Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport SAT-1 Terminal

[SingAPorn]

There is this new SAT1 terminal that is slowly starting to operate in Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. Despite all the flashy publicity around it, this brand new terminal is far from being convenient for passengers.

 

If your flight arrives at this terminal, you will need to take an airport train to reach the main terminal for immigration and luggage claim. Same for departures and thus extra time needed after check in and security to reach this new SAT 1 terminal.

 

Hopefully the clever airlines will avoid using this terminal that is definately not convenient due to the commuting required between the terminals.

 

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

[johng]

1 minute ago, SingAPorn said:

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

 

T.i.T  ???         same same for the 3-4 different overground_underground train operators and the bus companies and the motorway toll companies   all competing to "inconvenience" the customer.

[johng]

I see a confused emoji     I'm going to cry in the corner

[shdmn]

How about a link instead of just a rant?

https://suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/way-to-airport/detail/suvarnabhumi_airport_SAT-1

 

It says the total time for the trains, including wait time, is 3 minutes.  Doesn't sound too bad if true. 

[HauptmannUK]

I've used it twice. Once when flying with Austrian Airlines and once with Turkish Airlines.  Added only a few minutes to overall arrival/departure times. Just wasn't an issue for me....

[digbeth]

10 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

 

If they have immigration/baggage claim in that building, aftere you've collected your bags how do you get to/from there without passing the existing terminal? you can't

it's a satellite terminal, consider it a set of gates and lounge/waiting areas

 

do you consider taking the escalator/moving walkway to the end of corridor to board a too tedious commute? 

Satellite terminals are hardly unique, there are plenty in Europe like Heathrow Terminal 5, Paris CDG 

[SingAPorn]

11 hours ago, digbeth said:

 

If they have immigration/baggage claim in that building, aftere you've collected your bags how do you get to/from there without passing the existing terminal? you can't

it's a satellite terminal, consider it a set of gates and lounge/waiting areas

 

do you consider taking the escalator/moving walkway to the end of corridor to board a too tedious commute? 

Satellite terminals are hardly unique, there are plenty in Europe like Heathrow Terminal 5, Paris CDG 

Very true, but I was referring to a decent airport, not those *°*&% places like Heathrow or Paris CDG which are just a plain mess (to be polite). Look at those highly efficient hubs of the Middle east. Multiple terminals but no need for all that absurd commuting that is confusing and time consuming.

 

And in Thailand, at SAT 1 terminal, the VIP meet. greet and escort services do not operate from SAT 1. One needs to commute to the Main Terminal and be greeted there so no point any more in taking even the fast track.

[new2here]

On 10/30/2024 at 5:45 PM, SingAPorn said:

There is this new SAT1 terminal that is slowly starting to operate in Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. Despite all the flashy publicity around it, this brand new terminal is far from being convenient for passengers.

 

If your flight arrives at this terminal, you will need to take an airport train to reach the main terminal for immigration and luggage claim. Same for departures and thus extra time needed after check in and security to reach this new SAT 1 terminal.

 

Hopefully the clever airlines will avoid using this terminal that is definately not convenient due to the commuting required between the terminals.

 

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

Given the location of SAT1 on the airport property itself, there simply isn’t any way to construct a whole new, stand alone landslide terminal structure to accommodate both outbound processing (ie check-in faculties, outbound immigration and security) as well as all the inbound processes (commonly that’s just baggage reclaim and immigration)… plus you’d need road access to/from it for passengers, plus all the other trappings as well.. what you’d really be doing is creating an airport-within-an-airport 

 

To me, I’d argue the opposite, given the entrance is littler smack in front of you when you emerge from outbound security/passport control … and on the arrival side, as you emerge from the train level, you’re also smack in front of the inbound immigration area.  

 

To me, I’d bet that mathematically by time alone, even WITH - short train ride from SAT1, I’d you’re still actually closer to the immigration entry point, than if you had arrived at one of the mid or end gates on the F or G main building complex gates. 

[Upnotover]

14 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Look at those highly efficient hubs of the Middle east. Multiple terminals but no need for all that absurd commuting that is confusing and time consuming.

Absolutely, you'd never have to take a inter gate train at DXB would you?

[newnative]

    I've used it once, it was fine.  The worst airport I've used recently was Dubai.  That was horrible.  We had to take both a long train ride AND a long bus to get to the plane--this after very long walks in the terminal and going from one floor to another floor several times.  Standing the whole time.   When we finally got to the plane we had to board outside using one of those pull-up stairs from the 1960s.  Awful.

[josephbloggs]

15 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Very true, but I was referring to a decent airport, not those *°*&% places like Heathrow or Paris CDG which are just a plain mess (to be polite). Look at those highly efficient hubs of the Middle east. Multiple terminals but no need for all that absurd commuting that is confusing and time consuming.

