Taxi For Early Morning Flight

[vagabond48]

I need to catch an early morning International flight at 6:30AM so I need to take a taxi from the Khaosan area to the airport.

I just have just a few questions.

Can I easily catch a metered taxi around there at about 4AM to 4:30AM or should I call for a taxi?

At about 4AM in the morning, how much time should I allow to get to the airport using local street?

About how much should the ride cost if tolls are not needed?

Thanks

[ShopBoy]

Taxis should be everywhere at that hour.

I suggest you do not leave later than 4am. The ride should cost about 150 - 200 excluding toll would suggest you go by toll as well.

[smokie36]

Why bother with the tolls at 4am? Save yourself 70 Baht!

[fredob43]

Taxis should be everywhere at that hour.

I suggest you do not leave later than 4am. The ride should cost about 150 - 200 excluding toll would suggest you go by toll as well.

You will be lucky to get a taxi for 150/200 bt the airport bus cost 150bt. and that was 8 month's ago.

[vagabond48]

Taxis should be everywhere at that hour.

I suggest you do not leave later than 4am. The ride should cost about 150 - 200 excluding toll would suggest you go by toll as well.

I know BKK is a big city but can I assume there is little traffic at 4AM so why not take the local streets to the airport?

You will be lucky to get a taxi for 150/200 bt the airport bus cost 150bt. and that was 8 month's ago.

Why? Won't I be able to get a metered taxi?

Anyone know how long the taxi ride is to the airport at that time of the morning?

[smokie36]

From Khao San about 35-40 mins.

[JusMe]

I believe the 150 baht airport bus is no longer running, so you can mess about trying to get a timely train, or use the taxi service. (Bus was cancelled to "encourage" people to take the trains.)

[vagabond48]

I believe the 150 baht airport bus is no longer running, so you can mess about trying to get a timely train, or use the taxi service. (Bus was cancelled to "encourage" people to take the trains.)

No trains at that time of day, so I can only use taxi service. Actually if I was leaving during normal hours I would use public bus 551 which took 45 to 50 minutes at about10AM and at the time cost a "whopping" 34B. I am rarely in a hurry except this time.

[wpcoe]

Assuming this service is still operating, call 1661 before you go to bed at night and you can reserve a taxi to pick you up at whatever time you specify. You will receive a call in the morning shortly before your pick-up time with the number (license plate number) and color of your taxi. I believe the surcharge for the service is B20 or B50.

[mrdome]

Let's be honest here, many drivers may not want to use the meter but insist on a flat fee. Be prepared for some hassle and having to "interview" a few drivers. And then some more if you do not want to use the toll roads. You may even be told to exit the cab and then some choice curse words when you refuse to tip a rude and pushy driver (based on a true experience, same time of day but from Hualamphong to Mor Chit).

Edited January 22, 2012 by mrdome

[mungostjohn]

Go down Khao San Rd towards the police station, turn right, then left at Soi Ram Buttri. You'll see a little kiosk on your right hand side which offers a mini-bus to the airport for 150 Baht. The first one leaves at 4:00 am and you must reserve the day before.

[tariq]

hi

I'm actually doing the reverse trip during Songkran. Landing about 7pm on the 15th April. How much should I expect to pay to get to Khao san road? I know it'll be more expensive but just need a rough idea so i know i am not getting ripped off.

Cheers.

Tariq

[draftvader]

hi

I'm actually doing the reverse trip during Songkran. Landing about 7pm on the 15th April. How much should I expect to pay to get to Khao san road? I know it'll be more expensive but just need a rough idea so i know i am not getting ripped off.

Cheers.

Tariq

On arrival head UP to the check-in area (departures). Walk down to the Thai Air check-in area and then head out to intercept an incoming (drop-off) taxi. Insist on the meter and you will save yourself the B50 handling fee and a wait.

[IMA_FARANG]

Your flight is leaving at 6:30 I take it.

You are travelling economy class I assume and have baggage to check in. And of course, you have to go through immigration at the airport.

It's possible you may get all that done in one hour after you arrive at the airport...or you MAY spend an hour waiting to check your bags BEFORE you have to go through a packed immigration exit procedure.

It may seem starnge to you but for scheduling reasons many international flights depart from Bangkok at 6 a.m. The checked luggage and immigration lines can easily take over an hour. I once arrived at the airport at 7:30 pm for a midnight flight and it took me until 9:30 pm just to get my bags checked in.

Bottom line: Go early...leave no later than 3:30 a.m. Book a taxi and pay the extra cost. Tell him to take the tollway and pay the toll.

This is no time to be "penny wise, pound foolish" as the saying goes.

If everything goes well, and you get there early...grab a cup of coffee and relax AFTER you go through immigration.

But don't try to save a hundred Baht or even 200 Baht...which will be practically useless to you anyhow after you leave Thailand...and end up missing your flight.

It's probably going to take you an hour to get to the airport...but if you're on a tight schedule, one traffic jam will make you miss that flight.

So go early, spend the extra cash, and if you should get there early...no problem.

But if for some reason you're delayed by something you didn't expect...then you're going to have problems.

Why risk it?

Edited February 17, 2012 by IMA_FARANG

[siam2007]

Go down Khao San Rd towards the police station, turn right, then left at Soi Ram Buttri. You'll see a little kiosk on your right hand side which offers a mini-bus to the airport for 150 Baht. The first one leaves at 4:00 am and you must reserve the day before.

this is the best way how to MISS your flight.

I know of MANY people who were too stingy to hire a cab and relied on that Minibus and then missed their flight, as in many cases this Minibus is picking up other passengers from different locations, and more than once the driver then didn't actually know how to get from those locations to the airport.

I sat next to one such "passengers" on a flight to Europe some time ago, a French guy. He missed his flight due to this dodgy Minibus picking up passengers from everywhere, and then he had to buy a new-one-way ticket back to France which set him back 600 €.

but as the saying goes: every day, a new sucker is born...... happy traveling ;-)