Thats what I call a tight connection !!

[Rawhide2 1,343]

With outbounds out of Heathrow stacked waiting to go as always then either a lot of times passengers miss the Bangkok connection or its held on a regular basis !

 

[accyboy 78]

Tightest thing I’ve seen in years ?

[forcebwithu 4,853]

I wonder if you tried to book it if the airline would let it go through. Most airlines have minimum connection times allowed for a reservation to go through. Booking sites are probably not smart enough to take that into consideration when throwing up flight and route options.

[helloitsme 251]

I was offered a KLM flight, lhr-bkk via Amsterdam, on the KLM website, with a 40 minute stopover on the outbound flight. 

As I had never been to schiphol before, and feared getting lost, I declined and took an earlier lhr-ams flight.

I do wonder if I'd have made that connection,  or if there'd have been an escort meeting me off the first flight and dragging me at a quick March to the next departure gate...

[Rawhide2 1,343]

4 hours ago, forcebwithu said:

I wonder if you tried to book it if the airline would let it go through. Most airlines have minimum connection times allowed for a reservation to go through. Booking sites are probably not smart enough to take that into consideration when throwing up flight and route options.

Thats a regular time and connection on Austrian Airlines. Its not a one off. I've seen it many times on Travel Trolley quotes last few years......clearly the airline says its workable and as such bookable. Will see if I can get it on Austrians own site and screenshot up

[Rawhide2 1,343]

Yep its on their own website and actually quotes shorter connection of 30 minutes. Date was random.... @Brown1950 is that viable ??

 

Edited January 7, 2020 by Rawhide2

[martini9946 129]

wow thats nearly as tight as the girls on soi 6 555555

[teelack 9,640]

I guess that its all about your age and time available.

Of recent time I have had to spend nights in Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Auckland and other places due to all sorts of issues. As long as the airlines put me up and I sometime get a chance look at places that I have never seen before then I put it down as a bonus. The only thing that got me really wild was finding out that the HK $75  that I got for breakfast at the airport was a joke. I complained and got $US 100 in compensation! I would also be pissed of if this was my once a year holiday but other than that I accept missed planes and connections as part of the deal. 

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

1 hour ago, teelack said:

I guess that its all about your age and time available.

Of recent time I have had to spend nights in Melbourne, Sydney, Hong Kong and Auckland and other places due to all sorts of issues. As long as the airlines put me up and I sometime get a chance look at places that I have never seen before then I put it down as a bonus. The only thing that got me really wild was finding out that the HK $75  that I got for breakfast at the airport was a joke. I complained and got $US 100 in compensation! I would also be pissed of if this was my once a year holiday but other than that I accept missed planes and connections as part of the deal. 

We often don't get experiences matching our expectations. You're right to at least expect to be properly compensated; for more than just coin.

[JONPAT 222]

On 1/6/2020 at 8:47 PM, Rawhide2 said:

With outbounds out of Heathrow stacked waiting to go as always then either a lot of times passengers miss the Bangkok connection or its held on a regular basis !

 

 

If I had an hour and twenty connection time, Zurich would be the place I'd want it at. No going thru security between arrival and departure. Well, not from the Chicago to Zurich to Bangkok itinerary.

[Brown1950 67]

On 1/7/2020 at 7:04 AM, Rawhide2 said:

Yep its on their own website and actually quotes shorter connection of 30 minutes. Date was random.... @Brown1950 is that viable ??

 

Coincidental flying with Austrian Airlines to Vienna in March.

My observations are the connection time is ok providing of course no  significant delays are on the incoming connection from LHR ! (Flight time ex LHR is normally 1hr 45mins)

Edited January 10, 2020 by Brown1950

[jacko 8,814]

8 hours ago, Brown1950 said:

Coincidental flying with Austrian Airlines to Vienna in March.

My observations are the connection time is ok providing of course no  significant delays are on the incoming connection from LHR ! (Flight time ex LHR is normally 1hr 45mins)

I think I too had a worryingly tight connection through Vienna once, made it. but I was fretting and running.....not nice to get stressed out like that. Connections from LHR... do ANY flights leave on-time from there, it has not been my experience?

[nkped 1,208]

Once my Eva flight out of Bangkok was quite a bit delayed.  In Taipei, I was convinced I would miss the connecting flight to Seattle.  I headed straight for the gate but did not run while I rehearsed my "Guess what boss" call.  To my relief, they had held the flight.

