New airport update

[rxpharm]

Suvarnabhumi opened in October 2006. Within 6 months it was estimated to have reached it's designed capacity of 45 million passengers per year - however with the current strengthening of the Baht, visitor numbers may slow down.

The new prime minister wants to get a number of capital projects going (rail, air, highway, Skytrain, subway) to have a legacy and pay off his supporters for paying to have the PPP elected.

Will be interesting to see if they close Don Muang again. TIT

[Road Runner]

(SamplerDoc @ Mar. 09 2008,05:43) They Just built and Opened this didn't They

Hey come on!......... this is an improvement on Heathrow.

They complete a new terminal which has taken 10-20 years of arguing before they actually start it.
By the time it's completed it's already at it's designed capacity.

So then we have another 10-20 years of arguing about building another terminal. Which of course will be at full capacity by the time it's built.

So then........ you get the message....


At least the Thai's designed this one so you could bolt bits on the end and I'll bet it won't take them 20 years to do it.

Admittedly I still have some doubts about the layout and quality of construction of Suvarnabhumi.

RR.

[JackG]

Suvarnabhumi opened in September of '06 and was falling apart before it opened.

You don't notice it on arrival, but when you have a few hours to kill while waiting for a departing flight the flaws become obvious.

Don Muang, while not as "pretty" as the new airport, was a better airport from a passenger's perspective, IMHO.

[rxpharm]

Some recent changes at Suvarnabhumi Airport:

As mentioned in the taxi thread, the public taxis have moved back down to level 1 (1 floor down from the arrivals hall). They have made it much more efficient now with up to 4 counters processing the queue (depending on peak arrival times). Also there seems to be no question about using the meter and the slip clearly states in Thai and English that the fare will be meter plus airport surcharge of 50 Baht, plus any toll fees.

Some other good news - when I arrived Oct. 10 there were NO TOUTS. However, a word of warning for those bringing more than the duty free amounts into LOS - it looked like almost all bags were being x-rayed the night I arrived. I hope this isn't a regular thing - perhaps they were doing it since it wasn't busy and they were hoping to catch someone over limit to generate some fines.

Some changes re: departure - immediately after the immigration check - stamping you out of the Kingdom they have the security scanners set up. Make sure you get rid of your excess liquids, or have the proper size in the ziplock bag ready right after immigration now. The queues were quite efficient, but I can foresee it could slow things down to catch your flight if there are long line ups.

Also it seems the bad publicity re: the duty free scams have minimized shoppers there. I saw very few people going in the shops, and even fewer buying items. Good stuff, as they need to know there are consequences to scamming tourists.

Here is a photo of the pubic taxi slip - if there is a problem there are two ways to give feedback - fill out the form on the back and post it to the Airport Authority of Thailand, or phone the number.

[rxpharm]

Feedback form on back of public taxi slip

[Snick]

Sometimes a taxi driver tries to get you to give him your part of the form, so that you do not have the complaint form. Tried it on me once.

[phoenix]

The thing I like the best on arrivle is the look on the divers face when I get in ths cab and give him the 70b for tolls, its like oh shit this guys been here before

[stonefre]

I've had the driver try to get that slip from me on several occasions usually after he tried to overcharge me.

[El_hefe]

I just find it odd that the design of a near-Equatoral airport megastructure would be mostly glass, really energy inefficient, and hot inside to boot!

And staying on the design front I've decided I don't much care for the spartan "industrial" feel of the interior, it seems really dated, very 80's, & has none of the fun that the Pompidou center incorporated with that same theme.

Downstairs in the Domestic flight level it has all the charm of a utility tunnel & with a poorly thought out food area (purchase food tickets before you go to the restaurant? Is this some county church fair?)

Doesn't begin to compare with Hong Kong airport.

