Connection time in BKK
 

Does anyone have experience connecting on Bangkok Airways in Bangkok?

We will be flying from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok and connecting to Ko Samui. Our flight from Siem Reap lands at 10:10 and our flight to Ko Samui leaves at 11:00.

Is this enough connection time?

I wager not (judging from procedures at BKK and having done THS-BKK-REP last month). After being bussed from the PG hard stands to the international terminal (you'll have to wait for everyone on board barring VIPs to get on that bus), you'll have to clear Thai immigration and customs (don't know if you have to claim and clear your checked-in bags too or if they are just transferred to the domestic flight for clearance at your Thai destination), walk in the 500m overhead tunnel (hamster tube) to the domestic terminal, check in and then clear security (and the plane you disembarked may be right next to the plane you embark on!). I'd say 50 minutes is way too tight and not legal - it's doable the other way (domestic Thai to international) but barely.

[This message has been edited by terenz (edited Feb 24, 2004).]

thanks terenz.

That's what I get for booking with the Bangkok Air office here in the states rather than calling direct to Bangkok.

I didn't know if Thailand had some kind of special relationship with Cambodia that didn't require the full customs check.

I guess I should count on taking the next flight out.

It might be PG's optimism. To be fair, all 4 flights I flew in January departed ontime and arrived on schedule if not a little early.

Assuming your flight gets to the hardstand on time. Assume:[*]5 minutes to disembark full ATR and load pax into bus[*]3 minutes to get to the international terminal immigration desk[*]2 minutes to clear immigration and customs[*]8 minutes fast walk to domestic terminal[*]2 minutes to check in[*]1 minute to clear security and get to bus gate
Total: 21 minutes. Only 29 minutes at best before the connecting flight departure time.

The greatest variables are your wait for Thai immigration which could take 10 minutes or more, whether you have to reclaim bags or not, and customs clearance (can take time just to get to the agent).

The two don't have any special customs arrangement AFAIK. It's just that if you fly into Thailand from another country and continue to a (some/certain?) domestic Thai destination, I understand you can clear customs at that airport.

"So you're saying there's a chance" (Dumb and Dumber)

Thanks again terenz, at least that gives me hope that we can catch the earlier flight but I won't plan on it.

I will post during my 2 hour layover at BKK if we don't make it!

There are worse ways to kill time at BKK than treating yourself to a massage. Cheap and very welcome after a long flight.

Thanks Matthew, can you give me general directions on the best place to get one or are there stations setup throughout the airport?

There's a small one in the connections area of the domestic terminal, and there's another (larger) one in the international terminal, just opposite the Thai lounge.

If memory serves, it cost around US$10 per hour. And it was one of the nicest hours I've ever spent in an airport.

I have attempted a 50 minute connection Itnl -> Dom at BKK once.

The Good News:

I made the flight with 20 minutes spare

The Bad News:

I Broke my foot in the process...

Regards,
Alex

What happened??

TG Employee handed me my C/Cl BP and told me to run, neglecting to tell me they just polished the floor down the hall...

Slipped, fell, clean broke my navicular in my right foot, and kept running.

TG in an attack of generosity have offered me a C Class R/T BKK-HKT (Retail value: $100) in compensation :mad: :rolleyes:

Regards,
Alex