have to spend a hotel night in Bangkok and the other members of your party would have a headstart in Samui. But I suspect there may be no award seats to be switched to...

3) Accept the current assignments and pray TG will check you and bags in all the way HKG-BKK-USM. If they do, then you still have to sprint through the terminal and go through transfer immigration at BKK. Possible to make the Samui flight, but if anything goes wrong (late arrival, remote gate, backup at transfer immigration) then you are toast for that second segment. Then again, you may get lucky and between now and flight time, the schedule will change again to give you more time.

If TG in HKG refuses to check you in farther than BKK, you are toast and would have to either wait for an available award seat (which around CNY could be weeks) or buy another ticket.

4) Hedge your bets, even if it costs you money. The problem is Chinese New Year period and lack of any seat availability on any airline at any price, if you wait too long or try last minute. I think in your shoes, I would buy a seat soon on Bangkok Airways (PG) flight for later that afternoon or early evening. Making sure that the departure time of the PG flight is well after the scheduled Samui arrival of your current TG flight...maybe the 17:00 or 18:40 departure from BKK. A middle level "Web Delight" fare is around Baht 4000 all-in, refundable before departure for a Bht 1000 fee. Then keep the current award on TG. If you make the flight connection, arrive in USM and immediately go to PG desk and get a refund before the relevant flight leaves BKK. If you don't make the TG original connection, you get to USM the same day, just a bit later. If the schedule changes again to something more favorable, or if that award seat opens up on the morning HKG-BKK flight, you can refund the PG ticket and consider the Bht 1000 loss as the cost of "insurance."

Question:

Based on the info provided by yycworldtraveler, the connection is not valid.

So I was wondering, why not just call Thai and get a confirmation.

If it is not ok, then Thai can add a comment in the system and OP can get back to UA to inform them. UA can put him on a waitlist. CNY is more than 4 months away, I am sure seats will open up.

If it is ok for Thai and the connection is missed, Thai has to provide accomodation and get the OP on the flight on the following day.

But I agree with jiejie. Better have this resolved as soon as possible. Come nearer CNY, OP will never get a seat at whatever price.

Thanks for all the helpful reply. I do plan to call UA and TG as soon as their offices open up today.

Depending on what UA/TG suggest, to make it less stressful, I would most likely try to travel the night before and pay for o-nite in BKK if there is availability that is. .. if not, well I guess go to Plan C, Bangkok Air.

This same scenario has come up several times recently and several of us have posted legal connection times, of which 50 minutes is not.

UA does not waitlist for awards other than on UA, so this is a non-starter.

If the connection is missed, and it's not a legal connection to begin with, TG potentially has the right not to provide onward transpo. They also would have the right not to issue BPs in HKG IMO.

I agree with jiejie's take and would keep your current flights until something better opens up. If nothing opens as the flight approaches just cancel your TG BKK-USM segment (which, if you're not 1K will cost $150). In the meantime purchase a PG ticket as a hedge.

I've called UA, and this time a 3rd agent has informed me that my connection is not Valid. She said that she will need some time to contact TG to ask them what needs to be done. .. So she has asked me to sit tight till then. But she said most likely I have to change my dates of departure.

Anyway, I pressed her on what is the LEGAL minimum connecting time. . . after much hesitation she told me 1 hr. 15 minutes.

Thanks All!

The MCT was posted upthread and we've told you this is not a legal connection already.

Wrong! The LEGAL minimum transfer time is not 1hr 15 min.

I take frequently the HKT/BKK + BKK/HKG flight (1622/1750 + 1845/2230), 55 minutes to transfer, they sell this flight officially on TG homepage. If the flight from HKT was delayed, they used the carts to pick those people up for the HKG flights. Doing so is still less troublesome for TG rather than organizing for you an accommodation for 1 night for missing the on going flight -not to mention to deal with those complaining passengers...My checked in luggage also always made it to my surprise though...

Sorry, this info does not solve your problem -if TG does not check you through to USM from HKG- but should just show you that 50min transfer time is not too bad as the limit given by TG seems to be 55min...

Cheers ^