[Rawhide2 1,343]

18 hours ago, nkped said:

Once my Eva flight out of Bangkok was quite a bit delayed.  In Taipei, I was convinced I would miss the connecting flight to Seattle.  I headed straight for the gate but did not run while I rehearsed my "Guess what boss" call.  To my relief, they had held the flight.

lol that reminds me of Eva delayed out of Bangkok must have been around 2006 (ish) due to heavy fog at Heathrow which at sat their already for a day and showed no sign of shifting. Planes arriving at Heathrow had double seperation hence the delay leaving Bangkok

We're way late due in around 10.15pm (turnaround was aborted that night) and we could see from screens obviously that we're on final descent. Couldn't see absolutely anything out of the windows no lights nothing. Suddenly theres one helluva bang and lurch. Probably at least half the passengers screamed and I definately shouted something lol everyone thinking we've hit something.

We'd landed completely blind obviously on auto and the heavy bang had been the landing. Looking out the window now on stand STILL cannot see anything.....then just below me a car pulled up with yellow fog lights and you could just see them lol

Never seen fog like it. Fair play to Eva they were giving out hotel vouchers for people who had missed train/coach connections (and ongoing flights) so gratefully acceped it and got coach home next morning instead. Eva refunded that subsequently as well as had to buy new ticket

[Butch 3,456]

I think there is a judgement call to be made on connection times, a sweet spot between not crapping yourself that you won't have time as opposed to sitting around an Airport for hours on end. I like to have 3-4 hours for a connection, 1/2 hour to deplane, 1/2 hour through security gives 2 1/2 hour around the airport before the open the gate, depending. anything less than that gets my heart rate up a bit, especially transiting through HKG or one of the ME Airports.

[lounge_lizard 108]

1 hour ago, Butch said:

I think there is a judgement call to be made on connection times, a sweet spot between not crapping yourself that you won't have time as opposed to sitting around an Airport for hours on end. I like to have 3-4 hours for a connection, 1/2 hour to deplane, 1/2 hour through security gives 2 1/2 hour around the airport before the open the gate, depending. anything less than that gets my heart rate up a bit, especially transiting through HKG or one of the ME Airports.

I have to agree with these timings - allow a minimum of half an hour for a toilet break and finding the onward gate plus a contingency to allow for late arrival which seems to happen to me about 25% of the time.

[teelack 9,640]

1 hour ago, Butch said:

I think there is a judgement call to be made on connection times, a sweet spot between not crapping yourself that you won't have time as opposed to sitting around an Airport for hours on end. I like to have 3-4 hours for a connection, 1/2 hour to deplane, 1/2 hour through security gives 2 1/2 hour around the airport before the open the gate, depending. anything less than that gets my heart rate up a bit, especially transiting through HKG or one of the ME Airports.

To add to this list of reasons I have another one to add.

I have been to Thailand so many times that I am starting to feel that my time may be up for a big search. In NZ. The computer knows a lot about my travel and there is sharing among government departments. I really do believe that its going to happen sometime soon and during the last year I have been paying a surcharge for a transferable ticket. In essence this means that assuming that I can get quickly through customs and immigration I can get an earlier flight home on a domestic flight. If on the other hand I am held up for perhaps an hour or so I will still have time to catch the original flight. The point about Thailand is not only its bad drugs reputation but also I would anticipate my mobile and lap top to be looked at. 

I would like to know if any others feel that they have been or will be targeted because of their frequent flights to Thailand. 

[Rawhide2 1,343]

9 hours ago, Butch said:

I think there is a judgement call to be made on connection times, a sweet spot between not crapping yourself that you won't have time as opposed to sitting around an Airport for hours on end. I like to have 3-4 hours for a connection, 1/2 hour to deplane, 1/2 hour through security gives 2 1/2 hour around the airport before the open the gate, depending. anything less than that gets my heart rate up a bit, especially transiting through HKG or one of the ME Airports.

I've been sat here for an hour racking my brains (which definately are ageing) trying to recall if I have ever missed a connection or even remotely close to it and I cant think of a single one...... Over the decades on average 1.5 hours to 2 hours on average I'd say. Theres been a few where the connections have been an hour or less (Oman and Qatar spring to mind) where they've been redirecting off arriving gate etc etc but no more than that.... My mate will ring me later and say you tosser what about this one lol !

