4 hours international transit at BKK on separate PNRs - a goer ?

[Nizar]

Hi,

I need to get to CDG in August and I'm really keen on two things;
- Trying QR 388 F
- Trying the new Al-Safwa F lounge at DOH

Since award travel QR 388 in F for two pax is pretty hard to find, I am looking at revenue fares ex-BKK, which don't look to be disastrous value. I'm seeing BKK-DOH-CDG in F for around A$8,400 for two pax, which will see me on the 388 on both legs.

I'm still trying to figure out why and how come QR are choosing to use their 388s on medium haul routes but anyway that's another discussion !

So to get to BKK I am considering all options, and here are my questions:

1/ If I fly to BKK flying a OW airline, like QF, will they be able to check me all the way to CDG if I show them my onward journey from BKK even though it will be on separate PNRs ?
2/ If the answer to 1 is yes, will I be able to likely make a 4 hour transit ? (QF arrives at 4:30pm, and the QR flight departs at 8:30pm)
3/ If the answer to 1 is no, will I be able to likely make a 4 hour transit ?
4/ If the answer to 1 is yes but to 2 is no, if my QF flight to BKK was J would that help improve my chances of making my QR flight (express queues etc) ?

Thanks

 

[ozbeachbabe]

QF will thru check bags to QR on separate pnrs as both airlines are members of OW.

They should alao be able to give you the QR boarding passes.

Have you looked into purchasing AA points to redeem for QR award tickets in F as opposed to spending $8K on the tickets?

 

[Nizar]

Have you looked into purchasing AA points to redeem for QR award tickets in F as opposed to spending $8K on the tickets?

Yes and as I said, hardly any award seats on QR 388 F on those routes. Last min there is some availability but usually just for one pax, but even that is more ex-CDG. Very hard to find anything at all in F for ex-BKK and ex-DOH. Actually ex-DOH you can get availability but only on the 346.

And thanks for the info, appreciate it.

 

[Nizar]

QF will thru check bags to QR on separate pnrs as both airlines are members of OW.

They should alao be able to give you the QR boarding passes.

So given that QF will do the above for me does that mean that I have a reasonably good chance of making my connection ?
I haven't been to BKK so not sure how large it is and how fast things tend to move there or whether the airport is super busy at specific times, etc.

Cheers.

 

[yohy?!]

4 hours is probably fine- transit at BKK is efficient if you have your onward boarding pass just check out which gates your flights will go into and out from in case you need to walk as it's quite far between the 2 wings (20 odd min walk)

 

[Joshua]

I would say four hours is both comfortable but pragmatic. You could certainly do less, I've done a 2 hour transit DOM-INT on TG & VN and have very comfortably done 4 hours INT-INT on QV and CX all on separate bookings. Through checking should be more than enough but if you're really concerned, feel free to ring QR reservations and have the QF flight added as an AK sector on the reservation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Note that while the qantas policy is to interline bags, even on separate PNRs, between OW airlines, this doesn't always translate into reality. Some check-in agents either don't know the rules, or don't know how to do it (or maybe both?)

I have been told by MEL check-in to collect my bags in SYD if I want to through check to a subsequent OW airline, or alternatively, to collect bags at the last QF sector, and recheck to the OW airline at the transit city.

If this happens, just be patient. Eventually one of their colleagues or a supervisor will sort it out (ie don't just accept you have to collect your bags!)

If you are flying QFd to connect in SYD to QFi, it's probably a good idea to leave some extra time to check in for the domestic portion in case there are any baggage issues.

Otherwise... 4 hours is plenty of time to connect in BKK.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Note that while the qantas policy is to interline bags, even on separate PNRs, between OW airlines, this doesn't always translate into reality. Some check-in agents either don't know the rules, or don't know how to do it (or maybe both?)

I have been told by MEL check-in to collect my bags in SYD if I want to through check to a subsequent OW airline, or alternatively, to collect bags at the last QF sector, and recheck to the OW airline at the transit city.

If this happens, just be patient. Eventually one of their colleagues or a supervisor will sort it out (ie don't just accept you have to collect your bags!)

If you are flying QFd to connect in SYD to QFi, it's probably a good idea to leave some extra time to check in for the domestic portion in case there are any baggage issues.

Otherwise... 4 hours is plenty of time to connect in BKK.

I would say that is a rare occurrance however if you are told that ask the CSA why they are telling you something that is contrary to QF policy.

If it cannot be rectified with the CSA then politely ask for them to seek clarification with the supervisor.

There will be occasions when you may not receive all your boarding passes at check in however your bags can still be tagged to your final destination. You would then get the other boarding pass at a transit stop enroute.