Folks, I thought I was all set with my intra-Asia flights, but then I realized I might have a problem. Going from Hanoi to Chiang Rai, we change in BKK. All on Thai Air, 55 minutes between flights. The only time I've transfered thru BKK was the old airport and we were in transit to different countries (US to Siem Reap, and Siem Reap to LP). So do we have to wait in the normal immigration line, pick up and check bags, etc? Or is there a special desk for this kind of transfer? Advice please!

a local can help you better, but i believe you can do the customs in CR and you will just be in transit at bkk....remember the walking is distant at that airport, so allow some extra time....lucky you have all on thai for this transition...

how long have they allowed...

Nope. You'll check your bags all the way through to CR, do customs in CR and simply transit through--you've got more than enough time, provided your flight isn't delayed significantly.

I believe that all passengers arriving into Thailand must clear immigration formalities at their first port of arrival. This would be Bangkok. Your luggage would be checked right throug to Chiang Rai. At least that was suppose to take effect awhile ago. If so 55 minutes may not be enough time to clear immigration and walk to the domestic gate.

Scotters, it's been a few years since I last did this, but I made a transfer from Hanoi to CR via Bangkok and we went though passport control and customs in Chiang Rai. Perhaps this has changed recently?

Your right Kathie a few years ago you could come in on an iternational flight, get a special transfer to the domestic area and clear immigration at any of Thailands other international airports. But last year they said they were going to change this to where you first touched down would be when you went through immigration. Since family/friends/clients have not had to do this I don't know whether this is fully in force. I thought I would mention it as 55 minutes is not a lot of time to make connections. Perhaps we can get more feedback on this.

Thanks for the info, Scotters.

OK, so has anyone done this kind of transfer recently? In the meantime, I'll be thinking about plan B.

You go through immigration - not customs - in Bangkok. You DO NOT go through the regular immigration queues. Instead, you go through a special immigration queue between international and domestic concourses. In other words, you stay airside and never leave the secure area.

If you're booked all the way through on Thai, and they haven't made any changes to your itinerary, then you have enough time.

Thanks, that's a relief.
How do I find the special queue? I remember in the old airport, being very confused and not able to find the transfer office right away. What should I be looking for?

The flight attendants on your Hanoi-BKK flight should be able to tell you the routine.

As I remember (and I last did this at the new airport soon after they opened) you are looking for a sign that says transfer to domestic flights. Don't see a sign? Ask!

as i remember it is not far from the immigration hall---off to the right...

Domestic gates are on concourses A & B. The international to domestic immigration area is at the intersection of concourses A, B, C, and D. Most international Thai flights use concourse C, so if you dock there, just walk up the concourse until you reach the intersection, and look for the signs. If the plane parks at a remote dock, then follow the signs for domestic transfers once you reach the main terminal building. If your plane parks at concourse E, F or G, it's going to be quite a hike! Just stay on level 2 and follow the signs.

When I looked online at the terminal map, levels 2 and 4 seemed the same. And there was a "customs" icon and a "passport control" icon. Is that map accurate?

Not entirely. It hasn't been updated since the airport opened, and is labeled a bit confusingly, since both entry and exit immigration counters are labeled "passport control". And, the immigration counters for transfer passengers don't appear at all.

Level 4 is for international departures. Level 2 is for arrivals and domestic departures. You stay on level two. Look for the transfer desk near the C/D intersection. The immigration counters are near there. If in doubt, ask at the transfer desk.

look for michael making coffee on all levels....

Michael,
thanks - - the information is so helpful. I watched the video on the website which said that the terminal is the largest building in the world. Is that correct??

It's the largest terminal building. I think the 747 assembly line in Everett is still the largest building. The check-in hall is big enough to house 5 (or is it 7?) football fields.

Michael, you are right that the Boeing 747 assembly building in Everett, Washington remains the largest building.