Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link Officially Starts Commercial Services

[jfchandler]

Glad they set up the airport checking location at Makkasan, which has no MRT or BTS direct connection... Really convenient and smart planning...

I thought they were going to do some kind of similar airport check-in deal at Phyathai... But guess I'm wrong about that???

Let's think now... got 3 or 4-50 pound suitcases for an international flight. Do I want to lug them from Makkasan on the 10-minute plus walk on a nothing/nowhere street down to the Petchburi MRT station or visa versa... Or if not, take a cab to/from Makkasan... And if I'm going to do that, might as well just stick with a taxi straight from the airport...

I think a bit of psychology needs to come into play here... Living in Thailand, you learn to put up with all kinds of perceived day-to-day nuisances... But when I'm traveling to or from the airport for an international flight, hassles are the last thing I want... No lugging bags down the street. No lugging bags up and/or down staircases at the stations. No transferring from one train to another on the ARL...

I want to dump/stow my bags and then just go... go to the airport.... or go home after a long flight. Not engage is a baggage triathalon navigating multiple rail lines, stairs, and walking down streets in the middle of nowhere...

[whybother]

Glad they set up the airport checking location at Makkasan, which has no MRT or BTS direct connection... Really convenient and smart planning...

I thought they were going to do some kind of similar airport check-in deal at Phyathai... But guess I'm wrong about that???

Let's think now... got 3 or 4-50 pound suitcases for an international flight. Do I want to lug them from Makkasan on the 10-minute plus walk on a nothing/nowhere street down to the Petchburi MRT station or visa versa... Or if not, take a cab to/from Makkasan... And if I'm going to do that, might as well just stick with a taxi straight from the airport...

I think a bit of psychology needs to come into play here... Living in Thailand, you learn to put up with all kinds of perceived day-to-day nuisances... But when I'm traveling to or from the airport for an international flight, hassles are the last thing I want... No lugging bags down the street. No lugging bags up and/or down staircases at the stations. No transferring from one train to another on the ARL...

I want to dump/stow my bags and then just go... go to the airport.... or go home after a long flight. Not engage is a baggage triathalon navigating multiple rail lines, stairs, and walking down streets in the middle of nowhere...

Yes ... agree. I live a 10-15 min taxi ride (average traffic) from Makkasan and still don't think I would use it ... but with check in there, it potentially saves an hour, particularly in peak or rain affected traffic.

[jfchandler]

What exact kind of "check-in" are they talking about doing at Makkasan???

Luggage check-in? Airline flight check in? Immigration check-out/clearance? Security screening?

[whybother]

What exact kind of "check-in" are they talking about doing at Makkasan???

Luggage check-in? Airline flight check in? Immigration check-out/clearance? Security screening?

Luggage and airline flight check in (apparently not available until the end of the year). You still need to go through immigration and security at the airport.