Cannot get a taxi anymore at 3rd Floor at Suvarnabhumi

[messi]

This is to explain to the readers that last Friday night (around 9.30pm) after I arrived to Suvarnabhumi I went as usual to the third floor to get a taxi at the departures area, then I´ve found that it is impossible now to access the taxi bay area coming from inside the terminal as they had installed a kind of turnstile that only let the passengers coming into the airport to use it, so if you come from outside you simply cannot access the taxis, except you jump the barriers, something that it may not be recommended if you carry luggage.

Well, then by first time I went to the ground floor to try to get a taxi in the official queue, but it was a very long and disorganized queue, so instead of waiting for most probably more than half an hour I decided to take the airport link to Makkasan and from there a taxi to Sukhumvit area.

This may be a shock for so many people used to get the taxis at the departure level and let´s see how this ends as the option to queue in such disorganized way it is not the most efficient thing to do. If at least they could organize a proper queue it will be fine, but once again TIT.

[richard_smith237]

What about the folk who see their family and friends off at the airport? how do they get out of departures and back to their cars ?

[theoldgit]

What about the folk who see their family and friends off at the airport? how do they get out of departures and back to their cars ?

Isn't there a footbridge that leads directly into the car park?

[HeijoshinCool]

I travel light.

I'll jump the barrier just as a taxi drops a passenger.

I detest manipulation.

[moe666]

Just grabbed a taxi there a couple of weeks ago and no barriers and by the way its the 4th level that is arrivals that's where you want to be

[Gonsalviz]

Just grabbed a taxi there a couple of weeks ago and no barriers and by the way its the 4th level that is arrivals that's where you want to be

Level 4 is departures.

[NanLaew]

Just grabbed a taxi there a couple of weeks ago and no barriers and by the way its the 4th level that is arrivals that's where you want to be

So what? I grabbed a taxi at Don Muang 9 years ago. The OP (although he got the floor number wrong) couldn't exit from the Departures hall to the taxi drop OFF area before this past weekend.

I guess those too cheap to use proper parking when seeing off their friends and like to leave their car kerbside and cause congestion will have to say their goodbyes outside on the sidewalk. The downside for me is whenever I was meeting people, I always told them to come up a couple of levels from Arrivals and I would collect them kerbside around Departures door 7 or 8.

Now, I hope the dopey lot downstairs realize quickly that they are once again the ONLY taxi pickup point and get their act together or else like the OP, the train is going to have more passengers.

Edited November 3, 2013 by NanLaew

[CWMcMurray]

Must be really new, as just flew in last weekend and were no any turn styles at that time

I normally grab a taxi at departures, as if using normal taxi stand, drivers are not to happy to get me....

Only live 5 min from the airport, so they end up waiting in line for a THB 60 fare....

Would normaly hear them complain, as the want to go all the way into the city so the fare will be higher

Although the guys upstairs are always happy to take me regardless, as they expected to leave empty

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Edited November 3, 2013 by CWMcMurray

[sms747]

Quite right too you should be going to the correct desk, get charged 50 baht for nothing, have to suffer people pushing in the 'queue' where you will most likely get a taxi with a meter that while working will be running three times as fast as normal. You must not get upset as Thais do not like that, and anyway this sort of thing can happen anywhere.

To be honest I don't know why people don't bypass this first scam, get the train, as the OP did, or the free bus, that I have yet to see another visitor on, to the transport, you guessed it - HUB where buses and normal taxis as well as mini vans can be found. Of course the hub is about a mile from arrivals, they only had about 30 years to plan the place.

Edited November 4, 2013 by sms747

[impulse]

Always amazed at the number of posters whining about getting scammed or refused by the taxis, then toss their business to to drivers that break the rules.

The same drivers that take money out of the pockets of the guys who do play by the rules (and wait in long lines to pick up a fare).

Possibly how Phuket taxi mafia got their start?

Edited November 4, 2013 by impulse

[lomatopo]

They've been constructing these one-way turnstiles for quite a long time. Fully operational now. Challenging to leap unless you 'Fosbury' them. Believe they are ostensibly meant to prevent "taxi back-wash". All that said, still lots of taxis loitering about, and there are semi-permanent/movable barriers adjacent - for safety reasons one hopes - which may be easily traversed.

