Traffic chaos expected at Don Mueang airport this weekend - allow three hours

[CLW]

Strange post. People that rightly complain about DMK are snobs ?
 
DMK is outdated, inefficient  and for many expats a nightmare to get to. 
 
I once needed 30 minutes just to get from the off ramp to the terminal, the queues are often horrendous and the building is old and has barely been renovated.
 
 
For your information, Thai Smile (by far the best domestic airline) depart for the vast majority of their  flights from BKK. Apart from a few destinations (Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhom Phanom and maybe a few others) it is perfectly feasible to avoid DMK for domestic flights. 
 
Something I do, and I am just practical, not a snob...

Thai Smile might be the best.
But I bet Air Asia is cheaper.
I have time so the ticket price is more important for me.
I don't have a problem arriving at the airport 3 hours before.

[CLW]

Strange post. People that rightly complain about DMK are snobs ?
 
DMK is outdated, inefficient  and for many expats a nightmare to get to. 
 
I once needed 30 minutes just to get from the off ramp to the terminal, the queues are often horrendous and the building is old and has barely been renovated.
 
 
For your information, Thai Smile (by far the best domestic airline) depart for the vast majority of their  flights from BKK. Apart from a few destinations (Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhom Phanom and maybe a few others) it is perfectly feasible to avoid DMK for domestic flights. 
 
Something I do, and I am just practical, not a snob...

Re old buildings.
The domestic terminal is brand new.

[sjaak327]

Thai Smile might be the best.
But I bet Air Asia is cheaper.
I have time so the ticket price is more important for me.
I don't have a problem arriving at the airport 3 hours before.

Actually Air Asia isn't all that much cheaper. First Thai smile allows 20 kg by default. Does not levy a check in fee, nor a bording pass print fee, and they do not try to shove a travel insurance down your throat twice

If you then factor in the higher costs of getting to DMk as opposed to bkk, and the fact that they manage to be too late on almost all the flights I have used them, they turn out to be more expensive and a hell of a lot more annoying.

I would have given you the benefit of the doubt if you would have mentioned Nok air. I avoid air Asia like the plague.

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[CLW]

Actually Air Asia isn't all that much cheaper. First Thai smile allows 20 kg by default. Does not levy a check in fee, nor a bording pass print fee, and they do not try to shove a travel insurance down your throat twice

If you then factor in the higher costs of getting to DMk as opposed to bkk, and the fact that they manage to be too late on almost all the flights I have used them, they turn out to be more expensive and a hell of a lot more annoying.

I would have given you the benefit of the doubt if you would have mentioned Nok air. I avoid air Asia like the plague.

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Strange, I never saw an additional fee for check in or fee to print the boarding pass. Because the latter is done now mostly at self check in kiosk.
The travel insurance is clearly visible and not hidden, so you can opt out anytime.
Funny you mentioned Nok Air. I avoid them due to their business policy not to show the complete price while searching for flights. Moon prices I would call that.
On the other hand Air Asia always showing the final price except fees for the different payment methods.

[sjaak327]

17 minutes ago, CLW said:

Strange, I never saw an additional fee for check in or fee to print the boarding pass. Because the latter is done now mostly at self check in kiosk.
The travel insurance is clearly visible and not hidden, so you can opt out anytime.
Funny you mentioned Nok Air. I avoid them due to their business policy not to show the complete price while searching for flights. Moon prices I would call that.
On the other hand Air Asia always showing the final price except fees for the different payment methods.

Unless they have changed their polices, what I described happened april 2017 when I booked a flight with them to Nakhon Phanom (kop). I had no other option as Nok was fully booked.

First I had to remove the insurance during booking. When I submitted the booking using my credit card, all of a sudden the price was 200 baht higher. I then received an email urging me to check in online, or pay a certain fee. So I did, and again had to remove the insurance during the online check in procedure. Once that was finally completed I received yet another email urging me to print the boarding pass, failure to do so would incur another 30 baht per passenger.

The delay on that particular flight was longer than the actual flight duration, as is often the case with air Asia...

 

Edit to add, your Nok Air story didn't sound familiar to me, but it has been over a year I used them. Again I avoid DMK, but cannot avoid it for KOP. In any case, I just completed a booked, up until the payment screen, and the price quoted is still the Original price that was shown at the search screen (minus the Nok sure, which I deselected). 

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[DrTuner]

32 minutes ago, CLW said:

Thai Smile might be the best.
But I bet Air Asia is cheaper.
I have time so the ticket price is more important for me.
I don't have a problem arriving at the airport 3 hours before.

That makes sense. I don't have time but have money so I choose BKK, or better yet, u-tapao if possible. It's just priorities.

[fanjita]

50 minutes ago, CLW said:

The domestic terminal is brand new.

No it isn't.  It's part of the old international airport which has recently had a lick of paint, i.e. putting lipstick on a pig.

 

I'm not a fan but can only fly to our domestic destination from DMK.  Wouldn't touch it otherwise.

[samsensam]

8 minutes ago, fanjita said:

No it isn't.  It's part of the old international airport which has recently had a lick of paint, i.e. putting lipstick on a pig.

