Well , I just returned from my first trip through the new airport.
Inbound in transit coming with LH in F onward with TG in C to Phuket.
It was already a pain to buy this reserved ticket. ( I reported in another thread ) - no ticketcounter airside !
long ways between arrival and departure.
Lounges not ready.

return from Phuket on TG in C it took much longer out, than with the old domestic terminal. But at least it worked that I went up to the 4th. floor and picked up one of the taxis there. Taxi to Silom area is about 50 THB more now, and takes 10 minutes more time.

return BKK-DUS with LT in dirty cheap economy.
no lounge with LH/BD/BA gold cards !!!
LH as well as BA have not finished there own lounges, which one could use also not flying *aliance or oneworld same day.
But both share lounges with TG or CX or whatever and there you need to fly that day with that aliance.

For me old Dong Muang was better !
And I also had the feeling that taxiway from runway to terminal takes much longer at the new airport than it was in Don Muang

bertheike, this is considered a not-bad first time Suvarnabhumi experience already. We're all hope that it will get better soon.

P.S. Taxi to Silom may be 10 minutes longer, but from my home in northern Bangkok it's almost an hour of extra travel time at 3am ...

Don't shoot me - I liked it.
Also on an F ticket, met by personnel and the little electric go-karts - I'd have to agree that a walk would have been a pain because of the distance.

No single airport in the world is perfect. People complained about Don Muang when it was in operational, and then now Suvarnabhumi opens and they still complain. I guess it is best not to travel at all and stay at home.

no lounge with LH/BD/BA gold cards !!!
LH as well as BA have not finished there own lounges, which one could use also not flying *aliance or oneworld same day.


this may be the permanent fixture of the new airport. I haven't yet seen plans for individual airline lounges at the new airport. All plans, press releases i have seen seem to indicate that there's going to be Alliance wide lounges. So all *A lounges operated by TG.

this may be the permanent fixture of the new airport. I haven't yet seen plans for individual airline lounges at the new airport. All plans, press releases i have seen seem to indicate that there's going to be Alliance wide lounges. So all *A lounges operated by TG.

I think the airport authority just haven't released any lounge space yet. They're still trying to get the airport to function properly first. ;)

this may be the permanent fixture of the new airport. I haven't yet seen plans for individual airline lounges at the new airport. All plans, press releases i have seen seem to indicate that there's going to be Alliance wide lounges. So all *A lounges operated by TG.
bad...bad....bad !
It was always a nice perk, as a SEN, to use the LH operated lounge, also not flying *aliance same day.

Don't shoot me - I don't like it too...

1.) very long ways to walk.
2.) No arrival lounge (or not yet open).
3.) No more TG-limousine transfer to the city (after searching it at the arrival level I went upstairs to the departures, where I was told that it does no longer exist...).

But there are worse airports in the world ;)

Patrick

Don't shoot me - I don't like it too...

1.) very long ways to walk.
2.) No arrival lounge (or not yet open).
3.) No more TG-limousine transfer to the city (after searching it at the arrival level I went upstairs to the departures, where I was told that it does no longer exist...).

But there are worse airports in the world ;)

Patrick


I agree with you. THERE IS JUST SO MUCH WALKING at the new airport. Not only that, the carrosels are too close to each other at baggage claim and signage is very poor. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautifully designed airport. Is it passenger friendly....HECK NO!!!!

There are two airports that I've been to that are pretty close to perfect; HKG and ICN.

Best way to avoid the shi.t.ty suvamompoom airport is not to fly into it at all. Go to Hong Kong or Singapore where their airports have been ranked world's best. Or you could travel by rail from Malaysia or take a 2 weeks cruise from the mediteranean.

No single airport in the world is perfect. People complained about Don Muang when it was in operational, and then now Suvarnabhumi opens and they still complain. I guess it is best not to travel at all and stay at home.

I had no problem with the old BKK! As a matter of fact, I was blown away with the lounges there (amazing!).

As for no perfect airport.... well... I've never found a single fault with Seoul Incheon! ^

this may be the permanent fixture of the new airport. I haven't yet seen plans for individual airline lounges at the new airport. All plans, press releases i have seen seem to indicate that there's going to be Alliance wide lounges. So all *A lounges operated by TG.

