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Answered7 years ago

Do Bangkok airports offer a transit visa for short layovers between international flights?

Cindy *********
asked Aug 22, 2019
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Do the airports in Bangkok have a transit Visa?

I'm looking to break up my international flights into two. I would fly internationally into a Bangkok airport and then fly out of Bangkok on another international flight a few hours later. I will not leave the airport, or even the international terminal. Just a short layover between the two international flights.

Anyone know how that works with immigration?

Thanks!
Answer summary
Passengers flying internationally into Bangkok and out again on a separate international flight do not generally need a transit visa if they remain in the airport's international terminal and do not clear customs. However, if the flights are booked separately, travelers must clear immigration to collect and recheck their luggage, potentially receiving a 30-day Visa Exemption upon entry. It’s recommended to check with airlines regarding luggage interlining and to be mindful of potential flight delays that could affect connections.
48 repliesnewest first
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James ********
James ********
Good Luck
@Cindy ********
on your transit thru BKK. I close commenting.
Eddie *******
Eddie *******
Dont check any bags.
Tony *******
Tony *******
The only sure way is to check with the initial airline that you can check your luggage all the way through.

I flew Astana to Istanbul for a connecting Gulf flight and no matter how much I begged they still made me clear customs and buy a visa for Turkey. Which was issued and cancelled 35 mins later when I passed back through immigration
Ellie *******
Ellie *******
Check with your airlines if they let you check-in both and 'through" check-in for your luggage. Some airlines allow you to that even separate tickets and different airlines at specific airports.

Remember, if you need to clear immigration, pick up your luggage, check in to another airline, then clear immigration again for boarding at BKK, just a few hours would NOT be enough go through all unless you are travelling on 'priority' status.
Hartfried ********
Hartfried ********
I live in Myanmar. Emirates flights from BKK to Europe are almost always at least 10k THB cheaper than from RGN. I tend to avoid starting the flight from BKK though in order to avoid adding up too many previous entrance stamps to Thailand.
James ********
James ********
@Amaël *****
times are changing and while there is no specified limit be assured Thai Immigration are watching.
Amaël ******
Amaël ******
@Hartfried *******
there is no maximum visa exemptions you can have from Thailand, so you're going through unnecessary trouble.
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Hartfried *******
I'll look into that. I found flights from bkk to Berlin for $110 but I would love cheaper lol
Bob **********
Bob **********
Different bookings you'll get a 30 day exempt stamp to go check into your next flight and handle your luggage I would spend a couple nights in Bangkok
Robert *******
Robert *******
And as long as your arrival and departure are from the same airport you can stay inside Transit and do not need a Visa. BUT if you arrive on one airport and leave using the other airport, now I'm hoping your Facebook information is correct, you can use the 30 day Visa Exempt Entry as USA Passport holder.
Bill **********
Bill **********
@Ci***
there is no transit visa available at any Thai airport. Period. Thailand does have a transit visa but it has to be obtained in advance and it’s really only applicable for those not eligible for visa exemption or Visa on Arrival or ship’s crew members. Just use your 30-day visa exemption. There is no downside to that.
Paula ********
Paula ********
@Rob *****
if you book through kiwi.com they give a guarantee I'd you miss your connection due to delays they will put you in another plane no charge
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Ci***
. This is one I got from KL. It is becoming commonplace because some budget airlines do point to point on many routes and don't do through bookings. In this case I flew with Air Asia Philippines to KL then Air Asia X to Australia. I couldn't book through so I had to "enter" Malaysia for about an hour to pick up baggage clear immigration and check in again
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Bobby *******
thanks that is helpful
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Ci***
. In that case if you wish to avoid the visa exempt stamp, you are better off to interline so your luggage is checked right through. However, I don't believe a in-out stamp on the same day will count against you. What immigration is clamping down on is people who stay 30 days - extend - then border bounce, maximising their stay in Thailand. An in-out on the same day will not set off any alarms
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Bobby *******
I don't have the airlines yet. I was inquiring if this would be possible through Bangkok before committing to anything
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Rob *****
thanks for all the info! I usually savea lot of money with multiple flight bookings and definitely build in cushion for flight delays and other travel related issues!

But this time Bangkok might not work for me without an easy transit Visa.
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Cindy ********
. Can you elaborate and tell us which airlines you will be using please? This will make the advice easier
Rob ******
Rob ******
There is a transit visa, but to be honest it's easier to come in with an exempt entry, if you're eligible. Transit visas are applied for at a consulate or embassy and they have a cost. It's a lot of work for a few hours. You should have no problems entering the country on an exempt stamp if you have a flight a few hours later.

