Help! (Leaving Jan.22.)We arrive in BKK at 11:15 and want to go straight to Chiang Mai. My problem is not knowing how much time to allow between the flights. Three hours seems about right, from what I've read on this site, but my concern is being unable to reschedule (without losing my money) if we get delayed for some reason. There would be no way to notify the domestic airline so a forfeit would be in order. Will be on EVA which seems to have an excellent "on-time" record. Both Nok and One-Two-Go have possible flight times, around 3:30pm. Getting anxious to get reservation. Thanks

I tend to err on the side of caution and not schedule connections that are not ticketed together for the very reason you say...forfeit ticket if you misconnect.

When we have to connect the same day, I tend to buy the fare class with the least restrictions, so if I do misconnect I can exchange the ticket, which is not true with many discount fares, and is certainly not true with any fare on a low cost carrier.

When I don't have to connect the same day, I buy a cheapie and travel the next day. Enough times flying between Japan and the US and Japan and other Asian destinations, we've been delayed or taken a bump (for good compensation) so that I've learned not to count on the arrival time.

3 hours for a connection would be an absolute minimum. With only 3 hours, there is little room for any flight delay or holdup in immigration or customs. Some have reported baggage claim in BKK to be slow.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. I'd either wait until I get to BKK and buy a seat on the next flight to CNX, or I'd buy tickets now, but for the following day, in your case, probably for the 24th as you lose a day coming to Asia.

Here's what i would do.

Book a one way refundable valid 3 months ticket with Thai, book it for a suitable time, perhaps 2 hrs after your Eva Air arrival.

Now, often Thai will ( not sure if they still do ) add your inbound flight to their rcords, whether they do or not should you arrive late you need do nothing more that present yourself to Thai Airways check in and advise them that your inbound flight ( give them the number ) was delayed and could they put you on the next available. As long as seats are there it should be click-click-smile, "No problem" and all is well with life!

Now, if you get in on time you can see what budget flights are due out, wander to those desks, see if you can get a cheap deal, if you get a bargain either go to a call box, call Thai and cancel, or even just head to Thai Airways desk and cancel. I am not sure but the 'nominal' cancelation fee used to be about 100 baht ( about USD 2.50, whatever it is it's a nominal admin fee.

back home send your ticket back to Thai for a refund.

I would add though that if you are arriving on a long haul from N.America or Europe with Eva, after a tireing flight I would personaly relax with Thai anyhow.

babbylou "There would be no way to notify the domestic airline so a forfeit would be in order'

Just to emphasise that you should 'not' have any problem if you book with Thai, over several decades using them I had my fare share of lates/changes and never a problem, having also by far the highest frequency/number of seats you should have no problem, 22nd is a Monday, travel arround midday/early afternoon you should not have any problems at all in the 'unlikely event' of Eva being late, and to emphasise even if late no need to panic, you should have no worries gettin a seat on their next flight.
If you choose a budget carrier then yes, if you are late you loose the seat and your money.

If it were me (and it isn't) and it was really important to me to get to CM that day, I'd forget the budget airlines and book Thai Air instead. Check your luggage all the way through to CM. If your plane is late, Thai Air will put you on the next flight - as James says, no problem.

James' idea about cancelling Thai and getting a budget ticket once you get there seems overly complicated to me. Also, if you have already checked your luggage through to CM, it will be a big problem.

I'm still up in the air (groan)about the connecting flight to CNX after our 11:15 arrival into BKK. I've checked with Thai and sure do not find "hourly flights", and none that really work for our schedule. I also don't seem to find the 3mo.refundable option. What site do you use, Kathie? (Also, Thai air seems to say no refund for no show,but I trust what you say.) Being able to check our luggage thru would be fantastic. I've found flights at 15:15 (giving us a 4hour gap) on 1-2-Go and 13:20 and 15:30 flights on Nok Air ( Nok states they are Thai Air. Are these the frequent ones you speak of?) Also, on the Nok Air flights that do NOT say they are Thai, who are they? Can you tell this is our first Asia trip and that I'm a bit nervous?!!! It FEELS like the easiest thing to do would be to wait until we arrive, and get our bags, THEN go to the Nok and/or 1-2 Go or Thai and see what's available. One reply suggested that, but is it logistically practical? Where are the domestic desks located, relative to where we will be after baggage claim from our International flight? (Downstairs, I know) Is it quite chancy doing this at this time of day in mid-January? Are the logistics too crazy? I dread waiting around an airport after so many flight hours. More help, please!

Nok Air is Thai Airways' low cost subsidiary. They code share some CNX flights with Thai, and those are the ones that indicate 'operated by Thai'. The ones not so indicated are operated by Nok, using old Thai planes.

A complete no-show is generally not refundable, BUT showing up late and rescheduling is usually easily accomplished with Thai (but NOT with Nok or any other budget carrier).

An advance booking with Thai or Bangkok Airwarys is still your best bet. Bangkok Airways has a sort of lounge you can wait in if your layover is a bit long. If you book through an agent instead of the web site, they may be able to note in the system that you are connecting from an international flight, and that will help smooth the way for rescheduling, if necessary.

You arrive on level two of the airport. Ticket offices for all airlines and departure check-in are both on level four. There are a number of restaurants on level three where you can also hang out while waiting for your flight.

I'll be flying into Bangkok and taking a connecting flight to Chiang Mai with Thai Air for reasons the above posters have mentioned. In case our flight arrives late, we should be accomodated on the next Thai Air flight. I'm also trying to find out if I can check my baggage through to Chiang Mai, which would be great.

I'm also going to be flying into Bangkok on Thai Air and taking a connecting flight on Thai Air itself to Chiang Mai. I've keep a 3 hour gap between flights and i"m hoping that should be alright, otherwise they will put me on the next available flight. Didnt want to risk making the connection on the budget flight.

You guys are amazing! The more expensive Thai air is sounding like the way to go. Unfortunately, no 3hr gap...have choice of 2 1/4 hrs or 4 1/2hrs. Former quite optimistic, latter soooo long a wait! If I go for the longer,safe gap and manage to be ready in time for the earlier one, any chance of their letting us on if there's room? Also, when you say they will put one on the next flight if a "no show miss", does this apply to the "restricted economy" ticket? I'll have to revisit this forum in a few days, Christmas travel calling! Hope you all have safe, happy holiday reunions with loved ones. B