I have no issues with people using level four to grab a taxi as it keeps the official lines on level 1 clear for me. Also, if going somewhere near the airport, say a fare of less than 100 baht, it is better to use a level 4 taxi rather than stick a short fare on a driver in the official queue. Also a lot of air crew, presumably domiciled here, use level 4 all the time.

[JLCrab]

So it looks like in the above JPG that someone who does not want to be manipulated would have to first knock down the police guy with the baton before jumping the barriers.

[messi]

Today I went to the airport again to flight out and I was dropped by the taxi opposite the first door (the one is called VIP) and over there the turnstile was not so good and in fact you can pass easily from both sides, so this could an option to get to the taxis, but there was also a security guard as well. In fact it seems that they placed a security guard in all the entrances next to the taxi bay area.

Let´s see how this ends since it is very obvious that the official queue is a mess and as I can see many taxi drivers may not want to use the meter.

[sms747]

The trouble people will go to just to save 50 baht!

[GeorgeKi]

Its not about B50 its about not waiting in a pointless shambolic 'queue' for 30+ minutes.

Edited November 4, 2013 by GeorgeKi

[CWMcMurray]

Not about the 50 thb... But usually much faster and easier

Also as only live 60 thb cab fair from airport, don't have to put up with the grumbling and complaints from drivers getting "stuck" with such a low fair and then trying to charge higher than meter because it is so low a fair

To be honest, I can understand their un happiness, considering how long of them have to wait in line until their fair sometimes....

All in all, just easier to go upstairs and then everyone is happy ...

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[CWMcMurray]

Also annoying sometimes if not a lot of cabs down stairs...

They have a tendency to stop just before the pick up zone and wait for people will to pay flat rate more expensive than meter and refuse to move up to the queue and the airport folks do not seem to care or force the taxi to pick up those in the Queue or leave...

So can take a long time to get a taxi sometimes

The above happened a few times to me in the past (about 2-3 years ago.. Since then have just given up on the down stairs taxi-queue and gone upstairs

Have been much happier ever since... Never a single problem or complaint since getting taxi upstairs

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[GeorgeKi]

Is it easy to get a taxi from the Makkasan airport link terminal?

I would rather take airport link & get a taxi at Makkasan than wait in that shambles of a taxi line after a long flight.

[moe666]

Is it easy to get a taxi from the Makkasan airport link terminal?

I would rather take airport link & get a taxi at Makkasan than wait in that shambles of a taxi line after a long flight.

Never had a problem getting taxi from either Swampy Or DM

[GeorgeKi]

Is it easy to get a taxi from the Makkasan airport link terminal?

I would rather take airport link & get a taxi at Makkasan than wait in that shambles of a taxi line after a long flight.

Never had a problem getting taxi from either Swampy Or DM

It can depend what time of day, 7.00am when a lot of flights from Europe arrive has been a chaotic nightmare last 2 times I tried via the downstairs queue.

As I have luggage I would take the airport link IF it was easy to get a taxi at Makkasan....

[Lakegeneve]

The trouble people will go to just to save 50 baht!

That is also the least of my concern.....and as others have said waiting time is the most pressing issue. Those new turnstiles won't hold people back from Level 4.

Prior to the ARL opening I would always head up to Level 4 and take a taxi home as it meant no wait at all, never as a taxi dropping off a pax is very happy to get an immediate fare back into the city. Most importantly, I could chose a brand new taxi and not be prone to the downstairs lottery of ending up whatever random old taxi and the BS some people endure about fixed rated or nor wanting to go to a destination.

A new taxi is important for me as it means a more comfortable, reliable, cleaner ride, better aircon and no attempt to scam me with with a higher meter rate (which can be done with older taxis which have the older meters). Though I'd know if it was happening within a few mins. (A reminder to always use the 555 rule if you are unsure) I always advise people to take newer taxis for those reasons.

In fact, my journey home would take 20-30 mins which often meant I could be home before others in the AOT queue even had a taxi! In fact I never, took a taxi from the AOT at either airport, it just seemed a pointless waste of time.

As for the rationale of supporting taxis drivers who follow the AOT system as member impulse posted, I really don't have much sympathy I am sorry.

