After a long day at Suvarnambumi I just shake my head and wonder.

My bigest question: They couldn't bother to clean the place first???

other observations...

Upon arrival, it is BIG.

Taxi had no trouble finding it. Signage on the way was great and highway upgraded. Drop-off smooth. Close to the door I needed 10/10

Check-in Building reminded me of Hong Kong, and LOTS of people everywhere. Quite warm while waiting to check-in. The agents couldn't open the flight for check-in... 20 minutes in line waiting while they got phone support to help them with thier computers. 3/10

Easy transition to Domestic Departures. I'd heard about the long walk and was pleasantly surprised at the moving walkways to take us along.9/10

A few shops, and tucked away behind construction boarding was a nice little restaurant with airport like prices, but delicious, and pleasant surroundings. Absolute dissorganization between ordering, then leaving to pay, then back to pick up the food... it's obviously a system that needs to be worked out.6/10

Other than the shoping area, and the trek to the gates, there is NOTHING to do, and no seating at all. Once past the shops, there are no displays with gate information and departure times (or flight delay updates... a most frequent happening with Domestic Thai air travel) The toilet was small, dirty and smelly... a state I found odd, as the airport is brand new.4/10

With no other choice, we went to the gate. Similar to Singapore's Changi, each gate is a secure area. Metal detectors running, we quickly clered and sat awaiting our flight. Inside, drinking fountains, toilets, and a sterile amost hospital feel to the place... metal airport chairs lined in rows... 2 LCD TVs with sound off for people to gaze at. 7/10

I notice lifting my carry-on to the metal detector, it's covered in dirt. Through the next hour or 2, I notice everywhere... the whole airport is flithy... grime on the floor, dust, dirt... as if someone hadn't mopped in months (which is probably the case). I'd be embarrased to open so early, that I didn't have time to get cleaners in Hopefully, as the months go on, they'll get their act together here. 1/10

More and more people entered; then more, and more. I looked around and counted almost 50 people in the boarding area without seats (a handful of seats were empty, maybe 15 or so). Boarding time approached and passed without any sign of Airline staff. I approached the security crew questioning about delays, staff whereabouts and any update on information... they were all pleasant, but couldn't do much for us. 20 more minutes before someone even showed up that worked for the airline... (well after scheduled departure time) and quickly announced a gate change. Not the airports fault, but with no way to find airport staff once you're inside the secure holding area/gate and no display with departure/gate info, they have to take a hit again. 3/10

Within the next 1:30 I had moved to the new gate, again with no Airline staff anywhere to be seen, waited, wondered, and finally watched as things came together... plane arrived, staff, pilots/crew, and we boarded.

After everyone boarded, and crew go through thier various announcements... we sit, and sit, and sit, again. We hear the pilot getting frustrated and he stomps out of the cockpit and up the jetway asking for the gate agent. He comes back a few minutes later followed by FA announcing something about a wait for luggage. A few minutes later, we're taxiing. 10 or so mintues later, we're taking off. 6/10

With no communication of our almost 2 hour delay, I noticed differences from the old BKK. Before, as we were delayed, oooh so frequently, we could hop back and grab a snack, a drink, or whatever. Now in the secured gate areas, I'm not as likely to go for that burger or candy bar. The shops will surely lose out on this as thier captive audience is truly captive... behind a wall of glass, discouraged from going back to do shopping at all. I arrived in Chiang Mai hungry... and with all my baht in my pocket, not in their cash registers3/10


Total 52/100 and arrived exausted and frustrated. Don Muang, I miss you already