Can I check my bags through from Chiang Mai to Tokyo, and do I need to go through immigration in Bangkok?

Thai Visa Airport Transit Baggage Handling Immigration Rules Multiple Entry Visa Traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Customs Procedures

Feb 27, 2023

2 years ago

Bonny *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am leaving Thailand for home.  My trip goes from CM to BKK and on to Tokyo.  My layover in BKK is 10 hrs so I have opted for an airport pod. 

 Two questions, 

When I get to the airport in Chiang Mai can I put my luggage in the system and pick up my bags at home.

Second question.  I don't want to go through immigration in Chiang Mai since I will have to go to the lower level of the BKK terminal and sleep.  I hope to bypass immigration and travel on the plane to another city in Thailand and, in the morning, go through customs and be on my way home.  I have six month visa with multiple entry (expires April,) but I will not be leaving Thailand for 12 hrs after I get to Bangkok. In the past, when I left CM, I was leaving the country.  Thank you to whoever can answer my questions

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual is inquiring about luggage handling and immigration procedures while traveling from Chiang Mai (CM) to Bangkok (BKK) and then to Tokyo. They want to know if they can check their luggage through to Tokyo and if they must go through immigration in Bangkok, especially since they have a long layover and plan to stay airside. Responses clarify that if all flights are on one ticket, generally, luggage can be checked through; however, if on separate tickets, they must collect their luggage and clear immigration.

Bobby ********

You simply fly domestic from CM to Bangkok, so you're free to roam when you get to Bangkok. BTW, you don't go through customs leaving Thailand, only entering.

2 years ago

Jeffrey *********

I did this a number of years ago, so I don't know whether things have changed. I was flying overseas on Thai Airways from Chiang Rai, with a change of plane in Bangkok. I wanted to check my bags through and then leave the airport for a couple of hours in BKK, but they wouldn't allow it. My choices were: check the luggage all the way through, go through immigration at Chiang Rai, and stay in transit in BKK; or, check bags only to Bangkok and have to reclaim and recheck them before passing through immigration there. I chose to check everything through.

For those who aren't aware, you absolutely can go through immigration at your airport of origin and transit directly from domestic to international in Bangkok, IF your flights are all on one reservation, AND you're leaving from a participating airport (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Hat Yai, Trat). Best to ask your airline.

2 years ago

Bobby ********

@Jeffrey ********

Once you've cleared immigration you're "sterile" so to speak so cannot leave the "system" so have to stay in transit in Bangkok. If you want to leave the airport at Bangkok, the first leg of the journey remains domestic so you don't clear immigration until Bangkok. So what has happened in the past to you is correct

2 years ago

Reply to

Bobby ********

Darren *******

Luggage - if your flights are all on the same ticket then yes. If you have two separate tickets then no.

Immigration part - if separate tickets then you need to go through immigration in Bangkok. If on one ticket and you're in transit in Bangkok then I don't know for sure.

2 years ago

Bonny *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you...yes one ticket with long layover in BKK I will just have a backpack now that everything is checked.

2 years ago

Reply to

Bonny *******

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