Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Check-in service starts today on Airport Link for Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways

In Bangkok, "Passengers who want to check in and load their baggage can do so from 3 to 13 hours before departing." on the rapid transit line to the airport. It also appears from the article that the initial promotional fare of 15bt has ended with 2010, and that the fare is now 150bt for the express train (15 min) and 15-45bt for the City Line commuter train (27min).




http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/01/04/business/Check-in-service-starts-today-on-Airport-Link-30145642.html

The Airport Link rapid-transit line from central Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi will launch its air check-in service today at Makkasan City Air Terminal, five months after the rail service started last August.
Initially, the check-in service will be available only for people flying with Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways.

"Passengers who want to check in and load their luggage can do this from three to 13 hours before departing," said Yuthana Thapcharoen, governor of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

There are two train services: the Express Line, a 15-minute non-stop ride from Makkasan terminal to the airport, and the City Line, a commuter train that stops at eight stations.

Tickets for the Express Line are Bt150 per trip, while fares on the City Line range from Bt15 to Bt45 per person, depending on the distance they travel.

The whole City Line journey takes about 27 minutes.

Both lines will run every day from 6am to midnight. Trains will depart every 15 minutes.

The Airport Link is connected to the Bangkok Metro Blue Line subway and BTS Skytrain.

Passengers can transfer from the Airport Link's Makkasan terminal and Phetchaburi station on the Bangkok Metro Blue Line, plus Phya Thai station, which has platforms for both the Airport Link and the Skytrain.

The airport rail line is 28.6 kilometres long and trains run at speeds of up 160kph from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phya Thai. The stations en route are Lat Krabang, Ban Thap Chang, Hua Mak, Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan (City Air Terminal), Ratchaprarop and Phya Thai.

Passengers can buy train tickets by using the Smart Pass card or coins. Vending machines offer tickets for up to five people at one time and total prices are calculated automatically. The Smart Pass can be topped up with cash. It can be used by both Thai and foreign passengers.

Previously, the Airport Link ran services with discount fares offered until the end of 2010. A promotional fare of Bt15 covered all journeys during the initial period.

The Airport Link is owned and will be operated by the SRT. The rail line will serve eight stations and cater for up to 50,000 passengers a day.

The baggage check-in system was developed by the SRT and Airports of Thailand (AOT).

I wonder whether that check in service has a special counter for Business class and Gold Card passengers.

I wonder whether that check in service has a special counter for Business class and Gold Card passengers.

Seeing how they had a total of 11 passengers and 4 bags checked on the first day, don't think you need to worry about that!

From the 5th January Bangkok Post:
Quiet start for remote check-ins on Airport Rail Link
(http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/214454/quiet-start-for-remote-check-ins-on-airport-rail-link)

I like the mention of a footbridge to Petchaburi Station in a few months, and looking into whether to expand service hours for the trains. Along with the escalators being added to other stations, it looks like this thing is slowly improving over time to make it more viable.

it looks like this thing is slowly improving over time to make it more viable.

When I recall how we used to do it Hong Kong, their system started somewhat like this. Nowadays I taxi from the hotel to Central, checkin and it makes the HKG departure so simple. Give BKK a little time, they need a few things, an all weather access from the airport being one and the escalators as Sam Drucker mentioned and this will be very good. Bangkok is one of the few cities, I still use a taxi, but some trips in a old one travelling at excessive speed and using every lane, leave me thinking, I should value my life a little higher.:)

One of the papers had a doomsday article about traffic the other day. Construction of more train lines threatens to worsen traffic congestion to the point that road commuters will spend 4-6 hours per day getting to and from work. Ultimately that may end up making the taxi ride to the airport impossible. Of course once all of the new train lines are completed it should make the situation a lot better.

Nice to see the improvements then to the airport train. I also see that BTS and MRT will be testing a new ticketing smartcard in a few months to be deployed by the end of the year on a widespread basis allowing one card for both systems. They still won't have transfers between them be seamless yet as you will need to pay a full fare on each system if you are using both. But they figure that they will eventually be able to implement a single fare for transfer pax. Now if they also combine them with the airport train's fare system that could definitely be a boon. But making the stations physically linked is a more pressing first step. I am still baffled as to why they didn't plan for that in the first place,

The reason the airport link works in places like HKG and won't work in BKK is that the cost difference between taking a taxi vs the train is a major factor. With 2 pax, its cheaper to take a taxi to BKK. Plus, the time to get to the in-town station, purch train tix, and then wait for train, and then ride 3 sets of slow moving travelators up to the Dep Level. Crazy!

