BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT   Customer Reviews and Opinions

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  18 November 2009 by S Ferguson   (Canada)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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I flew in and out of Bangkok three different times in the past couple of weeks, and got to know it quite well. The Thai airport lounge is terrific - as good as the one in Hong Kong airport. The mango sticky rice (80 baht) in the Village food court is worth going to the airport for. If you have an hour's wait, try the foot or shoulder massage located at the very end of the terminal building past the food court. The toilets are clean, and signage is very good.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  18 November 2009 by Andrew Tucker   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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Airport was excellent - clean and organised, check in very speedy. Customs also fast. Shopping is excellent, there is a lot to see. Minor criticism; does not appear to be public internet kiosks. Should be in place in this day and age.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  17 November 2009 by P Lang   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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On the whole Suvarnabhumi is okay, the security people were efficient and the queues not very long, however the terminal building is just too large, when we came back from Sydney the flight docked at one side of the terminal and we had to walk for over 20 minutes to get to the opposite end for our connecting flight.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  15 November 2009 by Ron Kuhlmann   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Despite all of its problems, the airport is pleasant and spacious. The walking distances can be pretty extreme and might benefit from some moving sidewalks. The signage is good and one can easily navigate the facility. Lines at arrival have always been long and tedious but this is not the fault of the facility. Thai lounge is quite nice.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  29 October 2009 by E Wong   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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I visited BKK twice. Once for international flight to Bangkok and once for internal transit to Phuket. The queuing time is longer than expected. There are long queues for the toilet even if catch off peak flights due to the low volume of lavatories available near the gates. Also long queue to go through security checks. You are forced to wait until person in front of you is clear before you are allowed through. Therefore, I had to wait for guy in front of me to take off shoes, then belt and when still beeped to take out pen from shirt pocket etc. Don't understand why I cannot walk through first. For the transit to Phuket, queue was short as few people on my flight were going through. BKK staff take job very seriously and appear to impose "international" rules that are not valid. For example, was told by Duty Free Staff that cannot purchase liquids (alcohol / perfume) in bottle greater than 100ml, even if bottle is in sealed bag as Australia does not allow this. My flight was a direct flight with no transit back to Oz. I have checked with Australia customs, you can bring in liquids as long as sealed in duty free bag if no transit. Agree with previous comments that Duty Free is more expensive than what can be purchased in the shopping centres in Bangkok. However, if want to make last minute purchase, duty free is still cheaper than prices than in Australia generally. So shop around. It is a long walk to the gates and have very little seating. The taxi system is confusing for people who arrive to BKK for the first time. The taxi services inside arrivals is more expensive. You have to go outside and tell staff at taxi queue where you want to go. They give you a piece of paper. You then go into a combined queue where have taxi drivers on one side and passengers on the other side. You get that taxi driver and have to tell them where you want to go. I assumed that the piece of paper tells them where to go but the first driver I got did not know where I wanted to go. I had to show map and address which I printed out from Oz to him so he had idea where to go. Luckily he spoke good english and could understand what I wanted. Hopefully sky train will make easier to travel between airport and city. BKK is an airport trying to meet highest international standards but not achieving it.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  28 October 2009 by Paul Meerman   (Netherlands)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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This airport is huge and new with enough entertainment and shopping, restaurants available. Immigration efficient and fairly reasonable queue security. Toilet facilities are clean and there are smoking rooms dotted throughout the airport which is handy. On arrival information about taxi's, buses etc is very good. On a domestic flight we had to travel a long way with an airport bus (gate to plane vv).