Actually, most of the individual airline lounges (BA/QF, UA, EK, ...) are still under construction, with a Dec/Jan opening for most. In the rush to get the airport open by Sep06, most airlines (except TG, of course!) were only allowed access to their lounge areas (to even start fit-out) just a month before the airport was to open. Not all of the TG lounges are even open.

Unfortunately, most of the major faults with the airport (bag claim area, long walking distances, narrow corridors, etc) have been known to everybody involved with the development of the airport, but since Thaksin needed to get it open ASAP, no changes to this poorly-designed terminal could be made. IATA has been quite vocal all during the planning process about the poor terminal design, etc. So, unfortunately, we're all just going to have to accept it ... and choose HKG, SIN, or KUL when picking a connecting point.

Best way to avoid the shi.t.ty suvamompoom airport is not to fly into it at all. Go to Hong Kong or Singapore where their airports have been ranked world's best. Or you could travel by rail from Malaysia or take a 2 weeks cruise from the mediteranean.

True true, I am from HK but I prefer Changi over HK international.

Don't know if everyone agrees with me, I always like airports that has some sort of Rail connection. It makes it so much easier when traffic is bad and it's much quicker to go by airport express (say Heathrow Express?) or so expensive to get a taxi (say Narita Express?).

The only thing I don't like about Dong Muang is the lack of BTS/MRT connection, it would have been great. How many times have we been stuck on a fri/ sat late afternoon and evening with heavy rain trying to get to and from Dong Muang?

Suvarnabhumi will eventually have a rail link into the city in the next couple of years. My point here is... just give the new airport some time to settle. I am 10000% sure Seoul Incheon or even Changi wasn't flawless in their first few years of opening. I remember Chek Lap Kok having major problem with their check-in system on the first day of opening or something. Anyway, Suvarnabhumi should improve over time. And complaining about the walking distance, have you people been to LHR T.3 where sometimes TG plane is parked in a gate so far away that it akes 25 minutes to walk to???????? Plus, if you fly TG in First Ex BKK you get to ride around the airport in those Golf Carts. OH well, let the arguement continues..................... Keep the complaints coming in and we'll all eventually die of stress or heart attack or vein eruption in the brain

I think the new aiport is pretty good.

Signage could be improved and walks are long but..

*G TG lounge is great - lots of free internet and nice design.
TG F lounge is really FANTATIC!
Taxi stands and access was easy and fast - and my fare to Siam Sq was 300 baht
I never waited more than 30 seconds at immigration when arriving, and once 5 minutes when departing.

This is all based on2 arrivals and 2 departures in November.

I had no problem with the old BKK! As a matter of fact, I was blown away with the lounges there (amazing!).

As for no perfect airport.... well... I've never found a single fault with Seoul Incheon! ^

ICN was first opened in 2001 I believe, but yet the rail link isn't scheduled to open till next March. That's six years without a rail link. The lack of a rail link is one of the major complaints about Suvarnabhumi, yet everyone seems to have forgotten about how long it is taking at ICN, or how long it took at many other major airports around the world.

I think the new aiport is pretty good.

Signage could be improved and walks are long but..

*G TG lounge is great - lots of free internet and nice design.
TG F lounge is really FANTATIC!
Taxi stands and access was easy and fast - and my fare to Siam Sq was 300 baht
I never waited more than 30 seconds at immigration when arriving, and once 5 minutes when departing.

This is all based on2 arrivals and 2 departures in November.

Yes, I love the immigration at the new airport. I've not yet had to wait in any lines on arrival and only once on departure, where there was a whopping one person in line in front of me. Processing time is less than 60 seconds every time. Truly lovely when compared to Don Muang or most other airports around the world.

There are two major things that I'm concerned about with an airport. Getting to/from/through the airport quickly and nice lounges. With the recent opening up of additional lounges, Suvarnabhumi scores very high on both of those points except when I get stuck on a long bus trip to/from the plane. Hopefully that problem will be solved soon and then no major complaints from me. Still lots of minor stuff, but I can live with that.

ICN was first opened in 2001 I believe, but yet the rail link isn't scheduled to open till next March. That's six years without a rail link. The lack of a rail link is one of the major complaints about Suvarnabhumi, yet everyone seems to have forgotten about how long it is taking at ICN, or how long it took at many other major airports around the world.

