Non reving out of BKK

FYI-

My wife is a UA employee. We ID90'd on Thai Airways last week to get from Bangkok to Nagoya Japan. The Thai Airway staff were kind of pains in the neck. First they insisted that we show them proof of our flights out of Japan (kind of difficult when you are flying space available). Secondly, they don't give you a DM to clear security and wait at the gate. Instead, they made us wait until 50 minutes prior to departure. This would be fine and dandy if the security lines at the new BKK airport weren't such a nightmare. The cues were about 50 yards long, and we only moved about 30 feet in 40 minutes. I literally had to push my way to the front of the line to get to the gate 10 minutes before the scheduled departure. Naturally, the plane left 35 minutes late. If I didn't push my way through the line, we probably wouldn't have made our flight.

On the positive side, the Thai Airways flight crews were great.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (drewmeister_sd @ Dec 19 2007, 10:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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First they insisted that we show them proof of our flights out of Japan (kind of difficult when you are flying space available). Secondly, they don&#39;t give you a DM to clear security and wait at the gate. Instead, they made us wait until 50 minutes prior to departure.[/b]

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Uh-huh sounds like the old &#39;nonrev runaround&#39; http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif RUN..... non-rev .....RUN http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...#>/biggrin.gif http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sp...smiley-009.gif

Thanks so much--this is the type of valuable info we need as non-revs. We did similar connection BKK to NRT but used FF miles for real, confirmed seats--such a treat!! That airport is so massive, I&#39;d say you were more than lucky to get on the plane. Glad to hear about Thai in-air service--Korean Air Business Class was extremely adequate...read that as so-so.

Of course, without migflanker&#39;s "run nonrev run" notes, it would not have been funny at all.

All- I use TG quite a bit to/from BKK to mainly NRT but also to PEK, LAX, PVG and MNL...

Please remember that TG requires all staff (using any type of ID ticket) to check in at the STAFF counter. They will only check your bags as far as TG is taking you REGARDLESS of your final destination or next stopover.. so, plan your connection time accordingly.. When you check-in at the staff conuter they will enter all your passport info and complete most check-in formalities and (most likey) give you your ticket back.. TG staff will staple or give you a small piece of paper which tells you what time to come back (once rev check-in closes).. As other have noted, this is oftenly less than 60 before departure (and yes, you still have to go thru immigration/passport controls).

Be VERY mindful of the time printed on that small piece of paper and DO NOT be late.. They will start calling names at that time, if you&#39;re not around when they call, you loose.. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/ohmy.gif

About the bags, TG will ONLY check them in as far as TG is taking you.. So, for example, if you&#39;re going BKK-NRT on TG with cnx to LAX on UA, you&#39;ll have to allow enough time for you to clear immigration and get your bags back, go to UA and recheck them.. Also, since this is their policy, TG will REQUIRE you to have a visa (if applicable to your nationality) as if you were going to stay in country.. I&#39;ve travelled positive space from NRT and they refused to thru check my bags, so as an example, this is how tough they are on this policy.


A few other quirks.. TG will NOT let you be on more than one list at a time.. In other words, if I am listed for their BKK-NRT flight, until that list is cleared I cannot ask to be checked-in for another flight. You can cancel your name off the list and check-in for something different, but you can&#39;t be on any of their lists twice. Also, the staff desk will NOT make a listing for you.. If you happen to arrive w/o a listing, go to the end of the first row of counters "A" and go into TG&#39;s customer service desk. Take a number and any of the staff there will make it for you... One note-- they will require you to SHOW your actual ID ticket before they make the lisiting for you so make sure you&#39;ve got it with you before you go over there.