Thai airways and connection time

[ilovesupermarts]

Hi all. I recently snagged a return air ticket from SIN to Tokyo via BKK for $400/pax all inclusive . I choose the flight option that gave me a 55 mins transit time in BKK for the outbound flight.

Since this flight option was offered by TG, I assumed this short transit time is deemed feasible by them?

Has anyone choose this route before or experience similar transit time?

Appreciate any kind comments.. Tq!

 

[oceanicmanta]

Hi all. I recently snagged a return air ticket from SIN to Tokyo via BKK for $400/pax all inclusive . I choose the flight option that gave me a 55 mins transit time in BKK for the outbound flight.

Since this flight option was offered by TG, I assumed this short transit time is deemed feasible by them?

Has anyone choose this route before or experience similar transit time?

Appreciate any kind comments.. Tq!

yes i did a 55min connection at BKK in May, however it's from Sapporo back to SGP. I thot no harm taking a risk since its on return leg after completing holiday.

From Sapporo, the TG plane did not dock at the aerobridge, need shuttle bus to ferry to terminal, & took up more time. We made it with 15mins to spare.

the bags r through checked & passes issued. the risk is if incoming flight is seriously delayed, then wont have time to connect.

Transit at BKK can be confusing and involves long walk, signage & gate info not clear, TG wont tell u on arrival at BKK the connecting gate even on advance request. Need to clear X-ray for hand carry again, before getting to next transit gate.

Once alight from plane/reach terminal, ask ground staff direction to transit area, walk the long straight corridor, at some point you will see a Cust Svc counter, ask them for the Gate AND direction, walk, need to go up escalator 1 level, clear X-ray, then look for direction to Gate again (it could be back tracking the same way u came but 1 level up ... no shortcut).

All said, it shld be fine. Also doubt flight to Tokyo will depart right on time.

 

[ilovesupermarts]

yes i did a 55min connection at BKK in May, however it's from Sapporo back to SGP. I thot no harm taking a risk since its on return leg after completing holiday.

From Sapporo, the TG plane did not dock at the aerobridge, need shuttle bus to ferry to terminal, & took up more time. We made it with 15mins to spare.

the bags r through checked & passes issued. the risk is if incoming flight is seriously delayed, then wont have time to connect.

Transit at BKK can be confusing and involves long walk, signage & gate info not clear, TG wont tell u on arrival at BKK the connecting gate even on advance request. Need to clear X-ray for hand carry again, before getting to next transit gate.

Once alight from plane/reach terminal, ask ground staff direction to transit area, walk the long straight corridor, at some point you will see a Cust Svc counter, ask them for the Gate AND direction, walk, need to go up escalator 1 level, clear X-ray, then look for direction to Gate again (it could be back tracking the same way u came but 1 level up ... no shortcut).

All said, it shld be fine. Also doubt flight to Tokyo will depart right on time.

Thanks friend for the detailed explanation! That's like a lot to go through for a transit and it sounds like treading on a thin ice there! I always thought there will be crew holding up your transiting flight nos. And guide u all the way.

I hope we will be docked to a aerobridge for faster disembarking and not have to take a shuttle bus.

Were the passengers boarded already when u arrive at the boarding gate?

 

[rogue_strider]

Hi all. I recently snagged a return air ticket from SIN to Tokyo via BKK for $400/pax all inclusive . I choose the flight option that gave me a 55 mins transit time in BKK for the outbound flight.

Since this flight option was offered by TG, I assumed this short transit time is deemed feasible by them?

Has anyone choose this route before or experience similar transit time?

Appreciate any kind comments.. Tq!

If tg offers it, then it should be feasible as its one itinerary.

If something happens, and you miss the connection because the plane was late TG will rebook you for another flight. Sometimes, they will also hold the plane for ppl to make their connection. So don't worry so much.

If on that day, you feel your flight is slightly delayed or late and it seems a bit tight for you to make the connection, you can ask the flight attendant on board for help or advice.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Thanks friend for the detailed explanation! That's like a lot to go through for a transit and it sounds like treading on a thin ice there! I always thought there will be crew holding up your transiting flight nos. And guide u all the way.

I hope we will be docked to a aerobridge for faster disembarking and not have to take a shuttle bus.

Were the passengers boarded already when u arrive at the boarding gate?

