Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Intrnational Airport

[lindyhopper]

Am flying in September. Read forum in Skytrax regarding this new airport. Getting worried now as it would appear that one must be bused from plane to terminal which can take anything between 15-25 mins. Disembarking the bus, there follows miles and miles of walkways to reach anywhere!

We have 55 mins to de-plane and run across the airport concourse to make another international connection to Kuala Lumpur. There are 4 of us travelling ranging from 26 yrs old to 60 yrs old! Not exactly spritely!

Has anyone been through this situation?

[Twinnie-two]

There are continuous moving 'walk-ways' throughout the length of the airport, which is very long!

Also noticed quite a lot of buggies (like golf ones) - may be worth enquiring beforehand if you can book them. The Airport staff were driving them.

This airport may be the newest around, but it's all concrete and cold looking, didn't score high marks with us on appearance. Small duty free areas dotted about.

Take a jumper with you incase your flight is delayed, you sit on cold metal seats and the air conditioning makes it a bit uncomfortable!

Have a nice hol!

[Fridaygirl1]

Hi Lindy Hopper, Yes the airport has changed we were there during the changeover, arrival was to the old airport and departure from the new one, it appeared at the time some flights were coming into the old airport from Samu etc and some into the new one.

Our saving grace was that on returning from Samui we did land at the new airport, two busses were waiting one for arrivals for Bangkok and one for passengers in transit. We stayed in transit and requested a wheelchair for hubby who although is 50 suffers from Parkinsons and walking could have been a problem.

Wheelchair arrived and we were swiftly to our gate, yes the airport is big, but there are moving walkways and plenty of staff to direct you.

When we went though I completely missed picking up some orchids at the main central hub........ there were none to be had further towards the gate. The old building they sold them almost up to bag check so I had to go without in April. This could have been an organisational problem though and may now be sorted, but for me I felt a bit cheated.

Remember to ask for WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANCE - IT IS PROMPT AND THEY OF COURSE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING...... its not chargeable but they do like a tip.

Let me know if you would like further info.

We have just booked again for mid March for another three weeks, been four times already.

[koonel]

Suvarnabhumi update. I have flown in and out of there several times over the past 6 months. Last flight was this January.

The airport is up and running, a few hiccups along the way - like any new enterprise!

Sometimes you are bussed to the gate, but this used to happen at the old Don Muang Airport too! Sometimes there is a problem with a plane at the gate and they haven't cleared out and your flight may have to be be put on a bus. I have been on a plane that was met by a bus and the bus brought us real close to immigration. It took less time than walking the route!

Some gates are far from the immigration/customs area but there are numerous conveyor belts and free push carts - but it can be a long walk for some arrivals.

Passing through customs doesn't take that long. Sometimes when several airplanes arrive at the same time there can be a little build up - but there are lots of immigration booths. I find it a little faster to get in a line that has lots of Europeans, Aussies,Brits or Americans in the line because Thai immigration officials take more time checking the documents of travelers from China or some other less developed country. They don't want some travelers coming to Thailand and never going home!

While you are waiting for you luggage to show up there are toilets and even a bank money exchange available. Passing through customs is pretty much as it was at Don Muang - if you are Thai you may have your bags checked, if you look like a regular foreign (Farang) tourists you will usually just get waved through.

In the arrivals hall there is the gaggle of touts selling rides into town - avoid them unless you want to pay more for your ride. There are some more bank money changers, even late at night. Some ATMs too. Make sure you get some small bills for paying the taxi driver if you want any change back.

Taxi sign up desk is just outside the arrivals hall, near the curb. There are several. For a taxi ride you can figure that you will pay around 350 baht to get into town. (Suvarnabhumi is out in the sticks.) The taxi sign up desk will give you a form with the taxi number on it and a place to call if you have a problem. They will tell the driver where to take you, have a good address available not just a hotel name! Your fare will include a 50 baht surcharge, meter fare to the hotel, perhaps 2 tolls coming to around 65 baht (you may have to pay at the toll booth.) The price of around 350 baht is for all passengers not per passenger.

There is a new bus station at the airport - you have to take the free shuttle bus to it. There are cheap buses into town for around 35 baht. They are slow but cheap. There are other bus runs to several big cities, including Pattaya.

There is an AIRPORT EXPRESS BUS that takes you to many areas in town for 150 baht per pax. Bus is slow but cheap and safe if you are alone. Bus stops just before midnight. Last trip the Airport Express still left from the bottom level near door 8. Two people taking a meter taxi from the airport is about the same price as two people taking the Airport Bus. The Airport Express Bus leaves from the airport terminal not the outer bus station.

For connecting flights I would have a minimum of two hours between flights. You have to allow for late flights, long lines when several planes come in at the same time, etc. Stuff happens!

If you have a connecting flight to another city in Thailand keep in mind that there are 2 airports and Don Muang may be the airport you fly from! Don Muang (DMK) and Suvarnabhumi (BKK) are on opposite sides of Bangkok - when planning connecting flights keep that in mind! Better yet plan on spending your first and last nights in Bangkok so you don't miss your connecting flights.



Good luck.