Hi all,

I'm due to arrive at Don Muang from London on an EVA flight at 15.55 on Thursday February 10th and will want to get the next available flight BKK to Chiang Mai. I'm wary of pre-booking the Chiang Mai flight too close to my arrival time in BKK (in case of delays on my first flight), so I was thinking of just going to the domestic ticket counters as soon as I get clear of immigration/customs.

On the other hand, it's the middle of Chinese New Year and flights are thought to be busier than usual. Any thoughts as to just HOW busy late afternoon/early evening?

Given the long haul from London in this case, I'm not unhappy to go with Thai (rather then cheaper Nok, Thai-Orient etc) - even business class, if necessary.

I already e-mailed a question to Thai (about being moved to a later flight without cost if I'm delayed); needless to say - no answer from them after several days.

Grateful for any thoughts you knowledgable regulars have..........

Hi all,

I'm due to arrive at Don Muang from London on an EVA flight at 15.55 on Thursday February 10th and will want to get the next available flight BKK to Chiang Mai. I'm wary of pre-booking the Chiang Mai flight too close to my arrival time in BKK (in case of delays on my first flight), so I was thinking of just going to the domestic ticket counters as soon as I get clear of immigration/customs.

On the other hand, it's the middle of Chinese New Year and flights are thought to be busier than usual. Any thoughts as to just HOW busy late afternoon/early evening?

Given the long haul from London in this case, I'm not unhappy to go with Thai (rather then cheaper Nok, Thai-Orient etc) - even business class, if necessary.

I already e-mailed a question to Thai (about being moved to a later flight without cost if I'm delayed); needless to say - no answer from them after several days.

Grateful for any thoughts you knowledgable regulars have..........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would suggest booking the last flight on any of the budget airlines on their web page and even pick your seat on NokAir. Most have a flight about 10pm so your sure to make the connection.

If your flight is on time and you have to hang around the airport for five hours they do have a massage parlor which will take two hours, a nice dinner can take an hour and you must check in to your budget flight an hour before departure so the time is gone.

If you want to cut it closer and worst case scenario none of the airlines have a single seat due to the Chinese New Year, you can walk across the elevated freeway on the bridge that links the international terminal to the train station and take the express train, with sleeper, to CM. It takes overnight, but you would arrive in CM very early AM and perhaps you might enjoy the sleeper. Not as expensive as the plane by far. The trains leave hourly from six pm to 8pm, but confirm departure times with travel agent or the webpage for the train.

Hi all,

I'm due to arrive at Don Muang from London on an EVA flight at 15.55 on Thursday February 10th and will want to get the next available flight BKK to Chiang Mai. I'm wary of pre-booking the Chiang Mai flight too close to my arrival time in BKK (in case of delays on my first flight), so I was thinking of just going to the domestic ticket counters as soon as I get clear of immigration/customs.

On the other hand, it's the middle of Chinese New Year and flights are thought to be busier than usual. Any thoughts as to just HOW busy late afternoon/early evening?

Given the long haul from London in this case, I'm not unhappy to go with Thai (rather then cheaper Nok, Thai-Orient etc) - even business class, if necessary.

I already e-mailed a question to Thai (about being moved to a later flight without cost if I'm delayed); needless to say - no answer from them after several days.

Grateful for any thoughts you knowledgable regulars have..........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would suggest booking the last flight on any of the budget airlines on their web page and even pick your seat on NokAir. Most have a flight about 10pm so your sure to make the connection.

If your flight is on time and you have to hang around the airport for five hours they do have a massage parlor which will take two hours, a nice dinner can take an hour and you must check in to your budget flight an hour before departure so the time is gone.

If you want to cut it closer and worst case scenario none of the airlines have a single seat due to the Chinese New Year, you can walk across the elevated freeway on the bridge that links the international terminal to the train station and take the express train, with sleeper, to CM. It takes overnight, but you would arrive in CM very early AM and perhaps you might enjoy the sleeper. Not as expensive as the plane by far. The trains leave hourly from six pm to 8pm, but confirm departure times with travel agent or the webpage for the train.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, PTE. I decided to take the Nok option - and I've just booked a flight at 8pm, giving me a 4-hour margin after scheduled arrival from London. Interesting thought about the train option - I already had it in mind to take it on the return trip to BKK (when it won't be Chinese New Year and I can pre-book locally etc).