The reason the airport link works in places like HKG and won't work in BKK is that the cost difference between taking a taxi vs the train is a major factor. With 2 pax, its cheaper to take a taxi to BKK. Plus, the time to get to the in-town station, purch train tix, and then wait for train, and then ride 3 sets of slow moving travelators up to the Dep Level. Crazy!

Very true today. However, in 10 years, I think things will be quite different, both in terms of cost and accessibility (in favor of the train!)

Give BKK a little time, they need a few things...

Like what?



I am still baffled as to why they didn't plan for that in the first place,

Oh yes, competent planning. :D

The reason the airport link works in places like HKG and won't work in BKK is that the cost difference between taking a taxi vs the train is a major factor. With 2 pax, its cheaper to take a taxi to BKK. Plus, the time to get to the in-town station, purch train tix, and then wait for train, and then ride 3 sets of slow moving travelators up to the Dep Level. Crazy!

[bolding mine]

That will only be the case when taking the express train. The city line is still a bargain compared with taxi + toll. As for your following statement, do you really think it takes a substantial amount of time to access the upper levels of the station and buy a ticket?

That will only be the case when taking the express train. The city line is still a bargain compared with taxi + toll. As for your following statement, do you really think it takes a substantial amount of time to access the upper levels of the station and buy a ticket?

I took the City Line by accident a few months ago. I told the taxi driver "Makassan Station" He didn't know where it was. I directed him up Ratchadapisek. He got to within 100 yards of the station and turned left on a back road near the train tracks. I thought he did it because of traffic and he knew another way. But he keeps driving and driving . . . so finally I ask him where he's going? He tells me "Makassan" and points toward Ratchaprarop Station! Traffic was slow and heavy so I decided to get out there and just take the City Line.

I have to say that sometimes it can be a mistake taking the City Line all the way to the Airport, especially if you have baggage. The train pulled into Ratchaprarop at 4:30 pm and it was packed to the gills. The entire train had filled up at the first station, Phaya Thai!

Keep in mind that the City Line and the Express train have different interiors; the City Line is like an MRT or BTS train with bench seating and no baggage storage space and lots of room for people standing. The Express Line has places for storing large bags and nice seating. And it's fairly empty at this point so it is a very enjoyable experience.

My ride on the City Line was not pleasant. The large majority of the people did not get off the train until the last station before the airport, Lat Krabang. People were trying to get on and off the train and get around my bags.

The City Line might be cheaper, but if you're traveling with baggage and going to the airport, you really are on the wrong train and inconveniencing commuters and creating extra hassle for yourself by taking it at busy times.

The City Line might be cheaper, but if you're traveling with baggage and going to the airport, you really are on the wrong train and inconveniencing commuters and creating extra hassle for yourself by taking it at busy times.

Inconveniencing commuters? Resorting to hyberbole?

I've taken the train from Phaya Thai and Ratchaparop, with bags, and yes it can be crowded but not BTS rush hour crowded. To me, and others will differ, the express is not worth the money. It's more expensive than a taxi if 2 people are traveling.

There will be high traffic times and lower traffic times. If you're attempting to access the city line at Ratchaparop with bags you're not inconveniencing commuters, just yourself.

Inconveniencing commuters? Resorting to hyberbole?

I've taken the train from Phaya Thai and Ratchaparop, with bags, and yes it can be crowded but not BTS rush hour crowded. To me, and others will differ, the express is not worth the money. It's more expensive than a taxi if 2 people are traveling.

There will be high traffic times and lower traffic times. If you're attempting to access the city line at Ratchaparop with bags you're not inconveniencing commuters, just yourself.

I don't think it's hyperbole, and I guess we differ here on this. When I try to get on a crowded train (and in the example I noted, it was every bit as crowded as a BTS rush hour train) I had a hardshell suitcase with me, and I could hardly get past the door onto the train. At later stops, commuters were having difficulty getting on and off the train around me and my bag, and I was having trouble trying to get out of their way so they could freely enter and exit the train. I (with my bag) was inconveniencing commuters. And I was not comfortable traveling like that. I would have paid the extra money to ride the Express, park my bags safely, and take a seat.

