Bangkok Airport Guide

Item: Bangkok
Rating: 7
Author: Loungeindex

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is a brand new airport, a vast hub for Thai Airways, and a regional gateway. Many flights on the Kangaroo route between the UK and Australia used to stop here, although few do nowadays. Suvarnabhumi is the 6th busiest airport in Asia, and on the peninsular is only eclipsed by Singapore.

Bangkok Airport is huge (by some measures the world's largest), so allow time for getting around. There are two immigration sections, but processing time is lengthy - at least 30 minutes.

The airport's name - Suvarnabhumi - means 'Golden Land' in Sanskrit.

Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Airport Domestic Terminal

There is only one terminal building, which covers both domestic and international flights.

First & Business Class lounges at Bangkok Airport

Bangkok airport

Thai Airways maintains several lounges at its new hub, the sparkling Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). This is not to be confused with the old airport at Don Mueang International Airport (now called DMK, although it had the airport code BKK for decades).

The lounges are vastly different from the old lounges at Don Mueang, and include a main lounge area with both a business class and a full First class lounges, plus a spa.

And after all, why have one lounge when you can have... five? Including two Business Class lounges that are opposite each other? It all seems a bit odd now, but there are two good reasons: firstly, when BKK was first built, all of the lounges had different themes, and there was a concept, back in the day, of giving the passenger value for money. How laughably public spirited that seems now. Plus Suvarnabhumi is such a big airport, it can take a good half hour to walk from one end to the other: therefore, the airport was planned with sub-lounges near the popular gates.

Bangkok airport

Bangkok Airport taxi services

Getting a taxi to and from Bangkok Airport is usually trouble free, but avoid all the taxi touts, who will charge you a lot more. Ordinary metered taxis are available on the ground floor (one floor below arrivals). Follow the "public taxi" signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises: state your destination at the desk in English. You'll get a two-part slip with your destination written in Thai on it. The small part is for your driver, the large part is for you. This ticket is for complaints and is how the system is enforced: hold on to it to help avoid arguments later. The cost for a taxi to the city will be less than 400 baht, but there is a 50 baht surcharge on top of the meter, plus possible expressway tolls of 45 and 25 baht. Make sure you have change ready to pass to the toll operators to avoid being overcharged for the tolls later on. The ride takes about 45-60 minutes depending on traffic and location. If a driver refuses to use the meter, go back to the desk, with registration number of the taxi.

Car Hire at Bangkok Airport

Are you SURE you want to rent a car in Thailand? Road rules are non-existent, and insurance expensive. Public transport is generally a much better option. Major car hire operators are located in the Arrivals Halls. To save time and ensure you get the car you want, book your rental in advance. Rental car operators from Bangkok Airport include: Europcar, Thrifty, Avis and Budget.

Bangkok Airport Departure Tax

Departure taxes now form part of your ticket price.

Bangkok Airport hotel

Bangkok Airport Hotel

There is now a new hotel right at the Bangkok airport terminal - however you'd never know it as the hotel likes to bus you to the hotel. It's the Novotel Bangkok Airport Hotel, a pretty good if pricey 4 star hotel. Walk in rates are sometimes cheaper than booking in advance. There is a small but dull bar in the foyer, and a much better swim up pool by the pool, which has water spouts and tropical gardens. Rooms are OK, but make sure you lock your door overnight.

Bangkok Airport hotel

There is a hidden tunnel, which the hotel staff seem insistant that you do not use and insist you take the five minute shuttle bus. You can find the walkway by exiting the hotel through the doors that just seem to go blankly into a car park. There is a concrete box there, with an escalator down into a long winding tunnel. The tunnel winds past several start up business huts and airport offices, and eventually turns up in the basement of the airport. To find the tunnel from the airport, exit and take the escalators as far down as you can go in the direction of the train. There is a small turn off here with just one small sign on the roof saying 'hotels'.

Bangkok Airport Bars and Restaurants

Four stylish looking bars dot the middle of the 500-metre-long hallway along concourse D. Managed by the Accor hotel group, Reef Bar, Glass Bar, Light Bar and Seafood Bar are places where business travellers can enjoy good wine and champagne while relishing oysters and other seafood. In the morning the bars offer breakfast but from 11am onward they feature more substantial fare. A good (if wacky) place is Panda Ready To Eat, but the cheapest place for a meal is Magic Food Point on level 1, near gate 8.

Bangkok airport BKK: Bangkok Airport Guide - Terminal map, lounges, bars, restaurants & reviews with images Airport review with maps by loungeindex
Loungeindex rating: 7 out of 10
Bangkok Airport Code: BKK
ICAO Code:	VTBS	Timezone:	UTC+7
Elevation:	5 ft (2 m)	Runways:	2
Latitude:	13.681	Longitude:	100.747