 

And in Thailand, at SAT 1 terminal, the VIP meet. greet and escort services do not operate from SAT 1. One needs to commute to the Main Terminal and be greeted there so no point any more in taking even the fast track.

You don't get out much do you?

DXB often has long train rides. My last trip to the UK a few months ago I got off one A380 and had to transfer BY BUS to another terminal to run to catch my next one. On the way back I had to deplane an A380 by bus. Horrible airport.

A satellite terminal is just that, a satellite terminal. If you want immigration and luggage claim there how would you then leave? It is not connected to any roads as it is situated in the middle of the airport. And when you have spent the three minutes to catch the train to the main terminal you are literally right outside immigration.

What a weird and misinformed rant.

[khunjeff]

On 10/30/2024 at 5:45 PM, SingAPorn said:

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

 

Because it isn't a terminal, it's a midfield satellite concourse. Its purpose is to add more gates, not to function as a new terminal. The actual new terminals at BKK - which will have the facilities you mention - are still in the planning and arguing stage, and won't be built for years. 

 

On 10/31/2024 at 12:05 AM, HauptmannUK said:

I've used it twice. Once when flying with Austrian Airlines and once with Turkish Airlines.  Added only a few minutes to overall arrival/departure times. Just wasn't an issue for me....

 

That was also my experience. SAT-1 itself is much nicer and more comfortable than the legacy concourses, and any extra time to get to and from the gates there is negligible.

[Bday Prang]

Some people are only happy when they are moaning,  As others have said the train ride at BKK takes about 2 minutes, It really is no big deal, especially when compared to the potential congestion at passport control.   I have no idea what the OP means by "clever airlines" but he needs to get over himself

[Bday Prang]

16 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

One needs to commute to the Main Terminal and be greeted there

I have never felt the need to be greeted at any airport,and I cannot understand why anybody would. let alone pay for "the privilege"

Does it make you feel important?

[realfunster]

I flew from there a couple of weeks ago, it seemed fine to me.

 

Important news for nicotine addicts - they have a smoking room. It's not very well signposted though.

 

[Olmate]

11 minutes ago, realfunster said:

I flew from there a couple of weeks ago, it seemed fine to me.

 

Important news for nicotine addicts - they have a smoking room. It's not very well signposted though.

 

Smoker me too, but is there one near Royal Orchid Lounge, anyone? 

[Grumpy one]

On 10/30/2024 at 6:08 PM, shdmn said:

How about a link instead of just a rant?

https://suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/service/way-to-airport/detail/suvarnabhumi_airport_SAT-1

 

It says the total time for the trains, including wait time, is 3 minutes.  Doesn't sound too bad if true. 

The magic words   IF TRUE  

[josephbloggs]

11 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

The magic words   IF TRUE  

You think they made up the journey time of the 1km train ride?

[GypsyT]

BKK is one of the finest. Never need to wait too long. I like it a lot.

 

DFW (Dallas Fxxxxng Worthless) one of the worse. Gives Heathrow run for tittle but loose...

Old creaking, rumbling junk Halloween train making slow loops... Filthiest too!

Announcement '50s level two-way WWII Motorol? Can't get what they say.

Tejas rules - yeah baby!

 

[NoshowJones]

On 10/31/2024 at 12:05 AM, HauptmannUK said:

I've used it twice. Once when flying with Austrian Airlines and once with Turkish Airlines.  Added only a few minutes to overall arrival/departure times. Just wasn't an issue for me....

I know this is a bit off topic, but I had a 3 hour changeover at Dubai on my way to Bangkok, but the time the bus with all the waiting and travelling took to get from one part of the airport to get the Bangkok plane, I just made it on time for the plane to Swampy. A real horrible airport.

[Grumpy one]

3 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

You think they made up the journey time of the 1km train ride?

No I query IF the trains will run

Hassle free trains, just like hassle free immigration, no lines waiting  

[CHdiver]

I actually like the new Terminal. No problems arriving or departing. Fast and easy. Must be because I am used to the Heidi Train in ZRH Airport. Similiar to the jodeling on the ZRH Train, they could implement some typical Thai noice like: you want massage mista, hello sexy man, you want tuk tuk and so on...

[richard_smith237]

On 10/30/2024 at 5:45 PM, SingAPorn said:

There is this new SAT1 terminal that is slowly starting to operate in Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport. Despite all the flashy publicity around it, this brand new terminal is far from being convenient for passengers.

 

If your flight arrives at this terminal, you will need to take an airport train to reach the main terminal for immigration and luggage claim. Same for departures and thus extra time needed after check in and security to reach this new SAT 1 terminal.

 

Your assement is flawed...  It takes no 'extra' time to get to the Satellite terminal.

The flights I've been taking (Qatar Airways) have been using this terminal for about a year now.

 

Once you pass immigration, you are in the 'centre' of the airport' an this is where the AMP (train) is located, so you have a very short distance to walk... In many cases, getting to your S-Gate is quicker than getting to the far reaches of the E-Gates (i.e. E10 etc)...  

