700 Baht "airport fee" ex-BKK!?
May 8, 2016, 7:42 pm
#61
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May 9, 2016, 8:26 pm
#62
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ok thanks for confirmation; that's what I thought.
therefore the statement from kiam "On your way back from Phuket (via BKK) to international, if get out of the airport (and airport tax is not already paid on your ticket), you will run a risk of paying 700 baht" is NOT correct.
therefore the statement from kiam "On your way back from Phuket (via BKK) to international, if get out of the airport (and airport tax is not already paid on your ticket), you will run a risk of paying 700 baht" is NOT correct.
1. Ticket was purchased as if I fly from Samui to Beijing (via Bangkok) without getting out of BKK. Samui international airport tax is 700 Baht (coincidentally it matches BKK - obviously a rip off) but 400 Baht if you depart domestically. If my ticket was issued as if I flew from Samui domestically and in-out of BKK airport, the Thailand tax portion would be 400 (Samui) + 700 (BKK) = 1,100 instead of only 700 Baht.
2. Despite the same flight and plane, choosing to depart internationally in Samui will go through passport control and use a different gate (international gate). If depart domestically, it will be a domestic gate, no passport control.
3. Despite my ticket calculated based on departing Samui internationally, I told check-in staff that I need to leave transit area in BKK, they said I may be asked to pay additional tax in BKK, I said no problem. My boarding pass was issued to allow me to depart domestically from Samui instead of internationally, thus no passport control. They would not issue my BKK-PEK boarding pass and said I can only obtain it in Bangkok since I chose to not depart internationally from Samui. This restriction is fair as it is their mitigating control. I didn't want to take a risk on departing internationally form Samui and sneaked out of BKK terminal and get back in as my passport would have been scanned already in Samui.
4. When getting a new boarding pass in BKK, I was asked to pay the difference (meaning since I already paid 700, I have to pay 400 baht more).
May 9, 2016, 9:20 pm
#63
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OK - my 5c worth of wisdom. In the past, I had few times (5) long layover in BKK, between 9-15 hours. I went to Novotel and when I came back I was asked to pay 700BHT (or whatever it was then) three times and was let through two times. Neither time it was included on the ticket because each time it was INT-INT.
I have booked another trip like this, to be exact VIE-BKK-MEL for this July flying OS25 & OS8635 (TG465). This connection has 9 hours layover and OS is providing free accommodation for me. They gave me choice - Loui's Tavern completely free to me, or Novotel plus 700BHT paid by me (and another 700 by my wife who flies with me)... So it appears very clear to me that if one clears immigration on INT-INT connection, then the tax is due.
I have booked another trip like this, to be exact VIE-BKK-MEL for this July flying OS25 & OS8635 (TG465). This connection has 9 hours layover and OS is providing free accommodation for me. They gave me choice - Loui's Tavern completely free to me, or Novotel plus 700BHT paid by me (and another 700 by my wife who flies with me)... So it appears very clear to me that if one clears immigration on INT-INT connection, then the tax is due.
May 9, 2016, 10:41 pm
#64
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Just to clarify, I raised an example depending on whether you clear immigration in Phuket or in Bangkok, there is a difference between the two scenarios. Let me share with you my experience based departure from Samui in April 2016 in case this is useful for other passengers. I have never yet departed from Phuket internationally, so I cannot say how it works in Phuket but would assume it works similarly.
1. Ticket was purchased as if I fly from Samui to Beijing (via Bangkok) without getting out of BKK. Samui international airport tax is 700 Baht (coincidentally it matches BKK - obviously a rip off) but 400 Baht if you depart domestically. If my ticket was issued as if I flew from Samui domestically and in-out of BKK airport, the Thailand tax portion would be 400 (Samui) + 700 (BKK) = 1,100 instead of only 700 Baht.
2. Despite the same flight and plane, choosing to depart internationally in Samui will go through passport control and use a different gate (international gate). If depart domestically, it will be a domestic gate, no passport control.
3. Despite my ticket calculated based on departing Samui internationally, I told check-in staff that I need to leave transit area in BKK, they said I may be asked to pay additional tax in BKK, I said no problem. My boarding pass was issued to allow me to depart domestically from Samui instead of internationally, thus no passport control. They would not issue my BKK-PEK boarding pass and said I can only obtain it in Bangkok since I chose to not depart internationally from Samui. This restriction is fair as it is their mitigating control. I didn't want to take a risk on departing internationally form Samui and sneaked out of BKK terminal and get back in as my passport would have been scanned already in Samui.