If you go and pass by the taxi car park near the Transport Terminal some 2kms from the airport you can see that there are anywhere between 2000 - 5000 taxis parked there waiting for their turn to be escorted over to AOT taxi stand at the terminal. To put that in context, given BKK has around 90k registered taxis that upper figure can mean that something like 5% of all taxis in BKK can be waiting at the airport taxi carpark at a busy time.

Some wait there for 3-4hrs in the hope of getting a big 500 baht fare back into the city. That is hours of waiting, by the drivers choice, which could be perhaps better spent picking up fares around BKK. Though many do take the opportunity for a nap. Not all drivers wait that long, perhaps 2hrs on average from what I understand but my point remains. It is their choice.

(The interesting aside here is that the AOT is spending its money on installing turnstiles to ensure that more people pay the 50 baht AOT surcharge at a time when they are going to increase the PSC supposedly due to extra costs that they incur in servicing each pax. There can't be any public safety reason for the turnstiles ......)

[Lakegeneve]

Is it easy to get a taxi from the Makkasan airport link terminal?

I would rather take airport link & get a taxi at Makkasan than wait in that shambles of a taxi line after a long flight.

Never had a problem getting taxi from either Swampy Or DM

It can depend what time of day, 7.00am when a lot of flights from Europe arrive has been a chaotic nightmare last 2 times I tried via the downstairs queue.

As I have luggage I would take the airport link IF it was easy to get a taxi at Makkasan....

It is easy if you take the east side pedestrian link exit to Ratchada/Asoke rd. A few mins walk at most. Stair downs for northbound, cross the full link for southbound. If you don't like the idea of the stairs down from the ped link due to baggage take the main exit through the station building & an elevator to ground level and walk to Ratchada/Asoke rd at ground level.

There are sometimes taxis waiting at both level 2 and ground level which can save the walk but I always walk to the main rd.

[Prbkk]

The barriers are now manned and it is not possible to get through on departure level. The smokers are now confined to the narrow pavement bit. Clearly some effort to police the new system and to stop arriving pax picking up a taxi on that level

[Lakegeneve]

The barriers are now manned and it is not possible to get through on departure level. The smokers are now confined to the narrow pavement bit. Clearly some effort to police the new system and to stop arriving pax picking up a taxi on that level

I checked out the new turnstiles last night when at the airport. They are very effective as I noticed at least a dozen people in a space of a few mins try to make their way through without luck. The deterrent was effective though a couple of thais argued with the AOT staff at one gate. (There are actually gates which open adjacent to the one way turnstiles and allow access but these were locked)

Note that at that time, not all turnstiles were staffed. I also found that it would not be so difficult to just climb/step over them if one only had minimal luggage - the top is around waist height for moi.

Of course, the easiest thing to do is just exit at Gate 1 or 2, walk to right, to the end, cross the inner lanes and thus around the barrier so that one could access the outer lanes where taxis drop off pax.

Though I took the ARL, I Surprisingly noted that the downstairs AOT taxi stand was very empty. This at 7:30pm which is normally a semi busy time.

[edwardandtubs]

Of course, the easiest thing to do is just exit at Gate 1 or 2, walk to right, to the end, cross the inner lanes and thus around the barrier so that one could access the outer lanes where taxis drop off pax.

Though I took the ARL, I Surprisingly noted that the downstairs AOT taxi stand was very empty. This at 7:30pm which is normally a semi busy time.

That sounds great but doesn't make any sense at all to me. Care to explain it in plain English?

[lomatopo]

I think he means that, on level 4, you could walk all the way to the right, down near/past doors #1 and #2, and walk around on the pavement to the outer curb to circumvent the turnstiles/barriers, then maybe make your way back down to where there might taxis dropping people off? I guess you could do the same in the opposite direction? Then you'll still have to deal with the authorities who, for the time being, seem intent on discouraging this activity.

[bubba]

Its not about B50 its about not waiting in a pointless shambolic 'queue' for 30+ minutes.

Even better, not only was there zero wait time catching a taxi from departures, you could also select the taxi and driver. I liked being able to pick a newish taxi with a driver standing next to it that didn't look he hadn't slept in two days and was completely wired on amphetamines.

Also, I was thinking: if drivers take passengers to the airport with no possibility of picking up a return fare then deadheading back, it is possible that this may create a situation where it becomes difficult to get a taxi to go to the airport with the meter. Oh, and drivers with passengers in both directions are better for the environment as well!

