Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Passenger Reviews and Customer opinions

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 13 November 2008 : by P Millar

Customer Rating : 3/5

After using this airport over 10 times in the last 2 years I have to say it is a little disappointing. Check-in is no trouble, but the queues at immigration can be a little lengthy. Once through, airside is just OK. Nothing special and the place has a almost 'un-finished' feel about it. Especially in the gate areas where there is nothing to do. Air-con in the restaurant areas appears to not be working well and its sometimes baking there. Ensure plenty of time to get to your gate as its a bit of a walk, but easy enough. Arrivals are usually pain-free and immigration coming into the country is often much quicker if you rush off the flight.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 7 November 2008 : by T Vincent

Customer Rating : 3/5

On arrival quite a long way to walk but you generally pass the immigration quickly. It does not take more than 40 minutes to get out of the airport once landed. Once out, public transportation are not clearly indicated. Public taxis are not so easy to find and there are a lot of agressive touts in the terminal. On departure, usually long queues at the immigration. Then, once again a long walk to the gates. It looks more like a shopping mall than an airport as there are duty free shops. Shopping is not interesting as prices are very high. Drinks and food is expensive too. One time I had a long queue at the X-ray machines (nearly 30 minutes). Not enough toilets too. So what to say about Suvarnabhumi airport? I really miss Don Muang!

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 5 November 2008 : by Helen Bowles

Customer Rating : 3/5

Arrived into Bangkok in the afternoon and transferred to Phuket, did not have to worry about our bags as they were checked in to Phuket. We found connections quite easy, and was a painless to get through into departure lounge. On the way back as this time were flying in from Samui had to pick up bags, waited about 20mins or so, found check in for Eva Air ok then went through to passport control where it was a bit of a joke, plenty of desks open for Thai passport holders only which had no queues at all, but all other passport queues were jam packed and waited about 30 mins to get through.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 23 October 2008 : by Geoff Hudson

Customer Rating : 3/5

Flight from SYD arrived at BKK 1am in the morning. Only two unsmiling personnel in passport control counters, so a very long queue. Took 45 minutes to get to baggage collection. Not good enough for a country who pride themselves on smiles and service. While the airport is huge, it is not difficult to find your way around after you get used to it. Duty free shops are a joke with prices higher than elsewhere.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 18 October 2008 : by Andrew Spooner

Customer Rating : 2/5

Outbound - airside nowhere to sit, bad food, surly staff who respond to the simplest questions with blank looks, overpriced duty free where everything is more expensive than in the city. Passport control and security are handled well but that is it. Inbound - gates are located miles from immigration and the walk to collect you bag is akin to a post-flight fitness test. The wait times for bags is often lengthy. If you're flying domestic try the old Don Muang airport - no long distance hikes and bags arrive in seconds plus Thai run a free bus to the nearest metro station. Noticed comment on metered taxis - just get out if they refuse to turn on the meter. A normal run to downtown BKK (toll fees are always paid by passenger - it's advisable to pay these fees as traffic can be horrific) should be no more than 220-300baht with toll fees. Best place to pick up taxis is upstairs at departures though you have be confident about where you're going.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 18 October 2008 : by B Walberer

Customer Rating : 2/5

I have passed through the new BKK airport quite a few times in the last 2 years and I consider it a major disappointment, considering how new it is. In terms of passenger comfort and amenities it is far inferior to other airports in this region, such as KUL, ICN, and SIN. In particular, there are no dedicated public areas where passengers can relax, free Wi-Fi internet access is not offered, and the gate areas after security are quite barren, devoid of any shops. The air conditioning throughout the terminal is also uneven. The use of buses to bring passengers to the planes for domestic flights is also a minor irritant.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 16 October 2008 : by Paul Edwards

Customer Rating : 2/5

I live In Thailand, Passed through the airport last week only to discover that the upper restaurants on level 6 have both been closed - a few police were in that area and when asked they said it was their new security area. What a joke, they mean their new canteen! Typical Thailand to ruin what was a great place to relax and watch the planes whilst waiting for a flight - now you can only use the restaurants on the 4th floor. Airports of Thailand must be losing a fortune with these restaurants closed.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 5 September 2008 : by D Smullen

Customer Rating : 4/5

Arrivals is very easy and has been quick even at busy times.I would advise when departing is to go through final security as late as reasonably possible, because there is nothing beyond it except steel seats, no food not even a vending machine. If you are arriving for the first time, ignore all the taxi hawks in the terminal, just outside are the metered taxis, book and pay the lady at the desk. I pay 1200bht to get to Pattaya which is very good value, and all the drivers have been good company. Another thing I would like to say about this airport, it provides smoking rooms.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 2 September 2008 : by Tom Harkish

