BKK - Going landside during transit
Dec 26, 2023 | 12:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,196
BKK - Going landside during transit
Just discovered this forum and the information here is gold!
I am flying AMM-BKK-KUL in a couple of days with just over 3 hours in BKK which is all non smoking.
What are the chances that I can get out through passort control and have a smoke landside before my connection?
I am flying AMM-BKK-KUL in a couple of days with just over 3 hours in BKK which is all non smoking.
What are the chances that I can get out through passort control and have a smoke landside before my connection?
Dec 26, 2023 | 12:28 pm
#2
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Where BKK is a non-smoking airport and this thread is more about logistics at BKK, I'm going to move this thread to the Thailand forum
goalie
Smoking Lounge Co-Moderator
goalie
Smoking Lounge Co-Moderator
Dec 26, 2023 | 4:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BWIADCA
Posts: 2,269
Is BKK non smoking airport now? Last year there were plenty of smoking lounges through out the terminal. I haven't been there in a year so I don't know if that has changed. It used to be that from the main walkway (duty free stores, restaurants, lounges) you go towards any wing with the gates, take escalator down and there are smoking lounges.
----------------------------------------------------
I just did little reading, but google got it little wrong.
BKK Suvarnabhumi is now a totally smoke free terminal. All smoking areas are closed as of February 2019.
That's not true as last year smoking lounges were open, at least the ones close to the Korean Air gates.
It's a bummer for smokers. With 3 hours to clear the immigration and the clear the immigration and security I wouldn't do it. I would only push my luck if I was flying business class as there are fast tracks.
----------------------------------------------------
I just did little reading, but google got it little wrong.
BKK Suvarnabhumi is now a totally smoke free terminal. All smoking areas are closed as of February 2019.
That's not true as last year smoking lounges were open, at least the ones close to the Korean Air gates.
It's a bummer for smokers. With 3 hours to clear the immigration and the clear the immigration and security I wouldn't do it. I would only push my luck if I was flying business class as there are fast tracks.
Last edited by JY1024; Dec 26, 2023 at 4:43 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
Dec 26, 2023 | 5:53 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,196
Is BKK non smoking airport now? Last year there were plenty of smoking lounges through out the terminal. I haven't been there in a year so I don't know if that has changed. It used to be that from the main walkway (duty free stores, restaurants, lounges) you go towards any wing with the gates, take escalator down and there are smoking lounges.
----------------------------------------------------
I just did little reading, but google got it little wrong.
BKK Suvarnabhumi is now a totally smoke free terminal. All smoking areas are closed as of February 2019.
That's not true as last year smoking lounges were open, at least the ones close to the Korean Air gates.
It's a bummer for smokers. With 3 hours to clear the immigration and the clear the immigration and security I wouldn't do it. I would only push my luck if I was flying business class as there are fast tracks.
----------------------------------------------------
I just did little reading, but google got it little wrong.
BKK Suvarnabhumi is now a totally smoke free terminal. All smoking areas are closed as of February 2019.
That's not true as last year smoking lounges were open, at least the ones close to the Korean Air gates.
It's a bummer for smokers. With 3 hours to clear the immigration and the clear the immigration and security I wouldn't do it. I would only push my luck if I was flying business class as there are fast tracks.
Dec 26, 2023 | 6:57 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,699
3 hours is fine to exit and return.
You may be liable for Thai departure tax, since you are technically converting a connection to a stop-over.
I did this once many years ago ( on a longer transit ) and was nabbed for the tax.
You may be liable for Thai departure tax, since you are technically converting a connection to a stop-over.
I did this once many years ago ( on a longer transit ) and was nabbed for the tax.
Dec 26, 2023 | 7:39 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,196
Thanks. It looks like the tax is 730THB or about 16GBP. I'll risk it.
Dec 27, 2023 | 1:22 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, TG *G, SK GfL, BA ex-GGL, HH DIA, IHG Amb., Hertz PC
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Dec 27, 2023 | 2:00 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
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the OP of course needs citizenship of a country, which is entitled for visa exemption, if he wants to go landside
those were the good old days, where TG F lounge had a special smoking lounge...but as a non hardcore smoker i would never go landslide just for a smoke...but of course up to you....
Dec 27, 2023 | 2:25 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
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agreed
the OP of course needs citizenship of a country, which is entitled for visa exemption, if he wants to go landside
those were the good old days, where TG F lounge had a special smoking lounge...but as a non hardcore smoker i would never go landslide just for a smoke...but of course up to you....
the OP of course needs citizenship of a country, which is entitled for visa exemption, if he wants to go landside
those were the good old days, where TG F lounge had a special smoking lounge...but as a non hardcore smoker i would never go landslide just for a smoke...but of course up to you....
I for one am happy that smoking is banned in the airport now - even sitting nearby the door to the smoking room in the QR lounges in DOH, for instance, is unbearable.
Dec 27, 2023 | 3:57 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,196
agreed
the OP of course needs citizenship of a country, which is entitled for visa exemption, if he wants to go landside
those were the good old days, where TG F lounge had a special smoking lounge...but as a non hardcore smoker i would never go landslide just for a smoke...but of course up to you....
the OP of course needs citizenship of a country, which is entitled for visa exemption, if he wants to go landside
those were the good old days, where TG F lounge had a special smoking lounge...but as a non hardcore smoker i would never go landslide just for a smoke...but of course up to you....
Dec 27, 2023 | 8:49 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
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Posts: 577
Figuring out how to have a quick few puffs on a connection after a long flight is SUCH a treat! If you're really lucky, your inbound will arrive early, leaving you a little extra time on top of what you already know about.
Dec 28, 2023 | 1:30 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,196
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Dec 28, 2023 | 9:15 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
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My inbound landed 45 minutes early and I was sitting by exit 10 puffing away before I was even due to land. I was landside for about an hour and I'm back through to the lounge now. It was a pretty painless process and I didn't even get dinged for the departure tax.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.