What are the requirements for South Africans transiting through Thailand and picking up luggage?

Jan 28, 2022
3 years ago
Graham *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
We are in a state of uncertainty

Our daughter who lives in Cambodia is on her way back home fromSouthAfrica,however we are not sure of the requirements for South Africans laying over at the airport in Thailand

Please can you assist with some advice

She needs to pick up her bags at the baggage area

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A South African national planning to transit through Thailand will need to comply with several entry requirements. Since she is picking up luggage between separate flight bookings, she must go through Thai immigration. The requirements include applying for a Thailand Pass, completing a Test and Go regime if fully vaccinated, and ensuring that her connecting flight to Cambodia is scheduled 24 hours or more after her arrival in Thailand. It is crucial to check with airlines for specific regulations, especially regarding sealed routes for flying to Cambodia and any quarantine mandates.
Astrid **********
If she booked 2 separate tickets hence South Africa-BKK and needs to check in for BKK-Cambodia then she needs to go through Immigration and do all requirements for entering Thailand.

Best firstly to check with booking agent or airline, plus Cambodian requirements for entering on sealed air-routes.

If she needs to go through Immigration to pick up her luggage I could imagine its meaning Thai Pass, Test & Go scheme (which is 6 days stay in Thailand but maybe 1 day Quarantaine hotel in this case??), PCRs tests, insurance etc

She most likely needs a sealed route to fly to Cambodia, might be cheaper and less time consuming to cancel and book another flight.
Steve **********
Live in Thailand. Haven't left for 2-
***
years to border countries due to fluctuations in immigration.

Find a place to lite and wait it out.
Bobby ********
Which airlines is she using?
Graham *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does the fact that she is a resident of Cambodia with all the necessary documents, and was on holiday visiting family for a couple of days make a difference?
Bobby ********
Graham W Stanley. None whatsoever. She's entering Thailand and must comply with the entry requirements. Even Djokovic would have trouble here! 🤣
Klaus *********
Many people book separate flights on separate tickets. And then you have to go through immigration to pickup your luggage and check in for the next flight.

The OP mentioned in his question that she has to pickup her luggage in Bangkok .....
John *******
Ask the airlines. Passengers never go through immigration on a transit flight nor leave the airport. Ask them.
Bobby ********
John Foose. Correct if they have a through booking, but I understand this is two separate bookings requiring pick up of luggage, clearing customs and immigration, and then checking in to another flight, so it's not transit.
John *******
@Bobby *******
I do not ever remember doing that on my way around Asia and stopping for awhile in Thailand.
Bobby ********
John Foose. Probably because you had through bookings?
Gabe ********
Was originally told my covid test results would be 4 hours. Got results 10 hours later 😆
Michael ********
She needs one ticket to be able to transit.
Red *****
@Michael *******
or 2 tickets with the same airline
Bobby ********
She will need to enter Thailand, so she's not a transit passenger. She will have to apply for a Thailand Pass. Assuming she's fully vaxxed, she can do Test & Go, but will need one night in a SHA+ hotel.
Graham *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
she is fully vaxed

Her flight to Cambodia is 12hrs later

She did book a pod, but now been she cannot use it
Klaus *********
@Graham ***********
Try to contact quarantine hotels near the airport and ask whether they offer a rapid PCR test. It will cost extra of course but might be a possibility to get onto that flight.
Graham *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks guys for all your help
Bobby ********
Graham W Stanley. She may need to reschedule the Cambodia flight, as I think it's unlikely she would have the time to travel to quarantine hotel (although there are some in the close vicinity of the airport), undertake the test and then wait for test results. It seems a very tight timeline.
Klaus *********
To be able to pick up the luggage you have to pass immigration. She needs a Thai Pass , Test and Go, and the flight to Cambodia shouldn't be earlier than 24 hours after arriving in Bangkok.
Braulio *********
@Klaus ********
Sounds like good advice. Baggage claim is after Passport Control. Absent Thai Pass and the required documentation, she won’t be allowed entry and the air carrier may also refuse to board the flight
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