Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Passenger Reviews and Customer opinions

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My wife and I travelled on 17 January 2013 from Brussels via Doha on Qatar Airways. Our flight to Bangkok from Doha was delayed and we had a connecting flight to Brunei the next morning. Arrived at Bangkok with almost 25 minutes to spare. Bangkok airport staff waited for us (I had asked colleague earlier to inform RBA about our delay and request assistance). Upon arrival airport/airline staff waited and rushed us to the RBA gate. We got onto RBA with just few minutes delay. Staff informed us that our bags would be sent to Brunei Airport the next day. We got our bags two days later.

I have flown into and out of BKK about 12 times in the last three years. Never had an unpleasant experience. The worst thing I can say about BKK is that it is very large. Some US airlines get the gates at the ends of the concourses making for long walks to the gate or immigration. Also depending on the type of aircraft, occasionally deplaning using airstairs is required. Everything else about this airport is outstanding. At BKK I usually arrive between evening to late night and leave early morning or late night. The waiting time at security, immigration, and baggage claim has always been excellent. Check in wait has been good too with SkyPriority. Another feature of BKK is the positioning of the business-class lounges near the departure gates. With only a one or two minute walk to the gate, you can stay in the lounge and work or relax right up to or even after boarding time.

Arrived at Suvarnabhumi on Friday 19 April from Amsterdam at 06.40 am, deplaned, walked 350 metres to immigration control, picked up my baggage and exited the airport at 07.10. Very Good experience this time, just hope they can keep it up.

We recently travelled through Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, to and from Melbourne. I was very impressed with the standard of the airport. Moving through customs and baggage collection was very easy and efficient. The staff at the airport were helpful and information available made movement round the airport and connecting flights simple and easy.

Different experience depending on the time of arrival and departure. Upon arrival on Friday afternoon the queues for immigration were very long and many of the desks closed. Took around half an hour to get through which after a long 11 hour flight is poor. Going out on Saturday early morning it took over an hour and a half to check in, go through security and then immigration. Once through we had to run to the gate to ensure we made our flight. The shops were empty - presumably because everybody was late for their flights! Coming back in was terrible - 45 minutes to clear immigration, again, hardly any desks open. Finally Saturday mid- morning leaving was bearable. Security less busy and actually friendly immigration with most desks open - such a contrast. I would hate to be an elderly person going through this airport. It must be so stressful.

It's an ok airport, nothing fancy (except for the terminal buildings). Security slightly tight but that's ok since it was understandable. One thing I liked was that the airport made a prayer room for us Muslims to pray in. I would like to visit this airport again.

I was pre-warned about the length of time taken at immigration, but, at midday Sat, 23rd Feb. it was an absolute breeze, from entering the airport to arriving at the departure lounge less than 25 minutes. I wish every airport was as efficient.

I transited through the Suvarnabhumi airport on my Sydney - MAA leg and during the return leg. Though the airport is modern and has the requisite facilities, it gives an impression of being an unfinished article. For some strange reason, when my flight from Sydney landed in BKK, they used the bus to transport the passengers to the terminal. Though the staff are friendly, they barely speak English, which is surprising, given the tourist arrivals in Thailand. I had to ask 5 different people before I could locate a place to charge my phone and laptop.

Modern airport, easy to get to and from. The airport is easy to use and get about. Its cool and airy, the toilets were always cleaned. The arrivals taxi rank is well administered with Taxi drivers under a constant watchful eye. Food is high quality and cheap. And a good duty free on the exit route home. Emigration/passport control (arrivals and departures) had two queue. Staff were quick to use all lines when it got busy. I was slightly worried to see poor line discipline at the metal detectors where the one lady with a hand held paddle seemed to be overwhelmed. But a good experience.

I had the pleasure of using the business class facilities here just a few days ago. I have noticed that Suvarnabhumi now makes arriving passengers disembark to the runway and get on a bus which then takes them to directly underneath immigration. I am not sure why this is but it happened twice on this trip (arriving from Melbourne and arriving back from Mumbai). I understand the distances in Suvarnabhumi are quite large between gates and immigration but this strikes me as overkill. Anyway, without the long distances at arrival, the journey through was comfortable on both arrivals. From plane to luggage belt in 30 minutes. I don't expect courtesies from immigration so never surprised if they are rude. And then quickly over to Novotel pickups and to the airport. I arrived at about 5am both times which appears quieter and the airport handles the queues quite well. Business class departures are very pleasant with a separate check-in section, separate baggage screen and separate immigration then the lounge right ahead. The lounge was very good compared to Melbourne's Air New Zealand lounge and good range of foods and drinks. Of course, still have to walk to the gate, and with Suvarnabhumi that was the opposite end of the massive airport (business class lounge is near A/B/C wing, I was departing both times at E wing. No travelators to help here. Just long walks. Couldn't find a trolley either so the walk was long. Finally to the other smaller business class lounge and then onto the plane. All up a very nice feeling and travel. I know economy is not so convenient but somethings are the same (such as the very long walks).

