Can you fly in and out of Bangkok in transit and get on a different airline without going through passport control

[expatinbangkok]

For example if someone booked a flight from BKK to X

 

Then they also decide to go to Y, at an earlier date

 

Is it possible to fly from Y to BKK and then get on the booked flight to X, without going through passport control. Just be in transit and proceed to the departure gate

 

Reason being, they're concerned about having too many visa exemption stamps already. They're going to X to get a tourist visa, and don't want to get one in Y

 

If it makes a difference, it's 2 different airlines

 

And if it's possible, I assume it's necessary to use web check in in advance and print out boarding pass for flight to X

[ubonjoe]

If they don't have checked baggage it may be possible.

As far as to many visa exempts goes if they did have to clear immigration they could show their tickets and/or boarding pass to show they are only transiting through Thailand if they were questioned.

[rogeroc]

Not sure at BKK and also worth noting that some airlines insist you go to 'check in' and will not issue online boarding pass.

 

A few weeks ago  i travelled with a friend  and we flew into KL on AirAsia and were due to fly out to Manila with Cebu Pacific, my friend had an online boarding pass, i did not. We accidentally ended up (well i got a bit confused) in the transit area and when i realised i needed to go out to check in i went to an information desk to ask the way back out of transit. The information desk rang Cebu Pacific who said i could remain in transit and they would send someone to the boarding gate to deal with my check in. I also noticed that the small print on the Online boarding pass for Cebu pacific that my friend had said it was still necessary to go to check in. He did not and was chastised at the gate but allowed to board. We both had hand luggage only.

 

So in summary, advance boarding pass or not it was not what we were meant to do but it worked.

Edited September 17, 2016 by rogeroc

[rogeroc]

9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If they don't have checked baggage it may be possible.

As far as to many visa exempts goes if they did have to clear immigration they could show their tickets and/or boarding pass to show they are only transiting through Thailand if they were questioned.

 

But would that still count as one more Visa Exempt?

[JerryinTH]

If its a normal layover you won't get stamped in and out of the country as you remain in the transit area. If you fly from Bangkok to Florida, over Dubai, then Dubai won't stamp you in/out as well, as you remain in the transit area and don't enter the country. 

Edited September 17, 2016 by JerryinTH

[ubonjoe]

22 minutes ago, rogeroc said:

 

But would that still count as one more Visa Exempt?

The number of visa exempt entries does not matter. There is no written limit on them.

Only how the visa exempts are done is what they would look for. Ones that look like you are trying to live here on them is what they look for.

One in and out on the same day would be ignored.

[BritTim]

If the whole trip is on the same airline (or, sometimes, airlines that have a close relationship with each other) it is often possible to receive multiple boarding cards incorporating your whole trip, and even have checked baggage sent all the way through. In some other cases (usually cabin baggage only) you can use a transfer desk in the transit area to check in for the onward flight. Some countries (for instance, the USA) require everyone to clear immigration and customs on first entry into the country and there essentially is no transit area. There are too many combinations to give a definitive answer. You need to check for each specific situation.

[rogeroc]

Ok that is interesting and good news but there has been quite a bit of discussion here recently about the number of Visa Exempts being a trigger for closer examination / questioning. I personally would prefer not to go out of transit even just to avoid stamps filling up my passport.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, rogeroc said:

Ok that is interesting and good news but there has been quite a bit of discussion here recently about the number of Visa Exempts being a trigger for closer examination / questioning. I personally would prefer not to go out of transit even just to avoid stamps filling up my passport.

There is an alert at 6 visa exempt entries. The alert is meant to inform the officer to review your entries to see why kind the are.

If they are out/in visa runs and you stay for 30 days every time there is a good chance you would be questioned you about them.

[rogeroc]

I appreciate that but it is a fact that i was questioned at BKK just 2 weeks ago (admittedly briefly and mildly) after 3 Visa Exempt in  one year and they were not back to back either, quite long periods out of Thailand. Because of this as the OP says i would rather not go out of the transit area if i did not have to. If you do not have any hold baggage maybe it is worth getting an Online boarding pass if you can and going into the transit area (as i did at KL). As long as you leave time i am sure they will let you out to passport control and check in if there is a problem. BKK is not an airport without a transit area, the USA is the only place that i have been to that is different.

