International<->Domestic Connections in Suvarnabhumi?

[fuu99]

I am planning on flying to BKK via CX then connecting on TG to Chiang Mai. Tickets will have to be issued separately. How much time to I have to set aside for the connecting time, especially international to domestic at Suvarnabhumi? How about the reverse? Is there a special lane at the secure area for these connections, or do I have to go through the infamous immigration/ security lines???

The only time I connected from an international to domestic flight was at the old Don Mueang Airport and the whole itinerary was on TG. I was bussed from my international flight, without having cleared immigrations, into a fully-boarded domestic TG flight. At CNX, passengers were sorted (those with stickers) and my passport was stamped at that port.

[MAN Flyer]

You are going to have to just treat these are two different trips ; CX to BKK where you will have to clear immigration and collect your luggage then a domestic TG flight that you will need to check-in at BKK for. I'd leave at least three hours.