HKT domestic arrival and international departure
Jan 11, 2012, 10:20 am
#1
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HKT domestic arrival and international departure
Hi,
We will be flying into HKT with our 6 month old daughter in June with TG from FUK via BKK in C. Am I right in thinking immigration and customs formalities will be done in HKT. If so would it be worth booking a meet and greet service like www.coralphuket.com or do C passengers have fast track facilities ? On our return we will be flying again in C from HKT to ICN. Is it worth booking the VIP departure service for this?
We will be flying into HKT with our 6 month old daughter in June with TG from FUK via BKK in C. Am I right in thinking immigration and customs formalities will be done in HKT. If so would it be worth booking a meet and greet service like www.coralphuket.com or do C passengers have fast track facilities ? On our return we will be flying again in C from HKT to ICN. Is it worth booking the VIP departure service for this?
Jan 11, 2012, 12:43 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK & Phuket
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Posts: 314
Assuming it is the same as when I fly LHR-BKK-HKT immigration is in BKK just after the Thai Air transfer desk. Customs is HKT.
On return immigration is HKT
I have not had to queue more than 5 minutes for more than 2 years so I would not pay any extra.
On return immigration is HKT
I have not had to queue more than 5 minutes for more than 2 years so I would not pay any extra.
Jan 11, 2012, 5:05 pm
#3
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Hi,
We will be flying into HKT with our 6 month old daughter in June with TG from FUK via BKK in C. Am I right in thinking immigration and customs formalities will be done in HKT. If so would it be worth booking a meet and greet service like www.coralphuket.com or do C passengers have fast track facilities ? On our return we will be flying again in C from HKT to ICN. Is it worth booking the VIP departure service for this?
We will be flying into HKT with our 6 month old daughter in June with TG from FUK via BKK in C. Am I right in thinking immigration and customs formalities will be done in HKT. If so would it be worth booking a meet and greet service like www.coralphuket.com or do C passengers have fast track facilities ? On our return we will be flying again in C from HKT to ICN. Is it worth booking the VIP departure service for this?
Immigration at airports that aren't BKK could not be easier. Don't waste your money on a service.
Jan 11, 2012, 10:29 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
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Posts: 6,710
Yes, and at BKK you need to follow the signs for the transit immigration to domestic flights, don't go to the regular immigration queues for people heading into Bangkok. No need for fast-tracking doing it this way. Normally TG international incoming flights show the arrival procedures on the cabin screens as you approach BKK, so pay attention. Once in the terminal, things are well-signed. Assuming bags are tagged at FUK all the way through to HKT, bags will be auto-transferred so you don't deal with them and Customs until HKT.
Reverse is even easier if just connecting in BKK to intl. Immigration and Customs dealt with at HKT, as should boarding passes. Then nothing more to do once you get to BKK except enjoy airside (and the TG lounges if on intl outbound).
No need for a third-party service at either BKK or HKT.
Reverse is even easier if just connecting in BKK to intl. Immigration and Customs dealt with at HKT, as should boarding passes. Then nothing more to do once you get to BKK except enjoy airside (and the TG lounges if on intl outbound).
No need for a third-party service at either BKK or HKT.
Jan 11, 2012, 11:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
Visa on arrival when transferring at BKK
Just want to clarify - the immigration "counters" for transferring to domestic flights at BKK - are they just a pure passport check or actual passport control ? If passport control, for those who require visas on arrival, where would you get them before passing through this passport control ?
Last edited by zhaobao; Jan 11, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Jan 11, 2012, 11:43 pm
#6
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Previously, if you are flying from xxx-BKK-domestic destination in Thailand, I think you clear immigration at the domestic destination. Was connecting to an international flight at BKK on Jan 1 and noticed that the signs for connection to domestic destinations point to a separate immigration counter where there is absolutely no line unlike the BKK main queue.
The question I have is this - if you were planning to get visa on arrival and you are connecting to a domestic destination, can you do that at the transfer immigration counters ? Or must you go to the visa on arrival counters at main immigration and then turn back ?
The question I have is this - if you were planning to get visa on arrival and you are connecting to a domestic destination, can you do that at the transfer immigration counters ? Or must you go to the visa on arrival counters at main immigration and then turn back ?
I've seen the int-dom immigration queue backed up occasionally, but you're much more likely to get have a hassle at the main immigration counters.
Visa on arrival is a very specific thing which can be accomplished near gate D4 on level 2. Are you referring to a 'visa exemption stamp' which many nationalities are given gratis at immigration?
Jan 12, 2012, 6:26 am
#7
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Thanks for all the advice. My main reason for considering the help was just peace of mind really. Had heard Phuket airport could be a bit stressful with long queues for taxis and the usual touts. Thought that if we had the meet and greet we could bypass all of that!
Jan 12, 2012, 8:50 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: StarAlliance (Aeroplan)
Posts: 498
Just flew to HKT via BKK in Nov 2011 and we didn't wait for 1 minute. We did pass in front of a bunch of Custom's agent with our bags but it was not a "Formal" kiosk and there was no lineup. They didn't even say a word, we just walked by.
I wouldn't use a service like the one you mentioned but I would suggest you pre-book a car with the Hotel as the airport can be a bit busy and confusing.
Jan 14, 2012, 10:22 am
#10
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Jan 14, 2012, 11:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Just want to clarify - the immigration "counters" for transferring to domestic flights at BKK - are they just a pure passport check or actual passport control ? If passport control, for those who require visas on arrival, where would you get them before passing through this passport control ?
Jan 15, 2012, 10:49 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
It's actual passport control and immigration Entry to Thailand. What is your passport country? If you aren't eligible for the gratis entry stamp and really need visa on arrival, as I recall there is an area you do that and get squared away, before you proceed to either the regular immigration or the international-to-domestic transfer immigration.
Last edited by zhaobao; Jan 15, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Jan 16, 2012, 1:53 am
#13
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For example, Chinese and Indian citizens are not visa free, but are eligible for visa on arrival (rather than applying for visa BEFORE you get on plane). Last time I entered BKK proper (Dec 2010) visa on arrival was right before regular immigration. The area that gets squared off I guess near Gate D4 on Level 2 was no longer available (even though I have seen this counter before on previous occasions). At this visa on application counter, you would connect right into regular immigration counters (only for visa on arrival people - think of the setup at Bali airport - exactly the same) and you could not turn back. Unless the visa on application counter at Gate D4 is still around, I am just not sure how you can get visa on arrival, go into transit immigration at BKK, and connect onto domestic flights. Anyone ?
There's really no difference in going through the regular immigration lines and then going upstairs to Floor 4 and heading back through security. You'll wind up in the same place though it might add a few more minutes.
Jan 17, 2012, 9:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
I remember seeing the VOA area near D4 in the past, but if you say it's no longer there then I'll defer to you.
There's really no difference in going through the regular immigration lines and then going upstairs to Floor 4 and heading back through security. You'll wind up in the same place though it might add a few more minutes.
There's really no difference in going through the regular immigration lines and then going upstairs to Floor 4 and heading back through security. You'll wind up in the same place though it might add a few more minutes.
Jan 18, 2012, 6:52 am
#15
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