Nope I cant think of a single one lol

[Rawhide2 1,343]

9 hours ago, teelack said:

To add to this list of reasons I have another one to add.

  The computer knows a lot about my travel and there is sharing among government departments. 

Tell me about it Teelak. This time last year arrived back into Heathrow to find as normal Egate wont let me through. It worked first time 8 years ago when passport reissued but never since.

Redirected to manual check. Not for the first time immigration guy  says you're brown where have you just come from. Bangkok via Muscat on Oman I respond politely as always. He's looking at the passport carefully looking obviously for a fake etc and asks me VERY casually wheres "Nordsee Clinic" then...... I'm looking at him am obviously a bit tired but I know what he's asking but more to the point how does he know lol...... I was born in Germany (father in forces) in a tiny little clinic (that had 2 beds mum told me) on the island of Sylt.  On my birth certificate it says Sylt as place of birth issued in Hamburg but absolutely nothing else lol

I only knew about 10 years when mother brought the subject up !   So I answer the immigration guy with a smile "clinic where I popped out" to which he responds "correct" with a smile and hands passport back

I'm thinking WTF lol....

Edited January 16, 2020 by Rawhide2

[forcebwithu 4,853]

53 minutes ago, Rawhide2 said:

I've been sat here for an hour racking my brains (which definately are ageing) trying to recall if I have ever missed a connection or even remotely close to it and I cant think of a single one...... Over the decades on average 1.5 hours to 2 hours on average I'd say. Theres been a few where the connections have been an hour or less (Oman and Qatar spring to mind) where they've been redirecting off arriving gate etc etc but no more than that.... My mate will ring me later and say you tosser what about this one lol !

Nope I cant think of a single one lol

For international trips, only had one missed connection out a couple decades of travel. Thought I was safe with an 1.5 hour layover in ICN, but a very strong headwind ate up most that time. This is where the extra cost of a BC ticket pays dividends.

On exiting the plane there was a very long list of passengers that were directed to a desk to handle reticketing, and a much shorter list where there was a gate agent handing out pre-printed cards that when presented at the gate would get you a boarding pass. In my case I got ticketed on an Asiana A380 flight to BKK. Result was I was only an hour late arriving in BKK and I got to experience the A380 BC product for the first time.

[Butch 3,456]

23 hours ago, teelack said:

To add to this list of reasons I have another one to add.

I have been to Thailand so many times that I am starting to feel that my time may be up for a big search. In NZ. The computer knows a lot about my travel and there is sharing among government departments. I really do believe that its going to happen sometime soon and during the last year I have been paying a surcharge for a transferable ticket. In essence this means that assuming that I can get quickly through customs and immigration I can get an earlier flight home on a domestic flight. If on the other hand I am held up for perhaps an hour or so I will still have time to catch the original flight. The point about Thailand is not only its bad drugs reputation but also I would anticipate my mobile and lap top to be looked at. 

I would like to know if any others feel that they have been or will be targeted because of their frequent flights to Thailand. 

Many years ago I worked for as it was back then, Customs and Excise in the UK in a civilian capacity. It's now all under one roof of "home Office" and "Border force". One of my best mates works for the border force in a middle management role.

Even back then there was "profiling" of people, the reason for this is that very often the "mules" were clean, usually guys or girls in low paid jobs, targeted with the promise of a chunk of dollar for bringing through a few "9 bars" of hash, also along with a decoy who had the same type of holdall and if possible, wearing very similar clothes (it was the 90's so shell suits for the guys and girls lol!) This was at a sea port that had passenger ferries on what was a major drugs and hardcore porn route from Holland to the UK. Believe it or not, some really nasty porn on VHS/ BETA videos were fetching some serious money. I remember itemising a load of "Color climax" Cine film that was once seized, and yes, in order to determine the level of how "bad" it was, we watched it (only the normal stuff that would be banned otherwise, nothing that was really really bad - that always went across to the Police, watching porn was a perk of the job back then and done out of sight and out of mind).

Facial recognition was then in its infancy and was being rolled out by the Police at footy matches, it was also in use by the Intelligence services in Ireland and by C&E, but it was horribly unreliable and unlike today's systems , *I think* it relied on an image search rather than facial parameters - but I could be wrong, one thing I did know was that it didn't work very well on Asian or black people. Sorry about that, but it just didn't.