Edited September 17, 2016 by rogeroc

[blackcab]

A small point but make sure the flights are all from the same airport.

[thedemon]

Providing your BKK to X flight is on a legacy carrier it will be no problem. Since you mention BKK (not DMK) I assume that is the case.

 

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/969-international-to-international-no-boarding-pass

 

Checked luggage should be no problem. Just show your ticket for the 2nd flight when checking in for the first and they will check your luggage through to the final destination.

[jacko45k]

Generally you can check your baggage through if they can find your onward from BKK reservation.

I am unsure they could issue the boarding card though if a different carrier and you would need to find the transit desk at BKK and get it there..

Edited September 19, 2016 by jacko45k

[hobobo]

59 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Generally you can check your baggage through if they can find your onward from BKK reservation.

I am unsure they could issue the boarding card though if a different carrier and you would need to find the transit desk at BKK and get it there..

I flew from BKK to KL on Air Malaysia and KL to LHR on BA. I checked my luggage through to London and got both boarding passes at BKK. No questions asked, no problems.

[hugh2121]

I have transited through many airports around the world. The only place I have found this impossible was LA, 10 years ago. I'll never go there again. First, I had to queue for ages at immigration as if USA was my destination. Then I had to collect my checked in bag from the baggage hall. Then I had to join another queue at Customs, again as if USA was my destination. I had to open all my bags and the customs officer made a big fuss about an unopened bag of nuts and raisins which had been all the way around the world the world with me. This caused another half hour delay while they went off to check if they were ok. They were. I then had to walk a very long distance with all my luggage to Transit, which turned out to be the ordinary check in hall. At that point I could have walked out of the airport, into a taxi and been in USA without a visa, nobody to stop me. Never again, I had been on a round the world trip and was simply trying to catch my flight for the final leg. Has America never heard of transit "lounges" and transit desks?

I have also transited through BKK on my way to Bali, no need to go through immigration or customs. Bags checked in already to final destination. Boarding card for flight from BKK to DPS was issued at check in at LHR.

Edited September 19, 2016 by hugh2121

[BurriAussie]

Did it last month for the vey same reason, and with different airlines. In with Singers and 3hrs latter out with Laos airlines to collect Multiple entry O visa, but hand luggage only, you may find you  will be required to collect your  boarding pass from the relevant airline at the counter inside the transit area. Very easy.

Edited September 19, 2016 by BurriAussie
miss spell

[natway09]

International airlines at Swampe will transfer your bags.

Just go the the transit area & they will arrange check in.

Different airport too hard for them 

[richard_smith237]

 

There are multiple options, an accurate answer cannot be offered until we know the Airlines. 

 

For example:

IF flying into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and out of Don Muang (DMK) you would have no choice. 

 

IF flying in and out of Suvarnabhumi (BKK) on the Same Airline, you would have no issues transiting. 

 

IF flying in and out of Suvarnabhumi (BKK) on different Airlines, things start to get tricky. The possibility of forwarding on Checked In Baggage is the major factor, as is whether or not the onward Airline has Transit Check In desk. 

 

 

As you have an onward booking the same day if it did come to being questioned its highly unlikely that you would be refused an entry at immigration to simply collect baggage and turn around. 

 

IF you haven't purchased flights yet - do so with Airlines which have a reciprocal agreement to forward on baggage to the final destination and can issue a boarding pass at initial check in or have one issued at an open Transit counter in BKK. 

 

 

 

 

 

[expatinbangkok]

Thanks for the answers guys

 

Yeah both flights are BKK airport, not DMK

 

No checked baggage

Edited September 19, 2016 by expatinbangkok

[sureno]

I just did the exact thing you are enquiring about on the 16th of this month. No point to get an exempt stamp, for spending 3 hours in the airport. Check in airside.