Who needs a rail link when they have such an organized luxury bus system that fans out all over the city? Even when the rail opens, I won't be taking it, as the Korean Air Limousine Bus stops right outside my apartment. It's a great system.... :D ^

Yes, I love the immigration at the new airport. I've not yet had to wait in any lines on arrival and only once on departure, where there was a whopping one person in line in front of me. Processing time is less than 60 seconds every time. Truly lovely when compared to Don Muang or most other airports around the world.

There are two major things that I'm concerned about with an airport. Getting to/from/through the airport quickly and nice lounges. With the recent opening up of additional lounges, Suvarnabhumi scores very high on both of those points except when I get stuck on a long bus trip to/from the plane. Hopefully that problem will be solved soon and then no major complaints from me. Still lots of minor stuff, but I can live with that.

I agree with everything said above....overall I like the new airport (certainly more than the old one)... Ive flown in and out four times so far and sheduled twice more next month....

Just hope they can finish the express rail link from the airport all the way to Phayathai Skytrain station near downtown...maybe in 1-2 years???

also does anyone know if the TG Royal Orchid Spa is opened? and is it available to Silk Class passengers? also is the entertainment zone (near the dayrooms) in Concourse G now open?

Who needs a rail link when they have such an organized luxury bus system that fans out all over the city? Even when the rail opens, I won't be taking it, as the Korean Air Limousine Bus stops right outside my apartment. It's a great system.... :D ^

u're really biatching suvarnabhumi arn't cha paella? keep praising your kimchi airport then, coz hell i dont think ill ever visit korea in my life time. maybe north korea has got a better airport (surely theres only 1 flight a day, so their airport must be well calm).

u're really biatching suvarnabhumi arn't cha paella? keep praising your kimchi airport then, coz hell i dont think ill ever visit korea in my life time. maybe north korea has got a better airport (surely theres only 1 flight a day, so their airport must be well calm).

My apologies Skyrider.... Please feel free to point out even one post where I said anything negative about Suvarnabhumi. We can go from there....

Are you mistaking somebody else's post for one of mine? ;)
It happens, I understand.

sorry for my childish response, i am under loads of pressure lately

I am currently in transit in teh F lounge of the new airport and not happy. The good news is that we landed fro; HKG at a gate. We were 8 F pax going to various European destinations. We were handed cards for electric buggy. A charming lady met us and the first 3 pax got on waiting buggies, but the rest of us had to walk (sorry not enough buggies). Some elder english couple not happy. The Spa is NOT open; instead went to the F lounge opposite. 6 showers, empty but all dirty. No staff in sight. After walking back to the reception (a long walk) someone came to clean. Few amenities (where are the nice Occtiane amenity kits gone?). Staff in the lounge unhelpful, just chatting between them. There were neither WSJ, FT or IHT journals. Had to get upset and ask them to go to biz lounge to fetch them (they did arrive); no French language journal. TV but only Thai language station. Food is good. But no service in the lounge (I mean noone walks around to see if a pax needs anything); you have to get up and ask. VERY disapointing: part is due to the area still under construction but part is also due to poor management of the staff. Hopefully this quick post will enable me to regain zen for my Paris flight.

I am currently in transit in teh F lounge of the new airport and not happy. The good news is that we landed fro; HKG at a gate. We were 8 F pax going to various European destinations. We were handed cards for electric buggy. A charming lady met us and the first 3 pax got on waiting buggies, but the rest of us had to walk (sorry not enough buggies). Some elder english couple not happy. The Spa is NOT open; instead went to the F lounge opposite. 6 showers, empty but all dirty. No staff in sight. After walking back to the reception (a long walk) someone came to clean. Few amenities (where are the nice Occtiane amenity kits gone?). Staff in the lounge unhelpful, just chatting between them. There were neither WSJ, FT or IHT journals. Had to get upset and ask them to go to biz lounge to fetch them (they did arrive); no French language journal. TV but only Thai language station. Food is good. But no service in the lounge (I mean noone walks around to see if a pax needs anything); you have to get up and ask. VERY disapointing: part is due to the area still under construction but part is also due to poor management of the staff. Hopefully this quick post will enable me to regain zen for my Paris flight.

oh well, British Airways first class lounge isnt any better than Thai. you pay a lot LESS for a TG F ticket than BA or SQ or CX, so don't expect too much.