4. When getting a new boarding pass in BKK, I was asked to pay the difference (meaning since I already paid 700, I have to pay 400 baht more).
1. Ticket was purchased as if I fly from Samui to Beijing (via Bangkok) without getting out of BKK. Samui international airport tax is 700 Baht (coincidentally it matches BKK - obviously a rip off) but 400 Baht if you depart domestically. If my ticket was issued as if I flew from Samui domestically and in-out of BKK airport, the Thailand tax portion would be 400 (Samui) + 700 (BKK) = 1,100 instead of only 700 Baht.
2. Despite the same flight and plane, choosing to depart internationally in Samui will go through passport control and use a different gate (international gate). If depart domestically, it will be a domestic gate, no passport control.
3. Despite my ticket calculated based on departing Samui internationally, I told check-in staff that I need to leave transit area in BKK, they said I may be asked to pay additional tax in BKK, I said no problem. My boarding pass was issued to allow me to depart domestically from Samui instead of internationally, thus no passport control. They would not issue my BKK-PEK boarding pass and said I can only obtain it in Bangkok since I chose to not depart internationally from Samui. This restriction is fair as it is their mitigating control. I didn't want to take a risk on departing internationally form Samui and sneaked out of BKK terminal and get back in as my passport would have been scanned already in Samui.
4. When getting a new boarding pass in BKK, I was asked to pay the difference (meaning since I already paid 700, I have to pay 400 baht more).
a case of amazing Thailand and rip off?
May 10, 2016, 9:08 pm
#65
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Let me share with you my experience based departure from Samui in April 2016
For what it may be worth, USM (Koh Samui) is privately owned/operated, and NOT by AoT, so suspect they can charge any sorts of fees they think the local market can absorb? Further, any fees would NOT cover those associated with SBIA/BKK.
AoT operate Thailands six international airports: BKK, DMK, CNX, CEI, HKT, HDY.
The DoA/MoT operate provincial airports.
The Royal Thai Navy operates U-Tapao (UTP).
For what it may be worth, USM (Koh Samui) is privately owned/operated, and NOT by AoT, so suspect they can charge any sorts of fees they think the local market can absorb? Further, any fees would NOT cover those associated with SBIA/BKK.
AoT operate Thailands six international airports: BKK, DMK, CNX, CEI, HKT, HDY.
The DoA/MoT operate provincial airports.
The Royal Thai Navy operates U-Tapao (UTP).
May 15, 2016, 7:51 pm
#66
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the calculation was correct by TG, so it was my duty to pay those taxes.
Jun 12, 2016, 8:21 pm
#67
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Can someone please describe the process for what happens when the immigration officer decides you have to pay the fee. Is it a separate counter, do they only accept Thai Baht etc. How much time does it take (I will be in the premium line as in Business class if that makes a difference)
Thank you
Thank you
Jun 13, 2016, 4:25 am
#68
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Can someone please describe the process for what happens when the immigration officer decides you have to pay the fee. Is it a separate counter, do they only accept Thai Baht etc. How much time does it take (I will be in the premium line as in Business class if that makes a difference)
Thank you
Thank you
If in TG C/F then a runner will take care of it for you.
Jun 13, 2016, 5:41 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Thailand, Phuket
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I fly on a monthly basis INT to BKK and domestic to HKT. and back from HKT to BKK and continue INT.
I use Thai and Turkish both ways.
When arriving international in BKK i do immigration in BKK and stay 1 or 2 days in BKK, Next day fly from BKK to HKT.
From HKT i fly domestic to BKK (have one ticket to my international airport but i don't like to do immigration at HKT) and at BKK i check-in again for my INT flight.
As i never have checked luggage this is not a issue for me or the airline and the ticket is purchased out Thailand via a agency.
I never had to pay any airport tax.
Maybe the tax is included in my ticket i don't have any idea how to check this.
I use Thai and Turkish both ways.
When arriving international in BKK i do immigration in BKK and stay 1 or 2 days in BKK, Next day fly from BKK to HKT.