As for measuring things in terms of comparison in cost and time to taking a taxi, I don't worry about that. I don't have to have the cheapest ride. And I've had enough problems at times in the past with traffic, taxi driver shenanigans, and bouncing around in some rattle-trap doing 140+ kph on the freeway (if the speedometer is working!) that I'm fine with taking the Express train if it reasonably makes sense.

I don't think it's hyperbole, and I guess we differ here on this. When I try to get on a crowded train (and in the example I noted, it was every bit as crowded as a BTS rush hour train) I had a hardshell suitcase with me, and I could hardly get past the door onto the train. At later stops, commuters were having difficulty getting on and off the train around me and my bag, and I was having trouble trying to get out of their way so they could freely enter and exit the train. I (with my bag) was inconveniencing commuters. And I was not comfortable traveling like that. I would have paid the extra money to ride the Express, park my bags safely, and take a seat.

As for measuring things in terms of comparison in cost and time to taking a taxi, I don't worry about that. I don't have to have the cheapest ride. And I've had enough problems at times in the past with traffic, taxi driver shenanigans, and bouncing around in some rattle-trap doing 140+ kph on the freeway (if the speedometer is working!) that I'm fine with taking the Express train if it reasonably makes sense.

Everyone has their tolerances and I'm not saying you need to deal with something you're not comfortable with. I've yet to have a train as crowded as you experienced but I also tend to head to the airport before rush hour kicks in.

It is very much an issue of time and needing to adjust for what you're lugging, potential train loads etc. I haven't experienced (and cannot envision) a situation where I'd find the express train a better alternative, but to each their own.

But again, feeling like your inconveniencing commuters can just as easily be seen as them inconveniencing you. So I do feel it an odd statement.

It also doesn't bother me doing 140km on the highway. But I know I'm in the minority there. :D

My ride on the City Line was not pleasant. The large majority of the people did not get off the train until the last station before the airport, Lat Krabang. People were trying to get on and off the train and get around my bags.

The City Line might be cheaper, but if you're traveling with baggage and going to the airport, you really are on the wrong train and inconveniencing commuters and creating extra hassle for yourself by taking it at busy times.

I completely agree with you. I just took the City Line (comparing it with my earlier experience on the Express Line)....the Express Line (for Baht150 ~ US$5) is the way to go...the City Line (for Baht45 ~ US$1.50 if getting off at the last stop) is cheaper, but really? is the US$3.5 saving worth being crushed and stopping at 6 or 7 stations which seemed to take a long time...the City Line is really a super crowded (smaller interior) commuter (local use) line with the only one big advantage of being connected to the Phayathai Skytrain station by a ped bridge at the terminal station)


in addition, all of the following should eventually make the Express Line just a bit easier to use:

(a) a direct bridge is being made between the Makkasan Airlink Terminal station (where the Express Line stops) and the Petburi Subway station,

(b) they are organizing taxi lines at Makkasan station,

(c) the Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways Airlink Terminal check-in services should be expanded to other airlines soon; and

(d) this year they are promising to introduce a Bangkok Smart card which integrates the electronic ticket card for SkyTrain, Subway and hopefully Airlink (plus in future the BRT, buses, taxi boats, 7-11s etc. like the Hong Kong Octopus card),

...this is Thailand so dont expect super speed, but its gradually getting there...

Your point "b" above raises a couple of thoughts:

1) The approach to Makkasan is really kind of silly. It's a huge station to begin with, and to bring a taxi in from Ratchadapisek to the front-most doors for the Express train, the taxi has to take a large 360° rotation around the building. It must add at least 1 km to the trip, just going around this entire building rather than a direct approach.

2) Getting a taxi from Makkasan: Currently there is no way for a taxi to turn right out of Makkasan onto Ratchadapisek to go toward Petchaburi or Sukhumvit. If you want to go that direction you either need to:

a) get in the taxi and let him take a circuitous route or try to get to a place for a U turn (both adding significant trip time in traffic), -or-

b) walk out to Ratchadapisek and cross the road near the railroad tracks and hail a cab that's already heading south toward Petchaburi and Sukhumvit.

(d) this year they are promising to introduce a Bangkok Smart card which integrates the electronic ticket card for SkyTrain, Subway and hopefully Airlink (plus in future the BRT, buses, taxi boats, 7-11s etc. like the Hong Kong Octopus card),



My understanding of the smart card is it will allow you to pay for each of these using the card, however you will still need to pay the individual fares for each transpo line. There is not yet an integrated one ticket possibility and likely there won't likely be one for some time to come.