At check-in Sapporo before departure, we already requested TG ground staff to inform BKK staff of our short connection time & if they could assist, given the confusing BKK airport. The Mgr (Thai chap) at Sapporo said he will request but no promise. True enough, no info or assistance rendered on our arrival & we had to find our way. Luckily we were mentally prepared, & roughly know the way given we transited at BKK before. When we reach gate, it was only just opened for boarding.

Maybe TG staff more confident that we can make the connection & less stressed about it.

I remember the walk to connect SG flight to Sapporo flight was much longer than the walk to connect back to SGP on return. If got old folks, it is pretty long walk either ways.

Worst case, like rogue_strider say, they will book u on next flight out (which is when ?) & claim insurance if more than 6 hours !

 

[ilovesupermarts]

@oceanicmanta how was the TG flight in terms of comfort n ife? What planes were your flights using?

 

[oceanicmanta]

@oceanicmanta how was the TG flight in terms of comfort n ife? What planes were your flights using?

SGP to BKK was a newer plane, I think 777, 3-3-3 config. Very full flight.

BKK to Sap was older plane, 3-4-3 config. Not full, was able to find empty row to lie across 4 seats at the back. Legroom was just sufficient .. I am 178cm.
The emergency row seats are narrower bcos of the IFE controller installed on the arm-rest (yes, arm rest ... never seen that before) - not comfy. Fixed arm-rest at these seats.

Flights back seemed better.

IFE is not VOD type, but can FF & RR. Food is above average.

Will still fly TG again.

 

[ilovesupermarts]

SGP to BKK was a newer plane, I think 777, 3-3-3 config. Very full flight.

BKK to Sap was older plane, 3-4-3 config. Not full, was able to find empty row to lie across 4 seats at the back. Legroom was just sufficient .. I am 178cm.
The emergency row seats are narrower bcos of the IFE controller installed on the arm-rest (yes, arm rest ... never seen that before) - not comfy. Fixed arm-rest at these seats.

Flights back seemed better.

IFE is not VOD type, but can FF & RR. Food is above average.

Will still fly TG again.

Wow.. Not VoD means quite old liao wor..I saw 747 being assigned on 2 of my flights(forgot which leg)

Thanks friend for the detailed explanations

 

[oceanicmanta]

Wow.. Not VoD means quite old liao wor..I saw 747 being assigned on 2 of my flights(forgot which leg)

Thanks friend for the detailed explanations

sorry, my mistake. Its VOD but not the latest version.

 

[rogue_strider]

Wow.. Not VoD means quite old liao wor..I saw 747 being assigned on 2 of my flights(forgot which leg)

Thanks friend for the detailed explanations

Thai IFE is quite old. Better versions are obviously on their A380s,787s and newer 777-300ers. Seat comfort is ok. Not bad but not great either.

Thai is also notorious for last minute aircraft swap so the aircraft shown in the booking may be changed on the day of the flight.

As for missing the connecting flight, thai has 2 times daily flight to tokyo so its shd be the night flight if you miss the afternoon or the afternoon flight if you miss the night one. Coming back, shdn't be too long as they have a lot of daily flights to sg.

 

[ilovesupermarts]

Thai IFE is quite old. Better versions are obviously on their A380s,787s and newer 777-300ers. Seat comfort is ok. Not bad but not great either.

Thai is also notorious for last minute aircraft swap so the aircraft shown in the booking may be changed on the day of the flight.

As for missing the connecting flight, thai has 2 times daily flight to tokyo so its shd be the night flight if you miss the afternoon or the afternoon flight if you miss the night one. Coming back, shdn't be too long as they have a lot of daily flights to sg.

Thanks as well to rouge_strider for the in depth review and explanation. I am taking the night flight from BKK to HND as per my usual practice ( I have always take JAL red eye flight for all my past visits) so it's a do or die mission here else I will be looking at staying overnight at the transit area!

 

[nemo88]

If you book directly with TG and they offer, it's a legal connection. So if your flight is delayed or takes a long time to get to gate, no matter what they are obliged to rebook you for the next available flight - though it may mean next available flight with the same fare class. But at least got several flights a day so you won't be stuck for too long!

 

[Southern Blend]

Ocean is right no aerobridge need to take bus. Be prep to be fast to board the first two bus otherwise U got to wait for next bus and the distance to the transit is quite far and u got to really walk fast and signs to transit are not really prominent located and u will not be directed unless ask ground crew