In Transit Or Through Immigration?

[bigmatt081174]

Hi,

My wife is flying into BKK on Sunday this week on Qatar airlines via Doha from Manchester. She is then just under 3 hours later flying to Phnom Penh with Cambodia Angkor Airways.

I have today checked with Qatar and they don't have an Interline Agreement with Cambodia Angkor Airways so they have told me that they cannot tag the bags in Manchester through to Phnom Penh but only to BKK. They did suggest though as soon as my wife and son arrive in BKK that they go to the transit desk, show the e-ticket for Cambodia Angkor Airways and the luggage tags and they should be able to pull the bags and redirect onto the correct flight.

Do you think this is viable (it sounds plausable)? If not when going through immigration, what do you complete on the landing card as there is no address in Thailand as she is not staying there, but just using it a transport hub.

Qatar have also suggested that on Saturday when she checks in at Manchester to show the e-ticket for Cambodia Angkor Airways and see if they will tag it through then as they may do.

Has anyone got any experience of this at all or point me in the right direction?

Cheers

[SeaVisionBurma]

For the landing card - there is a specific box for 'transit' which she can tick.

Not sure about the rest of the query - do you have a number for Cambodia Angkor Airways which you can call to ask them?

It may be a case of having to do immigration, collect bags, and check in again for the next flight.

3 hours sounds plenty.

[bigmatt081174]

Cheers SeaVisionBurma - I was worried that if they can't get the transit what to put on the landing card - I have always had an address to put on so that is what stumped me when I was thinking about it. I am just trying to make it as simple and stress free for them!

[lomatopo]

There are TM-6 images on line and I cannot see any box to tick for "in transit"?

I would just write, in the address box: "in transit, connecting to K6 72x to PNH today." and have the K6 itinerary handy. I would also complete the Departure section as well.

If QR cannot link the PNRs in MAN, and provide routed baggage receipts all the way to PNH then I would opt to check the bags through to BKK, clear Immigration, pick up the bags, clear Customs, go up to level 4 and check in with K6. I can see all sorts of issues dealing with mid-field (transit) check-in desks trying to get them to locate, re-tag and re-route bags, which might already be on the carousel.

FYI, QR is supposed to be adding PNH service this month.

Edited February 12, 2013 by lomatopo

[SeaVisionBurma]

There is a tick box for Transit on the reverse side of the TM-6 arrival form, under the section "Purpose Of Visit"

On the front side, in the "Address in Thailand" section, write 'Transit to Cambodia'

[SeaVisionBurma]

There are TM-6 images on line and I cannot see any box to tick for "in transit"?

The link you provided - they only show the front side of the form, not the reverse.

[Eff1n2ret]

But won't the transit desk be airside of Immigration? - so she shouldn't need to present a landing card at all.

[lomatopo]

But won't the transit desk be airside of Immigration? - so she shouldn't need to present a landing card at all.

Correct. Assuming she can somehow arrange for any checked bags to find their way to PNH then she could/would/should clear mid-field security - remaining in the international air-side portion of the terminal - and proceed to one of the two transit desks to obtain a boarding pass for the K6 flight. In this case there would be no need to complete any Immigration documentation.

I did not realize there was a "transit" option on the reverse of the Arrival TM-6 form.

[SeaVisionBurma]

But won't the transit desk be airside of Immigration? - so she shouldn't need to present a landing card at all.

True, unless she has to clear immigration and check in again - as per my earlier reply to the OP.

lomatopo - have ticked the transit option often in the past. Seems to satisfy them on the very rare occasion when customs queries my luggage.

[bigmatt081174]

I think it is a case of knowing what all the possible permutations are - in December we flew LHR-Rome-Abu Dhabi - BKK and although it was all one booking Alitalia wouldn't tag our luggage past Abu Dhabi as at that point we were switching from an Alitalia Plane to an Etihad plane. We were told we had to clear immigration and then re-check in by Alitalia but when we go to Abu Dhabi and saw the queues we explained what we were doing and only had an hour and 20 between the flights and they directed us to the Etihad transfer desk and they were able to pull the luggage and re-tag it and re-issue our boarding cards (as they also had us on the wrong flight!) So we have been there already but I just want to try and find the easiest way to do this for my wife as I will not be there and she will be with our son only!

Worst case scenario - clear customs using the transit option on the boarding card, pick up luggage then go up to the K6 desk and re-check in - hopefully all in time and not to many delays at immigration

Best case scenario - as lomatopo has mentioned when we look to check in on Saturday that PNH has been added to QR agreements (the lady I spoke to at Qatar airways did say to check as they can be added) and there is no worry!