To Transit through Suvarnabhumi does a Burmese lady need to show funds?

[welbeck]

My mates Burmese wife finally gets to join him in the uk in 2 weeks. She's flying into Suvarnabhumi with Singapore then the rest of the way with Qatar. Because she's changing airlines she's going to have to leave airside and check in again with Qatar airlines, will she need to show cash to prove she can keep herself when "leaving the airport" and if so how much? We've been trying to find out but seem to be going in circles, I thought it was $300 US (or 10,000Bt) but she thinks it's $1300.

[Captain Monday]

How is she going to leave airside and check in with Qatar airlines?

Will she have USD $50,000 D Health Insurance,  and all requirements of Thailand pass complete including preflight PCR tests and booked hotels and tests?

 

Maybe she can just recheck in airside at a Qatar connecting counter.

[welbeck]

53 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

How is she going to leave airside and check in with Qatar airlines?

Will she have USD $50,000 D Health Insurance,  and all requirements of Thailand pass complete including preflight PCR tests and booked hotels and tests?

 

Maybe she can just recheck in airside at a Qatar connecting counter.

She's doing the PCR test before she leaves Myanmar but she's not got a hotel booked, she only has 3 hours between flights I actually think she's only got hand luggage but I assumed that because she was changing airlines she'd have to pass through immigration to check in with Qatar

[Captain Monday]

15 minutes ago, welbeck said:

She's doing the PCR test before she leaves Myanmar but she's not got a hotel booked, she only has 3 hours between flights I actually think she's only got hand luggage but I assumed that because she was changing airlines she'd have to pass through immigration to check in with Qatar

Passing through immigration and customs to go to the fourth floor at BKK requires meeting all the entry requirements of the country normally.  Now, one would have to go straight to ASQ, Test and go, or Sandbox.  She probably needs to make inquiries with the Qatar to have somebody meet her at her gate of arrival in BKK. As you know now times are not normal,  it is a nightmare.

 

We have had problems with offline deadheads and staff travel. Normally they don't let you board anyway unless you have a confirmed boarding pass leaving the airport of transit already. Example now changing terminals at Narita airport for passengers is NOT allowed, there is no inter-terminal bus. To transit Singapore airport you have to have one itinerary with same airline or alliance partner.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Captain Monday

[Sheryl]

To actually pass through immigration and enter Thailand would require all sorts of things including a Thailand Pass QR code, pre-booked hotel pacjage (room, meals. COVID test) for 24 hrs, health insurance etc etc.

 

However this is often not  necessary just to change to a connecting flight, even on another airline.

 

Suggest she call the relevant airlines - start with Singapore and find out if they will be able to issue both boarding passes (sometimes possible if there is a code share arrangement). If not, call Qatar airlines and see if she will be able to check in at transit counter.

 

If she cannot do either of things then there is a real problem and simplest solution might be a different routing. Otherwise, plan on at least 36 hour stay in Thailand and go through the whole Thailand Pass application process. What that will add to the cost may exceed what it would cost to change routing.

 

Reverting to the origin al question (which is least of her problems) to enter Thailand visa exempt or as a tourist, suppose to have at least 20,000 baht equivalent on her though not often checked for.

[Sheryl]

P.S. according to regulations issued last March, insurance is required even to transit through Bkk airport. I have no idea if/how this is enforced.

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, welbeck said:

She's doing the PCR test before she leaves Myanmar but she's not got a hotel booked, she only has 3 hours between flights I actually think she's only got hand luggage but I assumed that because she was changing airlines she'd have to pass through immigration to check in with Qatar

Because she changes airlines, she has to pass immigration, so she will need to apply for Thailand Pass, spend a night in a hotel, etc. before she can continue to the UK.

The money requirement is usually never asked for, but it's 20k (I think only 10k if visa exempt, but Myanmar nationals probably don't qualify for visa exempt)

Edited November 22, 2021 by jackdd

[Maybole]

There should be a Transfer Desk before immigration where she can check in for Qatar,

[asiam110]

13 hours ago, Maybole said:

There should be a Transfer Desk before immigration where she can check in for Qatar,

I cant see this working. It's separate tickets and the airlines are not partners or codeshare (even on code share it wouldn't work),  and I presume she will have luggage?  She won't be allowed to board her first flight as Singapore airlines will check the entry conditions, and they wont ignore them just because you can present a ticket with a different airlines within a few hours, don't worry about the cash requirement as she wont reach BKK

Edited November 23, 2021 by asiam110

[welbeck]

Looks like I'm going to be on the phone for a while this morning. I'll keep you informed

[thaibook]

I doubt it if she stays in the airport - there is nowhere to spend any money.  Of course that would be asking for a logical answer.

[Muhendis]

Can someone please explain why there is a problem?

On arrival at Suvarnabhumi, the lady will get off her flight from Myanmar and head for the transit lounge. From there she will head for the departure gate to board her Qatar Flight. She should have the relevant insurance to transit through Suvarnabhumi and to enter UK (?).

