I'll be looking to do a fly/drive visa run to Savannakhet in the future. Ideally I can get to the friendship bridge and cross over after arriving in Nakon Phanom on the same day. I've got a couple of questions that will help me plan this out.

What time does the friendship bridge close from MUK to Savannakhet?

Does both Nok Air and Air Asia stop at the bridge, or is this some sort of special request as their service only suggests they take you to Mukdahan.

Has anyone been able to arrive on say a Monday, drop off paperwork on Tuesday, pick up passport on Wednesday and make it back to BKK on Wednesday, or does the scheduling only allow you to get to BKK on Thursday? I'm pretty sure AirAsia only does this trip in late afternoon from Nakon Phanom, and only early morning from Mukdahan to Nakon, while Nok Airs says one thing, but their schedule shows another.

The bridge is open until 10 pm but the Lao visa on arrival office closes at 6 pm. If you arrive late you can spend the night in Mukdahan and take the first bus ( 07:30 ) to Savannakhet and do you application the next morning.

They both will stop at the bridge since they pass by it on the way Mukdahan. You should ask to be sure they stop for you.

It is possible to pick up your passport and get the airlines transport to Nakhon Phanom or Sakon Nakhon (Nok Air)..

Nok Air has the most fly/ride flights.

Thanks ubonjoe, I was hoping to avoid having to go to MUK, only to turn around in the morning and head back to the bridge.

Yes I have done it 6 months ago , back to Bangkok same day as I collect my passport, used bus from MUC bus garage to cross bridge and to come back runs every 30 min . make sure you know where your return bus is leaving from in MUC, got my info from Ubonjoe,