BANGKOK, October 3, 2026 — Update to our October 1 and October 2 coverage. Thai Airways has moved delayed-bag pickup at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to a 24-hour collection hub starting today, its board has removed the chief executive over the flood-related meltdown, and the airline says its full schedule is back from today. Several thousand bags were still waiting to be returned as of Friday.
What changed since yesterday
- New bag pickup location (from Saturday, October 3): delayed-bag collection has moved out of the passenger terminal to the THAI Ground Service Maintenance building at Suvarnabhumi. It is open 24 hours a day.
- Leadership change (Friday, October 2): the Thai Airways board removed CEO Chai Eamsiri with immediate effect and named director Samrit Samniang acting CEO. The board said it reviewed measures to stop a repeat. Ground-handling subcontracting arrangements are under review.
- Flights: Thai Examiner counted 15 Thai Airways cancellations on October 1 and 9 on October 2. The airline expects to run its full schedule from Saturday, October 3. An earlier company plan, reported by The Nation on October 1, had targeted full restoration by October 7, so check your flight.
- Bags still outstanding: the backlog peaked at about 10,000 bags. The Nation reported on October 2 that nearly 2,000 had been returned and that several thousand were still to be cleared. An exact remaining count is TBA.
- Compensation: the Transport Ministry says affected passengers will be compensated. Claims go through Thai Airways customer service and need the boarding pass, bag tags and receipts for essential purchases. Amounts are TBA.
How to get a delayed bag back
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Check status | Look up the bag at baggage.airportthai.co.th before travelling to the airport. |
| 2. Collect in person | THAI Ground Service Maintenance building, Suvarnabhumi Airport, open 24 hours from October 3. Bring your passport, boarding pass and baggage tag. |
| 3. Sending someone else | A representative needs a power of attorney, copies of both IDs and the original travel documents. |
| 4. Delivery instead | Thai Airways says it will contact registered passengers to arrange delivery. Thailand Post and the military are delivering bags free of charge to addresses in Thailand. |
| End date for the hub | TBA |
Background
Flooding in Bangkok in late September kept ground workers from reaching the airport, leaving Thai Airways short of handling staff. Bags piled up from September 26 to 28, and air force and army personnel were brought in to help. As we reported yesterday, officials said stranded passengers were cleared by about 1 a.m. on October 1 and set Sunday, October 4 as the final date to clear the bags. Cargo held up from September 26 to 30 is still being worked through.
What it means for non-revs
- Carry on if you can. The airline says normal baggage delivery is returning, but several thousand bags were still in the backlog on Friday. A checked bag on a standby itinerary is the easiest one to lose track of.
- If you already have a bag stuck at BKK, do not go to the terminal baggage hall. Check the status site first, then go to the Ground Service Maintenance building with your passport, boarding pass and bag tag.
- Loads on Thai Airways should start to loosen. With the full schedule back and only 9 cancellations on Friday, the pool of displaced revenue passengers is shrinking. Expect it to take a few more days before standby odds look normal, and check loads close to departure.
- Keep receipts. If you bought essentials while waiting for a bag, you need the receipts, boarding pass and bag tags to claim. Pass riders should check their own airline’s rules on whether non-rev travel qualifies.
- Leave extra connection time. Ground handling is still recovering, so allow a longer buffer for interline connections with checked bags through BKK.
Sources
- Khaosod English — “Thai Airways board removes CEO after service disruptions”: khaosodenglish.com
- Thai Examiner — “Thai Airways boss fired by the board chaired by Finance Ministry chief on Friday over baggage crisis”: thaiexaminer.com
- The Nation — “Thai Airways Opens Self-Collection Hub as Flooding Backlog Eases”: nationthailand.com
- Chiang Rai Times — “Thai Airways Moves Baggage New Hub, Vows Compensation”: chiangraitimes.com
- Chiang Rai Times — “Thai Airways Sacks CEO Over Baggage Fiasco in Bangkok”: chiangraitimes.com
- The Thaiger — “Suvarnabhumi clears stranded passengers, sets Saturday deadline for bags”: thethaiger.com
- The Nation — “Suvarnabhumi Cargo Terminal Stays Open as Thai Airways Clears 8,000 Delayed Bags”: nationthailand.com
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