Your point "b" above raises a couple of thoughts:

1) The approach to Makkasan is really kind of silly. It's a huge station to begin with, and to bring a taxi in from Ratchadapisek to the front-most doors for the Express train, the taxi has to take a large 360° rotation around the building. It must add at least 1 km to the trip, just going around this entire building rather than a direct approach.

It's a solid 700 meters if I remember correctly from my last trip :D

My understanding of the smart card is it will allow you to pay for each of these using the card, however you will still need to pay the individual fares for each transpo line. There is not yet an integrated one ticket possibility and likely there won't likely be one for some time to come.

My understanding (and this transport stuff is my professional field) is that the BTS and BRT will be the first to have a card capable of paying for fares on both systems (and potentially other things like 7-11). It seems that the SRT electric trains (such as the Airport Link) will be next in line, probably 6-12 months after the BTS/BRT launches.

After that it is anyone's guess. There are significant revenue sharing barriers between the MRTA/BMCL (BMCL being the Metro operator) and the BTS folks as well as other political issues that prevent the two from working together (until this point, they have been competitors for new projects rather than collaborators).

When and if there is a reform of the BMTA (bus) unions and the green light is finally given to replace all the old buses with new models that have only a driver and a farebox rather than a driver and a conductor issuing tickets, the buses will be almost instantaneously integrated, but this could be 5 years out, who knows.

And maybe, just maybe, in a perfect world the canal and river ferries will not only get new boats, but the BMA and the boat companies will invest in the piers and install fare gates and electronic ticketing similar to the other transport systems in town.

Things do happen in Bangkok, they just do so at a glacial pace.

I had to go to Sukumvit 22

So i took the airportlink to Makkasan , the Ticketmachine was out of order on the airport and so you get in an pay on arriving.

Big Huge Station, but almost no people, i decide to take the MRT to sukumvit and walk from there. But during my walk i decide to take the taxi, but the wrong direction, so he had to take an u-turn and 20 Bath later we passed Makkasan again in the good direction, but the traffic was huge, so i arrived later then i expected, next time i will take the MRT for 15 Bath to Sukumvit 22,

It is not about the money, because from door to door i also can take the airport limosine or so.

But if you do not have so much luagage, this wait of travelling alone is ok.

Any progress on an integrated payment (and hopefully in future, membership) card would be great. I currently have in my wallet for Bangkok:

(a) BTS skytrain card
(b) MRT subway card
(c) Airlink pass card
(d) 7-11 Smart Purse card
(e) Starbucks Visa paywave card
(f) Tops grocery Spot card
(g) Central stores One card
(h) Mall stores M card
(i) I declined a BRT card

(not to mention credit cards, ATM cards, office and condo cards and gym cards)

It is so archaic... they should all be integrated into one card (or mobile phone tag attachment like in Seoul....

An OCTOPUS (HK), T-Money (Seoul) or EasyPass (Taipei) card would be fantastic...I know progress is slow in Bangkok but at least it's a step in the right direction....

My understanding (and this transport stuff is my professional field)...



And as such you've a great handle. :D

I'd love to see an integrated system but my short term expectations are not high.

And as such you've a great handle. :D

I'd love to see an integrated system but my short term expectations are not high.

Yep, alludes to my profession and pays homage to my favorite Kubrick film :cool:

Integration will happen. But we might not live to see it ;)

I was checking into this being I have a few trips to BKK coming up and wanted to try it out. Besides the clear advantages of not having to deal with so much traffic or crazy taxi drivers, I noticed the 12/13 hour in advance check-in times. That'll be quite handy for me at times, being if you check in at the airport, TG can sometimes be strict about not allowing you to check in till 6 hours before the flight. It'll be perfect for me if I can check out of my hotel at noon, go to the City Air Terminal and leave my bag with them (of course nothing valuable inside for anyone to pilfer), then enjoy a leisure afternoon/evening before heading out to the airport at night.

I noticed on the TG website is they said you must take the express train. The check-in service isn't available to those taking the commuter train or via other means. I thought that was a bit strange. Hopefully they don't require me to take the train immediately after checking in. I don't mind having to buy an express train ticket first, just as long as I can use it later in the day.

Anyone actually use the service yet? How does it work with regard to needing to take the express train? I'll likely test it out next week, so will report back if nobody else does.

I was checking into this being I have a few trips to BKK coming up and wanted to try it out. Besides the clear advantages of not having to deal with so much traffic or crazy taxi drivers, I noticed the 12/13 hour in advance check-in times. That'll be quite handy for me at times, being if you check in at the airport, TG can sometimes be strict about not allowing you to check in till 6 hours before the flight.

