Airside connection to JQ in BKK?

[tuapekastar]

I have been searching for a (positive) answer to this, but info received seems to indicate that it is not possible - even an online 'chat' with JQ was unable to provide a definite answer one way or the other - (and Plan B is ready to go). Posting here in case anyone has had a positive experience.

I want to fly MEL-BKK on JQ, and eventually the return. In between i want to fly BKK-KUL-SIN and return. Ideally I would like to fly into BKK on the MH flight, and obtain the JQ BP for BKK-MEL airside at a transfer or connections desk, thus avoiding the need to 'immigrate' to get to the JQ check in counter landside to get the BP. Will be hand luggage only.

Plan B is to just 'immigrate' and overnight in BKK. It would be the second 'immigration' into Thailand within a week, hope that sort of thing does not arouse suspicions.

I do not fancy doing it all (arrive, immigrate, check-in, go back airside and depart) in the one evening.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry I can't help with the JQ question but thinking it should be possible at the transfer desk. Is it possible to print JQ boarding pass online in KUL before you arrive in BKK? Then you should be able to stay airside.

Plan B is to just 'immigrate' and overnight in BKK. It would be the second 'immigration' into Thailand within a week, hope that sort of thing does not arouse suspicions.

Shouldn't be a problem. There were times where I did BKK-SIN-BKK-HKG-BKK-SIN-SYD etc in the space of a couple of days. Never had an issue.

I do not fancy doing it all (arrive, immigrate, check-in, go back airside and depart) in the one evening.

If you chose this option it should be painless.

 

[tuapekastar]

Sorry I can't help with the JQ question but thinking it should be possible at the transfer desk. Is it possible to print JQ boarding pass online in KUL before you arrive in BKK? Then you should be able to stay airside.


Shouldn't be a problem. There were times where I did BKK-SIN-BKK-HKG-BKK-SIN-SYD etc in the space of a couple of days. Never had an issue.


If you chose this option it should be painless.

Cheers JohnK, pretty sure OLCI is not an option in my case - from JQ website: "If you have an international flight or a domestic flight from an international terminal, go to the airport counter to get a boarding pass. You must go before the airport counter check-in closes. If you’re travelling on a 3K flight between Singapore and Kuala Lumpar (sic) you’ll receive your boarding pass by email and will need to present it at the web check-in counter at the airport."

And I read a hard luck story about a guy at BKK who was trying to do similar to me (arrived on other airline, wanted a JQ BP without going airside, was given misinformation by BKK airport staff, then JQ eventually said - too late - he would have to go landside and check in, despite an apparent signposted, but unstaffed JQ transfer desk, and of course by then he missed the check in cut off and had to buy a fresh ticket to SIN, which he did so on Tiger). I'm not chancing it.

Thanks for the other bits of info, I may just reassess and do it all on one day/evening. I hear horrendous stories of how long immi takes at BKK, wondering what your personal experience is like re this, will help me plan. Ta.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for the other bits of info, I may just reassess and do it all on one day/evening. I hear horrendous stories of how long immi takes at BKK, wondering what your personal experience is like re this, will help me plan. Ta.

I have never had an issue with immigration but that could all depend on whether you have Fast Track arrivals cards or not and the time of day you arrive.

Most of my arrivals are late in the evening and I usually have Fast Track arrivals cards except for November when I came in on RJ business and they did not have any Fast Track arrivals cards to hand out. Went to normal queue and only 2-3 people in immigration queues. Got through quickly. I also find luggage efficient although you won't have that issue.

A few years back I used to arrive in on CX from SIN late afternoon and again had Fast Track arrivals card. Normal queues can get 10+ people in queue but the longest I have ever had to wait is 20-30 minutes without Fast Track arrivals card. I have lost count of the number of times I have been through Thai immigration. Well over 50.

Have forms filled out before arrivals. Pick the right queue. Avoid queues that look like they will take a while. Try to be one of the first off the plane and rush to immigration. There are 2 immigration arrivals points. If one looks like being slow then rush to other one. You may get a comment from immigration but they won't refuse you.

There is a fast track arrivals service available. Used to be 700 baht but is now 1100 baht.

 

[tuapekastar]

I have never had an issue with immigration but that could all depend on whether you have Fast Track arrivals cards or not and the time of day you arrive.

Most of my arrivals are late in the evening and I usually have Fast Track arrivals cards except for November when I came in on RJ business and they did not have any Fast Track arrivals cards to hand out. Went to normal queue and only 2-3 people in immigration queues. Got through quickly. I also find luggage efficient although you won't have that issue.

A few years back I used to arrive in on CX from SIN late afternoon and again had Fast Track arrivals card. Normal queues can get 10+ people in queue but the longest I have ever had to wait is 20-30 minutes without Fast Track arrivals card. I have lost count of the number of times I have been through Thai immigration. Well over 50.

Have forms filled out before arrivals. Pick the right queue. Avoid queues that look like they will take a while. Try to be one of the first off the plane and rush to immigration. There are 2 immigration arrivals points. If one looks like being slow then rush to other one. You may get a comment from immigration but they won't refuse you.

There is a fast track arrivals service available. Used to be 700 baht but is now 1100 baht.

Thanks JohnK, that is great info. I'm conservative by nature when it comes to these things, so will toss up whether to overnight or not.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks JohnK, that is great info. I'm conservative by nature when it comes to these things, so will toss up whether to overnight or not.

If you do overnight then consider Ladkrabang hotels. Reasonably priced and good value for money.

And the local night markets at Ladkrabang are quite good. Nice variety of food available and other shopping opportunities to pass the time. Not sure which night they operate. I was there on a Thursday night and did not leave hungry.

 

[drron]

Searching on the BKK airport website comes up with nothing for a JQ transfer desk.

 

[JohnK]

It took a while but finally found it.

Suvarnabhumi Airport : Airport of Smiles

Click on Westside then Transfer West 2 at Concourse F counter Y57.

 

[GeraldG]

Cheers JohnK, pretty sure OLCI is not an option in my case - from JQ website: "If you have an international flight or a domestic flight from an international terminal, go to the airport counter to get a boarding pass. You must go before the airport counter check-in closes. If you’re travelling on a 3K flight between Singapore and Kuala Lumpar (sic) you’ll receive your boarding pass by email and will need to present it at the web check-in counter at the airport."

I was on a 3K sin-kul-sin did a web check-in and print my BP, on arrival in kul I just reboard.

 

[tuapekastar]

Cheers JohnK, pretty sure OLCI is not an option in my case - from JQ website: "If you have an international flight or a domestic flight from an international terminal, go to the airport counter to get a boarding pass. You must go before the airport counter check-in closes. If you’re travelling on a 3K flight between Singapore and Kuala Lumpar (sic) you’ll receive your boarding pass by email and will need to present it at the web check-in counter at the airport."

I was on a 3K sin-kul-sin did a web check-in and print my BP, on arrival in kul I just reboard.

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Cheers GeraldG. I think the problem is that you cannot do this on JQi. 3K at SIN and KUL yes, but JQi anywhere = no, unfortunately (at least that is how I read it).

 

[tuapekastar]

It took a while but finally found it.

Suvarnabhumi Airport : Airport of Smiles

Click on Westside then Transfer West 2 at Concourse F counter Y57.

Well sleuthed JohnK, I imagine that was tucked away back in the dark corners of the site.

I think whatever I do, I am going to plan for not being able to connect landside. If it turns out I can, then that is a bonus.