Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

I have read other reviews. My experience of Suvarnabhumi is that it is neither better or worse than other airports. I agree that sometimes delays going through immigration can be lengthy; so I travel into BKK business class and am fast tracked through the arrival procedures. The business lounges are relaxing and excellent. I have eaten in the airport - not great but it's filled a gap. I do not agree that toilets are filthy it's not my experience. I find staff very helpful but I speak Thai. I travel to Thailand many times and usually the immigration officer says welcome home. I would agree that the airport is very busy and there can be a lengthy walk to Immigration.

All in all a typically large and busy airport where you should expect to allow plenty of time for formalities. Once inside it takes a while to orient yourself but the gates are easy to find. It took me some time to realise that the main shopping area was on the upper floor. Shopping on the lower floors is scarce. Prices are not cheap and the toilets are a little unclean during busy times. On arrival we had to take the bus from the aircraft to the terminal but on departure we used a skybridge which is much more convenient.

Arriving was fairly good but on the way back the queuing to go through immigration was be on ridiculous waited about an hour to get through immigration. The place is very big and very expensive for duty free.

Flown in twice in the past few weeks. Queues for Passport/Immigration have become ridiculous. Earlier this year the queues zig-zagged out of the arrivals hall and down the ramp. Thought this was a one off issue having used the airport many times previously and never experienced any real problems. Not so. It is now the norm. Took in excess of 1 hour 30 mins in queues on both occasions just to get to the Immigration/Passport desk. Once at the desk all formalities completed in a couple of minutes. The reason for the huge queues is that very few Immigration desks are manned. Officers are employed to look at the queues and then disappear only to emerge minutes later to do the same again. eparting was so much faster. A real breeze. It appears that BKK is heavily promoting the paid for fast track arrivals coupon for THB850. I'll avoid BKK and go elsewhere rather than endure such nonsense again.

I think reviews of this airport depend on arriving or departing. I've rarely had difficulties flying out of Bangkok although I do make sure I'm there well in advance of my flight times. This is a very busy airport and always seems crowded due in my opinion to the lack of seating which leads to people walking up and down the concourse while waiting for their gates to be confirmed the duty free is very expensive and most of the shops seem to offer the same range of goods. The choice of food is quite good although the eating area again tend to get very crowded as people linger long after they've finished their meals just to have somewhere to sit. As all my flights are with Qatar I know which gates are usually used I have a Qatar Privilege Club Silver card so I can check in at the business counter and usually get a fast track pass and invitation to one of the Thai business lounges. Perhaps I'm just lucky in the fact that Qatar seem to have very efficient ground staff it's a pity they can't organise the arrivals also.

This is a beautiful looking airport but it is very poorly designed. It takes forever to reach your gate (if you can find out which gate to go to - information is almost impossible to find about departures). When you reach the "gate" there is no organized boarding process just a great swarming. And then instead of boarding your flight you board a bus to take you to the vicinity of your plane. Probably the most frustrating airport experience I have had.

It is quite cumbersome not to be able to deplane/depart directly onto a jetway but have to walk down/up steps with luggage onto a bus and vice versa. Found shops did not sell unique merchandise from Thailand.

Always fly C or F class. No problems. Exit airport always within 25 minutes to my taxi.

Arriving transiting and departing BKK Suvarnabhumi is no problem in 9 out of 10 cases. The airport is generally well organised restrooms are kept clean at normal times and shopping is ok however pretty expensive. 1 out of 10 cases might be where something goes wrong especially at peak-times. Staff are always around with some restrictions. It's a global airport with global passengers. Food is available everywhere. Rather long distances (huge airport) have to be taken into consideration. Immigration and security control can be a hassle but in 9 out of 10 cases it is ok.

For a relatively new airport BKK is a dismal failure. We could not check in for our flight so we had to wait five hours and there is little to do with poor restaurants and few shops. Once you get past immigration which is unable to cope there is not much else. I have travelled through BKK a number of times and I simply do not enjoy and will try and avoid but as a major international hub that may be difficult.