I suspect it will work better for other airlines.

The thought of taking the train to the airport especially from what seems like a shambolically organised terminal somewhat removed from anywhere I would tend to stay in BKK fills me with horror. I always take a Limo from airport to hotel as BKK is one city in which this comes at a very reasonable cost for a high quality car.

That said when faced with a latest possible checkout time of typically 4pm to 6pm for a departure at around midnight or later and when travelling with BA/QF, AY or even OS check in desks which only open 3 hours prior to departure (regardless of class of travel) being able to check bags at the station may swing me over to using the train.

ITCI works extremely well for the similar problem at HKG (where I would also normally take a Limo unless staying at the W) so an effective early check in service may really drive traffic towards the Airport Link.

It is less of an advantage for TG since you can pretty much check in whenever you like if using the F check in desks as either an F passenger or *G.

That'll be quite handy for me at times, being if you check in at the airport, TG can sometimes be strict about not allowing you to check in till 6 hours before the flight.

I've never had this problem. TG *G line has always let me check in so long as the flight is same day.



It is less of an advantage for TG since you can pretty much check in whenever you like if using the F check in desks as either an F passenger or *G.

:confused: How do you use the F check in area as a *G?

I've never had this problem. TG *G line has always let me check in so long as the flight is same day.

I've been refused several times, always when flying economy. I did once check much earlier than the 6-hour limit when flying business class and no questions asked. Not sure if it's the difference between economy and business or just bad luck in getting check-in agents who play it by the book.

Of course I could pay to leave my bags with left luggage people at the airport, but that's a big hassle.

:confused: How do you use the F check in area as a *G?

I also would like to know how one manages that.

I've never had this problem. TG *G line has always let me check in so long as the flight is same day.



:confused: How do you use the F check in area as a *G?

:confused: F Check in is a published *G benefit when flying Y or J with any alliance carrier. I have never flown TG internationally other than in F so its something of a moot point from my perspective but I assume I would use the F check in if I was travelling with TG in J. As I obviously haven't used the TG F check in when only flying in J with TG, apologies if I have missed a quirk of TG which denies regular *G benefits to *G members.

My main point was though that when I fly F with BA I have to hang around airside for the BA check in to open, which would not be necessary if I could check my baggage at the train station.

:confused: F Check in is a published *G benefit when flying Y or J with any alliance carrier.

Since when? This has NEVER been a *G benefit that I've ever heard of. Where is it published? Do you have some secret *A publication that nobody else knows about? Totally confused on this one.

Anyways, if flying economy on TG, I've been directed to the *G check-in, which is a pain being it's near the F/C check-in (other side of the row), but you're not allowed to use the C/F fast-track immigration, so have to walk all the way over to the regular immigration, then walk back after passing through immigration if you're departure gate is a C or low D number. With hopefully no queues to speak of at the City Air Terminal, it should be a breeze, other than fighting my way to the rear and waiting for immigration/security once I arrive at Suvarnabhumi.

Here's a quote from the THAI website news section announcing the new check-in service at Makkasan City Air Terminal:

The THAI BCAT check-in service at Makkasan Station is available only for passengers with confirmed tickets on a THAI domestic or international flight, and who have purchased the Express Line ticket on the airport rail link. The travel time from Makkasan train station to Suvarnabhumi Airport on the Express Line is only 15 minutes and costs 150 baht. Passengers are advised to check-in at Bangkok City Air Terminal (BCAT), Makkasan, three hours prior to flight departure. Passengers with three to 12 hours to spare have the option of checking-in at Bangkok City Air Terminal (BCAT), Makkasan, allowing them to be free of baggage with extra time to explore the city.

Unless I plan to drop my bags and then go do something else for a while, a 3 hour minimum check-in time is probably a deal-breaker for me. Does anybody know if this is an advised time, or actual policy? It would seem to me that a cut-off time of maybe 90 minutes should be adequate for them to get the bags to the terminal and handed off to the appropriate airline.

It is less of an advantage for TG since you can pretty much check in whenever you like if using the F check in desks as either an F passenger or *G.

Nice idea - I just wish TG had heard about it :cool:!

P.S. checking-out at 6 p.m. is usually fine if you can lounge about on the Club floor until a reasonable setting-out-for-the-airport time

Since when? This has NEVER been a *G benefit that I've ever heard of. Where is it published? Do you have some secret *A publication that nobody else knows about? Totally confused on this one.


