Check-in times for Udon

[Orky]

I´ll arrived from Dubai 8am Dec.9.
Will i be able to reach the flight to Udon Thani as listed below:

Thursday, December 09, 2010
Departure: 10:05 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival: 11:10 Udon Thani, Thailand - Udon Thani

2 hours not much, as i need to collect my luggage first, then go to domistics !!!

Any advice .....

[BobHelm]

It is a bit the 'luck of the draw'.
The time will be taken at Immigration.
They do have a large number of booths but they all are certainly not always manned. How long it takes is luck, but I would think unless you are extremely unfortunate, 2 hours would be adequate. Bag collection is immediately after Immigration & then it is just up to the top floor, to check in Row A (& maybe B) for domestic Thai. From memory check in rows C & D are International Thai flights.

[udonthani]

Why not book direct to UTH and you will have your luggage delivered here in Udon, but by experience 2 hours is ok to get through emmigration and to pick up your luggage, but just enough.

[wazza]

U can not book your bags to Udon from an international sector, some airlines will try that for you, as your ticket shows UTH as the final destination,BUT Udon does not offer customs clearance for this domestic flight with international transferred baggage,

The airline i travel with for work _ Air Astana ( Kazakhstan ) always tries to book through and their booking system will allow it, BUT ur bag is stopped in BKK, and removed by the local customs authorities.

U will arrive in UTH and no bag, u will report to TG and they will advise you , they cant get it cleared and u either have to sighn and accept that they will open on ur behalf, or u travel to BKK again to get it cleared .

[BobHelm]

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HAVE YOUR LUGGAGE BOOKED THROUGH.
There is no customs in Udon airport so all baggage has to be unloaded & carried through at BKK.
If Thai said you could book through & you tried to do so you would miss your flight trying to re-claim it.
I know first hand as EVA in LHR said they could book my baggage direct through to Udon. If it had not been for some helpful officers in the BKK Tourist police station calling out some EVA staff I would probably still be looking for it.

[Aardvark]

Two Hours is very tight indeed. In September it took me a good Hour and a Half to clear Customs as Flights had Simultaneously landed from Singapore, India and some Middle Eastern Country. I made the Connection only because I had carry on luggage only, other wise they would have refused to issue my Ticket. As it was when I walked onto the Plane every one Stared at me cause they were waiting for the last idiot to Board before Take Off [-o<

[wazza]

Mr Vark

they stared at you coz of your Billabong singlet, Fosters Shorts, Blundstone boots and ur Akubra with optional corks

Also VB stubby holders are not required on domestic flights as the drinks are served at cabin temperature,

[jackspratt]

It was probably the Vegemite bum-bag that tipped Thai Customs over the edge.

Clean up ya' act please Aa!

[Aardvark]

Couple of Smart Arses

[lepidoptra]

I agree with Bob, it can just boil down to luck. I arrived at BKK with 1hr 30 minutes to spare. Managed to clear customs and immigration and collect my luggage within 30 minutes. Great I thought but as the domestic departures are a little way from international arrivals,when I arrived at the Air Asia check in, I was told it had closed 5 minutes before I arrived. To their credit they managed to get me on the flight but I was told my luggage would not arrive at Udon until the next day. (not a problem really). Arrived at Udon and to my surprise my luggage came bouncing out on the conveyor belt. 2 hours may be enough time but 3 would be better. It's just a chance you take

[Orky]

Okay.

Thanks, ill take a taxi to Don Muang and go with Nok Air then.

[BobHelm]

Orky, it might just be easier to book the Thai 13:50 flight. If you speed through on landing then I am sure that they would put you on the early flight, unless it was completely full...

[747man]

Do as Bob says............Really CANNOT See the Thursday Morning flight being FULL......

[wazza]

Dont forget ther ticket might have restrictions and cant be changed etc...if bought on line

Just a thought, make sure u buy a TG ticket that allows u the option with small fee etc...

[Farang1]

I made it through from landing to takeoff in 45 minutes. I was totaly amased. I didn't have checked bags, that time.

Last time I flew TG 518 from Dubai, it left Dubai 1.5 hours late. They met me and the gate in Swampy and escorted me through the 1st class imigration to get me to the flight to Udon. I had checked bag, this time. about 35 minutes with help.

If you are on Thaiair TG518, it has been my experience that, it is late leaving Dubai more often than not.

[Orky]

Thanks all.

Im will go to Don Muang, as a friend want to say hello to me, before i go to Udon.

[thalenoi]

two weeks ago arrived on Etihad landed 6.50 got thru fastrack and was checked in at Thai before 7.30.
You might want to book VIP arrivals service at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126223595856
An agent will wait for you at the gate with your name and accompany you all the way to Thai check in for a price.
I flew business class and as such get fasttrack card and priority luggage delivery. Was thru immigration in a few minutes and had to wait an other two to collect my 53 kgs bags

Even without that service I think you will be OK, count 1h max to get thru imm and collect your luggage, just try to get out the plane early and hurry to imm.