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.

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.

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..

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.

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.

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? :)

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?

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!

Filmwill - fly business class & use the express lane.

Sorry I meant "fast track" line. In the supper market at the moment and was looking at the express checkout when I replied earlier!

Pook, do all Biz class tixs now qualify for the fast track?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

hey its only phi phi, loose a day and relax

suck it up and go for the private boat - you're on vacation :-)

Or... re-think and go to the beach in Burma.

Too late--hotel is already prepaid with a steep cancellation fee.

We'll most likely lose a day at the beach.

You know what they say: a lost day at the beach is really just a day gained with Hanuman! :)

Like Craig says...............cough up....pay for a private speedboat....we do it every time even if ferry times are accommodating, it's worth every penny. Craig has it just right........you're on vacation. Make it special.
Whatever you do.....you know and I know......you're going to love your return to Phi Phi.
Less than six weeks since we were last there and I just can't wait to return.

Will,... most of all..........enjoy PARADISE!

Anytime Filmwill!

Another remedy to your predicament is to fly a low cost airline instead of Thai. Air Asia does have flights that you can take and you will arrive with plenty of time for the boat transfer. Bad news is that there is no business class!

Delta flight landing near midnight on the 20th - maybe 15 minutes to clear. Bags were still coming out on conveyor belt after the passport was stamped.

Departure, around 0430, on April 3, about 15 minutes to get stamped out.

As someone who lives and works on Phuket, and who flies in and out from international destinations frequently (including yesterday), I can add some insight.

1) You clear immigration in Bangkok, but not at the long and slow immigration lines that take 1.5 hours. There's a special transit immigration counter for passengers tranferring to domestic flights bound for Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai. I didn't wait at all last night when I arrived.

2) If you are on Thai Airways, you can check your bags through to Phuket. You clear Customs in Phuket, not in Bangkok. This is important as if you collect your bags in Bangkok and recheck them, you WILL need to go through the regular immigration line and not the transit line. The only way you can go through the transit immigration is if you check your bags through all the way to Phuket. When you arrive at Phuket airport, you will pass through the domestic baggage claim, follow a corridor past some taxi touts and hotel booths, and into the international baggage claim area. There you will pick up your bag.

3) Yesterday my flight landed at Phuket at 20:25, and I had collected my bag, walked through Customs and reached the parking lot by 20:50. There were no lines at all, though, my bag was tagged Priority (from business class) so it came out on the carrousel first, and my flights were on time.

4) If your hotel initially stated that the flight arrival and transfer times were sufficient, and based on that you booked your stay with them, they need to wait for you. The ferry boats will not delay their departures, but the transfer van should be able to wait a few minutes for you at the airport. Failing that, the resort should credit your account for the first night (so you can apply it to an activity or something).

5) These problems are why you should not attempt to book stuff yourself in Thailand. It's far better to use a travel consultant who is locally based. It costs you nothing, and the value added is enormous.

Appreciate your adice, Quero. I should've updated this thread after I had found a solution. Since it was impossible to connect in time, we're simply spending an overnight in Bangkok (and hopefully breaking bread with Hanuman!) and will head to Phi Phi early the next morning.

All salient points, but #4 is actually inaccurate. Someone not in the know at the hotel said it was sufficent but when I spoke with the manager they informed me that it was at my own risk and if I couldn't be at the meeting place within 20 minutes of landing, the van and boat would leave without me. They discouraged me from even trying. That outcome would happen with or without a travel agent planning this. The boat leaves when it leaves. I would argue that a travel agent wouldn't have even recommend trying what I was trying to accomplish.

Again, I do appreciate your advice, but I heartily disagree with your last statement. Five trips to Thailand planned on my own later...and I wouldn't have it any other way. All due respect, but I would NEVER use a travel agent for something that can easily be done on one's own.

I think a lot of folks here would agree with me. Of all the places in SE Asia one can plan their own travel, Thailand is by far and above the easiest and least painful to plan a trip on your own..

"5) These problems are why you should not attempt to book stuff yourself in Thailand. It's far better to use a travel consultant who is locally based. It costs you nothing, and the value added is enormous."

lol, you have stumbled upon a forum of people most of whom have been traveling to Thailand for years and years and who have done all of their booking themselves. If you think you'll get business by posting here, you will be greatly disillusioned.

Quero-

I think your advice is great and I could use a bit more. I hope you can answer rapidly bc this is coming up soon. My GF is flying from Kazan, Russia, to meet me in Phuket on the 23rd. She is of Swiss nationality. We are students.. no Business Class express for us. She is flying to Moscow on Siberia Airlines and to BKK on Etihad Airways. The initial ticket is totally separate from the BKK to HKT flight, which is on AirAisa (of course).

I am an idiot and allowed a 1hour 50 minute layover. The best solution seems to check the luggage through as you say. Is this possible with these airlines?

Worse case scenario we lose 60 bucks on a new Air Asia flight, but I'm trying to avoid looking like an idiot here :). Thanks. All others feel free to chime in, on topic of course, cheers!

No, you cannot check luggage through with Air Asia. As a budget airline, they do not transfer luggage for any flights - even their own. She will need to go through passport control, pick up her luggage from baggage claim, go through customs, then go to the Air Asia desk and check her luggage for her flight to Phuket.