From Europe To Chiang Mai Via Bangkok

[mild7even]

I am flying from Frankfurt to Bangkok, then connecting to Chiang Mai, all on Thai Air. My luggage should be booked all the way to Chiang Mai. It has been awhile since I did this but if memory serves... on getting off the plane, I should go to the international baggage claim, rather than domestic, to collect the bags and clear customs, yes?

Any recent experiences would be helpful--again, been awhile since I've flown into this airport and just want to make sure the people meeting me are at the right exit.

Thanks in advance!

[JamesH]

You will need to collect your luggage at the International Terminal. When you arrive in BKK you will be given a Transit Sticker to wear and will be directed to the International Baggage Reclaim Area when you arrive in Chiang Mai.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

[Ricardo]

Agree that your hold-luggage will go through to CNX International-arrivals, so your friends should wait in the international-end of the terminal, however IME TG-staff should meet you at-the-gate on-arrival in Swampy and escort you through the transfer-Immigration route in Bangkok.

This also applies to other airlines, with whom TG have inter-line agreements, where you make the long-haul flight with someone-else but then use TG for the BKK-CNX connection.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Ricardo

[zippydedodah]

well, interestingly enuf, i had 2 friends come in from USA, via bkk, with direct transfer to CM... 2 different airlines arriving in BKK, but both coming into CM (thai air).... this happened this past december.

both had completely different experiences, both in BKK and in CM. One of them was escorted and clear customs in CM and their baggage was at international section (in CM) as was their arrival terminal. The other person was lost in BKK, finally pointed in right direction, went thru immigration in BKK (a special one, he noted) and then his baggage was in international section here in CM but his arrival was in the domestic terminal - HAHAHAH... go figure that one.

additionally, leaving, again both of them on thai air, one went thru immigration here in CM but his baggage had to be picked up and he had to clear customs in Shanghai and the check back onto plane, while the other guy went domestic to bkk, but his bags were checked all the way thru to SFO... no re-checkin anywhere else.

we asked the desk (thai air) what was going on and she said it was all a function of their ticketing airline out of US and their awards tickets...

obviously....

[pgthompson]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

Not necessarily. I've gone through immigration at Bangkok more times than Chiang Mai.

[wales01]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

No You go through immigration in Bangkok!

Edited January 12, 2012 by wales01

[hellodolly]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

No You go through immigration in Bangkok!

That has always been my experience. Clear immigration in Bangkok get luggage in international terminal in Chiang Mai.

[Awk]

well, interestingly enuf, i had 2 friends come in from USA, via bkk, with direct transfer to CM... 2 different airlines arriving in BKK, but both coming into CM (thai air).... this happened this past december.

both had completely different experiences, both in BKK and in CM. One of them was escorted and clear customs in CM and their baggage was at international section (in CM) as was their arrival terminal. The other person was lost in BKK, finally pointed in right direction, went thru immigration in BKK (a special one, he noted) and then his baggage was in international section here in CM but his arrival was in the domestic terminal - HAHAHAH... go figure that one.

Not hard. The last one walked the wrong way.

When arriving, there are signs pointing to domestic, and others to international. Next time, choose international

if your luggage was checked in outside of Thailand.

[mickmac]

Last couple of Times I've arrived in BKK I've noticed the passengers going on to other domestic thai cities getting re-routed and passing through immigration before they go on up the esclators to go for their various planes. So presumibly they will have entered the country but their bags will still have to go through customs at their destination airport.

[Hillside4Phil]

From Perth my bags are put through to Chiang Mai and I have done immigration in either Bangkok or Phuket

and picked up my bags from the International section at Chiang Mai there are lovely ladies that will point out where you go.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

No You go through immigration in Bangkok!

IT DEPENDS ON THE AIRLINE! :^)

Most big airlines you can go stay air-side in Bangkok and do immigration in Chiang Mai. But if you're on several of the cheaper airlines you need to do immigration in Bangkok.

[wales01]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

No You go through immigration in Bangkok!

IT DEPENDS ON THE AIRLINE! :^)

Most big airlines you can go stay air-side in Bangkok and do immigration in Chiang Mai. But if you're on several of the cheaper airlines you need to do immigration in Bangkok.

I fly Thai all the time never have I been through cutoms in Chiang Mai on my return, exiting yes.

[brommers]

Sorry Winnie, you are not correct.

If you are flying international TG to domestic TG, Star Alliance international to domestic TG, an international airline with an interline with TG, Bangkok Air international to Bangkok Air domestic, an international airline with a codeshare or interline agreement with Bangkok Air domestic you still do Immigration in Bkk, but at a separate area adjacent to Terminals A & B and collect your bags at International in CNX. As an international transit passenger you then complete Customs in Chiang Mai.

