Smeagol

Ok so have nearly convinced the BF to a return to SE asia(although my original plan to go to Laos has be delayed to next spring when i intend to go with my friend). As some of my friends on fodors will know he hates flying and i have to keep the flights down to a minimum. SO i managed to come up with a plan that he has "agreed to" it does involve planes, trains, automobiles and ferries, BUT i think it could work. ANYWAY back to my original question:
in order for us to fly Biz class at affordable prices we will need to fly into BKK (and it also means i get my BKK fix at the end of the hol) and then fly straight on to KL. If my flights arrives in BKK at 15.35 (and the flight to KUL is from the same airport) how long can i safetly leave before we fly to KUL. There are a couple of air asia flights i am looking at 18:00 and 18:45. Obviously would like to get an earlier connection (and we would get fast track imigration when we land from the UK)
I know this is a basic question but the only connecting flights i have done before have been with the same airline.

Many thanks
Smeagol
X

degas

Will you not be in transit and just get off the plane and proceed to your connecting flight gate?

Even if you had to go through immigration, you should be able to make both flights (I'd pick 1845).

Kathie

Since you are flying Air Asia from BKK to KL, it's more complicated. You'll have to clear customs and immigration in Bangkok, pick up your luggage, re-check it at the Air Asia counter, go back though immigration to catch your flight. Air Asia does not transfer luggage. So if you are taking another flight in KL, you'll have to do it again.

I'd choose the later flight. Even though you'll be fast-tracked through immigration, it will take you time to get your luggage and re-check with Air Asia. Also, if you miss your Air Asia flight (for ANY reason), you'll have to buy new tickets. And the last-minute price will be higher than what you paid earlier.

Smeagol

Degas - no we wont be in transit as i expect to book biz flights from London on Eva air to BKK and then get economy tix with AAsia to KUL.
Maybe another solution would be to get my TA to arrange it all and hopefully check my luggage thru???
Once we get to Malaysia, i hope to plan the trip so that we only need to fly again from Penang to BKK (with a 3 day stop in BKK) and then on to the uk on eva.

I am considering the train from KL to Langkawi (well the ferry port for LK) anyone done this or can think of another way ?(except by air) i will then get the ferry from LK to penang and hope to stay at the E & O as Kathie recommeded

Smeagol

kathie - do you know of a carrier that would check my luggage? (i still need to fly from the UK on eva)

Kathie

Any of the regular carrier would transfer luggage, it's just the budget carriers. So if KL is your destination, Thai Air and Malaysian Air are options. Also, with "full service" carriers, if you missed your connecting flight because the originating flight was delayed, they will get you on the next available flight. No need for a travel agent to book it. Even if you buy these as two individual tickets, just present your tickets at your check in at EVA air, and ask that your luggage be checked though to your final destination. You can call EVA to make sure, but I've never encountered a regular carrier that wouldn't do this.

Aren't you heading to Penang? If so, there is an evening Thai Air flight (non-stop) from Bangkok to Penang. Your luggage would be checked though to Penang and you would be in transit, so no going through passport control, you just follow the signs to your next gate (or the transit desk if you don't have boarding passes).

Bisbee

How will you be getting Fast Track immigration on arrival?

Smeagol

Thanks Kathie - first destination is KL, then plan to move around malaysia a bit with Penang being the final destination (so we can fly from here to BKK) i don't think i ever realised you could ask to have your luggage checked thru, so thanks for that. I'll look at Malaysia and Thai air.

Bisbee - last time we flew into bkk we got a "fast track" pass given to us on the plane, i guess because we were flying business class. (come to think of it, i cant remember if we got one flying into the new airport, but we definitely did into the old one!mmm I'll have to check)

Scotters

As noted above you could have your baggage checked right though if you use a regular airline rather than a discount like Air Asia. However the cost of the flight may be 21/2 times that of AA.
To get to Langkawi Island it would be much quicker to fly and the cost is about the same as the train. The train leaves at night and gets in around 9am, so you will nor see much scenery.
From Penang you could fly direct to Bangkok with Thai but again it will be nearly 3 times the price of AA. However you do have to connect through Kuala Lumpur using the discount airline.
One has to weigh convenience against the savings.

Bisbee

Many reports of Business Class passengers on Thai not being able to use FT any more, even though it's listed as one of the benefits. Recently its been said that on FC passengers are getting this service. I'll be trying it again in 9 days so I'll post back and let you know what they said.

Smeagol

Bisbee that would be most helpful, thanks

The reason i am flying into BKK is that Bus class from London is HUGELY cheaper on eva air direct to BKK than saying flying with Maylsia air. I can reroute thru dubia on Emirates but it would still work out cheaper if i do Biz class eva air then economy on Malaysia to KUL. (i also get to stay in BKK for a few days before flying home which in itself is motivation)
I am considering the following (all in the aid of avoiding too many flights which the bf hates)

Fly Bkk - connect MA or Thai to KUL same day
3 nights - KL.
Overnight train ??? to Alor ferry points ferry to Langkawi 4 nights Langkawi
Ferry from Langkawi to Penang 4 nights penang

Fly penang to BKK 3 nights BKK

Now would it be easire to rent a car and drive to the ferry point for Langkawi? we could stop along the way overnight to break the journey? as i thin k i said my motivation is not to save money its to avoid unnecessary plane travel