Here is the link from the official *A site. It has ALWAYS been a benefit of *G.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits/frequent-flyer/gold-silver-status/

Seriously it has never been a problem for me with any other *A carrier. As I said I have only flown TG internationally in F or domestic in C so have never tried this with TG. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that strange things happen in Thailand ;)

Nice idea - I just wish TG had heard about it :cool:!

P.S. checking-out at 6 p.m. is usually fine if you can lounge about on the Club floor until a reasonable setting-out-for-the-airport time

I have done that many times too ;) but I love the approach at HKG when you can ITCI really early and then spend the day luggage free for lunch and dinner before heading off to the airport at your convenience.

Here is the link from the official *A site. It has ALWAYS been a benefit of *G.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits/frequent-flyer/gold-silver-status/



Priority Airport Check-in - allows you to check-in at the Business and/or First Class counter

Presumably whichever is the lesser available. I've never seen, with extensive travel in Asia/N America, the ability for *G to check-in on the International F line. That's not to say my experience trumps all, but that is why several posts have taken umbridge with your statement.

Here is the link from the official *A site. It has ALWAYS been a benefit of *G.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/benefits/frequent-flyer/gold-silver-status/

Seriously it has never been a problem for me with any other *A carrier.

Priority Airport Check-in - allows you to check-in at the Business and/or First Class counter

First, notice the "and/or". That right there should tell you that you cannot always use the First Class counter. The airline may opt to allow you to use the First Class counter at certain airports at their discretion, but it certainly isn't always guaranteed by this rule.

Let's take a look at what a few of the *A carriers say in their rules.

UA:
First in line: Priority check-in
Check-in for your United flights at the counters designated specifically for you. If no elite line exists, you are welcome to check in with our United First® customers at most major terminals in the U.S. and Canada. On international flights, you may check-in with our United Business® customers.

You may also use Priority check-in counters when flying on any of our Star Alliance® member carriers. Look for the "Star Alliance Gold" sign for your Priority check-in position.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1167,00.html

SQ:
Priority airport check-in
Receive preferential treatment at specially designated Star Alliance check-in counters featuring the KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Alliance Gold logo.
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/krisflyer/aboutkf/elitegold.jsp?v=-1875230495&

TG:
• Priority check-in at counters displaying the Star Alliance Gold
symbol.
http://www.thaiair.com/frequent-flyer/download/Handbook-EN.pdf

OZ:
Dedicated check-in counter

The Gold member can use the Gold member dedicated check-in counter at the airport, regardless of the seat class.
(If the dedicated check-in counter is not available, you can use the business class check-in counter.)

(However, only the member can use this service. The companion is not allowed to use this service. In addition, please understand that the use of the business class counter can be limited due to the circumstance of some airports.)
http://flyasiana.com/english/

So in actual use, many of *A carriers, including TG at BKK, have dedicated counters for *G passengers, and do not allow them to use either the business class or the first class counters.

Not trying at all to be harsh on you, just showing that with these airlines, which are the *A carriers I fly most often, none of them allow me to use the First Class counters, other than evidently UA does at some of their airports if they don't have a dedicated *G line. Now when I first became *G, I do remember using business class counters more frequently than I do these days. In those days there must not have been so many *G passengers, so they didn't so frequently have dedicated *G counters. I never though recall being able to use the F check-in with my *G, other than sometimes if waiting in the business class line I'd get called over to an empty F counter.

I would honestly be interested to know which *A carriers at which airports do allow you to use the First Class counters for check-in, being I wasn't aware that some do allow this, and it might come in handy sometime.

Priority Airport Check-in - allows you to check-in at the Business and/or First Class counter

Presumably whichever is the lesser available. I've never seen, with extensive travel in Asia/N America, the ability for *G to check-in on the International F line. That's not to say my experience trumps all, but that is why several posts have taken umbridge with your statement.

I think the and/or is meant to reflect the availability of an F check in desk because the majority of *A member airlines (e.g. OS, BD etc.) do not offer F class at all. Also to offer the passenger the option of what is convenient for them. Admittedly it seems to give wiggle room to those not wishing to follow the spirit of the rules. Oneworld members tend to play a pretty straight bat with the same situation. I have never had an issue checking in at a OW member airline at the F desk where available..

