700 Baht "airport fee" ex-BKK!?
Jun 15, 2013, 7:02 pm
#32
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Jun 15, 2013, 7:55 pm
#33
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I deleted numerous posts from this thread for being off-topic and argumentative. Please remember to stick to the topic and to avoid personal attacks.
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Jun 19, 2013, 9:39 pm
#34
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It is still possible to avoid the tax on a <24hr stopover.
I was on a United 1 way J award. Syd-Sin on SQ / 14hr stop / Sin-BKK on SQ / 15hr stop / BKK-PNH on TG.
Trick was to get the first 2 boarding passes issued in Sydney. Sinagpore couldn't issue final Thai boarding pass, so I strolled out of transit area went up to Checkin B and asked for my boarding pass. One was issued, then I had a nice 14 hr stop over.
Checked my united E-ticket award. Definitely no taxes paid to AOT.
I was on a United 1 way J award. Syd-Sin on SQ / 14hr stop / Sin-BKK on SQ / 15hr stop / BKK-PNH on TG.
Trick was to get the first 2 boarding passes issued in Sydney. Sinagpore couldn't issue final Thai boarding pass, so I strolled out of transit area went up to Checkin B and asked for my boarding pass. One was issued, then I had a nice 14 hr stop over.
Checked my united E-ticket award. Definitely no taxes paid to AOT.
Jun 21, 2013, 4:11 am
#35
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you have to pay in any case that you will leave the transit area!
But: it is supposed to be collected by the airline upon ticketing.
And since the CRS suppose every stay at BKK for less than 24 hrs as a "transit" and not automatically a stopover (unless it has been intentionally become a "forced stopover") you won't be charged automatically.
And that makes it extremely difficult for TG airport staff at BKK to check, verify and duly collect the money afterwards.
One clear sign for airport staff is when I start in Munich, have got a boarding pass for BKK-RGN issued by LH (their local check in agent in MUC) and leave BKK airport during my nearly 5 hrs "transit" in BKK.
I have always been charged in BKK upon walking through security, because I have been easily "identified" by my LH boarding pass .... If you were checked in by TG staff somewhere and have obtained an original TG boarding pass for the connecting flight they might not have checked where this specific boarding pass had been issued and thus believe that you checked in at BKK and that the TS taxes have been properly collected iby your ticket......
Jun 21, 2013, 3:58 pm
#36
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That is what I was told. (Dec 13)
Aug 11, 2013, 5:40 am
#39
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We flew FRA-BKK-MEL in J in mid-July and had a 16 hour stopover on the way back so we chose to leave the airport.
On checking back in we were not charged the departure tax but we did already have boarding passes for BKK-MEL on Thai paper issued in FRA.
On checking back in we were not charged the departure tax but we did already have boarding passes for BKK-MEL on Thai paper issued in FRA.
Aug 11, 2013, 3:49 pm
#40
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Flew through BKK in July twice in July on a US DM reward. left the airport both times for layover (one overnight, one for 6 hours) & didnt get charged either time.
Aug 12, 2013, 1:47 am
#41
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i am not sure that's entirely correct. i don't believe it's thai policy to collect airport fees on -24 hr tickets as (right or wrong) they assume you're in transit.
Aug 12, 2013, 3:17 am
#42
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as a possible point of difference this ticket was issed on 086 stock.
Aug 12, 2013, 4:14 am
#43
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You're only considered in transit so long as you stay airside. Once you enter the Kingdom through immigration you are now expected to pay the departure tax.... although it's not very hit and miss at being enforced and collected.
Aug 12, 2013, 5:51 am
#45
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I overheard someone complaining to the check in agent that the transfer desk couldn't print his BP so he had to head landside to get it done. The agent looked confused and eventually let him go but not before saying "I can't guarantee next time allow this"!