New airport blues

usual suspect · Specialist Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 101 Location: Huahin

Unfinished airport...but open on time.

I've just bin talkin' to my mate who got back from BKK yesterday after
having to use the new airport (whats its name again, S***************)

He said it was a farce and the worst a/port he's ever used...
..no toilets in the Depareture lounge, and no seats either!..everyone had
to stand.
All the 'old' a/port needed was more staff, it ran itself well, not a multi-
million baht construction on a flood-plain in the middle O no-where.
(is it Bangkok airport or Pattaya?..which metropolis is the nearer?)[/b]

JimmyGreaves · Guru Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 605

Flew out 30th.

Yes. Could do with more seats and toilets (Think there working on this one) However there are toilets in the departure lounge by the gates. No toilets to be found in duty free though. Plenty of loos at checkin.

However:

Airport is much better than DM, Roads to the airport where not jammed and when the train is finished will be even better. Checkin procedures much faster with proper demarkated queues (Hated the pushing and shoving at DM.), checked in in a few minutes even though the queue was long (Moved very quickly). Took off on time as there are now 2 runways. Should also think that you should now have more chance of dropping down on time without having to circle above waiting for a spot as happened so many times at DM!

Overall Suvanabooooooooooooom success in my opinion. Still to iron out a few glitches but come on only be opened a few days!

seasides · Member Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 89

eternal naysayers you! at least its the most beautiful airport of the world. yes. the world.

take your time to study its architecture - jewels to be found.

will fly from there the first time tomorrow - looking forward to!

usual suspect · Specialist Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 101 Location: Huahin

Cheers Jimmy for the positive feedback...reckon I'll hang off on the
bitchin' for a while then till I've tested the place.

Did someone mention architecture of the place, 'scuse me but the design
and style of an airport, despite maybe costing millions, to me is money
wasted, if it runs smoove like Jimmy reckons then thats enuf for me.
(Dubai a/port is 'pretty', but it rips you for 7 quid a pint in the bar each
time...lucky for me I got the round in at D.M. ...did'nt I Tuk-Tuk Mike?)

While I'm here, anyone have any idea when the south-eastern ring-Rd/
highway 9 extension to get us to Su############### airport will
be ready for use??
(bin looking across from Rama 9 bridge and the other bridge is just taking
forever to get done).

Winkie · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:18 am Post subject:

Have used Savarnabhumi 3 times now. Frist time was on the opening day.

So far, I've been lukcy I guess as its been smooth all the way (except queuing to park at the Short Stay Car Park (I hope they get this under control coz at 4:30am this Monday is was a 30 min process to queue, enter and park).

The airport really does look unfinished and dity inside - not to mention the leaks int he roof (counted 13 buckets catching water). Many damages adn cracks to teh floor finishing, and it seems that they haven't invested in any floor cleaning equiment yet

Overall, its not a patch on Changi, and is a cold, uninviting airport without personality. It seems functional, but I doubt that it s idestined to make Bangkok the Intragalactic Superhub, that was claimed.

Will fly from it again in 2 weeks - I'll see if there are any improvements

Winkie
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cyberholz · Guest

just had my first experience - in and out.

wonderful, I must say. what a design! but even better:

I live on sukhumvit 65.

landed yesterday 17.17 hrs in suvarnabhumi - was at my doorstep at 18.15h.

peak traffic, not an hour (had no checked-in baggage).

all I can say, thailand can be proud to at least have such a beautiful, splendid airport.

taxi-wise, well, I caught one in the arrival-lane upstairs, which is prohibited ...

after some fine-tuning I'm sure all will run smoothly and nobody will miss don muang. expect the former business there.

PAINTER01 · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:54 pm Post subject:

I used the airport coming home to UK about 1.5 weeks ago much better than the old. And when I bring the kids out next year much more child friendly on the departuer side (plenty of decent food outlets).

I found plenty of toilets again on the departure side but they do seem to be hidden behind the food outlets.

Very impressed with the styling multi lane road in and out, we left centrall BKK (Asia City Hotel, Never Again) at 09.00 and was dropped off 20 mins later.

I would like to see what the new Heathrow will look like when itb opens and how it compares

Yes I must say Thailand can be pround of its airport (other matters can go on the back burner)

Painter

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject:

I'd agree with all that. The procedure was really painless. Very effecient.
Admittedly, I didn't look at the beauty of the place, but then again why should I? It's an airport and simply from A to B.
The journey back to HH was painless, as I've already described.
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Hublet · Specialist Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 122 Location: China

From day 1 they have had severe teething problems with the new airport and now it appears that thre was no impact study done (shock horror).

Not only is the Gov facing relocation compensation claims but also an onslaught of complaints about the noise levels from many of the people living in the area.

There is a lot of confusion and anger mounting with regards to the fact that the new airport has been built in and on an area of irrigation and flood drainage. It has taken 20,000 rai of irrigation area and this has meant big probs in Bangkok.

Where did they think the water would go??????
Rolling Eyes

STEVE G · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject:

Usual suspect wrote:
While I'm here, anyone have any idea when the south-eastern ring-Rd/
highway 9 extension to get us to Su############### airport will
be ready for use??

I was driving past on Sunday and it looked like the northern half of the link is finished but not the part you need to get to Hua Hin, maybe another two months at a guess.

Winkie · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

STEVE G · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:33 pm Post subject:

Winkie, I will have a look at the map and get back to you, the road is complete as far as the new bridge to the south, it has been open for a while. The two new bridges will link to the eastern ring road as I understand it.

STEVE G · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject:

I just managed to find a map and the new link is shown heading directly east from the new bridge and then up the Bangkok side of the new airport to join the south end of the Eastern ring road. I don’t know how near to completion that end of the road is, but the rest of it, and the bridge looks about ready.

russ · Member Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 51 Location: cha-am

we flew from airport on 18th oct we drove up from hua hin got to long term parking you just park man said does not open until 5th nov so we left the car hope it is still there when we come back then we get on shuttle bus from car park 45 min later we are back at car park the driver said where you go we said terimnal building he then said i not go there so we had to walk about 1 mile cases and all to bus station where we get bus about 2 hours in all from car park to airport crazy then once in airport the roof leaks most of the toilets closed mai pen rai Smile

Norseman · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject:

Hey russ, that was a very long sentence, but they are making 200 new toilets now. Can only hope they don't leak.
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