If you are flying any airline that is NOT Star Alliance or in a codeshare or interline agreement with TG or PG you do immigration in the main area in SUV, collect your bags there too, go up to domestic check-in and get you boarding passes & check- in your bags to be collected in domestic in CNX, because you are a now domestic passenger.

The only time you will go through Immigration at CNX is if you arrive on an intenational flight that has not landed at SUV.

Some years ago it was possible to arrive at SUV and hot transit to CNX where you did Immigration, but this was stopped as it was too easy for pax without checked baggage to slip though domestic & avoid any Immigration check.

[BillyBobThai]

Korean Air goes direct from Soul to Chiang Mai.I can leave the states, change plane in Soul and never have to

go thru that ceaspool called Bangkok.

[el jefe]

Korean Air goes direct from Soul to Chiang Mai.I can leave the states, change plane in Soul and never have to

go thru that ceaspool called Bangkok.

How does this help the OP who is flying from Frankfort????

Winnie, do you have to reply to every question whether or not you know the answer? In this case Brommers is spot on with a detailed explanation of the process. There's nothing more to add. Thanks.

[true blue]

i always used to clear customs and pick luggage up at swampy,then transfer to domestic to cnx,because i had a bad experience with international customs in cnx,last time i sent it straight through,but due to cicumstances,i booked straight through to cnx this time,and we cleared customs at swampy,they have a special desk,just before you board the plane in domestic,swampy,then your directed to international baggage claim at cnx,were your luggage is put through the x ray machine,and checked.

[true blue]

Yes, and you will go through immigration in Chiang Mai too.

you go through baggage check,not immigration.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Sorry Winnie, you are not correct.

If you are flying international TG to domestic TG, Star Alliance international to domestic TG, an international airline with an interline with TG, Bangkok Air international to Bangkok Air domestic, an international airline with a codeshare or interline agreement with Bangkok Air domestic you still do Immigration in Bkk, but at a separate area adjacent to Terminals A & B and collect your bags at International in CNX. As an international transit passenger you then complete Customs in Chiang Mai.

If you are flying any airline that is NOT Star Alliance or in a codeshare or interline agreement with TG or PG you do immigration in the main area in SUV, collect your bags there too, go up to domestic check-in and get you boarding passes & check- in your bags to be collected in domestic in CNX, because you are a now domestic passenger.

The only time you will go through Immigration at CNX is if you arrive on an intenational flight that has not landed at SUV.

Some years ago it was possible to arrive at SUV and hot transit to CNX where you did Immigration, but this was stopped as it was too easy for pax without checked baggage to slip though domestic & avoid any Immigration check.

Oh.. I stand corrected, in that case, I didn't know they changed. For several reasons I always opted to do immigration (and customs) in Bangkok, so I guess I didn't notice the change.

Is it still faster to do that kind of separate immigration at Suvarnabhumi than the usual queue? There's sometimes quite the queue there, and no central queueing line that feeds all booths, so it's a matter of picking a line and praying that the line keeps moving somewhat speedy.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Korean Air goes direct from Soul to Chiang Mai.I can leave the states, change plane in Soul and never have to

go thru that ceaspool called Bangkok.

How does this help the OP who is flying from Frankfort????

Winnie, do you have to reply to every question whether or not you know the answer? In this case Brommers is spot on with a detailed explanation of the process. There's nothing more to add. Thanks.

Very, VERY rarely there is a case of a topic where I think I know the answer, but I'm wrong. This appears to be one of those cases. So let me apologize for the confusion caused.

Edited January 13, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Paagai]

Is it still faster to do that kind of separate immigration at Suvarnabhumi than the usual queue? There's sometimes quite the queue there, and no central queueing line that feeds all booths, so it's a matter of picking a line and praying that the line keeps moving somewhat speedy.

Much faster! Although there are only a few desks for immigration in the transfer area, they are usually deserted and you sail straight through. The longest I've ever had to wait is when the immigration officer ran out of staples

BTW, there are two main immigration exits at Suvarnabhumi and they have CCTV monitors at each showing the queues at the other. Always worth checking as they may be packed at one whilst the other is deserted, in which case, well worth walking another 100M.

A flaw with the transit system is, if you don't have checked bags, you can just remove your transit sticker and exit CNX through domestic without ever passing customs. Not that I've ever tried it of course

[WinnieTheKhwai]

A flaw with the transit system is, if you don't have checked bags, you can just remove your transit sticker and exit CNX through domestic without ever passing customs. Not that I've ever tried it of course

!!!! So obvious, yet so beautiful!!!!

