Airport Transfer From Suvarnabhumi To Hat Yai

[Tamrak]

Good evening,

I have questions regarding the check through procedures. I called the airlines and I was confused.

I will be traveling from the USA, with two check-in luggages. The international airlines allow 50 lbs. per luggage or 22 kgs. I plan to check through from American Airlines (from Chicago) to Japan Airlines (to BKK) and to Air Asia (to Hat Yai). It is turning out that Air Asia is the only carrier that flies directly from Suvarnabhumi to Hat Yai. They said that they could not accept any transfer via check through because the aircraft is too small to accept a 50-lb bag and it is exceeding the 12 kgs allowance, or 25 lbs. (I am uncertain whether it was a misunderstanding.) I thought the check through is regulated until the passengers reach the destinations. The luggages should not be an issue.

Apparently, other carriers, such as Nok Air, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways, can accept heavier loads. However, they are departing from Don Muang airport.

My questions are:

1. Based on the information provided, can Air Asia deny the check through of the luggages? Likelihood, the persons who unloaded the luggages should not even weight them and they have to follow the adhesive tag with destination information. I might be wrong on this.

2. Will there be any other airlines that fly directly to Hat Yai from Suvarnabhumi, aside from Air Asia?

3. Do I have to open my bags at BKK first, and then begin the re-check in process again with Air Asia?

4. I do not think it is worth to ask any Taxi to go to Don Muang because I heard that they ripped the fare closer to 500 bahts per trip. Otherwise, I will be flying other airlines. I think it is not convenient because it is cross-town.

I do appreciate your time responding to these questions. Thank you.

[Soju]

AFAIK, Air Asia's limit it 15 kg, not 12 kg. They should be able to handle overweight luggage, but you will need to pay extra. Depending on how much over your luggage is, it may be cheaper for you to go to Don Muang and take a flight there on THAI which has a 20 kg limit, 30 kg for business class, and extra allowance if you're a Silver or Gold Card member, plus they're normally somewhat lenient on overweight. I believe Nok Air is also only 15 kg, but their Nok Plus I think is 20 kg. Not 100% sure on that as it's been a while since I needed to use them.

Air Asia will not check your luggage through. Even if you're flying all on Air Asia, with a connecting flight, I don't think they will, and certainly won't if it involves another carrier. They're a low-cost point-to-point carrier and take no responsibility whatsoever for anything to do with any other flights. So you will have to exit immigration, collect your bags, go through customs, check-in with Air Asia along with your bags.

Bangkok Airways I believe can interline your luggage in most cases, and they fly from Suvarnabhumi, but don't know if they fly to Hat Yai or not, probably not.

If you need to go to Don Muang, you can get a public bus (number 555) that goes to Don Muang for 34 Baht. They will allow you to take your luggage, but being everyone does the floor of the bus is strewn with everyone's luggage. A bit of a mess, but certainly the cheap way to do the transfer. I believe the buses run every 30 minutes or so. If you want to take the bus, say so and someone can let you know where to get the bus.

Edited July 16, 2007 by Soju

[think_too_mut]

1. Based on the information provided, can Air Asia deny the check through of the luggages? Likelihood, the persons who unloaded the luggages should not even weight them and they have to follow the adhesive tag with destination information. I might be wrong on this.

To Air Asia, your baggage is fresh from BKK. They have no ticketing or any other connection with whatever airline brought you into BKK.

3. Do I have to open my bags at BKK first, and then begin the re-check in process again with Air Asia?

Yes, like you just came to the airport from the city.

4. I do not think it is worth to ask any Taxi to go to Don Muang because I heard that they ripped the fare closer to 500 bahts per trip. Otherwise, I will be flying other airlines. I think it is not convenient because it is cross-town.

Who told you it is a ripoff? Is 500 baht for a 50km taxi trip really a ripoff for you?

It's about what it should cost:

From Ekkamai it was 300B to Don Muang.

From Ekkamai today it is 200B to Suvarnabhumi.

Include tolls (and if still applicable, 50B airport fee for taxis departing Suvarnabhumi).

500B, that's what taxis are asking. Ask them to turn on the meter - it won't be far off.