Transit Procedure At Bkk Airport

[geoff44]

Hello

I'm trying to find out what I need to do when I transfer from one international flight to another at Bangkok. I'd appreciate any advice on the procedures.

On my next visit to the region I intend to spend a week or so in Thailand before flying on to Cambodia. After a few days there I will fly back to Bangkok and then on to London. I want to avoid stopping over in Bangkok if at all possible as time will be a bit of an issue, unless I cut short the stay in Cambodia.

The airlines for the two return legs of the journey PNH-BKK, and BKK-LON will not both belong to the same alliance so I do not expect to be able to pick up boarding passes for both legs of the journey when I check in at Phnom Penh. Meaning I'll have to check in for the London flight at Bangkok.

My assumption is that I'll get off the plane from Phnom Penh, find a "transit area" and check in there to get my boarding card for the onward flight to London. I.E I will not need to go out through immigration and customs and go up to departures to check in at the main set of check-in desks there. Is that correct and, if so, can anyone tell me where the transit areas is (for terminal 2). Also, what is the minimum time I need to allow to get everything done?

I'm not worried about baggage transfers as I'll have hand luggage only.

Many thanks for any assistance.

Cheers

[george]

Just go "transit" instead of "Immigration". Thai Airways staff take care of your onward flight at the transit desk.. Then you are at the big departure hall, Tax free etc, and you can catch your flight to London with the boarding card issued from the Thai transit staff.

[dfwbkk]

FYI, the transit area is located in the north end of the terminal building (i.e. to your right as you enter it from the gates), one floor down from the departure area.

/// DFW

[geoff44]

Thanks for the responses

It sounds pretty straight forward so, provided its not too busy there, I should be OK. I reckon I'l have about an hour or so to get off one flight and on to the other. Sods law will no doubt mean that the incoming and outgoing flights are at the extreme opposite ends of the terminals but provided the incoming flight is on time I think that will be doable.

[tuky]

If in doubt, ask one of the ground staff.

[grahamb]

Doesn't sound like an issue in your case but for reference...

The transit desks only allow you to check in 3 hours for the flight - before we moved here, I had a 4.5hr layover in Bangkok on the way to Sydney and the Qantas desk wasn't open. I tried with Cathay Pacific (after all, they're both in OneWorld) and they couldn't help. I ended up checking in at the Qantas lounge.

This isn't an issue if you're flying Thai, etc. because they always have a flight within the next 3 hours but it may be an issue for some of the long haul flights (e.g. flying BA to London, etc.)

The Transit desks are easy to find. IIRC, in Terminal 2, you (usually?) walk past them on the way to Immigration.