[BAM]

(rxpharm @ Oct. 26 2009,14:00) However, a word of warning for those bringing more than the duty free amounts into LOS - it looked like almost all bags were being x-rayed the night I arrived. I hope this isn't a regular thing -

I've been coming to LOS since 2002 and never been searched ever! But that all changed last April... here I had my suitcase full of toys that are considered illegal in Thailand believe it or not.... And as I try to walk out they want me to send my suitcase through the X-ray machine. I was like WTF? So I just play dumb... put my suitcase of the conveyor belt and in it went... right away the chick looking at the X-ray screen says something.... Then calls over this dude... as my bag comes out he says "you have wire in there?" I'm like.... "you want to open? OK no problem" He walks back to the X-ray girl and asked her I guess what he's to be looking for.. the look on his face was classic.. he walks back to me and says "ok you ok" and he waves me to leave. It seems he was too embarrassed to now open my suitcase.. Got a love Thailand!

[BAM]

[Ivor Biggun]

I normally just take a toothbrush on holiday

[TTChang]

(rxpharm @ Oct. 26 2009,15:00) Some recent changes at Suvarnabhumi Airport:   As mentioned in the taxi thread, the public taxis have moved back down to level 1 (1 floor down from the arrivals hall). They have made it much more efficient now with up to 4 counters processing the queue (depending on peak arrival times). Also there seems to be no question about using the meter and the slip clearly states in Thai and English that the fare will be meter plus airport surcharge of 50 Baht, plus any toll fees.

I was thinking of starting a new thread, but picking up on RXpharm's comments above .....

WATCH OUT FOR THE METER SCAM AT BANGKOK AIRPORT !

That is the meter being recalibrated to overcharge!  Never heard of this, but have now searched and it is mentioned on a Lonely Planet thread.

Arrived from Phuket this week. Took the normal meter taxi, received my slip of paper (taking care to retain it), and off we went.  Swampy to Sukhumvit.  Normal meter reading is 220-275 baht I think, depending on traffic.  As not many people wanted to enter Bangkok (for some reason), the highways were clear.  Paid the 70 baht toll fees. If the taxi is clean, driving good, etc -  I usually hand over 350 baht (including the extra 50 baht fee).

BUT .... as we went, I was appalled at the rate the meter was ticking over.  reached 200 baht, and we werent half way to Nana.  Final meter reading at Soi 4 ..... 469 (and we didn't do any detours)  

The bad news is I paid it, without protest, figuring that a scene at my hotel would result in 'Thailand 1 Farang 0'  .... for the sake of 170 baht or so. I had learned from my experience .... TIT etc etc. How was I to dispute the meter, even though the reading was obviously padded?

The (marginally) good news is that I've kept the ticket and will be reporting the cab/driver to the Authorities.  I'm confident of a result ...  'Farang 0  Thailand 1' ..... told you it was only marginally good news  

Actually I don't allow myself to get wound up about certain things in Thailand, especially when scammed, but please be aware if it happens to you.  I think I should have asked for the hotel's assistance, offered 350 baht, and see where it got me.

But what would you have done .... take video of the meter clocking up? (there is a YouTube of just such action).   Refuse to pay?  Phone the Tourist police? Take photos of Khun K. Surachai?  I'd be interested to know!

Avoid ......

[SamplerDoc]

Smart man on all counts there.
Thanks for that insight mate

[Road Runner]

(TTChang @ May 26 2010,18:41) But what would you have done ....

I seem to remember the theory is that you get to the hotel and then ask them to call the tourist police.
I must admit that I can see the driver getting anti very quickly if you do that.

My two chices would be:-

1.  Get a witness from the hotel staff  -  ie. find an English speaker and get them to look at the meter reading.  Then pay and ask for a receipt.

2.  Pay as you did and try to get a receipt.  I'm sure the driver would feign not understanding but you could try to get assistance from the hotel doorman.
Otherwise do like I do and say 'leseet khrap' and do a handsign like writing on paper.


If the taxi licencing people are really on the ball they should be able to follow up even with just your complaint slip.
Electronic taxi meters can normally be checked very easily by the authorities and the really good meters keep their own record of when the fares are altered.

RR.