If you do actually go through customs in CNX, do they record that you're actually passing customs in some way? (For example by scanning the passport of people who aren't spot-checked) ?

As an aside, another weakness exists when leaving; they don't really check that you actually went through immigration at the CIQ gate when transferring to International at Suvarnabhumi.

EDIT: This is a very useful topic. Should be very helpful to the relevant authorities to improve processes and maker Thailand a better place.

Edited January 13, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[el jefe]

A flaw with the transit system is, if you don't have checked bags, you can just remove your transit sticker and exit CNX through domestic without ever passing customs. Not that I've ever tried it of course

!!!! So obvious, yet so beautiful!!!!

If you do actually go through customs in CNX, do they record that you're actually passing customs in some way? (For example by scanning the passport of people who aren't spot-checked) ?

As an aside, another weakness exists when leaving; they don't really check that you actually went through immigration at the CIQ gate when transferring to International at Suvarnabhumi.

EDIT: This is a very useful topic. Should be very helpful to the relevant authorities to improve processes and maker Thailand a better place.

I'm confused by both of your points.

The customs procedures are identical at CNX and BKK. If you have nothing to declare you walk thru that line. I've cleared customs many times in both airports and have never shown my passport and there has never been any record that I went thru in either airport.

And I'm ven more confused by your comment about a weakness at Immigration when leaving. You either go thru Immigration at CNX or BKK depending on your flights. If you didn't go thru at CNX how do you get into the international departures area at BKK? The only way you might be able to do it is with a fake CIQ sticker and then hope they don't check your passport?

[Blinky Bill]

My experience shows that the Customs Officers at CNX seem to be far more interested in looking through passengers luggage than they are in BKK. I've never been stopped in BKK in 28 years yet it seems that at CNX I have to open my bags about 50% of the time.

Best deal is to have only carry on and as Paagai said, wander on through domestic arrivals.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Blinky Bill

[Awk]

My experience shows that the Customs Officers at CNX seem to be far more interested in looking through passengers luggage than they are in BKK. I've never been stopped in BKK in 28 years yet it seems that at CNX I have to open my bags about 50% of the time.

Best deal is to have only carry on and as Paagai said, wander on through domestic arrivals.

No experience with being checked at either place (perhaps I look more honest), but perhaps the amount of people passing through customs in CNX is small relative to the customs staff, compared to BKK. Guess it's something one should

keep in mind, and perhaps take the hassle of doing an extra check-out/check-in in BKK on occasion.

[true blue]

My experience shows that the Customs Officers at CNX seem to be far more interested in looking through passengers luggage than they are in BKK. I've never been stopped in BKK in 28 years yet it seems that at CNX I have to open my bags about 50% of the time.

Best deal is to have only carry on and as Paagai said, wander on through domestic arrivals.

your spot on there mate,in 12 years never been stopped at bkk but 2 times ive sent straight through,ive been grilled and bags serched,

[true blue]

Very, VERY rarely there is a case of a topic where I think I know the answer, but I'm wrong. This appears to be one of those cases. So let me apologize for the confusion caused.

you confuse every one with your posts mate,lol.

[CNXBKKMAN]

My experience shows that the Customs Officers at CNX seem to be far more interested in looking through passengers luggage than they are in BKK. I've never been stopped in BKK in 28 years yet it seems that at CNX I have to open my bags about 50% of the time.

Best deal is to have only carry on and as Paagai said, wander on through domestic arrivals.

your spot on there mate,in 12 years never been stopped at bkk but 2 times ive sent straight through,ive been grilled and bags serched,

Yes nobody has been interested in my bags in BKK but everytime i am thru-checked to CNX the customs guys always ask questions and x-ray my baggage. I think they have nothing to do with so few international passengers at CNX.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

As an aside, another weakness exists when leaving; they don't really check that you actually went through immigration at the CIQ gate when transferring to International at Suvarnabhumi.

I'm confused by both of your points.

And I'm ven more confused by your comment about a weakness at Immigration when leaving. You either go thru Immigration at CNX or BKK depending on your flights. If you didn't go thru at CNX how do you get into the international departures area at BKK? The only way you might be able to do it is with a fake CIQ sticker and then hope they don't check your passport?

No fake sticker of course. Like this:

Check in at International at CNX, get sticker -> Walk to Domestic -> Take sticker off -> Board plane -> Fly to BKK -> Put sticker back on -> Go to the international transfer -> They don't check your exit stamp there properly.

I've walked through there not even opening my passport, just showing that I had one.