THE 2 AIRPORTS OF BANGKOK

SUVARNABHUMI Airport

General

The best known because it is the one by which we usually arrive in Thailand when we come from Europe is Suvarnabhumi airport.

This airport is open since September 28th, 2006.

It's the 20th biggest airport in the world and the sixth largest in Asia.

The number of passengers in 2016 was 56 millions and 61 millions in 2017, so it is clear that passenger growth is huge (9% per annum) even though the airport was designed for a maximum of 45 million passengers.

The airport has the highest control tower in the world and the airport terminal is the third largest in the world with more than 56 hectares, the total area of the airport being over 3240 hectares.

There are currently 2 expansion projects to have a capacity of 125 million passengers in 2024.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked 5th best airport in the world in the category of airports receiving more than 40 million passengers.

The airport is located in 32km, east of Bangkok.

 

 

Access and travel in the airport

You can easily reach the airport from the city centre by the highway if you go by road and you have to count between 30mn and 1h depending on where you leave.

It is also accessible via the shuttle, an air train that connects the city centre to the airport in about thirty minutes for a nominal fee.

The shuttle station is located below the first level in the basement.

Once on the spot it is very easy to get in the airport.

4th level

You will arrive at the departure hall level which is the fourth and last level.

The lobby is simple and you will find without any difficulty the ticket counter of your registration.

The passage of immigration to then go to the boarding gates is roughly in the middle of the lobby on the opposite side of the entrance.

You will have to climb one floor to first satisfy the control of the porticos with your luggage cabin before going back down to immigration.

You will then choose the right direction to get to your boarding hall, which is very simple, the airport having a cross shape and you will go to a door to be on one of the hall from a to G knowing that Hall A, B and C are for domestic flights.

The duty free is large, airy and enjoyable and you will find plenty of shopping.

Third level

This level which is rather a half level is the level of catering and stores.

Here you will find all kinds of restaurants or cafes as well as other shops such as pharmacy or type 7 Eleven shops.

The second level

This is the level of arrivals.

The first level

In fact it is in the basement and this is where you will take a bus to get to your next destination (Pattaya, Hua Hin...) or a taxi.

To take a taxi you will take a ticket with a number that will tell you the taxi number, it is very simple, very convenient and very well organized and you can even choose large taxis if you are more numerous (SUW).

A note that at this level is a food-court where you can eat very well for very little price (unlike level 3 where the prices of meals are "airport prices".

Please note that when you arrive, the passage for immigration formalities (commonly known as customs) can take a lot of time depending on the periods and hours.

In fact it happens that we put 3h or more and it will have to be taken into account if you must take a flight to go to a destination other than Bangkok.

The problem does not arise at the outset, the passage for immigration generally never taking more than 30mn.

DON MUANG AIRPORT

General

It was until 2006 the only airport in Bangkok.

Note that it is one of the oldest airports in the world and the oldest in Asia.

Indeed it exists since 1914 (and even a little before) where it was at the time the airport of the Royal Thai Air Force before starting the first commercial flights in 1924.

It is located in 24 km away north of the city of Bangkok and easily accessible by road.

A shuttle that connects Suvarnabhumi Airport is under construction, which will also allow connecting the 2 airports, to go to Don Muang by the shuttle in an economical way.

In 2004 the airport welcomed 25 million passengers per year.

After the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in 2006, it was closed before reopening in 2007.

Today it hosts mainly the airlines Air ASIA, NOK Air and LION air for domestic flights, this having been set up to decongest Suvarnabhumi.

Travel to the airport

The airport is not complicated.

To catch your flight you can easily find your check-in desk.

Note however that for the airline AIR ASIA no longer takes its ticket at the counter, except exception, but to the automatic machines so make sure to have on you your file number.

At the same time, you will print the sticky self-adhesive paper circle for your luggage and then go to the ticket office for only your baggage registration.

No worries for those who are not familiar with these machines, there are hostesses who take care of you and do it for you.

Then you just have to follow the directions to reach your gate.

For the arrival it is the same thing but you arrive by the upper level and the exit is done by a single door of 5 m wide, so no chance to miss the person waiting for you if it should be the case.

At the level above that of the departures you have a food court where you can eat easily and for a reasonable price.

In the basement you can take a bus or a taxi.

As in Suvarnabhumi you will take a ticket to the taxi.

There is a bus that makes the connection with Suvarnabhumi and is free for those who have a plane ticket to catch a flight.

One thing to report about the Don Muang Airport is the length of the hallways and the time it takes as well to get on the flight as the one when your flight arrives.

There are certainly treadmills but not everywhere and you still have to walk a lot.

This time must be integrated especially when you take a flight.

This short presentation does not have the vocation to be completely complete but will give you already some information that may be useful to you I hope.

Good stay in the land of smiles!