It´s not the TG service we are complaining about !
It´s the fact, that the move from Don Muang just was 6 month to early !
A soft move somewhen in April ( lowseason ) , would have been much better.
Lounges and all that unfinished area, would have had enough time to get finished.
And in lowseason ( Apr. - June ), I would say , there are at least 30 % less pax going through BKK than now .

spank me hard with a rough wooden stick, but if you wanna fly FIRST in style - it's best to pass the lounge and check-in 45 minutes before the flight depart. oh, how legendary is it to be the last person to step on the plane (First Class door ofcourse) and still be able to enjoy a glass of Dom on board - knowing that skipping the lounge didn't make your trip any less worthwhile the $$$$ paid for <<<< because you've charged it to your corporate account :p . Ofcourse, if you're a first-time FIRST flyer or have paid for the ticket using your hard earned cash (that could be donated to AIDS charity instead of paying for Lobster Thormidor and Bvlgari amenity kit) - then it is likely that you'll becomemore picky over how good the lounge and/or service is blah blah blah.

I agree with everything said above....overall I like the new airport (certainly more than the old one)... Ive flown in and out four times so far and sheduled twice more next month....

Just hope they can finish the express rail link from the airport all the way to Phayathai Skytrain station near downtown...maybe in 1-2 years???

also does anyone know if the TG Royal Orchid Spa is opened? and is it available to Silk Class passengers? also is the entertainment zone (near the dayrooms) in Concourse G now open?

Brunos just answered you regarding the Spa Lounge, but I'll have a look around on Friday if I have time and give an update then, and try to ask if they have an estimated opening date, plus have a look at the entertainment zone, as well as the other TG lounges.

Sometimes I wonder if we are writing about the same airport here. My time int he F lounge was so overly staffed, I couldn't staart to get up without someone asking me if they could bring a drink or some food, the bathrooms were spotless, etc, etc. Are there multiple lounges? This was the large TG Biz lounge and attached F lunge near D1a gate.

Brunos just answered you regarding the Spa Lounge, but I'll have a look around on Friday if I have time and give an update then, and try to ask if they have an estimated opening date, plus have a look at the entertainment zone, as well as the other TG lounges.

thanks! I understand that the TG Spa is free for first class passengers (and maybe a free massage for biz class passengers), but will ask next time Im there.....

A week or so ago I had a very nice experience in the TG First class lounge...very attentive staff (almost too attentive if you are used to other lounges...especially American or European ones), super clean shower areas and other areas....very yummy smoked salmon and shrimp appetizers, fish maw soups in little elephant warmers, tiramisu, coffee machines etc...the attendants said that free massages & treaments will be available soon across the hall in the TG Spa....

they are still in the process of hooking up the UBC satellite connections to the Bang & Olafson TVs so English channels are very limited now...(lots of Mandarin channels for some reason)........also the beds were not installed in the slumber rooms....however I think these issues will be solved soon...

I turned down the little rides in the golf buggys on the way to the gates because I wanted to explore other areas and lounges....(also the tiny 2 tandem-seat golf buggy from the business class lounge to the first class lounge is almost too much because it feels like you are going through a night safari observing all the business class passengers in their natural habitat :) )

I turned down the little rides in the golf buggys on the way to the gates because I wanted to explore other areas and lounges....(also the tiny 2 tandem-seat golf buggy from the business class lounge to the first class lounge is almost too much because it feels like you are going through a night safari observing all the business class passengers in their natural habitat :) )

Hmmm. Night creatures? Is that what you think of us lowly C-class passengers? Well, Trajan, better be careful if you do ever do decide a trip through our lounge as you may be attacked and your golf buggy hijacked. :)

On second thought, "wild beasts of the night" would be a pretty accurate term to describe many of the visitors to BKK, especially those who frequent the seedier parts of town. You actually might not be very far off in calling the TG Biz lounge a night safari.

I will join you upper echelon FTers who travel in F next year for my birthday award, but afraid I'm still a bit too miserly to spring for F except on rare occasions.

