Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Cheapest transportation from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San would be Bus No.556 from the Transportation Center at Suvarnabhumi Airport to Southern Bus Terminal via Yommarat - Democracy Monument (close to Khao San road) - Thammasat University - Pata Department Store - Southern Bus Terminal. Take a free shuttle bus (Express route) to the Transport Center.
Bus No.556 runs 24 hours but sometimes with very long intervalls.
Or take the Suvarnabhumi Airport City Line (from 6 am until midnight) to Phaya Thai, from there bus 59 (also not very frequent, when you come out of the station to the right, or to the left about 500 meter to Phetchabury rd. and take the more frequent buses 2 and 511), taxi from Phaya Thai should be under 100 Baht.

Bangkok's main airport, Suvarnabhumi, is as chaotic as the city itself. Incorrect and out of date signs lead you in the wrong direction, to end up in baffling immigration systems where nobody speaks English and nobody knows what's going on. We ended up stuck in a long queue only to discover we didn't need to be there - they'd just forgotten to remove my wife's nationality from the list outside even though they'd changed the visa rules for her the previous year. To top it all we almost missed our hotel transfer, and had to stand around getting stressed and making expensive international phone calls, because the sign saying advertising which door our plane's passengers were exiting from was also wrong, and our pick-up was waiting a hundred meters away.

Taxis from the airport are reportedly running some kind of mafia too, so if you arrive late expect to be ripped off. It's probably worth paying for a transfer, as at least then you'll get a nice car and not have to stress about getting out of the airport any more than you have to.

One of the worst things that I find about Suvarnabhumi airport is the long queues that you inevitably find to clear immigration. At best, I have waited 20-30 minutes, at times I have been queuing for over an hour.

One of my diving colleagues tipped me off about buying a Fast Track voucher that enables you to bypass the lengthy queues and instead use the Priority Lanes. I decided to give it a go and purchased a voucher for 400baht plus a further 100 baht to have the voucher delivered by registered mail. An added bonus was being able to pay using PayPal. My voucher arrived in less than a week and upon landing at Suvarnabhumi I showed my voucher and was directed to the Priority Lanes. I cleared immigration in less than 5 minutes, collected my luggage and was on my way out of the airport after a very short wait for my luggage.

This is definitely something I will buy again as I found that the bonus of not having that interminable wait to clear immigration was well worth the cost of the voucher.

The website that I made my purchase from is below:

A very modern large international airport with every facility you would expect.

Lots of shops and eating places and a multitude of transport alternatives to and from the airport such as a bus to and from the domestic Don Muaeng Airport to Suvarnabhumi International Airport and a number of options regarding transport into Bangkok which can be read from the following web site

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport is the new international airport in Bangkok and one of the largest and busiest in the world. (i think its world-number two busiest !). Also you need to walk a lot from the airplane to go outside the airport (the last time i walk about 7-10 minutes).


My Photos
First Photo: Thai Airways
Second photo: Suvarnabhumi Airport
Third photo: Suvarnabhumi Airport
Forth photo: Suvarnabhumi Airport
Fifth photo: On the way to Thailand

"Suvarnabhumi International Airport" (airport code BKK) in Bangkok is located 30 kilometers east of Bangkok in Racha Thewa in the district of Samut Prakan.

Opened in 2006, it is already 6th busiest airport in Asia and 13th busiest in the world. The name "Suvarnabhumi,' chosen by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, means Golden Land, which refers the region of Indochina and includes the counties of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma.

Here on my "Travelogue" you can see more photos of this great new Airport ... :
Airport Travelogue

The airport features a main terminal with seven concourses, A through G. The Airport Express Line, opened in 2010, provides direct service from the airport to Bangkok. The 612-room Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel is connected by walkway to the airport.

This will be my Suvarnabhumi International Airport International Airport with Pictures of the Domestil Arrival Area. International Arrivals are at Concourse C to H (domestic arrival at Concourse A & B).

In 2006, The New Suvarnabhumi Airport Was opened to the Public and the Ageing Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok was made into the alternate domestic Airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 30 km east of Bangkok. The Airport has one large terminal building and has several concourses for both th domestic and international gates. The airport is the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, Thai AirAsia. And a focus city for Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Air India, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines. The name Suvarnabhumi means "The Golden Land", specifically referring to the continental Indochina. "Golden Peninsula"or "Golden Land" is a traditional name for the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region

Suvarnabhumi is currently sixth busiest airport in asia, behind Beijing Capital International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport.

Airport Express Buses operates 4 bus routes to downtown. The cost is 250 baht for entire route. Airport Express service operates from 5:00 am to midnight. Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8. Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (2nd floor). Limousine pick up area is at the Arrivals Level (outer curb)

This will be my Suvarnabhumi International Airport International Airport with Pictures of the International Arrival Area. International Arrivals are at Concourse C to H (domestic arrival at Concourse A & B).

In 2006, The New Suvarnabhumi Airport Was opened to the Public and the Ageing Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok was made into the alternate domestic Airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 30 km east of Bangkok. The Airport has one large terminal building and has several concourses for both th domestic and international gates. The airport is the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, Thai AirAsia. And a focus city for Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Air India, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines. The name Suvarnabhumi means "The Golden Land", specifically referring to the continental Indochina. "Golden Peninsula"or "Golden Land" is a traditional name for the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region

Suvarnabhumi is currently sixth busiest airport in asia, behind Beijing Capital International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport.