 

This is the same congantive fallacy as using Bus Gates, as they are often closer and drop you closer to immigration than the long walk from some of the gates - you are in fact quicker.

 

If you are at the far reaches of the S-Gates (i.e. S-101 or S-128) then you also have some distance to walk...  the train adds perhaps 10 minutes.

 

IF you are habitually cutting things that fine, you'd be close to missing flights numerous times already.

 

 

On 10/30/2024 at 5:45 PM, SingAPorn said:

Hopefully the clever airlines will avoid using this terminal that is definately not convenient due to the commuting required between the terminals.

 

Qatar Always already using this terminal...   Perfectly convenient... It actaully takes less walking than getting to the gates used by Emirates (E-4 and E-6 usually).

 

 

On 10/30/2024 at 5:45 PM, SingAPorn said:

Why did they not make check-in counters, immigration booths and luggage claims directly inside the SAT 1 terminal to make life more simple for passengers ?

 

Because that would mean carring your baggage further and you'd then be complaining about that asking why not just have a single check-in terminal to make life more simple for passengers. 

 

 

Given your content - I think you'd complain whichever way this was worked out.

 

Suvarnabumi Airport is a very good Airport, KLIA uses the same type of Satelite terminal, and also operates extremely well. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

54 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

I know this is a bit off topic, but I had a 3 hour changeover at Dubai on my way to Bangkok, but the time the bus with all the waiting and travelling took to get from one part of the airport to get the Bangkok plane, I just made it on time for the plane to Swampy. A real horrible airport.

 

Dubai Terminal 2 to Dubai Terminal 3 ???...     Thats an awful system.

 

It seems they use Dubai T2 for Fly Dubai routes for all the regional flights to 'armpits'...  the bus between terminals takes about 25 mintues and is not a pleasant experience in the height of summer.

 

(note - this is not the same as using the monorial between concourses A-B-C within T3 - which also takes additonal time, but thats becasue its a very large airport).

 

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, Grumpy one said:

On 10/30/2024 at 6:08 PM, shdmn said:

It says the total time for the trains, including wait time, is 3 minutes.  Doesn't sound too bad if true. 

The magic words   IF TRUE  

 

I've taken the train between the Main and Sateliite terminal numerous times now (in excess of 10 times)...

3 mins is not true...   

 

I think about 10mins is a more realistic assement of the time it takes... 

 

- Escalators down to lower AMP station level  (~2 mins)

- Waiting for the train (~3mins perhaps)

- Train itself (~3 mins perhaps)

- Escalators to main departures in Satelite terminal (~2 mins)

 

[richard_smith237]

10 hours ago, new2here said:

To me, I’d bet that mathematically by time alone, even WITH - short train ride from SAT1, I’d you’re still actually closer to the immigration entry point, than if you had arrived at one of the mid or end gates on the F or G main building complex gates. 

 

Absolutely on point... 

 

I think this complaint (the Op) is the same as people who complain about bus gates without realising the pick-up / drop-off is right in front of Immigration, so there is less walking and it is often quicker.

 

The only issue with bus gates is the 'heat' while you wait on a bus for others to board and the heat gets into the bus.

And, of course, while walking up steps / down steps (in rain or / and very humid conditions to the bus itself).

[GypsyT]

24 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Dubai Terminal 2 to Dubai Terminal 3 ???...     Thats an awful system.

They duplicated LHR 😉

"The design and planning phase began in the 1960s, led by British architectural firm William Pereira and Associates."

 

[sandyf]

On 10/31/2024 at 12:05 AM, HauptmannUK said:

I've used it twice. Once when flying with Austrian Airlines and once with Turkish Airlines.  Added only a few minutes to overall arrival/departure times. Just wasn't an issue for me....

Quite. A friend of mine came with Turkish earlier in the year. He is in his 70s and has mobility issues but thought it much better than the main terminal.

Coming with Qatar this weekend, could be a bit disappointed.

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

I know this is a bit off topic, but I had a 3 hour changeover at Dubai on my way to Bangkok, but the time the bus with all the waiting and travelling took to get from one part of the airport to get the Bangkok plane, I just made it on time for the plane to Swampy. A real horrible airport.

Indeed, I have done A gate to C gate on the bus, through immigration twice, real PIA.

Came back on Monday and that was B to C, still involved walking about a mile.

[treetops]

23 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Look at those highly efficient hubs of the Middle east. Multiple terminals but no need for all that absurd commuting that is confusing and time consuming.

 

Dubai - train from Concourse A to Concourse B.

Doha (Qatar) - train from the Concourse A/B/C intersection to the Concourse C/D/E intersection.

 

Dubai has issues if you'rer transiting to/from a non-Emirates flight where you have to travel to a different Terminal, but just like BKK, the different concourses in Terminal 3 are either connected by walkways or the train.