Is it no longer so straight forward?

[Sheryl]

On 11/25/2021 at 6:04 PM, Muhendis said:

Can someone please explain why there is a problem?

On arrival at Suvarnabhumi, the lady will get off her flight from Myanmar and head for the transit lounge. From there she will head for the departure gate to board her Qatar Flight. She should have the relevant insurance to transit through Suvarnabhumi and to enter UK (?).

Is it no longer so straight forward?

It is not clear that she can check in for both flights in Singapore. She may have to check in with Qatar airways in Bangkok. If so, it is not clear whether they have a counter in the transit area where she can do that.  If not -- or if she has check in luggage that could not be checked throughto UK (as may be the case if the two airlines don't have an agreement) then she has to pass through immigration and officially enter Thailand with all the attendant requirements. 

[Muhendis]

4 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It is not clear that she can check in for both flights in Singapore. She may have to check in with Qatar airways in Bangkok. If so, it is not clear whether they have a counter in the transit area where she can do that.  If not -- or if she has check in luggage that could not be checked throughto UK (as may be the case if the two airlines don't have an agreement) then she has to pass through immigration and officially enter Thailand with all the attendant requirements. 

Wow!

So many "if's" and "not clear's".

What a pain.

[welbeck]

 

On 11/22/2021 at 6:15 AM, Captain Monday said:

How is she going to leave airside and check in with Qatar airlines?

Will she have USD $50,000 D Health Insurance,  and all requirements of Thailand pass complete including preflight PCR tests and booked hotels and tests?

 

Maybe she can just recheck in airside at a Qatar connecting counter.

 

On 11/22/2021 at 7:32 AM, Captain Monday said:

Passing through immigration and customs to go to the fourth floor at BKK requires meeting all the entry requirements of the country normally.  Now, one would have to go straight to ASQ, Test and go, or Sandbox.  She probably needs to make inquiries with the Qatar to have somebody meet her at her gate of arrival in BKK. As you know now times are not normal,  it is a nightmare.

 

We have had problems with offline deadheads and staff travel. Normally they don't let you board anyway unless you have a confirmed boarding pass leaving the airport of transit already. Example now changing terminals at Narita airport for passengers is NOT allowed, there is no inter-terminal bus. To transit Singapore airport you have to have one itinerary with same airline or alliance partner.

 

On 11/22/2021 at 7:41 AM, Sheryl said:

To actually pass through immigration and enter Thailand would require all sorts of things including a Thailand Pass QR code, pre-booked hotel pacjage (room, meals. COVID test) for 24 hrs, health insurance etc etc.

 

However this is often not  necessary just to change to a connecting flight, even on another airline.

 

Suggest she call the relevant airlines - start with Singapore and find out if they will be able to issue both boarding passes (sometimes possible if there is a code share arrangement). If not, call Qatar airlines and see if she will be able to check in at transit counter.

 

If she cannot do either of things then there is a real problem and simplest solution might be a different routing. Otherwise, plan on at least 36 hour stay in Thailand and go through the whole Thailand Pass application process. What that will add to the cost may exceed what it would cost to change routing.

 

Reverting to the origin al question (which is least of her problems) to enter Thailand visa exempt or as a tourist, suppose to have at least 20,000 baht equivalent on her though not often checked for.

 

On 11/22/2021 at 7:49 AM, Sheryl said:

P.S. according to regulations issued last March, insurance is required even to transit through Bkk airport. I have no idea if/how this is enforced.

 

On 11/22/2021 at 8:48 AM, jackdd said:

Because she changes airlines, she has to pass immigration, so she will need to apply for Thailand Pass, spend a night in a hotel, etc. before she can continue to the UK.

The money requirement is usually never asked for, but it's 20k (I think only 10k if visa exempt, but Myanmar nationals probably don't qualify for visa exempt)

 

On 11/22/2021 at 4:54 PM, Maybole said:

There should be a Transfer Desk before immigration where she can check in for Qatar,

 

On 11/23/2021 at 6:00 AM, asiam110 said:

I cant see this working. It's separate tickets and the airlines are not partners or codeshare (even on code share it wouldn't work),  and I presume she will have luggage?  She won't be allowed to board her first flight as Singapore airlines will check the entry conditions, and they wont ignore them just because you can present a ticket with a different airlines within a few hours, don't worry about the cash requirement as she wont reach BKK

 

On 11/25/2021 at 7:55 AM, thaibook said:

I doubt it if she stays in the airport - there is nowhere to spend any money.  Of course that would be asking for a logical answer.

 

On 11/25/2021 at 11:04 AM, Muhendis said:

Can someone please explain why there is a problem?

On arrival at Suvarnabhumi, the lady will get off her flight from Myanmar and head for the transit lounge. From there she will head for the departure gate to board her Qatar Flight. She should have the relevant insurance to transit through Suvarnabhumi and to enter UK (?).

Is it no longer so straight forward?

