Domestic "terminal" @ Swampy?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

I've not been down to Swampy for several months and it's been a couple of years since I've flown domestic.

See the letter to the editor in this morning's Nation about the eatery at the "domestic terminal."

The eatery on the ground floor under Gate C of International Arrivals is/was quite reasonably priced.

Mac

Airport food court gives travellers no other choice

Comments and questions on the (recently?) opened food court inside the Suvanarbhumi Airport's domestic terminal: PAD Thai - Bt250; roasted duck with rice (like PAD Thai, the portion is not different from street food, but here the dish is put in a microwave) - Bt180; average plate of food - Bt250-350; regular bottle of water - Bt70; apple juice in a small wine glass, if I remember correctly - Bt120.

There is no menu and pricing available upfront. First you are sent to a counter where you have to pay a minimum of Bt500 (refundable) for a food card. Later, you walk into a hall leading to a larger hall with a few food bars. Then you are confronted with these prices that match those in upscale hotels downtown. These prices would be fine, even cheap, if we are talking about airport food in, say, the US or Europe.

Can someone shed light on why this is the only place to eat in a domestic terminal (as its sign says), with its limited choices of food, self-service and exorbitant prices? Who operates this place?

Of course you have a choice of returning the card and walking out, but to where? Can the domestic terminal in this airport provide a place to eat at decent prices? Two or three times the normal price is acceptable, but five times? Not all travellers are rich. Not all of us are happy to be effected by this airport monopoly.

A THAI TRAVELLER

BANGKOK

[siam2007]

I've not been down to Swampy for several months and it's been a couple of years since I've flown domestic.

See the letter to the editor in this morning's Nation about the eatery at the "domestic terminal."

The eatery on the ground floor under Gate C of International Arrivals is/was quite reasonably priced.

Mac

Airport food court gives travellers no other choice

Comments and questions on the (recently?) opened food court inside the Suvanarbhumi Airport's domestic terminal: PAD Thai - Bt250; roasted duck with rice (like PAD Thai, the portion is not different from street food, but here the dish is put in a microwave) - Bt180; average plate of food - Bt250-350; regular bottle of water - Bt70; apple juice in a small wine glass, if I remember correctly - Bt120.

There is no menu and pricing available upfront. First you are sent to a counter where you have to pay a minimum of Bt500 (refundable) for a food card. Later, you walk into a hall leading to a larger hall with a few food bars. Then you are confronted with these prices that match those in upscale hotels downtown. These prices would be fine, even cheap, if we are talking about airport food in, say, the US or Europe.

Can someone shed light on why this is the only place to eat in a domestic terminal (as its sign says), with its limited choices of food, self-service and exorbitant prices? Who operates this place?

Of course you have a choice of returning the card and walking out, but to where? Can the domestic terminal in this airport provide a place to eat at decent prices? Two or three times the normal price is acceptable, but five times? Not all travellers are rich. Not all of us are happy to be effected by this airport monopoly.

A THAI TRAVELLER

BANGKOK

after leaving the huge check-in-hall, you take the escalator to downstairs, then those moving walkways until the end. from there, you would have to go straight or go left to reach your departure gate. turn left, and after just 20 meters or so, turn left again (into some kind of inner courtyard). there are signs outside in the terminal so it's actually easy to find. I have never had food there though, so cannot comment on that.....

[GeorgeW]

There is no domestic terminal. International and domestic are all in the same terminal building. Just there are two sections for departure - one for domestic and one for international. If you want to eat at the Thai food court down stairs, just go there either before or after you check-in, but before you go through security. No need to be bothered by high prices of the place after security being you don't need to eat there.

This same sort of situation exists at many airports around the world where places after security charge outrageous prices. At least at Suvarnabhumi there are some places before security that charge normal prices.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

There is no domestic terminal. International and domestic are all in the same terminal building. Just there are two sections for departure - one for domestic and one for international. If you want to eat at the Thai food court down stairs, just go there either before or after you check-in, but before you go through security. No need to be bothered by high prices of the place after security being you don't need to eat there.

This same sort of situation exists at many airports around the world where places after security charge outrageous prices. At least at Suvarnabhumi there are some places before security that charge normal prices.

I'm aware that there's just the one terminal, which is what confused me about the guy's letter to the Nation.