Sometimes I wonder if we are writing about the same airport here. My time int he F lounge was so overly staffed, I couldn't staart to get up without someone asking me if they could bring a drink or some food, the bathrooms were spotless, etc, etc. Are there multiple lounges? This was the large TG Biz lounge and attached F lunge near D1a gate.

I wonder if the difference could be the time of day. Brunos was evidently in the F lounge late at night, after 11PM. When does the last TG flight leave with F-class service? And was Brunos flying out on TG or another airline? I've seen lots of lounges around the world that go into a minimum operational mode during the off-times when they don't have any of their flights departing. And rightfully so, IMHO. They shouldn't have to jump through hoops to service a few other airline's passengers in the off-hours. Anyways, I don't know the details of Brunos' flight, so can't say whether this might have been a factor or not.

Another possibility I suppose could be that if TG had just opened up another of their lounges, they might be a bit short on staff and had to transfer some staff to the newly opened lounge. Not saying that such would be a good excuse, but could be a possible reason for the large discrepency in level of service.

Who needs a rail link when they have such an organized luxury bus system that fans out all over the city? Even when the rail opens, I won't be taking it, as the Korean Air Limousine Bus stops right outside my apartment. It's a great system.... :D ^

Agreed. I take the limousine bus all the time. It's like an airline regional business class seat with respect to seat comfort and space, with 3-across seating, as opposed to 4-across seating on most buses. But if you recall when the airport first opened, the complaints were very loud from lots of people about why there wasn't a rail link at ICN, and people complaining so much about how expensive the buses were due to the toll-road being the only access to the new airport. Some similarities with Suvarnabhumi in that respect, but also some big differences. I had really hoped for a nice limousine bus service at Suvarnabhumi, similar to ICN, but that doesn't look like it will be possible any time in the near future. The reason being that the economics in Thailand are totally different than in Korea. In Korea, a metered taxi from the east side of Seoul to ICN cost me the equivalent of about 3,000 Thai Baht last time I used one, whereas a deluxe limousine bus would only be about 500 Thai Baht. In Thailand, a metered taxi is about 300 Baht vs. 150 Baht for a limousine bus. So for two passengers, why bother to wait 20 minutes or possibly more for a bus,, and maybe not even get dropped off at your door, when you could get a taxi for the same price and get there much quicker? Even for a single passenger it doesn't really make sense. So until the economics change and the cost of using a taxi in BKK goes up dramatically, I don't really see that limousine buses will be very popular. But the rail link will likely see more use, if nothing else than a way of passengers to avoid the horrid BKK rush-hour traffic conditions.

For me, I agree pretty much with you that ICN is a great airport...my favorite airport in the world. But I also really like Suvarnabhumi, which despite some teething problems I think will become my second favorite airport. Of course I'm probably highly biased being that ICN-BKK is my primary route and I always have a good reason for being in a great mood when heading into BKK and being able to be greeted by the bubbly Mrs. Soju at the airport.

Off-topic side note: Posting this from ICN airport in the KE lounge, which I have free access to via Priority Pass. If anyone is based in Korea, sign up for a KEB credit card (70,000 KRW per year) and get your free unlimited Priority Pass card as a benefit. It might not get you much of a lounge at many airports, but in ICN it's definately is well-worth it, especially being it doesn't matter what airline you fly, or what if any status you have with anyone.

Hmmm. Night creatures? Is that what you think of us lowly C-class passengers? Well, Trajan, better be careful if you do ever do decide a trip through our lounge as you may be attacked and your golf buggy hijacked. :)

On second thought, "wild beasts of the night" would be a pretty accurate term to describe many of the visitors to BKK, especially those who frequent the seedier parts of town. You actually might not be very far off in calling the TG Biz lounge a night safari.

I will join you upper echelon FTers who travel in F next year for my birthday award, but afraid I'm still a bit too miserly to spring for F except on rare occasions.

oh dont get me wrong Soju :) because of economics or simply because First is not offered, I mostly fly biz class, so Im definitely OK with C-class :D

but that tiny buggy ride through the biz class lounge right past (almost grazing) passengers munching snacks and hunched over laptops etc. just reminded me of a mini-night safari observing creatures in their natural habitat.... I would just be fine walking through the biz class lounge all the way to the first class lounge .....

when the new airport just opened I thought they would have a separate escalator from the HUGE First check-in area down to the TG First lounge (with a parallel set-up for C-Class)....