[edwardandtubs]

I think he means that, on level 4, you could walk all the way to the right, down near/past doors #1 and #2, and walk around on the pavement to the outer curb to circumvent the turnstiles/barriers, then maybe make your way back down to where there might taxis dropping people off? I guess you could do the same in the opposite direction? Then you'll still have to deal with the authorities who, for the time being, seem intent on discouraging this activity.

Sounds great if it works but wouldn't they have the foresight to put the barriers up in such a way as to prevent this?

[Lakegeneve]

Of course, the easiest thing to do is just exit at Gate 1 or 2, walk to right, to the end, cross the inner lanes and thus around the barrier so that one could access the outer lanes where taxis drop off pax.

Though I took the ARL, I Surprisingly noted that the downstairs AOT taxi stand was very empty. This at 7:30pm which is normally a semi busy time.

That sounds great but doesn't make any sense at all to me. Care to explain it in plain English?

I think that my explanation was indeed very plain, clearly too much so as it wasn't clear enough. Perhaps, you meant more descriptive English rather than plain english? Lomo's use of the term circumvent gives a good description of the route.

Exit Gate #1 or #2, walk to the right until the end of the pavement, cross the inner lanes and thus access the outer lanes where taxis drop off pax. (I added the word pavement ) Most likely, it may be even that much easier down the other end at Gate #10 where there are less AOT staff/security and where empty taxis are exiting and thus more likely to want to grab you.

Remember, there are inner lanes for private vehicles dropping pax and and outer lanes for taxis only to drop of pax, with a pedestrian area in between. This pedestrian area is where the one way turnstiles have been installed. Again, from what I observed at that time, only every 2nd turnstile had AOT staff deterring people from attempting to enter or jump over them.

Sounds great if it works but wouldn't they have the foresight to put the barriers up in such a way as to prevent this?

You are joking right? Foresight! Think of all of the previous problems with the airport due to a lack of foresight. 5% chance I suspect but perhaps......?

Anyway, let's wait to read who gives whatever method a go and how it went for them. For moi, it is always the ARL for a quick, hassle free trip into inner BKK.

[bubba]

I had some time to kill at the airport today, so I thought I would walk out to the 4th floor departures area and have a look at the new barrier system. Here is what I noticed:

- Walking past the barriers down the pavement past door #1 really does not look like a good or even safe option to me. There is no footpath, and there is a curve leading into it, so you could get hit by a speeding car as you crossed two lanes. The other end past door #10 looks even tricker. Plus there are security officers walking around who would probably order you back, and actually for valid safety reasons.

- There are guards posted at each turnstile, and some turnstiles had two. The turnstile design is such that it is easy to get past the turnstiles going out when they are positioned in a certain way, but the guard usually will not let you.

- I watched several people walk up to the security officers. For foreigners, they would stop people and point downwards (to the taxi queue downstairs). For a few Thais, the guards would stop them at first, some words were exchanged, and the guard actually let them pass through the turnstile to the waiting taxis.

- There are still loads of taxis waiting for passengers on the outer lane, and nobody is chasing them away. I saw some taxis waving at passengers and telling them how to get past the turnstile. Only thing is, very few people made it past guards. I sort of feel sorry for these drivers who are looking at driving all the way back to the city with no fare.

- Some guards looked more "flexible" than others. Guess you could try your luck. Or twenty baht?

- The turnstile down by door #10 was the only one not manned by guard. It would be very easy to go through the turnstile if there is no guard to stop you. But maybe the door #10 guard was just on a toilet break.

All in all, it looks like anyone wanting a taxi will have to go downstairs. Interestingly, there are many more guards now, and they stop traffic at the zebra crossings to help arriving passengers cross safely. That was never the case before, and it was sometimes dangerous to cross since nearly every Thai driver ignores pedestrian crossings. Interestingly, it appears that getting people to use the taxi queue downstairs justified adding the crossing guards; however, before the turnstile system, pedestrian safety was not important enough to hire crossing guards.

With the added personnel and all the chrome barriers and turnstiles, AOT have invested quite a lot in this system, so I don't see it going away any time soon. Now aren't you happy to see that your increased airport tax is going to good use and supporting the taxi mafia downstairs?

Edited November 11, 2013 by bubba