Tight connection in BKK help !

[Nizar]

Hi guys,

I recently booked an award flight to MCT, the full routing is like this
MEL 13:10-19:25 BKK in JQ Y
BKK 21:15-00:05 DOH in QR F
DOH 13:50-16:40 MCT in QR F (regional)

This is all on the one ticket, an award ticket that was booked using QF points.

Now the problem is this, JQ I believe do not (or perhaps will not) interline bags to any other carrier (except maybe QF?) so this means I will have to collect my bags, clear immigration and customs, then check-in again.

I've never been to BKK so not sure how many terminals there are or how big the airport is, or if a 7pm arrival is peak arrival time, etc, but I feel like this connection will be very stressful and extremely tight.

Can someone who's familiar BKK please assist in answering the following:
1/ What are your thoughts on this connection ? Even though it meets MCT I feel like its a non goer ?
2/ Does BKK airport consist of several terminals that are far apart etc ? (I did some googling - seems like just the one main terminal ?)
3/ Is 7pm peak arrival time for international flights ?
4/ Are the immigration queues total chaos at BKK ?
5/ Is this an absolute write off lol ?

What can I do to make this work ?
Perhaps not check-in any bags ? (I wouldn't mind this, my wife on the other hand lol)
Pay extra to sit near the very front of the plane ?

Any ideas/suggestions much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Cynicor]

Write off with luggage. Without fast track you'll have a variable experience through immigration. Sometimes hour-long queues, sometime much shorter.

HLO would probably be safe enough as you have up to 45min or an hour to check in.

 

[serfty]

Since this is all on the one booking and an international to international connection and Qatar is an "airline partner" then your bags should be checked through.

Baggage transfers and flight connections | Jetstar

I strongly suggest printing that page and being at the appropriate check-on counters at MEL when check-in opens. (Only get out the print-out if the agent get confused and tries to deny through check.)

 

[Cynicor]

Oh, I thought it was separate bookings. Yep, through checked luggage, plenty of time and you'll be more than fine. I've done 30 min connections in BKK

 

[SuzieQ68]

Question? Shouldn't the OP receive BP's for the all three flights when checking @ MEL?

Haven't done the LCC to FSC transit before so not sure how it all works, but would have thought that if all on one ticket, the OP wouldn't even have to clear immigration in BKK, just transit through and clear immigration at final destination? Is this not the case?

 

[JohnK]

Transiting BKK should be ok and relatively quick.

If luggage is not checked through there are transfer desks in BKK that should be able to tag luggage through. I would want a lot longer than 1h40m to clear customs, collect luggage, check-in and back through immigration.