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Unofficial Bangkok (BKK & DMK) Airport thread

Unofficial Bangkok (BKK & DMK) Airport thread

Old Jan 14, 2018, 12:46 am
  #196  
 
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Originally Posted by braslvr
Thanks! Wouldn't traffic be just as bad for the bus as a taxi though?
For normal buses caught on Vihavadi rd in front of the Airport definitely yes.

However, both the A1 and A2 use the tollway so they are much quicker and that is why pax pay a premium price of 30 baht for the service. The inbound does exit before Central Latphrao so it does get jammed up in that section before turning into Phahonyothin rd to Mo Chit.
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Old Jan 14, 2018, 1:09 am
  #197  
 
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Originally Posted by transpac
There is a developing shortage of taxis as the "authorities" whittle down the supply by requiring newer models for a license, we are in ultra-high season and there is always a general shortage of taxis at DMK.
The shortage at DMK as you term it really has nothing to do with the number of taxis in BKK as there are still more than 90K officially registered taxis in BKK. (An estimated 15k unofficial marked taxis according to DLT). I personally never see a shortage in this city.

The limited number of taxis has more to do with the limited parking space (which is of course a general problem at DMK), as the taxis park in the old Cargo car park south of the old domestic terminal before using the internal road to head north to T1 and T2 usually in bunches of not more than 30-50. The parking space here is limited to only around 500-700 taxis at a time but often there are only a few hundred compared to the taxi parking space at BKK airport (located 2kms away near the Transport Centre) which normally has upwards of 3000-5000 taxis parked there. Also, most this know they can pick up a fare at dip level rather than going through the official AOT process.

As you rightly state, most BKK residents walk up to departures or walk out to Vihavadi rd either by the Amari pedestrian link (narrow stairs to street level so a hassle if you have large luggage) or at ground level near the family mart as tide explained. Personally, if peak time I'll use the Amari route and if non peak departure level. Peak time sometimes the exit, esp from T2, can take 10-15 mins to exit the airport as vehicles on Vihavadi are jammed up seeking the left turn into Chaeng Wattana rd thus blocking DMK vehicles exiting via the southern DMK airport exit( Gate 8? down b4 corporate operators at Gate 9).

Before, the 7km 3.8m high flood proof wall was built all around the airport in response to the 2011 floods it was much easier just to exit straight out to Vihavadi rd and grab a taxi.

Once we have the Airport Express and SRT Dark Line options in a few years it will be much easier for many pax.
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Old Feb 7, 2018, 11:22 pm
  #198  
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Flying out of BKK today on TG for the first time in a very long time. As I'm in Y I had no idea what immi would be like and haven't dealt with anything but premium lane in years. The east immi area was closed because the signs claimed it was 'Full'. Through the windows it was indeed a madhouse inside. Traipsing over to the west area and there were at least 100 people pushing and shoving just to get on the escalator.

I figured it was a worthwhile attempt to use an older fast track card in an to avoid the mayhem and it thankfully worked (PG card with a TG ticket and a TG BP shouldn't even be allowed through there!)

Perhaps I'll get that extra flights in by the end of the month on PG to re-up Premier status and avoid this altogether.
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Old Feb 8, 2018, 7:13 am
  #199  
 
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Originally Posted by dsquared37
Flying out of BKK today on TG for the first time in a very long time. As I'm in Y I had no idea what immi would be like and haven't dealt with anything but premium lane in years. The east immi area was closed because the signs claimed it was 'Full'. Through the windows it was indeed a madhouse inside. Traipsing over to the west area and there were at least 100 people pushing and shoving just to get on the escalator.

I figured it was a worthwhile attempt to use an older fast track card in an to avoid the mayhem and it thankfully worked (PG card with a TG ticket and a TG BP shouldn't even be allowed through there!)