 

I'm not a fan but can only fly to our domestic destination from DMK.  Wouldn't touch it otherwise.

 

dont know why people get stressed and down about DM, it's what it is and seems to function relatively efficiently. i fly through there several times a year domestic and international and have never had a problem. in fact the last time i sent air aisa had installed some machines so you can check yourself in; quick and easy to use.

 

i guess it's relative. if you've not travelled much and not experienced much of the world then DM may seem bad but trust me there are far far worse airports out the; sana, mashad, katmandu, pokara, UB, dehli, i could go on... if you had some real world experience you'd be chilled about DM

[LongTimeLurker]

On 5/12/2018 at 1:22 AM, Redline said:

I live ten minutes from DM, and I have never been stuck in traffic flying frequently out of there.   Pay to take the tollway and it’s easy.  Never any issues inside either.

I still like using DMK, I still get the thrill from it of "arriving home" whenever I land there.

[fanjita]

12 minutes ago, samsensam said:

dont know why people get stressed and down about DM, it's what it is and seems to function relatively efficiently. 

There doesn't appear to be any fast track access unless I'm mistaken or business lounge.  Everyone's lumped in with economy.  

[Dave67]

Don Mueang is closer to me by about by about 45 minute than Suvarnabhumi. I'm in Saigon working and use Nok Air only. Air Asia only care about their lucrative Chinese market. They delayed my flight to Saigon twice in order to keep a Hong flight on time. Everything is better with Nok newer aircraft, check in the civilized part of the airport away from the Air Asia Baggage drop Chinese scrum down, and next to a quiet Starbucks when you check in

 

 

[overherebc]

54 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

dont know why people get stressed and down about DM, it's what it is and seems to function relatively efficiently. i fly through there several times a year domestic and international and have never had a problem. in fact the last time i sent air aisa had installed some machines so you can check yourself in; quick and easy to use.

 

i guess it's relative. if you've not travelled much and not experienced much of the world then DM may seem bad but trust me there are far far worse airports out the; sana, mashad, katmandu, pokara, UB, dehli, i could go on... if you had some real world experience you'd be chilled about DM

Domestic in Cairo springs to mind.

Like a toilet with check in desks from memory. Wipe your feet on the way out.

[LongTimeLurker]

16 hours ago, Dave67 said:

Don Mueang is closer to me by about by about 45 minute than Suvarnabhumi. I'm in Saigon working and use Nok Air only. Air Asia only care about their lucrative Chinese market. They delayed my flight to Saigon twice in order to keep a Hong flight on time. Everything is better with Nok newer aircraft, check in the civilized part of the airport away from the Air Asia Baggage drop Chinese scrum down, and next to a quiet Starbucks when you check in

 

 

Used to fly Nok to Ha Noi many years ago, before the fuel prices increased and NOk stopped international flights.

 

They were much better than Air Asia back then but I haven't flown with them since they restarted international flights as Viet Jet is much more convenient for me.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, sjaak327 said:

Well for starters I would take the mrt to bang Sue, not hualamphong, which from asoke only adds more travel time, and I still need to get to asoke by bts, very inconvenient most of the day.



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The BTS is very inconvenient if carrying a heavy bag, as no down escalators, though I noticed working lifts in the few stations I used, though I didn't check if they also go to ground level.

Bang Sue is a good option if convenient.

[sjaak327]

The BTS is very inconvenient if carrying a heavy bag, as no down escalators, though I noticed working lifts in the few stations I used, though I didn't check if they also go to ground level.
Bang Sue is a good option if convenient.

Yes, that and the packed as sardines problem :)

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[ChiangmaiRob]

On 5/12/2018 at 11:28 AM, CLW said:

Snobs or should I say, baht millionaires, humiliating a low-cost airport.

If you don't have anything useful to contribute, stay quiet and don't brag about your little baht wealth.

This is one of the reasons that I stay away from most expats and retirees here because they are big mouths and all-knowing.

What if you want to take a domestic flight inside Thailand you all-knows?

Oh I see, you probably charter a private jet.
That, to most of my knowledge, would then depart from your beloved Don Mueang Airport.

Engage your brain and check your facts before hitting the keyboard .... I fly domestic regularly and NEVER use DMK!

[CLW]

Engage your brain and check your facts before hitting the keyboard .... I fly domestic regularly and NEVER use DMK!

That is good for you!
Guessing from your user name from CNX to BKK with Thai Airways.
I don't have money to waste for that.

[Dingle 60]

Why are you still showing this? 9 days after it was 1st advertised

[Ks45672]

1 hour ago, CLW said:

Definitely not.
Tell me one advantage worth to pay a triple ticket price for an approximately one hour flight to take Thai Airways instead of Air Asia.

Some things in life are worth paying for.... 

Not having to deal with air Asia is one of them..... 

[ChiangmaiRob]

18 hours ago, CLW said:

That is good for you!
Guessing from your user name from CNX to BKK with Thai Airways.
I don't have money to waste for that.

I don't waste money, I just spend it as I see fit in order to make my life as trouble and stress free as I can.

[fanjita]

Nothing wrong with Thai AirAsia, it's just DMK that lets the side down.  Would much rather take off from Swampy.  

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts and the replies have been removed.