Suvarnabhumi International Airport opened to the public in September 2006. It replaced Don Muang as Bangkok's international airport, and took over the IATA code BKK from Don Muang. (Don Muang now operates under IATA code DMK and serves domestic flights only.) The airport's name means "Golden Land" and was chosen by the king. The single terminal two-runway airport can handle 76 flight operations every hour and has a capacity of 45 million passengers annually. http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/
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Driving by taxi or bus from the airport to downtown Bangkok takes around 50 minutes.
Taxi: Public taxis can be found on Level 2 (Arrivals). Alternatively, travelers can take a complimentary airport shuttle bus to the Transport Centre taxi stand.
Limousine: To get a limousine, travelers should contact the Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (second floor). The limousine pick-up area is by the outer curb on the Arrivals level. Six types of limousine are on offer with a total of 380 cars available around the clock.
Bus: Public bus service is provided from the bus terminal at the airport’s Transport Centre (which can be reached by taking a free airport shuttle bus). Public buses depart frequently to Bangkok and the surrounding area. Buses go to Minburi (no. 549), Happy Land (no. 550), Victory Monument (no. 551), On Nut BTS station (no. 552), Samut Prakan (no. 553) and Don Muang Airport (no. 554). In addition, Airport Express provides air-conditioned bus services between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok hotels, operating four bus routes to downtown Bangkok. The pick-up area for buses is by the inner curb on level 2 (Arrivals), while the drop-off area is by the inner curb on level 4 (Departures).
Rail: Work on a city airport terminal in Makkasan and a 17.5 mileshigh-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and is due for completion by early 2008. When operational, the high-speed link is expected to take travelers from city to airport in 15 minutes.
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Road access to the airport is provided by five new highways connected to Bangkok's outer ring road. The main access road (and the most convenient route) is an elevated two-by-five lane road going north from the passenger terminal to the new Bangkok-Chonburi Expressway.
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Money and communications: Bureau de change are located in the Arrivals hall on level 2. There are ATMs in several places throughout the terminal building. Public telephones are available on all levels.
Eating and drinking: There are plenty of restaurants, food outlets and bars in the terminal building, on level 1, 2, 3 and 6. In addition, there are four restaurants and two bars in the airport hotel nearby.
Shopping: Shops selling everything from freshly cut flowers to designer clothing are available on levels 2, 3 and 4 of the terminal building. Duty free shops are on the departures level (level 4).
Luggage: Luggage trolleys are available in the Arrivals and Departures halls. Lost and found services can be reached on +66 (0)2 134 221.
Other facilities: A wide variety of facilities are available in the terminal building, including traditional Thai massage and luxurious spa facilities. The Airport Medical Center is available on +66 (0)2 132 7777. Airline lounges are located on level 3, some of which offer First Class and Business travelers luxury spa and massage rooms, a fine-dining area, slumber rooms with full-size flat beds, a business center, a host of private meeting rooms, state-of-the-art video and visual entertainment rooms, shower rooms, deluxe seating areas and built-in check-in facilities.
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The 612-room Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel (tel: +66 (0)2 131 1111) is the airport’s official hotel. It is located in front of the passenger terminal building and connected to it by a 328 yards, air-conditioned underground walkway. The hotel is situated straight above the underground rail station that upon completion (expected in early 2008) will be connected to the city of Bangkok by a high-speed rail link. Hotel Ibis Huamark Bangkok (tel: +66 (0)2 308 7888), Avana Bangkok Hotel (tel: +66 (0)2 744 4280), Royal Princess Srinakarin (tel: +66 (0)2 721 8400) and Kanary House (tel: +66 (0)2 374 5544) are some hotels that are located within 30 minutes from the airport.
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Facilities and arrangements for disabled travelers are in place, but the airport’s designers have been criticized for not making the airport sufficiently accessible for disabled people. For example, it has been argued that the restrooms designed for people with special needs are not spacious enough for wheelchair users.
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There are no business facilities at the airport but the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel offers banquet and conference facilities for up to 800 people, as well as six meeting rooms.
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