Arriving at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport

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by: larwest
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Word Count: 681
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 Time: 6:57 AM
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I have been excursioning to Thailand off and on for the past 35 years. I was based in Bangkok in the early 70’s and I still go on holiday there 2 or 3 times every year. With all of those trips, I knew the Bangkok International Airfield at Don Muang like the back of my hand.

In September 2006, the new airport, Suvarnabhumi (su-war-na-poom) opened and the end of the Don Muang era came to a bittersweet close. Suvarnabhumi is now the certified International Airstrip for Bangkok and Don Muang has been relegated to the armed forces and some national flights. I now had to learn to jockey this new metal behemoth.

Suvarnabhumi, meaning “Golden Land” is about 30 kilometers east of Bangkok in an area known as Nong Ngu Hao, or “Cobra Swamp”. The complex covers 32 square kilometers, and has the world’s tallest control tower (132 meters). The passenger terminal has 360 check-in desks, 120 gates, and accommodations for handling 45 million passengers a year. Surrounding the runway are flooded rice paddies.

The new airport is an structural masterstroke of metal and glass and is aesthetically picturesque. My only discontent is that it is a long hike from the arrival gate until you actually reach the Immigration lines. It seems like miles.

On the plus side, as soon as you clear Immigration, there is humongous electronic display board which tells you where your luggage is. There are many luggage carousels and knowing positively which one is yours makes life a little easier.

Once you get your baggage, clearing customs is a breeze. I have never been checked once in over 38 years of flying in to Bangkok. The next thing you will face is the cab mafia gauntlet.

Bags in hand, you will walk into a mass of mankind – some waiting for loved ones – most waiting to irritate you. They are the disreputable clipboard toting hired car mafia. They will bedevil you, interfere with your way, ask where you go, and never give up no matter how many times you turn down and no matter how many languages you swear at them in.

Having used all of your best rugby moves, you work your way past the clipboard thugs and head for the down escalator. This will take you to valid and much more reasonable taxis. You will have to pay a diminutive fee – but you will get some piece of mind in return. The taxicabs are registered, the girls in the booth speak English, and you won’t have to do any haggling as these taxis use their meters.

If your cabbie offers to take you and not use the meter, agree upon a fare and who will be paying for the tolls. This will be your first opportunity to feel bargaining in Asia. Have fun.

I can’t vouch for all the hired car drivers but I did find one very honest one using this service last year. I left my credit card wallet in the cab and the driver contacted my hotel and arranged to return my plastic intact. He was rewarded handsomely and saved me a lot of hassle and possibly a lot of money.

Now you will experience the controlled chaos of driving in Bangkok. It is indescribable and has to be experienced. Say a prayer and hope for the best.

If you plan to go anywhere in Thailand, you might be lucky enough to fly out of the old International Airport – Don Muang. It resembles more of a ghost town than an airport but still brings back to me memories of hundreds of trips to Thailand. Being the first thing you see in a foreign country, you develop a fondness for airfields.

I guess I will get over it and learn to accept Suvarnabhumi and treat this new International Airport as a new friend. I have been there many times now and have come to accept the new airport. But, I will still miss my old friend, Don Muang.

About the Author

Larry Westfall is a retired expat living in Thailand and loves Khon Kaen Retirement and hotel at pattaya