HND-BKK-AUH Transit
 

I have a through AA award ticket HND-BKK (JL) -AUH (EY). Thailand seems to allow transit now, but apparently
"Air operators shall submit transit/transfer operation plans to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and Airside Operations Control Center (AOCC) at Suvarnabhumi Airport no later than 24 hours before the flight. " Who should I contact in this case for them to submit such plans? Any experience transiting in BKK during COVID?

I am not at all certain that Thailand allows transit at BKK. I have not heard of anyone accomplishing this. You should exercise considerable caution here. 😊

I agree, the Thai authorities have been reticent even to permit international to internal transit at BKK for passengers participating in the sandbox scheme. I can see reference on the CAAT website of a scheme for international transit where both flights would need to connect on the same international pier at BKK but that scheme is marked as not currently valid and there is no indication why it was invalidated and what if anything is currently in place.

I would be contacting the local Royal Thai Embassy for advice on if any transit arrangements exist at BKK.

Additionally you need to understand if your ticket is on a single PNR and whether you would be checked through for baggage and boarding pass by JL through to AUH. If there is any dependency on needing a transit desk at BKK to be open, this could again be a considerable risk where the airlines you are proposing to use do not use the connecting airport as their hub.

If you need to get to AUH you would be strongly advised to seek a direct flight or go via a nation that clearly publishes airside transit rules. Whilst AA have sold this ticket, it might only be possible to fly it as ticketed if you are Thai diplomat or other VIP as far as Thailand is concerned. Remember that airlines are never responsible for passengers ensuring they meet the immigration, customs and health requirements for their journey.

What did you end up doing b.xiao ? Based upon a report in another thread BKK is still closed for airside transit.

That's apparently incorrect. Successful transit with TK to BKK and PG to PNH was reported just a few days ago elsewhere. Still on sale just now for next week and processes right through to the payment page.

You might be right that transit is in theory possible, I have found this CAAT PDF which I failed to find last last week. But the big gotcha as far as I see it for any passenger wanting to do a transit is that you need to know if your operating airline has filed the relevant paperwork and obtained approval for transit operations. Airlines will sell tickets to anyone who buys them, and the onus is always on the passenger to comply with immigration, customs, transit and health requirements. The opaqueness of the Thai operating procedures would make it difficult for most passengers to know if their operating carrier had applied for the right for their passengers on ordinary passports (not VIP/diplomatic) on specific flights to transit.

Yeah, as noted, you absolutely cannot rely on the airline or travel agency selling you a ticket as an indication that the travel is actually doable. Big amount of risk there.

I agree the selling of a ticket is no guarantee - I just went through the exercise to confirm I'd remembered the airlines involved correctly - but an alleged first hand report (I know it's only the internet) is what I based my comment on.

I am sitting in the TK lounge at BKK now. I am on my way to PNH using TK then Bangkok Airways. Transit is allowed and it does say so on the IATA web site. We were met as we left the nearly empty aircraft. Those that were entering Thailand had to show their Thaipass, the rest showed passport/boarding pass and were given a sticker to wear saying the destination airport. For my flight there were transit passengers for PNH and Sydney. We were then escorted as a PNH group through the transit security and on to the D gates. I will be doing the reverse next week. PCR tests and insurance were checked at LGW and IST, but no checks here for transit passengers.

I am looking at the flight information screens and the majority of flights are showing as cancelled.

thanks for the update!
So transit is possible
what were the conditions? all on same ticket? and?

Yes, all on the same ticket purchased from TK web site. There was some confusion at LGW when the check in agent said she did not know how to print the final BP. That would have caused a problem here. However, the usually flaky TK IT knew and it popped out of the machine with the others.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...206ee3824e.jpg

A follow up, I had no problem at all with the final BKK-PNH leg of my trip.