Flights to Da Nang

Next week is Tết in Vietnam and Lunar New Year throughout East and Southeast Asia. It's the Year of the Dragon.

    Hi all,
A general knowledge one (or solid guesswork) for seasoned fliers on here.

I fly into BKK on a Saudi air flight with checked baggage next week.

I would be trying to make a flight with Vietjet air (ie non-connecting) to Da Nang 3 hrs later from same airport.

Am i cutting it too fine to collect my bags on arrival, go through customs  / immigration, check in etc again with Viet jet air in a 3 hr time frame ?

Many thanks for any input
   

    -@John123470

John, I have done similar many many times I.E. fly into BKK, enter Thailand & transit to Vietnam & to be honest your question is a bit like throwing the dice. Reason being there are so many variables ....

1....your flight might be late getting in to BKK.

2....If you are unlucky & your Saudi flight just happens to arrive BKK at the same time as 10 other big international flights you could well be at least 30 minutes at immigration.

3....If your flight arrives at a terminal slot far away from immigration you can well be faced with a 15 minute walk to Immigration.

4....If your flight does not dock at a walk off slot & you have to leave the plane & take a bus to the terminal & then walk to Immigration you could add at least another 30 minutes just to get to immigration.

5.....Now you are through immigration & pick up your luggage & get to your Vietjet check in add another 30 minutes.

6.....You get to Vietjet check in & as another poster says because its TET & going to be busy &  knowing Vietjet check in at BKK it could well be one of the most frustrating experience of your life but at least you know you are at the check in.

7....Now you get your Vietjet ticket & make it to departure security & its busy add another 30 minutes there.

8....Now you are through security & get to Immigration & again its busy you can add another 30 minutes there.

9....Leg it to the Vietjet departure gate (& its a long way) but at least you are checked in & they will wait.

So to conclude...............all going well 3 hours to do what you want is OK. But with the variables I have noted for you, 3 hours would be tight!

Many thanks for replies above (esp the comprehensive reply by Good ol boy)

Yes, too tight a timeframe and added risk of losing flight seems about right.  I'll do an overnight in BKK instead. 

In fact, given its TET, I just might escape all the shenanigans by staying on in BKK till TET is done and over.

Im trying check in a musical instrument also and potential dramas occurring there despites all being paid for - being the season thats in it

Thanks again goodolboy !

"VietJet Air recorded a delay ratio of 74%..." (Link VN Express)

Even if your Saudi flight is on time, you might be looking at more than a 3 hour layover anyway. Still, one night in Bangkok would certainly take the rush/stress out of the picture.

Thanks Aidan

Yes, a stop overnight in BKK seems wisest.

Murphy's LAW has been my only constant past few weeks of travels

If anything goes to plan now, i get worried

Another question for the Wise ones re flying into Da Nang.

I have a choice from BKK to choose either Air Asia or ThaiVietjet. 

I have 2 piece luggage × 23 kg and 1 musical instrument, 20 kg odd.

Im getting conflicting info re best airline (cheapest is what am after of course).

Just wonder if anyone has flown stuff into Vietnam from Thailand on either of the above airlines.

PS update : have learned frm Thai Viet Jet air that can only fly in 50 Kg (on the most expensive - Skyboss ticket ie.$290 allows 50 Kg checked baggage). Not possible pay extra to fly the instrument

Air Asia i will check

Many thanks

Well, good that i am the sober one here - while other members are obviously Kampay-ing each other in their mad rush to celebrate Tet .. I've managed to answer my own question

So Air Asia does allow one purchase up to Kg 60 + sports item (im asuming musical instrument will pass muster also)

Only drawback is they fly out of DMK, not Suvarnabhumi .. but a lot cheaper.

With Thaiviet jet, you are obliged to buy  a "Skyboss" ticket at some $300 to fly max 50 kg weight.

The Air asia flight with aforementioned wght costs $180

All above is potential hearsay of course until we get we said items on board

@John123470

A follow up .. possibly not of any use for any readers on this forum .. but here goes with my saga.

Air Asia allow 50 kg [paid excess] + 25 kg for a "sports item".  I phoned an Air Asia nmbr and after much seeking was told  a piano is ok instead of "sports item" if i just pay for the extra weight, which i duly did.

However, i would now have to move my camel train of luggage from Suvarnabhumi airport to DMK airport 1 hour taxi ride away to avail of the flight.

I did just that and booked an overnight hotel near DMK airport.

I went to DMK this morning after my epic pilgrimage of flying my piano from Jeddah S Arabia to DMK.

Lady at check in said no, you cannot take piano, only "sports items" allowed. 

(Does Air Asia only have a soft spot for hairy, tattooed surfboarders ?? Are piano players too boring?).  The piano box was well within allowed dimensions etc

Anyhoo, nothing would placate them .. unless of course i forked out another €450 on top of the excess already paid to cover cost of flying a musical instrument 😀 

At this point, the monies paid out to cargo this piano from sandy crotch to BKK, DMK, were costing more than piano was worth.  I smiled throughout the ordeal ..  why give folk a double whammy of being unreasonable with you and you breaking out in Tourettes with frustration .. so .. i parked piano in storage in DMK ..

Murphy's Law is on my case.  No let up