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Does changing planes in Bangkok mean clearing immigration in Bangkok?


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Flight into Thailand has a change at BKK but it's not a self-transfer i.e. I am checked in to final destination and will not need to collect baggage. Will I still go through immigration in Bangkok? Does it mame any difference if the stop is at DMK?

Edited by s_jess
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all flights to Thailand if u land first in Bangkok, u clear immigration there
there is a immigration for transit passengers  , just follow the signs
 

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It will depend as to whether or not your onward flight is domestic or International.

If you are transferring to a domestic flight eg Samui, Krabi etc then you will be processed by immigration in Bangkok.

If it is International to International - then immigration will be at your final destination.

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You will be checked either way. You will not enter Thailand if you have onward travel on the same booking. If you have separate booking, you will enter and check in before going to your connecting flight.

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As you are checked in to your final destination you seem to be a transit passenger and wouldn't need to be processed in and then out again. Although it sounds like you are changing airports? Are you arriving internationally and departing on the same, or a partner, airline?  

Your airline or travel agent should be consulted instead of a forum. They have access to your ticketing.

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3 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

As you are checked in to your final destination you seem to be a transit passenger and wouldn't need to be processed in and then out again. Although it sounds like you are changing airports? Are you arriving internationally and departing on the same, or a partner, airline?  

Your airline or travel agent should be consulted instead of a forum. They have access to your ticketing.

Changing airports would require entering through customs, plus about three hours for transit and check-in, if the traffic if good. Switching from BKK to DMK is a huge deal. I would not do it without 4 hours.

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15 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Changing airports would require entering through customs, plus about three hours for transit and check-in, if the traffic if good. Switching from BKK to DMK is a huge deal. I would not do it without 4 hours.

Three trains. ARL to Makkasan, MRT to Bang Sue, Red Line to DMK. You have AT LEAST 2 hours of travel regardless. 45ish km between airports

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10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Or take the free shuttle bus which takes one hour and departs every hour 

And for once, I am going with Yagoda on this one. One hour at 2am, two hours at 5pm. I would avoid this transfer if at all possible.

Edited by cjinchiangrai
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2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Posts re transfer from BKK to DMK are off topic.

The OP is asking if need clear immigration for second leg and would answer be same for both airports. 

But it helps complete the answer for a common scenario. 

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If at BKK with an international to international transfer on one ticket, you would be a transit passenger and go from one gate to the next without going through immigration. Your bag would be checked from your first airport to your final one. It's the same process at DMK. 

 

If it's a BKK international to domestic transfer on one ticket you would follow the "transit to Phuket  Chiang Mai, etc" signs and go to a special immigration area. You'd get CIQ sticker to wear and after being stamped into Thailand you'd go up an escalator and be in the domestic section. You'd pick up your bag and go through customs at the final domestic airport. It's the same process at DMK. 

 

If you have two tickets or if you arrive BKK but depart DMK (which would be different tickets), you'd go through regular immigration, get your bag, go through customs and check in for the domestic flight at the departing airport. 

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Nick Carter has it.  Also, if you have an onward flight ticket the Shuttle Bus is free if I recall correctly. Another poster might tell you that you cannot use the Shuttle Bus without an onward air ticket.

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From my own experience:

 

International flight to a Thai domestic destination onward from Bangkok, Immigration in Bangkok. (for example Emirates from London (LHR) to Chiang Mai (CNX) immigration in Bangkok where transfer of plane occurs.

 

International flight to another international flight (through ticket) with transfer in Bangkok, immigration in country of destination. (for example Thai Airways from  London (LHR) to Siem Reap (SAI) - Cambodia, immigration at Siem Reap not Bangkok where change of plane occurs.

Edited by Burma Bill
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If you change airport and/or have to pickup and then recheck in your luggage  - yes. If it is the same Airline, airport and luggage is checked in for final destination, no - just go to new gate before Immigration.

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I spent most my adult life working for airlines.

 

If Bangkok is your first port of entry and your final destination is within Thailand, yes you will clear immigration and customs upon arrival and then make your connection to a domestic flight.

 

If Bangkok is just a connecting point to a flight outside Thailand from the international terminal, you are a through passenger and won’t have a need to clear immigration or customs, you would just follow the transit passengers signs. 

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It seems like everybody knows everything All I know is every time you land from an international flight you have to go through immigration collect your bags and recheck in simple. 

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1 hour ago, 818Pilot said:

I spent most my adult life working for airlines.

 

If Bangkok is your first port of entry and your final destination is within Thailand, yes you will clear immigration and customs upon arrival and then make your connection to a domestic flight.

 

There is a special transit procedure at BKK for passengers making connections to certain domestic destinations. Baggage for those pax will be transferred to the next flight, and they will clear customs at their final airport, not in Bangkok. They will not go landside during their transit. There's a similar system at DMK.

Screenshot_2024-09-24-14-53-55-12_965bbf4d18d205f782c6b8409c5773a4.jpg

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6 hours ago, zzzzz said:

all flights to Thailand if u land first in Bangkok, u clear immigration there
there is a immigration for transit passengers  , just follow the signs
 

Unless your onward flight in Thailand is from another airport in BKK, there are 2

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I can confirm 100% that when I used to fly in to BKK every 8 weeks on Emirates, those that were carrying on to Hong Kong stayed on the plane. Sometimes I was on a flight that was carrying on to Australia and I'm fairly sure that they stayed on too but I'm not 100% on that. 

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1 hour ago, arick said:

It seems like everybody knows everything All I know is every time you land from an international flight you have to go through immigration collect your bags and recheck in simple. 

Seems like you dont know much. Each time I have flown home to the west coast of America for the last 40 years I have made stops in Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong and Seoul. I have yet to clear customs and my luggage is checked through. There is always a dedicated transfer area and you are kept well clear of customs. You do have to go through security again in some of them. 

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7 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

 

What about international flights?

as i stated
 

Quote

all flights to Thailand if u land first in Bangkok,

not transiting thailand<  and even if u need go to a the "other" airport you would still clear at the airport u arrive at

why do so many here always want to add or give a response that has nothing to do with the original question??

Edited by zzzzz
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1 hour ago, zzzzz said:

why do so many here always want to add or give a response that has nothing to do with the original question??

 

Because it's interesting to me and I think to many others.

 

You still didn't answer the question. What if I have a connecting international flight in Bangkok (same airport) - do I need to clear immigration?

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