Airport Express Buses operates 4 bus routes to downtown. The cost is 250 baht for entire route. Airport Express service operates from 5:00 am to midnight. Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8. Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (2nd floor). Limousine pick up area is at the Arrivals Level (outer curb)

This will be my Suvarnabhumi International Airport International Airport with Pictures of the International Departure Area. The International Departure Area is separated by a barrier from the the domestic departures and occupies the Concourse C to G of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Rest of the concourses to A to B is for Domestic . Domestic Departure Counters are from Row A to C and the rest of the Rows from D to Z is for International Departures.

In 2006, The New Suvarnabhumi Airport Was opened to the Public and the Ageing Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok was made into the alternate domestic Airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 30 km east of Bangkok. The Airport has one large terminal building and has several concourses for both th domestic and international gates. The airport is the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, Thai AirAsia. And a focus city for Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Air India, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines. The name Suvarnabhumi means "The Golden Land", specifically referring to the continental Indochina. "Golden Peninsula"or "Golden Land" is a traditional name for the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region

Suvarnabhumi is currently sixth busiest airport in asia, behind Beijing Capital International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport.

Airport Express Buses operates 4 bus routes to downtown. The cost is 250 baht for entire route. Airport Express service operates from 5:00 am to midnight. Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8. Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (2nd floor). Limousine pick up area is at the Arrivals Level (outer curb)

This will be my Suvarnabhumi International Airport International Airport with Pictures of the Domestic Departure Area, which is separated by a barrier from the the international departures and occupies the Concourse A and B of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Rest of the concourses to C to F . Domestic Departure Counters are from Row A to C and the rest is for International Departures.

In 2006, The New Suvarnabhumi Airport Was opened to the Public and the Ageing Don Meuang International Airport in Bangkok was made into the alternate domestic Airport. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 30 km east of Bangkok. The Airport has one large terminal building and has several concourses for both th domestic and international gates. The airport is the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Orient Thai Airlines, Thai AirAsia. And a focus city for Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Air India, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines. The name Suvarnabhumi means "The Golden Land", specifically referring to the continental Indochina. "Golden Peninsula"or "Golden Land" is a traditional name for the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region

Suvarnabhumi is currently sixth busiest airport in asia, behind Beijing Capital International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, Incheon International Airport, Changi International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport.

Airport Express Buses operates 4 bus routes to downtown. The cost is 250 baht for entire route. Airport Express service operates from 5:00 am to midnight. Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8. Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (2nd floor). Limousine pick up area is at the Arrivals Level (outer curb)

The 15-minutes Phayathai Express Line service from Suvarnabhumi costs 90 Baht per ride. A two-way trip costs a cheap 150 Baht. The Express Line services are the fastest in ASEAN. Bangkok is developed now because of Makkasan and Phayathai Express Lines. I wish Changi Airport could also have an Express Line service.

I find the easiest way to the new airport is taking the Bangkok Airport Train which leaves every 15 minutes from Phaya Thai, and takes only 30 minutes. Just in case you are feeling hungry after you have checked in at the airport there is a store on the extreme left of the departure floor that sells snacks and drinks at the normal street price, makes a change from the normal airport inflated prices.

Bangkok is generally the first stop on most travellers’ journeys to Thailand. Arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport from destinations abroad. Trains from the borders of Malaysia and Laos are an available but uncommon means. Buses travel to Bangkok from every city in Thailand, and VIP motorcoaches arrive from all the major centres.

Here is a past post::

A lady from Bell can be found near/ next to door 7 on the ground floor of the Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

Bell airport representative: +66-89 44 98 843

Bell Pattaya Office: +66-38 37 00 55

Bell Bangkok Office: +66-27 47 46 73

Time table:

Airport -> Pattaya: 8.00 / 10.00 / 12.00 / 14.00 / 16.00 / 18.00

Pattaya -> Airport: 6.00 / 9.00/ 11.00/ 13.00/ 15.00/ 17.00/ 19.00

Pattaya -> Downtown Bangkok: 9.00/ 13.00/ 17.00

Fares:

Airport - Pattaya v.v.: 150 baht

Pattaya -> Downtown Bangkok: 300 baht

Fares incl. drop off at hotel in Pattaya. The bus wil take you the bus terminal in Pattaya and the a minivan will take you to yout hotel. If you go from Pattaya to Airport/ Bangkok then minivan will pick you up, take you to terminal and then bus to Airport.

Soon after ex-Premier Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced "Soo-va-na-PHOOM) International Airport, a structure 20 years in the making, was finally opened to much fanfare by the new military government. Problems unfortunately soon surfaced and some of the domestic flights operated by Thai Airways and affiliate Nok Air, were forced to be re-routed back to the found-new-life old Don Muang Airport. The International airlines however, refused to budge and so they stayed on in the new airport.

The new Airport is about 1 hour away from the city via the Express Highway. Throw in about 450 Bahts for the journey and an extra 65 Bahts if you wish to go pass the Toll gates. There are public taxi stands OUTSIDE the Arrival Hall manned (or womanned) by staff, who will ask where you intend to go and then issue you a ticket which you will pass on to the driver taking you and/or your group. Look for the signs and walk out. There will be touts approaching you inside the Arrival Hall...so unless you have thick wallets....do the poor folks thing.

Since 2006, the airport tax will be collected when you purchase your plane ticket. It is no longer being collected separately.

The Departure Hall is bright, cool and pleasing....like any other modern airports everywhere in the world. It reminds me of Kong Kong International Airport in fact!

Plenty of eateries between the floors of the Arrival and Departure Halls....as well as a labyrinth of fast food (Burger King, Dairy Queen etc) near Gates E,F & G inside the Departure Hall.

The Arrival Hall however, looks severely unfinished....there must have been a surplus of concrete coinciding with a severe lack of paint! I have never seen so many naked concrete walls in an airport of this class! Reminded me of a factory in fact. A very large factory.