Customer Rating : 2/5

I live in Bangkok and fly in and out of this airport regularly. It is clean, light and modern. That said, I have some major criticisms, some of which are surprising as this place was built after many of the other leading airports of Asia and should have learned from them. These include: Signage remains horrible. Finding the lounges is challenging and it can be confusing on where to go for immigration, connections; After customs they force you go through the upscale shopping gauntlet. Related to this, the complete lack of moving sidewalks to get to gates (not an issue on arrival as they do have them there), in order that you have to go through the gauntlet mentioned above. This can mean a kilometer of walking with your bags; No places to eat down by the gates; No ATM machines after customs, as mentioned in earlier reviews; The limo vendors hassling you immediately after exiting baggage claims; The bottlenecks of people waiting for arriving friends who you have to push through in order to reach the exits; The 50 baht taxi charge combined with often long waiting lines at the taxi stand. This is a poorly designed - yet attractive from outside - airport, with a number of congestion problems that should have been thought out in the blueprint stage of development. Which is too bad, as they have spent billions on the thing. It looks nice, but doesn't always work so well, and requires long walks - which may be good for my health but which I would rather avoid.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 14 August 2008 : by G King

Customer Rating : 4/5

We used Bangkok Airport twice in early August, arriving and departing on Thai Airways. We liked the new terminal building with lots of natural light. At departure the queues and procedures went smoothly. We missed the signs to the gates and walked a long way in the wrong direction before asking gate staff and being redirected. There were lots of brand name shops -- none of the smaller quirky and more local shops you find in other airports -- just big brands that you can buy anywhere. We found very few food outlets which mostly involved perching on stools at counters in the middle of the shopping concourse. With a couple of hours to wait, we would have liked the comfy lounge bars we have found in other airports. There is no food or shops after passing through security. There was almost no lounge seating before passing through security and the gate seating was very cold and functional - rows of metal seats. We minimised our time there.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 12 August 2008 : by J White

Customer Rating : 3/5

I recently travelled in Thailand and had to pass through the airport 3 times. The other comments are pretty comprehensive but the one thing I would add is the non-availability of bottled drinking water once you go through security at the gate. At most other airports there is the opportunity to buy water once you've gone through security, and you can then take it on the plane. However here, your carry on luggage is not scanned until you arrive at the gate (having gone past duty free and all the shops). There seems to be a completely illogical policy which says you can take liquids over 100ml through if you have bought them in a King Power duty free shop and they have put them in a special sealed bag (which is just a plastic bag and can presumably be opened as soon as you're on the other side of the scanner). No other bottled water, even if bought in the airport and still sealed will be allowed through. I found this most annoying.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 5 August 2008 : by J Henson

Customer Rating : 4/5

Outbound - Very impressed with the airport. Wide open spaces, very light, and clean. Immigration queue was very short and the official was efficient if not particularly friendly. Bags off quickly. The only thing I did not like was the amount of people in arrivals hassling you with taxi offers. My advice is to ignore them. For transport to central Bangkok remember: 1) There is an official taxi rank outside where you wait in a covered area and will be given a ticket where someone will translate your English into Thai and write your destination on a piece of paper for the taxi driver. Thai taxi drivers will normally refuse to go on a meter from the airport and there are toll roads. You should not pay more than B500 (inc tolls). 2) There is a bus (but you pick it up from departures) which has several routes including to Khao San Rd for B150. Its decent with air con and uses the faster toll roads. Return - Check in very slow (although I assume this is more to do with Gulf Air!) very long queue at passport control. Excellent variety of shops and places to eat. However, the shops are London/Western prices so if you want gifts buy them before the airport!

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 1 August 2008 : by Glynn Hammond

Customer Rating : 3/5

I have just passed through BKK three times in the last month. The one thing that does stand out is that there are no ATM machines airside. Once you go through immigration to duty free (or just happen to be in transit) there is no way of accessing money. I had no currency at all and so had to go thirsty. There are ATM machines that accept Thai cards and give out USD. Not very useful. When asked, the staff at the change places just looked blankly.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 26 July 2008 : by Francisco Pinyata

