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Is 5 hours enough for collecting baggage and checking in at Bangkok airport during transit?

Oct 22, 2022
4 years ago
Pawan ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any recent experience of immigration at Bangkok? I'm passing through Bangkok for my US flight - but need to collect bags and check in again. Would 5 hours between landing and take off be sufficient for me to collect bags and recheck? I'll get transit visa before so will avoid visa on arrival queues for sure.

Another - does bus/train transfer between DMK and BKK airports operate 24*7. While returning, I'm landing at BKK mid night and have early morning from DMK... Analyzing, what options I've beside private taxi that I want to avoid as at midnight hours.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the adequacy of a 5-hour layover in Bangkok to collect baggage and recheck for a US flight, along with questions about the transit visa process and airport transfer options between Don Mueang (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airports at midnight. Community comments suggest that 5 hours is likely sufficient for baggage collection, referencing personal experiences of quick processing times. However, there is uncertainty about the availability of bus/train transfers between the two airports outside of early morning hours, with a consensus that taxis might be the only reliable option at that time.
Brandon ************
Most of the trains and buses and at midnight or earlier. Your only option might be taxi
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Greg ********
Last time I was in BKK 2019 the bus to DMK started at 6 or 6.30 am from memory it was not 24 hours
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Pawan ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
@Gr**
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Pawan ***********
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Alistair **********
Came through (visa exempt) a couple months ago, from landing to getting my bags was under 30mins.
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Graham ******
What nationality passport are you travelling on?
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Pawan ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gra***
Indian.
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Graham ******
@Pawan **********
Check the requirements on the Thao Embassy or Consulate website of the country you are departing from. As an Indian passport holder you can get a Visa on Arrival for 2200 Baht if a transit visa is not available to you.
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Pawan ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gra***
transit is available for my passport and I'm getting it stamped next week. The only doubt I've is time needed to do two immigrations (out and in) and self transfer of bags....
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Graham ******
@Pawan **********
Go on a site such as flightradar24.com and input your flight number to see the recent history to check if it often runs late and, if so, by how much. If it doesn't run late then 5 hours will be plenty of time.
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Graham ******
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