Well I can say with certainty that it works when travelling with LH and it works when travelling with LX (at airports with an F check in but not at dedicated FCT/FCL set ups, but even in such locations there will be an F check in desk with general check in), it doesn't work with BD, TP SK or OS because they don't offer F so the highest available check in desk is C (where it does work). I have only ever flown TG and UA in highest available class so I never tried it with them.

I never imagined this would be an issue so I guess the collective experience here would ensure that I avoid embarrassment by trying to use the F check in at BKK if not travelling in F.

Ultimately what the airline should or shouldn't provide is dictated by the *A rules rather than individual airline interpretation. It seems fairly clear to me from the *A link that providing a *G queue does not necessarily replace use of J/F check in. Based upon my main experience flying J with LX and LH my interpretation of the F check in benefit as a *G was identical to my interpretation of my OW Emerald F check in benefits when flying with OW airlines.

I may have learned something here, perhaps LH and LX aren't that bad after all. The norm for them is *S check in Business, *G check in First.

So it sounds like this is maybe more likely common in Europe than other places. I think the only European *A carriers I've flown in my entire life has been LH twice, and LX four times, and didn't know they allowed F counter check-in, so didn't try. I have flown to Europe a lot, but always on TG, OZ, SQ, or UA and never saw F check-in available to me with any of them. I will though look/ask next time just in case they allow it there.

Thanks for that information, I learned something new today!

The other thing to point out is I've never, not once, needed to wait at BKK for TG*G check-in, either at the international desks or domestic. Each and every time I've walked up there's been an open desk/agent.

Well you're a lot luckier than me then. Especially before they moved the *G check-in counters to their present location, I more often than not had to wait considerably at check-in. Especially at domestic check-in, which didn't have any dedicated lines but just used the business class check-in. Since they moved, I don't think I've ever seen more than one or two people in line, and often can get a free agent without any wait. I usually check in early in the morning for domestic flights and late in the evening for international flights, so maybe we're using the airport at different times of the day.

Some bad experiences in trying out this service. The City Air Terminal in it's current state reminds me of something designed in part by a ten-year-old. Complete incompetence in planning.

My first experience with the train this year was inbound. You do not buy your ticket before boarding the express train. Took be a bit of wandering around and then asking at the ticket counter for the regular train. I did not see anyone there to take your bags, you have to load them yourself. There were about 10 people taking the express train I was on, but nobody was overloaded with baggage. On exiting, the escalator leading downstairs was out of order, so everyone had to carry their luggage. A major pain for someone with heavy luggage. Then you have to queue up to buy your ticket and get a token to put into the turnstile machine to exit. Absolute stupid design. If the train was full, it would have taken 30 minutes or more for everyone to buy their ticket. With only 10, it wasn't so long, but just the idea that somebody didn't use their brain in designing this was enough to get me in a bit of a bad mood.

Exiting, I went down to the taxi stand. Not a taxi in sight, and after waiting several minutes, decided to trek out to Asoke and find my own taxi. That was a mistake, though who knows how long I might have had to wait if I stayed around. The sidewalks again prove someone without any brain cells designed this thing. You'd think they'd realize people have baggage and need to get the baggage up and down the curbs. But no, obviously they didn't as I saw only one single ramp in the curb in the whole area. Further along, there's a huge pier, and what did they do, but built the sidewalk going up to the pier, and continues on the other side, but with no way around it unless you go off the curb into the street or out into the dirt.

Once on Asoke, of course things were better in that at least there were ramps built into the curbs to go up and down them, but I needed to cross the street and then wait for a taxi. Just made me more frustrated than I was already for deciding to take the train when it obviously needs someone to come in and redesign it. The stupid connections to BTS and MRT have already been mentioned, so don't need repeating.

On the return trip, be forewarned that it seems most taxi drivers have no idea how to get to the terminal. Mine took me clear over to the next station, where there's no check-in. Not sure if he was just trying to scam me for more money, but when he got back to Makassan, he still didn't know how to get inside. So I just got out of the taxi and walked from Asoke to the terminal. It took me 45 minutes to get there for what should have been a 10 minute trip. Would have been much faster to get all the way to the airport than just to Makassan. I assume the entrance was just up a bit more on Asoke beyond the overhead tracks. The road just under the overhead tracks in one-way, and for exiting traffic only. If someone else knows for sure, maybe you can confirm where is the entrance. I had a Thai friend come to meet me at the airport a couple days prior, and she also had problems with the taxi driver not knowing how to get there. So unless you know how to get to the terminal, I suggest not using a taxi to get you there.