Nowadays with facial recognition and smart passports, all your movements are known. your profile pings up the moment you pay for your ticket with your CC, all that info including your seat selection (if any) is stored, linked and databased. Much like the API you have to enter for the USA, it is pretty much done anyway, all you are doing is confirming any current info (or updating). They even know where you are via the GPS chip in your smartphone, so there's really no escape.

when 9/11 happened, I still had numerous stamps in my passport, including Yemeni ones. Even after it was replaced I was always stopped at LHR & LGW for a search and a few innocent questions. (the questions by the way are always gauged on your reaction time to  them, not necessarily the answer you give - although stupid answers will yield a reaction as well).

In answer to your question Teelack, yes. you will soon be stopped, asked a few questions about where you've been, then a couple of specific questions regarding your answer (default answer is BKK, so the officer will probably have 3 questions about BKK in his noggin to ask and get a reaction) - usually done in 3's because a cycle of 3 can determine true or fraud usually. They'll take your phone, scan your laptop and let you on your way. Best way through is to co-operate if you're clean, they'll then remove any tags and you'll be fine for 3 or 4 years unless you do something daft.

[sailingbill 1,034]

Many years ago i was pulled aside at US immigration , frequent visits to Thailand.. He called for an officer witness and wanted to see the pictures on my camera. After looking at 50 pictures of the Tiger Zoo and my 40 y/o girlfiend he sent the observer off. I worked for the government and we talked about our investment account.     Also talked  how many of these slime bags do you catch. , only 1 or  2 in six months.   I have never been stopped since. Probably a notation in my profile now.. "If you want boring pictures and conversation , stop this guy".

[teelack 9,640]

22 hours ago, Butch said:

 

In answer to your question Teelack, yes. you will soon be stopped, asked a few questions about where you've been, then a couple of specific questions regarding your answer (default answer is BKK, so the officer will probably have 3 questions about BKK in his noggin to ask and get a reaction) - usually done in 3's because a cycle of 3 can determine true or fraud usually. They'll take your phone, scan your laptop and let you on your way. Best way through is to co-operate if you're clean, they'll then remove any tags and you'll be fine for 3 or 4 years unless you do something daft.

Thanks. That all sounds like good advice. I do get the questions but and was only once asked if I had pornography on me. I guess that its having my onward flights disrupted that's the issue with me.

Over fifty years ago I learned a lesson and it has stuck with me. Around the same time in my life I met two guys who were deep into photography. One was a semi professional and the other a private detective in the era where you needed compromising photos for a divorce, Both told me independently that almost all women liked to be photographed and in the right circumstances, in the nude. I took this on board but never had a chance to try it out till I got to Thailand and BINGO!  Yes, its a fact and I have ended up with a treasure trove of nude stuff. Almost all of these ladies are in there 20s and 30s but as we all know some older ladies in Thailand still look a bit young. I really haven't the heart to dump them off my computer but I think that the time has come. The other thing is that Google Photos is a bit of a monster for finding photos that I thought were long since dumped. It truly amazes me but once again its a warning that I need to take notice of. 

[nkped 1,208]

On 1/17/2020 at 9:22 AM, sailingbill said:

Many years ago i was pulled aside at US immigration , frequent visits to Thailand.. He called for an officer witness and wanted to see the pictures on my camera. After looking at 50 pictures of the Tiger Zoo and my 40 y/o girlfiend he sent the observer off. I worked for the government and we talked about our investment account.     Also talked  how many of these slime bags do you catch. , only 1 or  2 in six months.   I have never been stopped since. Probably a notation in my profile now.. "If you want boring pictures and conversation , stop this guy".

In the US, at least, the uniformed officers wear name tags.  Once in Seattle an officer approached me in Customs and asked for my passport.  I gave it to him and, because I wasn't invited to follow, stayed planted where I had been standing.  Sure enough, another guy comes up and asks for my passport.  I was very glad I could say "Mr. Smith has it."

[Bazle 1,485]

On 1/17/2020 at 5:52 PM, teelack said:

I really haven't the heart to dump them off my computer but I think that the time has come. 

Surely you can simply put them on an external drive?