BKK transit question
 

Lots of great info here regarding BKK transfers but my specific question hasn't been answered, at least not that I can see.

I'll be arriving BKK around midnight from the States via NRT. I am departing on a Bangkok Airways flight around 8am for HKT. My plan was to stay in the allegedly overpriced transit hotel however after booking my PG ticket, I'm wondering if this will be possible?

Their website leads me to believe only through checked passengers can remain airside and not have to go through passport control etc. I was planning on being one of those types, by using the web check in. It seems though, that web check-in customers must present themselves at the "web check in counter" in the check-in lobby, which then forces the transit passenger to exit the airside area and therefore unable to use the transit facilities.

Am I interpreting this correct? Perhaps I should just book into a close by hotel and give up on saving time and precious sleep hours.

Thanks!

There's no 'transit hotels' at BKK. You will be going through customs. Cheap decent hotels close by. Why don't you just take a later flight and get some sleep ? Your hotel in Phuket might not check you in that early either. wj

You won't have a BP so there's no access to the 'transit hotel', which is actually the Louis Tavern CIP Lounge in A concourse.

Additionally you'll need to pick up your bags after going through immigration and you'll then be precluded from going through security until you can get a BP from PG.



Agreed, get a local hotel... and possibly a later flight to HKT.

The hotel is the Louis Tavern lounge mentioned above.

I guess I'm not being clear. I will have no checked bags and if I use web check-in, I will indeed have a boarding pass. So... how can I not avail of the transit hotel? The biggest sticking point I see, is that one must present themselves at the "web check-in counter" in the check-in lobby.

I'd like to avoid the customs nightmare at that hour, only to have to return in a few short hours for the departure to HKT.

I'm even more confused now. You want to stay up and hang out at the airport all night so you don't have to go through the nightmare of BKK customs at midnight ? wj

I was overnighting in BKK on a TG-TG connection the transit desk wouldn't give me a boarding pass, she just wrote a note in Thai for the boarding pass checker at the escalators up to security. I was even able to get into the lounge for an hour before they closed without a boarding pass.

I really wish TG left one of their lounges open for 24 hours...

Whakyjacky -

No. I want to maximize rest between flights. I'd like to avoid arriving, clearing customs/immigration and taking a taxi into the city or nearby, then having to repeat it only a few hours later. Hence... my desire to use the transit hotel in the airport. I know all of the options available to me, I'm just trying to figure out if it is even possible to do what I'd like to do. The only thing I think that will preclude me from doing this, is the apparent need to present myself at the "web check-in desk" for Bangkok Airways.

OK gotcha. I guess you need to be at HKT early in the morning or something. Otherwise your program makes no sense. I think you should focus elsewhere to get maximum rest. I've arrived at BKK 11:30 - 1:00, at least 30 times. Yet to has a big wait at customs. I'm sure it can happen if a flight is late and a few arrive simultaneously. I've heard Louis Tavern sucks (the one at DMK was decent though). It's real possible you could clear customs and be in your bed in a real hotel like the Novotel in half an hour. Get a good night's sleep and grab a flight at 11 or so. wj

Considering a 4 hour stint at the Louis Tavern hotel will run you 2400 THB (without bathroom) you should probably look at another place to sleep.

Please follow this in the Thailand forum.

l'etoile
sr. moderator

AZJ knew what he was doing. I didn't get it. I hear immigration at BKK has been a nightmare since the Iranian Thonglor bombing. I'll find out soon enough. wj

People check luggage :eek: :confused: :rolleyes:

January was the first time I've encountered long lines at immigration, and I've always arrived either on UA or NW flights that get in around midnight. Of course, as wj says, things may have gotten worse after the bomb incident.

Well, my strategy has always been stop at the United Club (courtesy of *G status) at NRT and indulge in adult beverages, which allows me to sleep through most of the flight to BKK even in coach (and I don't otherwise sleep on airplanes). That way don't need as much sleep when arriving in town, and get into the local time cycle a little faster, even if it means less sleep on the first night.

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