Perhaps I'll get that extra flights in by the end of the month on PG to re-up Premier status and avoid this altogether.
I've used this technique when entering the country - had a previous but unused CI fast track pass and flew in on VN. Immigration Officer looked at it, smiled a bit, said I shouldn't be using that pass, and then allowed me through anyway.

These days, if flying in Y, I'm just as likely as not to spend the extra THB on having the BFS people escort me through Immigration.
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Old Mar 8, 2018, 12:26 pm
  #200  
 
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I'll fly J in Airasia into DMK, but not sure if DMK does have premium immigration lanes for passengers who travel in J/F, have top tier elite status, or lucky enough to afford elite visa. If DMK does have premium immigration lanes, then will Airasia give passes to J passengers? Usually fly into swampy, but can't pass on amazing J deals by Airasia so will going into DMK, thanks!
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Old Mar 8, 2018, 2:00 pm
  #201  
 
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Originally Posted by washeelers747
I'll fly J in Airasia into DMK, but not sure if DMK does have premium immigration lanes for passengers who travel in J/F, have top tier elite status, or lucky enough to afford elite visa. If DMK does have premium immigration lanes, then will Airasia give passes to J passengers? Usually fly into swampy, but can't pass on amazing J deals by Airasia so will going into DMK, thanks!
I don't know about Airasia but DMK has a lane, on the right, signposted "Diplomatic" for ABTC (Asiapac Business Travel Card) holders if you have one. That's the lane I usually use.
It is closed early in the morning (6am-7am) but the airport appears quiet at that time so regular lines are OK.
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Old Mar 9, 2018, 11:33 pm
  #202  
 
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Originally Posted by washeelers747
I'll fly J in Airasia into DMK, but not sure if DMK does have premium immigration lanes for passengers who travel in J/F, have top tier elite status, or lucky enough to afford elite visa. If DMK does have premium immigration lanes, then will Airasia give passes to J passengers? Usually fly into swampy, but can't pass on amazing J deals by Airasia so will going into DMK, thanks!
No, they don't.
Your main advantage will be the landing time. If it is not late afternoon or late evening (the 2 busiest times for int. arrivals at DMK) then you shouldn't have to wait too long.
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Old Mar 10, 2018, 12:44 pm
  #203  
 
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Originally Posted by Yappofloyd
No, they don't.
Your main advantage will be the landing time. If it is not late afternoon or late evening (the 2 busiest times for int. arrivals at DMK) then you shouldn't have to wait too long.
I'll land around 1030 AM, so I should be ok. Still related to DMK, but different issue, anyone have experience walking up to Thai Lion Air to buy seat assignment? I bought Thai Lion Air via travel agent, due to Thai Lion Air's inability to process foreign credit cards so I cannot manage my booking (joy of dealing with LCC!) but help desk told me either call or walking up to their desk in DMK to sort it out.
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Old Mar 10, 2018, 9:24 pm
  #204  
 
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Originally Posted by washeelers747
I'll land around 1030 AM, so I should be ok. Still related to DMK, but different issue, anyone have experience walking up to Thai Lion Air to buy seat assignment? I bought Thai Lion Air via travel agent, due to Thai Lion Air's inability to process foreign credit cards so I cannot manage my booking (joy of dealing with LCC!) but help desk told me either call or walking up to their desk in DMK to sort it out.
10:30am should be a very good time to land immigration wise.

Thai Lion are very easy to purchase tickets with, ticket offices both at southern end of T1 dep level and southern end of T2 dep level.

Assuming that you want to purchase straight after clearing immigration & customs just head up the the 3rd floor in T1, it's right opposite their check in at Pier 15, http://www.airportthai.co.th/uploads...tory-FL3-P.jpg or between doors 14 and 15.
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Old Mar 10, 2018, 9:47 pm
  #205  
 
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A few things to note.

