Phnom Penh airport international security - will I have enough time for METV exit/re-entry?

[wml22]

Hi all,

 

After getting my METV in December 2017, I came to Chiang Mai in February. The 60 days of my first entry has almost elapsed.

 

I had previously purchased a one-way ticket to Phnom Penh from Bangkok for departure on March 28th, without the intention of using it (because I'd read that I might have been denied boarding for my first flight into Thailand if I couldn't demonstrate proof of onward air travel occurring within 60 days of my arrival date to Thailand).

 

However, due to various turns of events, I will be in Bangkok anyways on March 28th. So I figure that I might as well use this ticket to Phnom Penh to do an exit/re-entry, for activating the second entry on my METV and thus getting myself another 60 days of stay.

 

Here is where I need advice: the flight to Phnom Penh arrives at 9:40PM. The next flight from there back to Bangkok departs at 10:30PM. If I go without taking any carry-on or checked bags whatsoever, and after getting off the plane when it has landed just attempt to immediately go to the gate for the flight back to Bangkok at 10:30PM, is the 50 minutes likely to be enough time to make the return flight? I've read that the Phnom Penh airport is small and am thinking that without any bags, and at 9:40PM at night on a Wednesday, the security process for reaching the gate for the Bangkok return flight might not take very long. But I really have no idea.

 

Does anyone know? Any guidance on this would be very appreciated. 

[KhunBENQ]

Only "security"?

And you don't need to get a visa on arrival for Cambodia?

What nationality are you?

 

In this case your plan sounds unreasonable as immigration might really be the time consuming process.

Probably many arriving travelers will need a VoA.

 

[wml22]

OK. You're probably right that it's unreasonable. I will need the visa on arrival too but it all depends IMO on how busy the airport is at 9:40PM on a weeknight. If it's not busy and the airport is small maybe the visa on arrival will take 20 minutes and maybe the security will take 20 minutes. That means I'd make the return flight to Bangkok, which leaves 50 minutes after my arrival flight.

 

EDIT: Basically, I just really don't want to have to mess with staying overnight in a hotel in Cambodia. And I'd even just stay in the airport overnight until taking an early morning return flight to Thailand, but I've been told (not sure if true) that this airport closes at night so I'll be forced to leave the airport and get a hotel, if I don't fly back to Bangkok before the airport closes for the night. Again, don't know if that is accurate or not. I've never heard of an international airport that closes and kicks out the passengers overnight.

[BritTim]

To rely on your incoming flight being on time is extremely optimistic. Evening flights quite often run a couple of hours late. I rate your chances of making a return flight due out 50 minutes after arrival at 50-50 at best. Remember that you cannot board your return flight at the official departure time. Even at a small airport like Phnom Penh, you will be expected to board an international flight, at latest, 15 minutes before departure. Get a hotel near the airport and (if it were me) I would not get a flight back early the next day. I would prefer to have a leisurely breakfast and make my way to the airport for a late morning flight.

[elviajero]

If you don’t want to actually stay in/visit Cambodia why don’t you just do s land border hop to Myanmar. You can do that anytime before day 60.

[KhunBENQ]

Do the math:

You need a VoA, cost about 30 USD?

You need a return ticket to BKK. Cost?

What you "win" is using this one way ticket to P.p.

What you can loose:

miss the flight, have an overnight in P.p. (hotel, food) and buy yet another return ticket to BKK.

 

I would not play this lottery and follow the advice above and do a usual border run (misc options).

A one day border run flying to Kuala Lumpur on 28th will cost you about 4000 Baht (flying AirAsia from DMK).

No visa cost involved. Easy to make up a schedule.

[darrendsd]

Why not just get 30 days at Thai Immigration? Cost 1900 Baht

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, wml22 said:

OK. You're probably right that it's unreasonable. I will need the visa on arrival too but it all depends IMO on how busy the airport is at 9:40PM on a weeknight. If it's not busy and the airport is small maybe the visa on arrival will take 20 minutes and maybe the security will take 20 minutes. That means I'd make the return flight to Bangkok, which leaves 50 minutes after my arrival flight.

 

EDIT: Basically, I just really don't want to have to mess with staying overnight in a hotel in Cambodia. And I'd even just stay in the airport overnight until taking an early morning return flight to Thailand, but I've been told (not sure if true) that this airport closes at night so I'll be forced to leave the airport and get a hotel, if I don't fly back to Bangkok before the airport closes for the night. Again, don't know if that is accurate or not. I've never heard of an international airport that closes and kicks out the passengers overnight.

You will not make it as:

1) you need to go through immigration in Cambodia to enter the country

2) go through security and go to departures

3) go to immigration to depart the country

4) Check in for your departure (can do online) go to the gate which will be shut 30 minutes before departure.

 

[my friend I]

Two flights from China arrive before your flight.

 

There are lots of hotels across the road from the airport.

[ronrat]

It doesn;t cost that much for a guesthouse and taxi in PP. Go and see the sights for a day and get back to the airport with plenty of time the next night. If you miss your flight back you will have to buy another ticket and find a hotel anyway. If you book a guesthouse near the Tonle Sap you can walk to the Royal Palace, the Wat, and some cheap markets around there plus plenty of bars and cafes.

[CNXSTEVE]

The minimum check in time before departure time or boarding for an international flight is? Must be at least 30 minutes. 
There is at least 1 hotel across the road from the airport.

[BritTim]

28 minutes ago, CNXSTEVE said:

The minimum check in time before departure time or boarding for an international flight is? Must be at least 30 minutes. 

Risk takers will simply check in online for the return flight before even leaving Thailand. With most airlines to most destinations, this is possible.

[phuketrichard]

impossible.everyone has to go thru immigration,   pay ur $30,get a visa.

walk outside, renter airport,checkin.go up stairs and pass thru immigration, IMPOSSIBLE in less than 2 1/2hours...

stay the night, taxi to downtown $12,nice aircon room $20-30,walk around have a meal,

sleep

and take the morn flight back..

[PMZ]

PNH Entry Visa (I am on a UK Passport) can vary greatly. I was there two months ago and it was all done in about fifteen minutes, I was there last week and it took a little more than an hour. Down to luck of the timing of arrival versus other flights.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, PMZ said:

PNH Entry Visa (I am on a UK Passport) can vary greatly. I was there two months ago and it was all done in about fifteen minutes, I was there last week and it took a little more than an hour. Down to luck of the timing of arrival versus other flights.

This is absolutely true. If you are a fast walker, already have the boarding card for the return flight, and everything goes perfectly, I could imagine exiting the plane; getting the Cambodian visa on arrival; stamping into Cambodia; quickly walking from arrivals to departures; passing security; stamping out of Cambodia; and getting to the departure gate being complete in 30 minutes or so. It would rarely be possible in practice, even if you are a power walker. You will usually run into a queue somewhere.

[wml22]

It turns out that I would have made it (the whole visa on arrival process took 15 minutes) but I understand it would have just been gambling to try, as another time it might have taken an hour, so I followed the advice of the posters in this thread and ended up spending the night in Phnom Penh and coming back to BKK the next morning. Thanks for the input all.