 

Arrived from Europe at 7am. Had a ticket (but not checked in) for onward flight to Cambodia. Just went to the relevant transit desk without going through immigration and got my boarding cards there. You need to have a printed eTicket as you will need to go through at least one checkpoint for security. Eg from EAST to WEST parts of the transit area airside. To find where you go for your boarding card there are boards showing the location of the relevant airline. 

 

However I only had cabin luggage, as I try to travel light. It is possible (or used to be) to get your bags transferred for free on non connecting flights but you get into a world of pain if it goes wrong and I would avoid it for that reason, especially at BKK.

 

Also, this works for international flights, I think it has become trickier if you are changing for a domestic flight, e.g. if I had a non connecting flight to another Thai city and I wanted to avoid waiting in immigration at Bangkok and then the checkin palava that goes with that, Bangkok Airways, for example, no longer allow you to do that.

[captainhornblower]

 

If the first airline at check in will route the checked luggage all the way through to the final destination, then it may be possible. In fact, if there is a alliance between the 2 airlines ,they may even be able issue a temporary boarding pass that has to be be reissued at the transfer desk at Swampy. 

 

Best to check with the first airline prior to check in and see what they say.

[GOLDBUGGY]

I have never did this in Bangkok, but I have in several other terminals. I would think this would not be a problem at all to do but depending on who you fly with. As to your Checked Luggage and needing another ticket it depends a lot on how you travel.

 

I used to travel from Bangkok to Frankfurt and from there on to Africa. I did not have to go through Customs in Germany. Since I was flying with Lufthansa to Germany and then on to Africa,  my luggage was just shipped on to Africa and I picked it up there. Since it was the same airline I was also able to get both Boarding Passes so I did not have to even go to the Transfer Desk for a new ticket either.

 

Another time I travel with Thai Airways to Singapore and from Singapore on to Port Moresby with Singapore Airlines. Since these 2 Airlines are Sister Airlines, my Checked Luggage was still sent from Bangkok straight to Port Moresby directly, and I did not have to pick it up in Singapore. But Thai Airways cannot issue a ticket for Singapore Airlines so I had to pick up a new ticket at the Transfer Desk in Singapore and show them my Checked Luggage Tag. If you fail to do this then you may arrive in Port Moresby, but your luggage wont.

 

The last scenario is to fly to Bangkok with one airline and then onward with a totally new and unrelated airline. I usually never travel this way unless it is a Domestic Flight after an International one but the last time I did I was forced to go through Customs and pick up my Checked Luggage first, and then go back through Customs again. 

 

I do understand that these days there are several airlines that will now share this Checked Luggage problem and send it on for you even if they are not connected, but best to check with the agent when you first check in and see if they will forward it for you or not. There is so many advantages of sticking with one airline or their sister airline when you are making a long trip. Especially if you get stuck half way.      .    

[anfh]

If you booked the whole trip at the same time and paid for all flights together, even with multiple airlines, then this is counted as a single trip, therefore any checked bags will automatically be transfered to the second flight at the stopover airport, and therefore you can go straight through the transfer gate without going through immigration.

 

however, if you booked a single direct flight to BKK, and then, at a later date , booked a second floght with a differant airline, when arriving at departure airport, they will only register the initial flight , and check bags onto that flight,  you would then  need to collect any checkin baggage on arrival at BKK, and therefore cannot avoid going through immigration. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, expatinbangkok said:

Thanks for the answers guys

 

Yeah both flights are BKK airport, not DMK

 

No checked baggage

 

Ok - that makes it much simpler to answer: 

 

Check with you onward Airline the following: 

1) Can you Check in Online & Print your own Boarding Pass 24 hrs in advance.

(Note: Some Airlines still require a desk check-in even if you have checked in online printed your own boarding pass)

or

2) Does the Airline have an Air-side Transfer Desk ?

 

IF you let us know the Airline, someone is likely to have knowledge of this on this forum. 