Anyways, I did not have any checked baggage, and after getting frustrated at misplaced signs directing me in the wrong direction, finally arrived at check-in only to be refused entry being I was there only 2 1/2 hours before my flight. There was absolutely no passengers there, so if you're flying economy without *G and want to avoid the queues, this seems to be the way to go if you can put up with all the idiocy and rediculous early cut-off time for check-in.

So being I was already there, I bought my ticket and headed up to the tracks, only to find the train leaving just as I got there, 3 mintues earlier than it's scheduled departure. The next train was several minutes late in departing.

Absolutely this is not ready for prime time in my opinion, but then again I didn't really expect much being those who visit Thailand a lot know this sort of thing is the norm.

it doesn't work with BD, TP SK or OS because they don't offer F so the highest available check in desk is C (where it does work).


It indeed works with SAS, at least at ARN, the SAS hub I know best. They've got a "First Class/Star Alliance Gold" check-in counter.

Complete incompetence in planning.

Agree.

I did not see anyone there to take your bags, you have to load them yourself.

Why is this an issue? I am sure you are more well traveled than I, but in my experience (HKG, SIN, NRT for example), I've never seen an offer to take my bags on an inbound train.


Then you have to queue up to buy your ticket and get a token to put into the turnstile machine to exit. Absolute stupid design.

Agree. But I think this is some sort of temporary solution for a problem that probably doesn't exist. When the system was undergoing its test phase (Aug 2010 - Dec 2010), the few times I took it, you could always purchase your ticket at the airport. However, since full revenue service has started, this has obviously changed (and I have experienced it as well).

Once on Asoke, of course things were better in that at least there were ramps built into the curbs to go up and down them, but I needed to cross the street and then wait for a taxi. Just made me more frustrated than I was already for deciding to take the train when it obviously needs someone to come in and redesign it. The stupid connections to BTS and MRT have already been mentioned, so don't need repeating.

The BTS connection @ PhayaThai is just fine IMO, a bit of a hike if you have a bunch of luggage, but well-connected in terms of ramps, escalators, lifts, etc. The MRT on the other hand is obviously a nightmare. I had coffee with one of the MRTA's deputy governors last summer and asked when they were going to build a connection from the Petchaburi MRT stop to the terminal and got the equivalent of a shrug in return. It is really depressing as it was not even until the last month or so where I noticed a sign in Petchaburi station telling riders which exit to use for the terminal. Furthermore it was (still is) a small piece of paper on the wall... not a nice big blue obvious sign like all the others in the station. Very poor on the part of the MRTA / BMCL.

On the return trip, be forewarned that it seems most taxi drivers have no idea how to get to the terminal. Mine took me clear over to the next station, where there's no check-in. Not sure if he was just trying to scam me for more money, but when he got back to Makassan, he still didn't know how to get inside. Would have been much faster to get all the way to the airport than just to Makassan.

I assume the entrance was just up a bit more on Asoke beyond the overhead tracks. The road just under the overhead tracks in one-way, and for exiting traffic only. If someone else knows for sure, maybe you can confirm where is the entrance. I had a Thai friend come to meet me at the airport a couple days prior, and she also had problems with the taxi driver not knowing how to get there. So unless you know how to get to the terminal, I suggest not using a taxi to get you there.

I call BS on the taxi drivers (not you) claiming to not known where Makkasan is. Unless they are fresh from the farm or normally stick to the suburbs, Makkasan is very well known. It has been a stop on various lines SRT passenger lines for many decades. Furthermore, that monstrosity of a terminal has been an eyesore since at least my first trip to BKK in 2007, probably longer.

And yes, the entrance is just a bit north of the railroad tracks / overhead rails if you are heading north on Asoke.

So being I was already there, I bought my ticket and headed up to the tracks, only to find the train leaving just as I got there, 3 mintues earlier than it's scheduled departure. The next train was several minutes late in departing.

This is something new that I think has coincided with the commencing of revenue service. Again going back to my experiences in the test phase, never had problems with late trains (or some trains not showing), which a lot of people are reporting these days, especially on the City Line down at PhayaThai.

Absolutely this is not ready for prime time in my opinion, but then again I didn't really expect much being those who visit Thailand a lot know this sort of thing is the norm.

There are lots of things here "not ready for primetime," but hey, TIT :D

sorry - lot's of stuff already said!