Has anyone done a visa run by flying to KL? I need to do a quick run to KL to change over my passports from one nationality to another.

It's an AirAsia flight and the plane arrives at KL (LCCT) at 10:15 am. The return flight to BKK is at 11:30 am.

Is this cutting it too fine or doable?

Edited March 29, 201016 yr by tropo

I do not think you will have enough turnaround time.

You will need at least 30 mins to clear Malaysia immigration IF your flight is on time. Then you will need to sprint around to Departures and the AA desk to check-in which will likely already be closed so near to takeoff.

I would book a later return flight to be sure.

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by edwinchester

Are you sure with the dates ? go and back to KL the same day ? 75 min to check-out, go in your Ambassy and back to the Airport for check-in ? something's wrong. Isn't ?

Are you sure with the dates ? go and back to KL the same day ? 75 min to check-out, go in your Ambassy and back to the Airport for check-in ? something's wrong. Isn't ?

Don't think he's looking to head into KL itself.

The way I read it he's just looking to swap over passports with a quick airport turnaround but as above I don't think he will have enough time in KL(LCCT)

Definitely agree...assume the AA flight will be an hour late and allow at least 2 hours to clear entry immigration and then re-entry immigration and check-in so that's 3 hours between flights at a minimum.

I do not think you will have enough turnaround time.

You will need at least 30 mins to clear Malaysia immigration IF your flight is on time. Then you will need to sprint around to Departures and the AA desk to check-in which will likely already be closed so near to takeoff.

I would book a later return flight to be sure.

A few months ago I arrived from Phuket in KL and was waiting in line for Malaysia Immigration for over an hour. A bit unusual, most times only ten or so minutes. But can happen, and the fickle finger is there to get you are not ready for it. And then there is the checkin and wait at outbound immigration. Best to schedule several hours turnaround.

Thanks for your input guys. I can see it is definitely cutting it too fine. I was going to try this so that when I returned to Suvarnabhumi I could get to my Embassy in time as I live in Pattaya and wanted to save making another trip to Bangkok the next day.

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by tropo

Thinking of doing a similar visa run ourselves please let everyone know how you got on and whether going through immigration is in fact necessary or if you could have stayed in transit if you had not the need to get your passport

Air Asia is a point to point carrier. If you don't go through immigration you can't check in for return flight/boarding card.

How about if you have already checked in on-line and have no luggage?

Edited March 30, 201016 yr by thaiphoon
No need to quote post directly above

There are no 'transit' facilities at LCCT to my knowledge. Last time I was there arrivals were segregated from departures.

thanks for the info

Thinking of doing a similar visa run ourselves please let everyone know how you got on and whether going through immigration is in fact necessary or if you could have stayed in transit if you had not the need to get your passport

The whole point of doing this is to get a stamp in my new passport.

You shouldn't have to worry too much about doing a return flight with plenty of time in between flights because there are 7 AirAsia flights in both directions everyday.

I just wanted to try to get back to Bangkok early enough to do some business at the Embassy before 4pm. As this is not going to be possible I shall book a different flight and allow more time for the turnaround.

Had planned to allow a bit of time but would like to be back in Bangkok in time for happy hour and basically just wondered if we needed to go through the whole immigration performance or not. We too need to get a stamps in our new passports but will be spending time in Bangkok any so not a problem