 

 

[humqdpf]

Provided you are taking one of the international carriers and not a budget airline and provided you are not taking pets as extra luggage, you should be able to check in at the beginning of your flight all the way through to your final destination, even though the second leg of your journey is with a different airline.

 

Clearly, Air Asia and other budget airlines are exceptions.

[Hawk]

With a prebooked onward flight,  I simply disembarked and went up to the transit area where they have check-in counters that cover every airline. Absolutely no need to pass immigration.

[chainarong]

Not unless you are travelling with or alliance partner,   a co partner or sister airline , say you used Thai then went to BA you would need to go out to get your luggage and have to come back in, If you used Thai then  co - partner Virgin Australia  you could transit through.

[laislica]

Short Transit to Other Destinations without Leaving the Airport

Foreigners, who travel via Thailand to other destinations from the same port of entry, are allowed to transit without a visa. In this regard, the Thai Immigration Division is authorized to instruct the airlines or persons in charge of the transit to ensure that the transit passengers remain in a prescribed area. Should the transit passengers be forced for any reason to remain in the prescribed area for a period longer than expected, the Immigration Division may allow such passengers to do so under guarantees by the airlines or persons in charge of the transit.

 

Extract taken from:-

http://www.thaiembassy.org/telaviv/en/services/685/17388-Entry-to-Thailand.html

 

 

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, hobobo said:

I flew from BKK to KL on Air Malaysia and KL to LHR on BA. I checked my luggage through to London and got both boarding passes at BKK. No questions asked, no problems.

Yes BA and Malaysian have an arrangement. They supply a feeder to BA flights to LHR. You can book all this route at one time via the BA website as if the same carrier. This is not the same as the question in the OP where the 2 legs are booked independently.

[Dipterocarp]

On September 19, 2016 at 0:46 PM, hugh2121 said:

I have transited through many airports around the world. The only place I have found this impossible was LA, 10 years ago. I'll never go there again. First, I had to queue for ages at immigration as if USA was my destination. Then I had to collect my checked in bag from the baggage hall. Then I had to join another queue at Customs, again as if USA was my destination. I had to open all my bags and the customs officer made a big fuss about an unopened bag of nuts and raisins which had been all the way around the world the world with me. This caused another half hour delay while they went off to check if they were ok. They were. I then had to walk a very long distance with all my luggage to Transit, which turned out to be the ordinary check in hall. At that point I could have walked out of the airport, into a taxi and been in USA without a visa, nobody to stop me. Never again, I had been on a round the world trip and was simply trying to catch my flight for the final leg. Has America never heard of transit "lounges" and transit desks?

I have also transited through BKK on my way to Bali, no need to go through immigration or customs. Bags checked in already to final destination. Boarding card for flight from BKK to DPS was issued at check in at LHR.

My friends transited BKK without going through IMM on their way to Vietnam even though they were on separate airlines by asking the transfer desk. I don't know if they had checked baggage.

 

Based on nationality a visa is required before travel even to transit a US airport, so no issue about you walking away as you must be from one of the Visa waiver countries.

I don't know if this is unique to the US but everybody has to go through this. Transiting everybody has to go through all customs and immigrations formalities at the first US port of entry. Even Foreign Air crews who are not staying in the US. For example if a Mexicana crew is flying to LA from Mexico City then flying back to MEX on the same day without layover, all the crew and all their bags must get off do the same cluster hump you did and be screened. After the 9/11 terror attacks TVOV (transit without visa) is not allowed. Before that if transiting without a required VISA such passengers would be escorted by airline/security staff until boarding next flight. This is a liability for the US airline industry as some passengers may now choose a non-us airline even if US airline is cheaper or more convenient  to avoid the hassle and expense of securing US visas. Something about being the policeman of the world I guess. Huge inconvenience and I don't know of other countries that require this. There was a case where an Iranian family with a Canadian son even ended up in US detention when their Canada bound flight diverted to Puerto Rico due to a medical emergency. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-boy-iranian-parents-held-in-us-jail/article17991694/

Edited September 20, 2016 by Dipterocarp