Also aware of the downstairs food court, I've only eaten there, none of the upstairs places.

So, where is the high priced Thai food the guy's talking about at "domestic?" After check-in and after security? As I mentioned, been a couple years since I flew domestic and that was Nok out of DMK and back to BKK via Air Asia, so missed what might be inside security there.

Mac

[GeorgeW]

As Siam2007 said, there's a place to eat after you go through security and down the concourse, you'll reach the cross between A & B concourses. Just a few steps down the A concourse on your left will be the food area. I've never bothered to go inside though as I always eat downstairs at the food court before security if I'm hungry.

[CM023]

As Siam2007 said, there's a place to eat after you go through security and down the concourse, you'll reach the cross between A & B concourses. Just a few steps down the A concourse on your left will be the food area. I've never bothered to go inside though as I always eat downstairs at the food court before security if I'm hungry.

That area near the A concourse is where the guy pointed out in his letter. I agree that the price is unbelievable. If you are in transit for connecting domestic flight and don't want to go out for security check again, you are out of luck. I have been to many international airports, at least they have choices for various fares. This food court is tricky, in that there is no menu and price upfront, not after you have probably purchased the 500 Bt card and ventured down that "bridge" leading you to the food bars.

Even though it sounds similar to the cheap food court before the security check (food cards, no menu when you enter), but this one is more like a trap, for first timers. I am curious to hear if anyone share similar experience. I'd be happy to pay more for better food and drinks. And rather pay less than the current five (i'd say six) folds charge at this place. At least I am happy to know someone out there is also not happy!

(A French living in Chiang Mai)

[tartempion]

Indeed, I made the mistake once to check in first and walk to domestic area AB and have food at the expensive foodcourt.

Needless to say "never again".

I now check in on time, go downstairs to level 1 and visit Magic foodcourt, normal prices

Next trip later this month I fly domestic Thai Airways business class and will visit the business lounge

[bails]

As Siam2007 said, there's a place to eat after you go through security and down the concourse, you'll reach the cross between A & B concourses. Just a few steps down the A concourse on your left will be the food area. I've never bothered to go inside though as I always eat downstairs at the food court before security if I'm hungry.

That area near the A concourse is where the guy pointed out in his letter. I agree that the price is unbelievable. If you are in transit for connecting domestic flight and don't want to go out for security check again, you are out of luck. I have been to many international airports, at least they have choices for various fares. This food court is tricky, in that there is no menu and price upfront, not after you have probably purchased the 500 Bt card and ventured down that "bridge" leading you to the food bars.

Even though it sounds similar to the cheap food court before the security check (food cards, no menu when you enter), but this one is more like a trap, for first timers. I am curious to hear if anyone share similar experience. I'd be happy to pay more for better food and drinks. And rather pay less than the current five (i'd say six) folds charge at this place. At least I am happy to know someone out there is also not happy!

(A French living in Chiang Mai)

Yes,this place is a complete rip-off.Overpriced and substandard food and no service whatsoever.I have eaten there only once and it will be the last time.I can only recommend that people not use this restaurant!!!!

[Carmine6]

What's the big crisis? You haven't cleared immigration so just go back out into the front area of the airport, snack at one of the many places downstairs and go through security again. There's no need to go as far as the big food court since the shops on the 2nd floor are way more reasonable than at many airports. Or wait the 2 hours or so to reach your domestic destination.

[Texpat]

If the writer (Thai Traveler) is a tourist -- what tourist in his right mind wastes time writing into a newspaper? Get a life.

If the writer is based in Thailand -- Whaaaaa! Eat somewhere else. Plonker.

I learned on my first trip to an airport as a child that food prices were much higher there. It's common knowledge.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Texpat

[Patsycat]

Take a packed lunch.

[samgrowth]

Yes,this place is a complete rip-off.Overpriced and substandard food and no service whatsoever.I have eaten there only once and it will be the last time.I can only recommend that people not use this restaurant!!!!

Who do you think is ripping you off?

A. The food vendors?

B. The Airport (AOT)?

If you know how much rent the vendors pay, you would know that they almost made nothing. Most money go as rent. So next time swear at AOT, and not the vendors.

Edited May 26, 2009 by samgrowth