...you mean you've been using the C escalator with all the rest of us rather than the F teleporter!!! - oh my goodness!! ;)

also is the entertainment zone (near the dayrooms) in Concourse G now open?

Not open, and didn't see anything that would lead me to believe that it will open any time in the near future.

spank me hard with a rough wooden stick, but if you wanna fly FIRST in style - it's best to pass the lounge and check-in 45 minutes before the flight depart. oh, how legendary is it to be the last person to step on the plane (First Class door ofcourse) and still be able to enjoy a glass of Dom on board - knowing that skipping the lounge didn't make your trip any less worthwhile the $$$$ paid for <<<< because you've charged it to your corporate account :p . Ofcourse, if you're a first-time FIRST flyer or have paid for the ticket using your hard earned cash (that could be donated to AIDS charity instead of paying for Lobster Thormidor and Bvlgari amenity kit) - then it is likely that you'll becomemore picky over how good the lounge and/or service is blah blah blah.


Or to miss the flights because there is no Fastrack at BKK when flying with anybody other than TG, and the Departure Immigration line can still be up to 30 minutes at peak times.

Does anyone know if the TG limousine still operates and what the current price is?

Someone earlier in this thread it did not operate anymore. I just range the phone number on the TG website (which has had all the previously available information taken off) but that phone number does not work (!).

Trip Report

Royal Silk Business Class

LHR-BKK-CNX (Checked-thru) - 17DEC - TG102
CNX-BKK - 23DEC - TG117

Arrival at BKK from LHR
--------------------------------------------
* No assistance/buggyride offered on arrival
* 10 million miles walk from the end of concourse E to concourse A/B (domestic)
* Airport looked dim and dirty
* long-que at transfer desk (TG)
* Domestic lounge difficult to find

BKK-CNX TG102 08:15 (delayed 1 hour)
--------------------------------------------
* Crowded and confusing bus gate B1B!
* Unorganized boarding/ poor announcement/ insufficient buses!
* Flown on an old B747-400, was seated in the First section
* Okay breakfast served (rice and omlette)
* Priority tag isn't really priority at Chiang Mai airport
* Good new international terminal at Chiang Mai, quick immigration

CNX-BKK TG112 19:15 (delayed 30 minutes)
--------------------------------------------
* Only one check-in desk was dedicated to Royal Silk/*G - this makes the que quite long so I ended up using one of the Economy desks
* Good lounge in Chiang Mai
* Flight delayed by 30 minutes without reasons
* Flown on an old B777-300 with worn out interior and seating
* Poor dinner served (chicken and rice)
* Arrival at bus gate
* My priority tag did work this time at BKK (1st bag off the belt) but it took 30 minutes to come!


I am usually a TG lover, but my first domestic experience at Suvarnabhumi was aweful. Transferring from international Royal Silk (LHR-BKK) to domestic Royal Silk was a big jump in terms of efficiency/quality of service. I know I am complaining on their domestic service (in which I shouldn't expect much out of it), however I think THAI should keep the quality on all flights (inc. domestic) on par with their renowed international reputation.

Why bother with bus gates when they're like 40 free airbridges! In Chiang Mai they even connect the airbridge to a tiny Bangkok Airways aircraft, why can't Suvarnabhumi "Pride of Thailand" afford to do that. Grrrrr

Skyrider007,
I came into Bangkok from Incheon on December 15th., and the plane B777-300 was met by a bus. Apart from the awful entrance ( unpainted, no lights, and only one escalator )to the airport , I found that it was better than having the plane park at an airbridge.
As you know, it is a long distance from " C gates " to immigration, and it was faster this way :-)

I , too, hate the new airport, and wonder why AOT didnt look at ICN as an example of how an airport should be constructed.

I fly THAI all the time, mainly from MEL- BKK, then either to PVG, TPE, ICN, KIX etc.

My last few flights were in C class ( free upgrade), and the amnenity packs were socks, or nothing.

Has anybody read todays Bangkok Post ?

