Located 30 kilometres (19 miles) to the east of Bangkok, space-age Suvarnabhumi Airport, pronounced "soo-wanna-poom", (IATA: BKK) (ICAO: VTBS) started operations in September 2006 and is now Bangkok's main airport as well as the busiest airport in Southeast Asia, used by all international flights as well as all Bangkok Airways (PG), Air Asia (FD), SGA Airline (5E), PBair (9Q) and Thai Airways domestic flights with three-digit flight numbers (eg. TG123). There is only one terminal building, which covers both domestic and international flights, but it's huge (by some measures the world's largest) so allow time for getting around.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi offers all facilities expected of a major international airport (transit hotel, ATMs, money exchange). The cheapest place to eat is the Magic food court on Level 1, near Gate 8, while perhaps the most comfortable and relaxing of the airport's restaurants and cafes is the Sky Lounge on the 6th floor. Here you can have your latte while sitting in plush leather sofas and enjoying a panoramic view over the runways - prices are also quite reasonable with coffee around 70 baht a cup. The observation lounge on 7th is not much to see since the steel structure of the roof blocks most of the airport view. There are a few stores in the check-in area including a convenience store and a post office; however, the real shopping experience awaits travellers on the other side of immigration in the departure lounge area, where the number of shops and duty free outlets leaves you wondering if you are in a mall or an airport. Beware though, that past security in the gate waiting area, there are no services except toilets and seating.
Transportation
Limousine taxis (which charge by distance, e.g. around 800 baht to central Sukhumvit) can be reserved at the limousine hire counter on the 2nd floor (just outside Arrivals), and aggressive touts will try to entice you on board. If you allow yourself to be waylaid by one of the taxi touts they might quote you more than double the fare that an ordinary metered taxi would charge (900 baht instead of 400, for example). You'd be silly even acknowledging their existence - walk straight past them.
A better option are the ordinary metered taxis available on the 2nd floor. Follow the "public taxi" signs that lead to the outside of the airport premises, queue up and state your destination at the desk, and you'll get a slip with your destination written in Thai on it. There is a 50-baht surcharge on the meter, meaning that trips to the city will cost 250-400 baht (plus 2 expressway toll of 45 & 20 Baht) and take 40-60 minutes depending on traffic/location. (Beware of taxi drivers who claim that the 50 baht surcharge is applied to each passenger as opposed to per taxi. Also beware of taxi drivers who try to charge you 50 baht surcharge going back to the airport. There should only be a 50 baht surcharge for exiting the airport.) If there is a huge taxi queue, consider taking a free shuttle bus to the Public Transport Centre, which has more taxis. Go straight to the official "Taxi Stand" and wait there.