 

On 11/27/2021 at 4:04 AM, Sheryl said:

It is not clear that she can check in for both flights in Singapore. She may have to check in with Qatar airways in Bangkok. If so, it is not clear whether they have a counter in the transit area where she can do that.  If not -- or if she has check in luggage that could not be checked throughto UK (as may be the case if the two airlines don't have an agreement) then she has to pass through immigration and officially enter Thailand with all the attendant requirements. 

 

On 11/27/2021 at 4:11 AM, Muhendis said:

Wow!

So many "if's" and "not clear's".

What a pain.

An Update for anyone that's interested.

She contacted Myanmar Airways that put her in touch with a Burmese Travel Guru, he got in touch with Qatar for her and had an airline representative meet her off her Myanmar flight then escort her to the correct gate for her Qatar airways flight.

On arriving at Heathrow she had four and a half hours in Immigration where we couldn't find anything out, I begged Qatar departures desk supervisor to see if she could find anything out and she told us she had boarded at Doha, a security guard eventually showed me where I could phone immigration on a phone that never got answered.

Eventually she came wandering out and all is good.

I'll give Qatar, already my favourite airline 10/10 for going above and beyond the call of duty and UK immigration 1/10, they didn't even bother to phone my mate to verify anything and she couldn't phone out.

 

Edited December 7, 2021 by welbeck

[Captain Monday]

Thank you for following up. 

[bbko]

OP seems to care more about his mate's wife than his mate, 555.

[theoldgit]

16 hours ago, welbeck said:

On arriving at Heathrow she had four and a half hours in Immigration where we couldn't find anything out

 

Did you subsequently ascertain the reason for delay at the UK Border, was she subjected to questioning by the UK Border Force officers, or was it the queue waiting to be processed?

[mtls2005]

11 hours ago, bbko said:

OP seems to care more about his mate's wife than his mate, 555.

 

I think he's his own "mate"?

 

16 hours ago, welbeck said:

I begged Qatar departures desk supervisor to see if she could find anything out and she told us she had boarded at Doha, a security guard eventually showed me where I could phone immigration on a phone that never got answered.

Eventually she came wandering out and all is good.

 

Answering for a friend.

 

 

Still confused on the itinerary and carriers. I see Myanmar, Myanmar Airways, Singapore, Qatar and Doha all mentioned.

 

Was it RGN-BKK-DOH-LHR? Or SIN-BKK-DOH-LHR? Or RGN-SIN-BKK-DOH-LHR?

 

If one of the first two, and in theory with an interline agreement, separate PNRs could be linked, onward BPs issued and baggage checked through, allowing for an int'l-int'l connection at BKK. Which is what I infer happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by mtls2005

[mtls2005]

Current TG advice ex-GB:

 

https://www.thaiairways.com/en_GB/plan/travel_information/travel_requirements.page

 

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

 

 

THAI passengers can transfer at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport between international flights booked on the same ticket, when the transiting time does not exceed 24 hours. Passengers must not leave the transiting area and are not able to enter Thailand. 

 

Please note that all required documents, including those in digital format, must be printed to be presented at check-in and to the relevant immigration authorities:

 

1. COVID test by RT-PCR method with a laboratory result indicating that COVID -19 is not detected, issued within 72 hours before departure

OR

 

A certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19 for more than 14 days before the travel date, with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization or the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand

 

2. Travel health insurance policy (worldwide or including Thailand) covering health care and treatment expenses for COVID-19, for no less than 50,000 USD. Please print the insurance certificate and all pages of the terms and conditions on the COVID coverage and medical benefits (passengers may be refused boarding if they can not show that their insurance meets these requirements)

 

[welbeck]

On 12/7/2021 at 3:21 PM, bbko said:

OP seems to care more about his mate's wife than his mate, 555.

I do, he's a cxxt

 

[welbeck]

14 hours ago, theoldgit said:

 

Did you subsequently ascertain the reason for delay at the UK Border, was she subjected to questioning by the UK Border Force officers, or was it the queue waiting to be processed?

It was mainly the queue, they grilled her but she was queueing for 3 1/2 hours

[welbeck]

14 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

I think he's his own "mate"?

 

 

Answering for a friend.

 

 

Still confused on the itinerary and carriers. I see Myanmar, Myanmar Airways, Singapore, Qatar and Doha all mentioned.

 

Was it RGN-BKK-DOH-LHR? Or SIN-BKK-DOH-LHR? Or RGN-SIN-BKK-DOH-LHR?

 

If one of the first two, and in theory with an interline agreement, separate PNRs could be linked, onward BPs issued and baggage checked through, allowing for an int'l-int'l connection at BKK. Which is what I infer happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, it wasn't my wife, so I'm not my own mate. It was actually MO, an admin from the former Secrets board that got the ball rolling and sorted her visa as a favour to me for my mate who is a complete pleb( my mate not MO).

I'm not sure where SIngapore came into this but she flew from Yangon to Bangkok on Myanmar International Airways then from Bangkok to Doha then on to London Heathrow with Qatar airways.

Edited December 8, 2021 by welbeck