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  14 October 2009 by G Marsh   (UK)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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In transit from a BA flight to TG flight on both legs we had to go through immigration and check in again for both flights at check in despite our luggage being checked right through to final destinations. Absolutely daft. The airport is massive and there is quite a lot of walking to do. Immigration efficient and fairly reasonable queue security much improved and not so cumbersome. Shops and restaurants fairly reasonable. The daftest thing was to board the flight at gate 1A then get on a bus and drive right around the airport to gate 35 to board the plane which seemed ridiculous. The airport is quite nice but it is massive. Toilet facilities are clean and there are smoking rooms dotted throughout the airport which is handy.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  13 October 2009 by John Duffus   (Thailand)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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I find Suvarnabhumi incredibly frustrating. I use it at least twice a month and have witnessed many of its failings. Arriving at the airport from the city, unlike most others around the world, there are no signs advising which Gate to stop at. Since the terminal is so long, this is vital information for older, less mobile travellers. Mind you, if you arrive by taxi, for many months the Airport Authority has closed off all but the first couple of Gates on the East side and the last 3 on the West. Why? And why have whatever problem there were not been solved so as to open up all the Gates again? Moving the security check to the ramp areas immediately after Immigration finally makes one feel safe in the Departures area. But to the peak hour bottlenecks at Immigration queues are now added bottlenecks at Security on Departure. Arriving back at peak times is no easier for the Immigration queues are as bad. Thankfully I now have an APEC card and this makes a massive difference, but not for the casual traveller. The dreadful taxi service has been commented on by others. I assume that the hugely expensive Airport Taxi Service, the only one permitted to sell tickets inside the Customs area, is a monopoly subsidiary of the Airport Authority. This 'stings' casual visitors, whereas more regular travellers know that they can obtain much cheaper taxis at the two official taxi queues outside. But why, some years after the airport opened, are there still no proper public taxi booths? Finally, whilst the new airport train will help some passengers get quickly into the city, I hope the Bangkok transit authorities start adding cars to the underground and Skytrain systems. Both rae so overloaded now at peak hours that air travellers and their luggage will have huge problems transferring.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  24 September 2009 by Lorenzo Pasquini   (Italy)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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One of the best airports. Next year taxi service will be replaced by the fast train to city center and it will be perfect. Even if there is always a lot of people arriving in BKK queue is fast and crew friendly. Services are good and there is a great choice to eat in fast food or restaurants. The whole airport is clean and it's easy to find what you're looking for.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  10 September 2009 by N Sutherland   (UK)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Security checks have been relocated from near the Gate Areas and are now squeezed in between Immigration and the main concourse going from what was previously 6 or 8 relatively spacious areas, down to 3 horrendously congested areas. Fortunately I went through at a very quiet time - at busy times it'll be a nightmare with 100% of the checked in and passport-stamped passengers being funnelled through these choke points. This repositioning is certainly more conventional but the airport layout is simply not designed for it... not good - so be prepared for lengthy waits for both Immigration and Security.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  4 September 2009 by R Woodhead   (Thailand)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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A huge place which is very busy in terms of passenger numbers and design; noise everywhere, color and lights - felt more like an amusement park. Very little seating had to resort to buying something to eat. No quiet areas with seats. It was a relief to get onboard my flight.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  2 September 2009 by Steve Hayes   (New Zealand)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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I luckily did not have the huge queues at immigration that others have experienced. I did find it strange to get bussed to the terminal on arrival from Sydney when we pulled up at a remote stand. Not too good to be clambering down wet steps in the rain after a nine hour flight. At least the aircon on the bus was working which is better than for the airport itself. Both arriving and departing were warm experiences as the aircon just did not seem up to it. On departure to AKL I used the business class check in at door one. Good service and dedicated passport control with no queues. I went down to the duty free, talk about pricey. Back up the ramp to the escalators to the TG lounge which was well appointed. Found it strange that in a new building there are signs asking you not to flush tissue down the toilet in the lounge though, but to put it in a bin. I would have thought the plumbing would be up to it. Decent walk to "C" concourse for departure with no travelators to assist. Got lost as did not see the sign, ended up on the "B" concourse. Room for improvement in the signage. Still using A4 bits of paper in place of proper signs around the place (To indicate where toilets or smoking rooms were). All in all, room for improvement.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  31 August 2009 by K Pardoe   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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Landed 1415, bit of a delay at immigration but have been through a lot worse. Collected baggage and caught taxi to hotel. Was checking into hotel 75 minutes after touchdown. Arrived for check in with Thai and quickly through - had been warned of high prices airside. Very slow through immigration, but seemed to be the line I was in only. No security until arrived at gate area. Also a physical bag check at the gate which I have not encountered before. Saw the infrastructure for the train between the airport and the city which is scheduled to open 5th December.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  17 August 2009 by Farouk Mogheth   (Czech Republic)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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Living in Thailand for 5 years, every flight I take makes me think of the better days (Don Muang airport). Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport (even though trying to erase the troubles that were created from its inception) still remain. Check in is usually hassle free but anything after that is pain. Passport control is my constant problem as it is slow, inefficient and smiles are missing. In peak hours make sure you give yourself ample time as the lines are long and slow and the staff couldn't care less. I have never ventured to King Power to buy anything as the prices are and still 3-4 times more expensive than in the city which is rather peculiar and the latest scams by the Police is scary. So be very careful as they seem to scare tourists off by accusing them of shoplifting and drag you to the 1st ATM machine to deal with the issue. Shops are devoid of any inspiration so the usual perfume, bag, orchid mix. After security the terminal is bare so expect only glass and steel without a single outlet for anything. Arrivals bags are always never quick and 30 minutes are needed minimum. Taxis are still a problem as you are being hunted by "limousines" that are overpriced as well as trying to tell you that there is no city taxi around. City taxis started to set fixed prices that are min double the meter (around 200-250THB to the CBD while they ask for min 400-500THB) and have no trouble changing their minds mid way and leaving you in the middle of nowhere as in my case. BTS train link is 2 years late and once its finished it takes you to the worst part of town (Prathunam) which is gridlock almost 24/7. So I always wonder about 1st time tourists who face one test after another and instead of enjoying the city, they have to endure one situation after another - not that much of a relaxing airport.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  3 August 2009 by Mike Radcliffe   (USA)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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I have been thru this airport, Suvarnabhumi, many times and things are getting a lot worse. The only good thing is check in, the staff are helpful, and professional, after that things go downhill fast. Immigration leaving is painfully slow, especially in busy periods, but the staff don't seem to care. Then going airside, the duty free is probably the most expensive I have seen, so too are restaurants, except Burger King. A small bottle of Heineken which you can buy in the store for 39 baht will cost you 200 baht at the airport! Now it appears there is a scam in operation by King Power associated with the airport police, which has been detailed on the BBC website. They must be trying to stop tourists altogether. Arriving passengers have a long way to walk. Then greeted by another long line waiting for immigration. unsmiling faces of immigration staff makes you feel right at home. The bags seem to take a long time, and some do go missing, another scam which has been documented by the airport itself. Customs is pretty quick, but then try to get a taxi in the airport, you have no choice, there is only one, AOT, incredibly expensive.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  16 July 2009 by D McConville   (UK)