One thing to keep in mind when booking separate tickets - if your first flight is delayed and you miss the onward leg, it's 100% your responsibility and you'll have to pay whatever fees are associated with missing a flight and reticketing, neither airline will help you or is responsible for helping you.
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
I was ultimately looking to book a flight through Bangkok (same airport) but breaking it into 2 separate flights would save a significant amount of money.

However I do not want to get a 30 Visa exempt at the airport as I've gotten 2 already recently.

I was just wondering if there is a transit Visa. I hadn't factored in the luggage aspect though and needing to re check it if the flights are booked on different airlines.

Thanks all for the info and input
Rob ******
Rob ******
I don't know what you're going on about. It's not relevant to anything anyone had said. You haven't read anything by the OP or her replies.

But, on two separate tickets, she will have to clear customs some way or another. She cannot stay in transit. There are very very limited circumstances where she would be allowed to stay in transit on two separate tickets, and it's not worth going into that here because it's about the way the flight is booked, the airlines involved etc...
Robert *******
Robert *******
With two international airports it is possible to use both airports, the person ask advice not how to book a ticket but about using a Transit visa while changing international flights in Bangkok.
Rob ******
Rob ******
@Robert ******
you should read everything again, I'm not sure where you're getting that from.

She can't stay in transit on two separate tickets, no matter what airport (s) she uses.
Robert *******
Robert *******
Rob Huff And how do you go from Suvarnibhumi Airport to Don Muang airport? Is there a closed transit railway or bus system?
Rob ******
Rob ******
That she can stay inside transit. This is only applicable if she's on a single ticket. She'd have two separate tickets
Robert *******
Robert *******
What is not true?
Rob ******
Rob ******
Robert Lagas this is not true if it's two separate tickets, unless they are on the same PNR and the airlines have interline agreements and the check-in staff staff at the departure airport actually honor the interline agreements and thru-check any baggage.
Rob ******
Rob ******
If you're flying on two separate tickets, it's almost certain you'll have to clear customs to collect your luggage and recheck it. Some airlines may interline it for you, but count on having to clear customs and enter the country to collect your bags and check in for your next segment.
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Cindy ********
. To collect your luggage and recheck it, you will have to clear immigration and customs, which means you will have entered the country. I have done similar in both KL and Singapore
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Rob *****
that's a good point. Luggage will need to be re checked. That's where transit visas come in handy!
Steve *********
Steve *********
If both flights are on ONE booking and the arrival and departure airport is the same, you'll not pass immigration.

If you've bought 2 separate tickets, then 99% certain that you'll have to clear immigration and check in again.
Steve *********
Steve *********
My company will always interline IF it's in 1 pnr. We won't if it's on 2. Even on partner airlines.
Rob ******
Rob ******
@Steve ********
I've had mixed experience interlining on international itineraries. Just because the airlines have an agreement doesn't mean you'll get to benefit from it.
David ************
David ************
@Cindy ********
I think you messed yourself up doing two separate bookings
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Steve ********
thanks for the info!
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Cindy ********
then contact your airline and find out if they are willing to interline your bags. If not, then you have no choice but to "land" and recheck.
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
Steve Mathers I'm trying to avoid an exemption stamp as I've had 2 already recently and will only be transiting through the airport from 1 flight to the next.

Seems that flight option might not be best.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Cindy ********
you don't need Transit visa. Americans can enter on visa exemption stamp for 30 days.
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Steve ********
USA. It doesn't seem that Bangkok has a transit Visa as some countries do for situations like these.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Cindy ********
if you're on 2 separate bookings you WILL be entering the country. Not many airlines will through-check (interline) your bags to the final destination if they're separate bookings on different PNRs.
Steve *********
Steve *********
@Cindy ********
what's your nationality?
Steve *********
Steve *********
Stephen Woods from the baggage Hall after immigration. Then walk up to check in.
Rob ******
Rob ******
Cindy Fonseca this is for cases where it's a single passenger name record (PNR). IF you can get two sperate tickets on the same PNR it'll be much easier to avoid clearing customs and having your bags interlined. But don't count on this, you'll need a good travel agent to make a ticket like this for you.
Stephen *******
Stephen *******
@Steve ********
Correct. How would you collect your luggage and check in again?
Cindy *********
Cindy *********
OP
@Steve ********
they would be on 2 separate bookings. I know some airports have a transit Visa since you aren't actually leaving the airport and entering the country.
Jack *********
Jack *********
if you not going to pass through immigration/customs and just stay in the airport then you're not entering Thailand.....so no visa needed.
John ********
John ********
Then you don’t need a visa
Rick ***********
Rick ***********
You must first book both flights up front and have boarding passes to avoid immigration.

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