The old domestic terminal had already been approved for an upgrade to make it operational again - one airline wants to be the sole operator there. Indeed, work was meant to commence last year based on previous 'announcements'. Both the expansion of immigration and new air bridges have also been promised for sometime as has a new car park given the acuteness of that issue. Pending is also the APM which will link the 3 terminals and new car park and eventually run to the east side of the airport to link with the Air Force side and Phahonyothin rd/BTS extension. T1 also will be refurbished at some point (supposedly in the next 2-3 years).

Lastly, when the new super DMK 4 level suburban station is completed for the SRT Dark Red line, (ARL ext/Eastern HSR line and Northern/NE HSR lines) and opens in 2020, a new pedestrian link will be built to link the station with the southern end of T1. There's still dispute as to who has to pay for this, the SRT or the AOT - or shared.

As with all the airport expansion projects in Thailand, they are all running well behind pax growth. BKK is indeed 5 years behind in schedule, the Phuket expansion was perhaps 10 years too late. Forward planning is not exactly the AOT's specialty.....

Don Mueang studies airport upgrade , Bangkok Post, 11 March 2018
Don Mueang airport will propose a 2.2-billion-baht renovation project for its old domestic terminal to the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) for consideration next month, general manager Suthirawat Suwannawat said. The upgrading of the old terminal is part of the third-phase development plan for the airport, which is being sped up to ease overcrowding problems, said Mr Suthirawat. The number of passengers at Don Mueang is expected to grow by 14% to 42 million passengers this year, compared to the 37 million passengers who passed through the airport in 2017. If approved, work can begin late this year or early next year, and the terminal, currently closed to passengers, can be operational by 2020, he said. The airport management also plans to push for the implementation of another two projects to help the airport's passenger handling operations, says Mr Suthirawat.

These projects are the 22-million-baht jet bridge renovation project and the installation of more immigration checkpoints to increase handling capacity from 2,000 passengers per hour to 3,000 per hour. These two projects, alongside the renovation of the old domestic terminal, are being treated as priorities for the third-phase development plan of the airport. The third-phase upgrade is estimated to cost 32 billion baht and is expected to be operational by 2024.
Full: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1425958/don-mueang-studies-airport-upgrade
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Old Mar 17, 2018, 12:51 am
  #206  
 
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We are departing BKK on EVA at 2:15am. I see that their lounge is open from 6am til 3am, but I can't find what times their check-in is open other than "3 hours prior to departure". I would like to check-in around 9pm and hang in the lounge. Is this doable?
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Old Mar 17, 2018, 4:46 am
  #207  
 
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Hi all, got a Bangkok airways flight arriving into BKK at 13:45, and flying on CX to HKG at 16:00. Was told by CX that I'd be able to check bags through, but now clearly cant. Is this enough time to collect bags and re-check in?
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Old Mar 17, 2018, 5:09 am
  #208  
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Originally Posted by aceman
Hi all, got a Bangkok airways flight arriving into BKK at 13:45, and flying on CX to HKG at 16:00. Was told by CX that I'd be able to check bags through, but now clearly cant. Is this enough time to collect bags and re-check in?
If these are on separate tix then you are correct you'll need to pick up your bags and recheck them. As for sufficient time, if you PG flight is on time then yes, you'll be fine. That's a big if. What is your PG flight? Dom, Int?
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Old Mar 17, 2018, 9:55 am
  #209  
 
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Originally Posted by dsquared37
If these are on separate tix then you are correct you'll need to pick up your bags and recheck them. As for sufficient time, if you PG flight is on time then yes, you'll be fine. That's a big if. What is your PG flight? Dom, Int?
HKT-BKK so domestic then need the international for CX BKK-HKG
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Old Mar 27, 2018, 6:35 pm
  #210  
 
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Considering flying out of DMK (to CNX) for the first time ever. I've read numerous accounts of the "hassle" of flying out of DMK as opposed to BKK. For those that have flown from DMK, is it really that much more difficult than flying out of BKK on a domestic flight? No checked bags, boarding pass in hand. (FWIW, the originating point will be Sukhumvit Soi 22 Marriott Marquis on a Tuesday for an 11:50 am flight.)
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