Customer Rating : 3/5

Flew in from Amsterdam on a China Airlines flight. A spacious and well lit airport with clean restrooms and more than adequate seating areas. Duty free shops reasonably priced and staff very polite and helpful. One point I'm about to stress that I must say I didn't like was the laid back attitude by airport security here. My companion and I were lightly frisked by a 20-something girl and never was asked to go through the metal detector again after making the lights go full red. I was carrying a small bag full of electronics in my hand luggage that day that aroused suspicion upon inspection at Oslo Gardemoen and Amsterdam Schiphol. Security there asked me to show them the contents of the suspicious bag. The same bag was completely ignored by Bangkok security. The feeling of security is always paramount for today's travller and they really let down here.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 15 July 2008 : by James Halley

Customer Rating : 2/5

I have been a major critic of this airport from the beginning, so credit where it is due. The number of urinals in some of the mens toilets has dramatically increased. Signage is still an issue - signs saying airline lounges - yes, ok, but which airline? And still getting bussed in and out to/from main terminals. The domestic immigration counter is a huge plus for those of us living up country and is arguably the best initiative so far. Flying Bangkok Airways next week transitting from Chiang Mai so this is going to be a first with this combination.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 15 July 2008 : by Adrian Flynn

Customer Rating : 4/5

Arriving at BKK, I had no problem finding immigration or collecting my baggage at around 15.00 on a Friday afternoon. The immigration process was quick less than 10 mins. The distances can be long, but the moving walkways do their job. Leaving BKK had no problems either with immigration or security.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 8 July 2008 : by Peter Harrison

Customer Rating : 5/5

I had heard some bad reports about this airport. Arriving with Etihad from AUH the process of immigration and baggage collect was fairly smooth. What can't be denied is that the distances to cover in the airport are vast - even with the motorised walkways - it takes quite a time to get anywhere. I had also heard of poor signage - but I found everything well posted. After a couple of days in BKK I returned to the airport for a domestic flight to Phuket. Again no problems at all. The restaurant at domestic departures probably one of the very best I have ever experienced in an airport. Not only excellent reasonably priced food but the decor and atmosphere calm, cool and tranquil. Lots of shopping opportunities. Plenty of toilets all immaculately clean. Externally one can't help to be impressed by the architecture - a real statement!!

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 7 July 2008 : by Josephine Ive

Customer Rating : 3/5

Louis Tavern Day Spa / Transit Hotel is not a good example of a transit hotel, Singapore and other airports do this well. Price is very high compared to city hotels, Rooms are fine, beds are comfortable, service is terrible, no hairdryers in rooms, very limited amenities, water in bathroom barely hot, breakfast very poor quality. Staff are inflexible, and a US$20 room key deposit is required. If you get a quote on a pre-booking, the price may be higher at time of check-in. All in all, a potentially suitable transit hotel but is significantly let down by the staff and standards of service. Not recommended.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 6 July 2008 : by R Patell

Customer Rating : 4/5

Arriving at BKK it was difficult to find the Visa on Arrival counter necessary for passengers from India. Otherwise the services offered by the Airport are excellent with a great choice of food, shopping and lounges.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 31 May 2008 : by S McMillan

Customer Rating : 3/5

We just traveled though BKK three times in May and didn't run into any of the problems anyone else had reported. Passport control on arrival was packed, but they processed everyone quickly and we were to baggage claim within less than 10 minutes. Signage is a bit questionable, especially for passengers who were not booked directly to a further destination in Thailand, but assistance was easily obtained. Check-in for both Thai and China were very efficient. Our departure to Taipei was a bit different. Rather than being allowed into the departure lounge, we had to wait in the concourse without any seats until 30 minutes prior to the flight when they opened the lounge. A very nice looking airport and no harder to navigate than most.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 22 May 2008 : by C Moir

Customer Rating : 3/5

I have used this airport three times now and have to agree with the many comments about the time spent in a long lines of people at passport control on arrival. It is ridiculous to say the least. I have to say I have not experienced the same wait on departure but have probably been fortunate with my flight times, rather than the management getting their act together.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 21 May 2008 : by G Chong

Customer Rating : 4/5

Been through Bangkok twice in two months and both times (arriving around 7-8pm) were very fast (less than 10 min wait) and bags were already on the belt. You have to walk quite a way depending on where the plane is parked, but after a long flight, it is always good to give the legs a good stretch.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT review : 29 April 2008 : by David Monteiro

Customer Rating : 4/5

Landed at 2.30 pm and 45 minutes later I was already in a Taxi to the city. No queue at immigration and got my luggage after only 10 minutes. I guess it depends at what time of the day you arrive but in my case everything went smoothly. Departure on April 20 late at night, long queues at immigration but otherwise everything was fine.