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/25Dec2006_news01.php

What now ??? :confused:

Has anybody read todays Bangkok Post ?

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/25Dec2006_news01.php

What now ??? :confused:

Well, the problems seem evenworse than discussed on this forum. Sad, sad.

Has anybody read todays Bangkok Post ?

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/25Dec2006_news01.php

What now ??? :confused:Here is a working link:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/251206_News/25Dec2006_news01.php

This is turning out to be a national nightmare.

Here is a working link:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/251206_News/25Dec2006_news01.php

First they didn't have enough restrooms so they are building them.
They don't seem to have enough jet bridges.
And now this???
This is indeed very sad. :(

....it's almost becoming amusing to see how many things can go wrong with one airport. :eek: It sure would be interesting to have to check with your airline before departure in order to see which airport you're landing at on your trip to Bangkok!:td: I wonder if they'll reopen the lounges at Dong Muang if they end up using it for some flights!

Just a bummer.....

Rumors making the rounds says that "certain parts to be closed" refers to the entire domestic terminal. :confused:

It has made news headlines at the New York Times:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/travel/24journeys.html

On this trip I used YUL-LAX-SAN-HNL-KIX-OKI-ICN-HKG and BKK.

I found BKK very efficient. Plane parked at a door, not much walking, not much waiting at immigration, baggage arrive immediately, trek to taxi very short, line for taxi very short (and doubles up compared to Don Muang single line).

Overall way way way better than LAX SAN and HNL. Using LAX (like going to the washroom, no wifi in Redcarpet, etc.) you would think this is the developing country part of your trip.

^ BKK!

Here is a working link:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/251206_News/25Dec2006_news01.php

It has made news headlines at the New York Times:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/travel/24journeys.html

Thanks, Attention Deficit and Guy Betsy for posting those links.
I'll post excerpts from The Bangkok Post story below, because it has especially important information for travelers.

Travelers familiar with Thailand will note the very last sentence.
To anyone who understands standard, operating procedures here, that sentence is hilarious.
Translation for those not familiar: "Now that you've built it, we're simply not going to pay you."

Entirely expected that news media treat these airport problems as a unique situation.
None consider this as just one more effect of underlying cultural mores and values here.
To confirm that, just read Bangkok newspapers.
This sort of incompetence, mismanagement, and corruption are endemic throughout Thai society.
But, at the new airport, the effects are writ large, and so, the rest of the world notices.

With that in mind, one of the ways for travelers to make a trip to Thailand more enjoyable, is to seek Western-managed businesses: especially hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and dental clinics.
Even if management is in Western hands, the working staff will be Thai people, so you'll still get the smiles and "wais" you expect in Thailand.
By seeking Western-managed businesses I have mitigated many problems, while adding to my comfort and enjoyment of the positive things that Thailand offers.
Unfortunately that's not always possible, viz, the new airport.

-- Peter



The Bangkok Post, Monday December 25, 2006 ... abridged by Peter4

New airport faces partial shutdown

Mistakes, graft found in almost all contracts

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Poor construction at Suvarnabhumi may force parts of the new airport to be shut down for repairs. ... likely that part of the new facility would have to be closed and Don Muang airport would pick up the slack....

A lengthy list of complaints and deficiencies ... substandard construction, poor management and manipulation of designs and materials .... information technology facilities were incomplete and the upper floors of the car park building have no drains, causing rain water to flow into elevator shafts. Over 1,000 lamps had already burned out and not been replaced....

Director-general of the Civil Aviation Department, said that due to the persistent problems, the department could not issue a permanent licence for Suvarnabhumi airport. ... There were many cracks in the airport's taxiways, some serious and some not, and repairs would be time-consuming. Many operations staff also have no expertise in using their equipment. ...mistakes and irregularities in almost all the airport's contracts. Names of those believed responsible would be announced in two weeks. Specifications in some contracts had been distorted.

Salaries paid executives of the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel were unusually high. Despite its claimed five-star status, the hotel had plywood doors.

An inexperienced contractor operated transformers that supply power to visiting aircraft and six transformers had burnt out. The cost of digging ditches around the airport was inflated to three billion baht and hiring security guards to five billion baht.

Any contracts where corruption was found would be scrapped...