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Clearing immigration in Thailand -- snafus abound

Clearing immigration in Thailand -- snafus abound

Old Mar 25th, 2012, 05:10 PM
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Clearing immigration in Thailand -- snafus abound

So need to lean on the experts here and those with experience transferring international to domestic at BKK.

Have a bit of a snafu for the beach leg of our upcoming trip where we fly from Yangon to Bangkok. We'd arrive on Thai Airways from Yangon at BKK at 11:45 and have to transfer to domestic flight to Phuket at 14:15 to catch our boat to Phi Phi that same day.

The issue at hand is that the bus to the boat to Phi Phi (all arranged by the hotel) leaves Phuket Airport at 16:00. The flight I'm looking at lands at 15:30. The hotel is saying that's enough time to get out and meet them. I'm saying it's not. And conveniently enough, the hotel has no responsibility if your flight is late and you don't make the bus. The biggest issue is that it's the holidays (New Years) and the hotel will have to be prepaid. So if we miss the bus, we lose a night in the hotel that's already paid for--plus we'd have to pay for a hotel in Phuket that night.

I don't want to pay top dollar for a private speedboat to the island and I *really* don't want to overnight in Phuket--would essentially be a lost day with not enough time to really do anything in Phuket. Would like to make this work, but to increase my chances of getting out in time, I cannot clear customs in Phuket. That would arguably add quite a bit of time to the 'getting out' process at the airport.

I've read that if we're flying on Thai Airways the whole way (which we will be) that they would check our bags through to Phuket and we would clear customs there. Given the time we'd have in BKK with our layover before catching the Phuket flight (over 2 hours in BKK) can we conceivably ask that our bags get checked only to BKK, pick them up, clear customs and check in again there?

I know this all sounds crazy and you all would probably say 'just spend a night in Bangkok' but we've spent so much time there already and would really like to maximize our time at the beach this trip. I know it makes most sense to chop a night off, but I want to exhaust this possibility before I give up completely.
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 07:13 PM
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A lot of changes happening now Billy so I would check with Thai airways IF you can clear customs and immigration in Phuket.

In a move to lessen the overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi airport the new government have stated that all low cost airlines will have to move to Don Muaeng airport. They are also re planning the procedures for domestic and international connection at the same time. Until a more information is available I would not count on 100% of being able to clear customs and immigration at Phuket airport.

I agree with you - 30 minutes is not enough time to get on the transfer boat to Phi Phi.
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 08:12 PM
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it seems tight... certainly there would not be enough time to clear customs comfortably at phuket and get out to the bus in 30 min, imo..
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 08:14 PM
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Pook, part of the reason I was double-checking is because I keep seeing conflicting info: Thai Airways did indeed tell me that I would clear customs in BKK (not Phuket) but everything I've read online (here and other forums) says it's the other way around: that I would clear customs in Phuket, not BKK.

I don't think we'd fly out of Don Muang if we're on Thai, right?

I agree, it's way too close. Even if we clear customs in BKK, I think it's still too close. We're looking at other options which will either amount to a private speedboat (might book outside the hotel since I think they double the rate for this) or an overnight at the Novotel @ Suvarnabhumi.
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 08:22 PM
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If you're flying Thai then that's not a problem. As of right now the government have "suggested" that only low the cost airlines be move to Don Muaeng.

If I hear of any news regarding this I will let you know Billy but for now I would count on Thai Airways as the most accurate source.
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 10:23 PM
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Hoping that our good friend Leigh is around and reading this since he's done so many boat trips back and forth from Phi Phi.

Leigh, do you have the name of a private transfer company that's reputable and cheaper than what the hotels rob you out of?
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Old Mar 25th, 2012, 11:51 PM
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It took me 50 minutes to clear the first immigration counter in Bangkok in February arrived at approx 11PM)and well over an hour (might have been 1.5 hrs, I quit looking at the time after the first hour)) to clear them in March when we arrived at about 2:30 in the afternoon.

Was i just unlucky or was that "normal" now?
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 03:08 AM
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We arrived BKK at 7pm on Feb 3 and it took about 1.5 to clear immigration. Several planes landed around the same time and the lines went outside the immigration hall! Hard to believe this was "normal"...it was as bad as the airport in Mumbai. Good luck!
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 03:14 AM
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Filmwill - fly business class & use the express lane.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 03:17 AM
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Sorry I meant "fast track" line. In the supper market at the moment and was looking at the express checkout when I replied earlier!
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 09:52 AM
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Pook, do all Biz class tixs now qualify for the fast track?
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 02:38 PM
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I believe all TG first and business class international flights have fast track. Emirates does as well but on my last flight with them no one was handing out the fast track pass and I had to ask the ground agent for them.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 04:11 PM
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BKK immigration is one of the busiest in the world. I cannot remember the daily figure but they pass more people than virtually any other major tourist destination. And generally they do it fairly well, especially compared to many places I've landed. Moscow comes to mind....hellish... But thirty minutes to disembark the plane, collect your luggage AND get to the docks. Only if the stars are completely aligned... Chok dee puan!
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 05:20 PM
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Will, I'm SURE, that you will do the immigration stuff at Bangkok. Which means only baggage collection at Phuket. If your flight is on time, you'll make it.
As Icuy has pointed out, Bangkok immigration at the moment is hellish. That is where you are most likely to encounter delays, but you have a couple of hours between flights so should be fine.

If you are a little bit late arriving at Phuket, could one of you wait at the carousel whilst the other goes out to meet the bus driver.
Remember, Island Village use their own speedboat, so no timetable to stick to. I'm sure they would wait for you anyway if you are a little late. Also remember, he will have a list of who he is picking up (the bus too is only for I.V. transfers), and will be able to see your flight status.
Yes Will, I think it'll be fine.

I'm afraid that private speedboat transfer is always expensive, unless of course you are able to share with others, but Will, I think you will be O.K. with your existing arrangement.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 05:25 PM
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Unless things have changed in the last few weeks, you will definitely do immigration at Bangkok, and that is what makes the whole thing doable.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 05:30 PM
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Sounds like BKK immigration has only gotten worse. I went through multiple times a year ago, and it took about 45 minutes each time. (Except the last time, when I was fast-tracked outbound on a biz class ticket and there was only one person ahead of me.) The Thai agents are just really slow - they took equally as long per person at the land borders, but had to deal with fewer people.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 07:06 PM
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Well the good news is we're in business class so we can use the fast track lane. The bad news is apparently the resort is now saying that 30 mins is too close to make it (even if we pass customs.) They require we meet outside by 15:50, which actually only gives us 20 mins. And if I was a betting man (which I am) that just doesn't add up no matter how you slice it.

So it's either private boat or lose a day at the beach. Crap. Decision, decision.
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Old Mar 26th, 2012, 07:37 PM
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hey its only phi phi, loose a day and relax
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Old Mar 27th, 2012, 02:57 AM
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suck it up and go for the private boat - you're on vacation
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Old Mar 27th, 2012, 06:54 AM
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Or... re-think and go to the beach in Burma.
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