Air Asia being on-time; will we make it?
 

Hi, I just booked two tickets for Phuket from Bangkok with a departure time of 10:50am. Our incoming flight (also Air Asia) is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok from Chiang Mai that same morning at 9:30am. After booking these flights, I read the forums about how Air Asia is infamous for always running late. Considering the fact that the departure gate will close at 10:05am (45 mins prior to the departure time of 10:50)
This means that we would only have a 35-minute window from arrival of our Chiang Mai to Bangkok flight! I wish I'd known before I booked that they close the gates so early. Has anyone experienced late flights from Chiang Mai to Bangkok? If so, exactly how late does this airline run?? Worst case scenario is we buy a new ticket, but I'm just afraid of seat availability on such short notice if we do miss the Phuket flight--I'm sure it's a very coveted flight that time of year (December).
Thank you!

Every airline has the potential to to be late...or early With Air Asia, you will have to deplane, collect your luggage, and go the check in counter and check in again, as they do not chech through even for their own flights. Every flight is independent of all others.

So, while you might make it, I wouldn't be comfortable with the schedule. As you've learned, they close the check in counter 45 minutes before departure. You could try using their "check and change" function to see what it would cost you to change your flight (their website faq says 900 baht plus fare difference if it's 48 hours or more before flight) to a later time, or you could chance it and hope for the best.

There are many, many flights per day to Phuket, but now many of them are departing from Bangkok's other airport, so you would be limited to another Air Asia flight, Thai Air or Bangkok Air, cutting your choices considerably were you to miss your 10:50 flight.

There is always a chance that your flight(s) will be delay with any airlines and I don't think anybody will know for sure if you will make the connection. In my experiences with Air Asia I find that they do have delays but normally for the lesser traveled routes. Phuket - Bangkok and Bangkok - Chiang Mai are popular routes and each with several flights per day by multiple airlines. Worst case scenario will be for you to buy another ticket if you miss the connecting flights but at least you will have several airlines to choose from with several departure times.

Chances of delays are less likely in the morning than later in the day. The problem with low cost carriers is that there's no slack in their schedule, so a minor delay get amplified through the rest of the day.

That said, as Kathie points out, you have a lot of work to do in the 30 minutes or so after you land in Bangkok. It will cost a lot less to change the flights now than it will if you miss them later.

When I called AA hen booking my flights, they recommended to allow 3 hours between flights. I think that is a little extreme, but it would certainly allow room for late flights, baGGAGE transfer, and getting boarding tickets for the next flight. We always tried to get to the airport at least 90 mins before departure.

All 6 of our flights throughout SE Asia were bang on time..but perhaps that was ust a fluke?

Mark-

I've flown on most of the budget Asian airlines and whether it's been first or last flight of the day Air Asia has always been late for me. :( While it's true that domestic flights aren't usually as delayed as international flights I wouldn't risk such a short turnaround myself, even getting your baggage quickly is not a given. I arrived at the airport last week (different airline) and it took ages before my bag made it to the carousel.

Thai Airways, Nok Air and One Two Go currently use the old Don Muang for domestic departures.