This airport is not bad but there are still many design mistakes. Not enough space for security checks hence they have to take the floor space near the elevator to do it. We came with a big aircraft (A330) from Hanoi, we had to take a bus to the airport, where you have to run with all other guests to your gates which is sometime not clearly indicated. Design is new but A/C system seems not to cope with the heat.

Have been a frequent visitor to the airport. Although there have some improvements, I feel that they have been cosmetic. The feel of the building is still unfinished and looking tired. Immigration still remains a nightmare, with long lines. Baggage waiting times are very inconsistent, its more of a waiting game especially during peak hours. The departure area s are over crowded and messy with insufficient seating. Security control, remains a joke, with rude and unfriendly staff.

I have travelled to BB at least 30 times over the last 3 years. The airport itself is nice, but Immigration lines are a nightmare. In best case assume 1 hours, in worst case 3-4 hours, especially at arrival. December 2012 they now have an automatic passport for Thai nationals. So Thai nationals can get through in 1 minute. But tourists may have to wait 2-3 hours. Latest was yesterday at 3 o clock in the morning. I waited more than 2 hours. Automatic passport control for Thai nationals. And they assigned the same amount of passport gates for Tourists. Not even considering that the percentage of Tourists is probably 90% whereas the number of Thai's travelling was around 10%. So the airport invested a lot of money for bringing down the time for Thai's from 4 minutes to 1 minute, instead of focusing on the real problem which is just getting worse and worse!

Beautiful but terribly designed airport. Departures is a mess. Arrival by taxi is confusing and have to cross a road to the gates where no cars give way. Check in isn't clear and is often a mess of queues with no staff control. Once you check in there is no clear direction to go. You end up going right up a little "side way". Arrivals is even worse. First you get confused where you've got to go. I saw many people coming back on themselves. Immigration is confusing with the signage. Immigration is quite fast (one positive). Getting your bags is badly organised and not clear where to go. Coming out of the gate, which way do you go? If you go left the people waiting for you won't see you, going right is the correct way to go and then you just hit a wall of people waiting. Food upstairs - not great, over priced and I imagine in the position it is, that the profits are not maximized by the number of people in the airport. Taxis - official taxi rank isn't clear or easy to find when first arriving. Unofficial taxi rank outside at arrivals is full of taxi drivers trying to scam you. Why is this not controlled? Terrible airport. Really badly designed. Nothing makes sense.

Arrival - Fine experience, even after 30+ hours en route from the US. It only took five minutes to clear immigration. The bags took awhile to arrive, but this just meant that I had time to exchange money at one of the many (competitive) vendors in the arrivals area. Departure - Horrible airport. It hard to believe that it is only six years old. The design seems like something from another era. Up through security I have no major complaints, but then the entire experience really goes downhill. The first priority does not seem to be getting you to your gate but rather making sure you are exposed to every single one of the very high end shops. I did not see one newsstand or bookstore anywhere although I did finally see a great drugstore. There are some normal food options toward the end. The gate situation could not have been designed by anyone who travels much. You sit outside the gate area in a place with few seats until shortly before boarding. It is a crowded, miserable experience. Your boarding cards are submitted as you enter the (secure) gate area where more seating is available. It is odd to have precious little seating where most people wait. I read that they are trying to make this airport one of the top ten in the world, but there is just no way.

Fabulous airport. Soaring high roofs, check in was a breeze. We flew EVA Air. I had the best meal I'd eaten at an airport and the prices were low for a major international airport. Great shopping too with reasonable prices. If I have one minor complaint it's that the actual departure gate area is bland and boring compared to the rest of the airport, you should only go to the departure gate when it's close to boarding time.

The airport is huge, sometimes that is nice and sometimes a nightmare if you are short on time. We has a nice experience when changing flights from HYD-BKK to BKK-HKG, but the return was not so comfortable. Had 85 minutes between flights, but the HKG-BKK was 25 minutes late, and the long walk ways, we literally had to run, with half-asleep kids. But the airport is clean, signage is clear and did not have a very crowded feel. Plenty of seating, and decent amenities.

Large airport - there are some gates to this airport, that mean you have a long walk to get to them. This means going past lots of shops - like being in a mall. Not fair on the passengers. If you like shopping - a big choice, also nice places to eat. There are places to sit and rest. Allow enough time to get to gates. Toilets are plentiful. Has a tall, high roof and feels huge and airy.

I've been fairly critical of BKK in recent years but there is a marked improvement in the Immigration and Security arrangements over the past few months and queuing times are better since the Budget Carriers have moved to Don Muang. The new Security Area upstairs is quick and efficient (5 mins). There are now better arrangements in both Arrivals and Departures Immigration (10 mins and 5 mins) in early evening which a few months was anywhere up to an hour or more. There also seem to be more Immigration Officers on duty now. The Check-in areas and Baggage Halls have never been a problem. The Airport is desperately short of seating areas away from the Gates. Overall BKK is better than a year ago.

This must be the worst designed, most poorly organised 'modern' airport in the world. Only 6 years old but apparently from a design 40 years old and it shows. 40 years ago air travel was different, fewer people, fewer flights, more time to shop, if you wanted to. That is not the case today. It is designed as a shopping mall with plane parking on the end, it does not have enough space for immigration or security checks. Huge distances to walk to and from the planes.