Customer Rating :  2/5

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Once I got into the airport, slightly hellish. It was too warm, they had AC but it wasn' helping. The gate was right in front of passport control which meant the walk from plane to passport control was only something like 30 seconds. But the amount of people, crowds, huge queues. The line moved at a snail pace, waited almost 40 minutes in line. The bathrooms, dark and crowded, wet and hot. My departure from the airport 8 months prior was nicer. Queue took some time. Inside was clean and nice, AC was fine. I expected more from an Asian Hub that took years and billions of dollars to make.

BANGKOK SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT customer review :  15 July 2009 by D Djamal   (USA)

Customer Rating :  4/5

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I've come in and out of Bangkok Airport numerous times this past two years and start to accept its downsides - cold interior, long walks to the gates, unsmiling immigration people (in the land of the smiles? ) But if you have long transit time, head to Novotel Suvarnabhumi hotel. For TBH800 you can use the gym with nice staff, steam and sauna rooms, and swimming pool, and get away from the airport crowd. Once you're inside the airport, there are places with free wi-fi. It's not difficult to find power outlets. The choice of restaurants are great, food is good, and price is not exorbitant. The spa located one floor underneath the check in area (at the end of the corridor) has reasonable prices compared to Bangkok prices (price in the spa past the immigration is higher). I recommend that if you have long transit time, get away from the transit area if possible and head to town. There are left luggage facilities for TBH100 each luggage. You may not get charged for airport tax if you have already checked in inside. Just make sure you dont need a visa to enter, or ask for visa on arrival.