Intl to Intl TG transit in BKK
 

Hello TG FT!
I have a question about an INT-INT connection at BKK and am trying to figure out if the following is doable:
I'll be coming in on TG 677 from NRT landing at 21:55 and connecting to TG 331 to DEL departing at 23:15. Traveling in J on both legs and all on one ticket. I understand I have to go through transfer security at BKK and wanted to know are the lineups/wait times pretty bad at this time of the day? My only previous experience connecting at BKK was early in the morning and I recall long lines that were slow moving and chaotic for the most part. Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks!

no problem.
(as long as your inbound flight is not delayed. )
furthermore, the queues you seem to envision are immigration queues for people entering the country, not transit.
transit typically has short queues and if you are on a short connection, can explain and cut the line to the front.

Thanks Tokyoite! :)

Yeah I don't transit that often at BKK, but I've never seen a long line. Entering Thailand w/out Fast Track is a different issue (and something I would really avoid doing these days).

If the incoming flight is significantly late such that you will need assistance, TG staff will assist you to ensure that you make the flight to Delhi. There could be a problem with checked baggage if flight very late, so safer to travel with carry on. Outgoing flight may be held to wait for connecting passengers. Another point is that from my experience of travelling numerous times (> 50 in recent years) on the same flight, often the flight is delayed due to late arrival of passengers who appear to have spent most of the weekend shopping in Bangkok.

Thanks for your reply! It looks like I'll be alright based on the responses so far as long as I don't check any bags and head straight to transit security. I was worried about deplaning at a remote stand off my flight from NRT but from my limited knowledge of TG ops so far it appears that the A380(barring equip. change) usually ends up deplaning at one of the gates. So all in all looking optimistic for now.

Early evening a few months ago the transit security was miles long... snaked around half a dozen turns and backed up all the way to the elevators. Similar experience for other family members travelling on different days.

I've never seen the transit security 'quiet' or even 'empty' :(

This was the kind of thing I was worried about but it looks like the experience can vary wildly based on the other responses. My only experience connecting in BKK was just like yours but it was early in the morning so I guess I'll just have to hope for the best.

Just to close the loop on this one- I ended up finding a good fare on NH going directly from NRT to DEL and work allowed for the change so won't get the chance to test out the reality of this short connection in BKK. Thanks for everybody's replies and time!

Arriving at 10:30pm the transit security wait was around 30mins at most.

Although this topic title seems to be a good one for my question, the actual topics discussed have been quite different. Hopefully this is a good place to ask.

I managed to snag F for BKK-SYD on a flight next March for my wife and me. Our itinerary is BUD-IST-BKK-SYD, with the first two legs in J on TK (using United miles). We have a 9 1/2 hour layover in BKK.

Can anyone tell me what to expect when we arrive in BKK? With a long layover, and arriving on a different carrier, do they meet us on arrival with an escort? Also, what kind of options will we have if we want to do a short tour during the layover? How hard is it to go out and come back? Thanks.

TBH I’ve forgotten the procedure arriving off non-TG metal and connecting to TG F. I know arriving TG J you get met by a buggy. Hopefully another of the regulars will have the answer for you.

9.5 hours is too long to spend in transit! even in the F lounge. A lot depends on what time you land ... are you on the 950am arrival?

You want to be back at the airport around 3.5 hours before departure. This allows you to have a one hour thai massage, relax, catch up on emails, have a drink, get ready for a relaxed boarding.

Departure from Bangkok city would be an hour before that... so 4.5 hours prior to departure.

That narrows your total useable time to about 5 hours, less an hour to get to the city on arrival. So four hours. That’s time to go sightseeing at a temple or two, or to go to one of the major hotels on the river for a drink and bite to eat, or even somewhere like the rooftop bar at the Banyan Tree for a drink and bite to eat. But it will be quite hot in the midday sun.

Alternatively you could book a day use at the novotel which is attached to the airport and have a relax by the pool.

The main problem with a day’s sightseeing is that it is hot and humid. So you can’t plan too much outside without getting soaked through :(

I guess you could find a tour guide in line that could meet you at the arrivals hall in an A/c car, drive you around, and bring you back.

To be pedantic, this is not a connection at BKK. OP is arriving on TK using a separate ticket, and then proceeding on a TG flight.

Even if TK are willing to check bags through in this case (and they have no obligation to do so), there will be no ’arrangements’ on arrival by TG regarding their flight.

I read this differently... that is was all on one United award ticket, TK for the first legs and TG for the last?