From HKT i fly domestic to BKK (have one ticket to my international airport but i don't like to do immigration at HKT) and at BKK i check-in again for my INT flight.
As i never have checked luggage this is not a issue for me or the airline and the ticket is purchased out Thailand via a agency.
I never had to pay any airport tax.
Maybe the tax is included in my ticket i don't have any idea how to check this.
Jun 13, 2016, 6:59 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
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I fly on a monthly basis INT to BKK and domestic to HKT. and back from HKT to BKK and continue INT.
I use Thai and Turkish both ways.
When arriving international in BKK i do immigration in BKK and stay 1 or 2 days in BKK, Next day fly from BKK to HKT.
From HKT i fly domestic to BKK (have one ticket to my international airport but i don't like to do immigration at HKT) and at BKK i check-in again for my INT flight.
As i never have checked luggage this is not a issue for me or the airline and the ticket is purchased out Thailand via a agency.
I never had to pay any airport tax.
Maybe the tax is included in my ticket i don't have any idea how to check this.
I use Thai and Turkish both ways.
When arriving international in BKK i do immigration in BKK and stay 1 or 2 days in BKK, Next day fly from BKK to HKT.
From HKT i fly domestic to BKK (have one ticket to my international airport but i don't like to do immigration at HKT) and at BKK i check-in again for my INT flight.
As i never have checked luggage this is not a issue for me or the airline and the ticket is purchased out Thailand via a agency.
I never had to pay any airport tax.
Maybe the tax is included in my ticket i don't have any idea how to check this.
I think domestic tickets are something different and there the airport tax is charged anyway whether you transit or not
Jun 16, 2016, 3:39 am
#71
Join Date: May 2016
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I did connect in BKK last week, with 8h+ layover time. I did have luggage checked in to my ultimate destination and all boarding passes printed.
There was no problem to get out of the airport or to get back in as well. Nobody asked any questions, no airport tax paid.
I think that the differentiating factor is having the boarding card for your next connection available, so that you do not need to visit the check-in counter in BKK.
Even if you don't get it at your first airport, it may be OK to get one from the transfer desk in BKK and then leave the airport, but that I haven't checked.
There was no problem to get out of the airport or to get back in as well. Nobody asked any questions, no airport tax paid.
I think that the differentiating factor is having the boarding card for your next connection available, so that you do not need to visit the check-in counter in BKK.
Even if you don't get it at your first airport, it may be OK to get one from the transfer desk in BKK and then leave the airport, but that I haven't checked.
Mar 5, 2017, 5:36 pm
#73
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Mar 5, 2017, 7:02 pm
#74
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This article (don't know how correct and up-to-date it is) suggests that it is possible to get exemption for stays under 12 hours.
Mar 15, 2017, 4:47 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 63
I like to share my experience.
Last year when I travel Y and had a transit in BKK within 24 hours, I left the airport and pull over a night in the city, upon check in at BKK next morning i was told to pay the 700 baht tax before I could check in. I was a new ROP member back then.
The next month I flew C and had a similar transit, no question ask at C check in.
Then the rest of the year I was traveling C and always have a night in BKK all within 24 hours and not being asked for the tax.
In Dec I received my ROP gold.
Last week flew Y and again transit with one night stay in BKK, check in at ROP gold counter and I was expecting to pay the tax if they ask, and they didn't.
So I think this has do with your class of travel and your ROP status if you transit BKK, can't print your onward flight's boarding pass from origin as connection is more than 12 hours, and you wish to leave the airport.
Last year when I travel Y and had a transit in BKK within 24 hours, I left the airport and pull over a night in the city, upon check in at BKK next morning i was told to pay the 700 baht tax before I could check in. I was a new ROP member back then.
The next month I flew C and had a similar transit, no question ask at C check in.
Then the rest of the year I was traveling C and always have a night in BKK all within 24 hours and not being asked for the tax.
In Dec I received my ROP gold.
Last week flew Y and again transit with one night stay in BKK, check in at ROP gold counter and I was expecting to pay the tax if they ask, and they didn't.
So I think this has do with your class of travel and your ROP status if you transit BKK, can't print your onward flight's boarding pass from origin as connection is more than 12 hours, and you wish to leave the airport.