Cannot get a taxi anymore at 3rd Floor at Suvarnabhumi

[draftvader]

I travel light.

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

I detest manipulation.

It is not manipulation. The AoT is responding to the refusal of people to respect the rules regarding the taxis. Loading taxis at departures blocks traffic and the picking up of fairs is unfair to those drivers who are properly licensed and follow the rules common in all modern airports.

I have no problem if you use the AOT stand based on this, that is your choice. It is highly debatable that swampy "follow the rules common in all modern modern airports" as history has shown but we'll leave that to one side as it opens up a pandoras box of issues

However, it is also naive view as nearly 100% of the reports of scamming via either non use of a meter or an illegal rate in an old taxi occurs at the AOT taxi stand. Why is that? At departures any taxi is more than happy to get a fare back into the city. If a few try a "500 baht" attempt there is an eagerly waiting taxi just behind or in front of them so they will lose the customer.

At Level 1. taxis wait in the AOT carpark near the Transport Center for anywhere from 2-4 hrs. They then get escorted over in large groups by the AOT to Level 1. Now that is a long down time for a 12 hr shift - their choice BTW, no one forced them to go and wait in a long line of 2-5k taxis at the taxi car park! Little wonder many try to scam a higher fare via various means.

Main issue:

- The pax lines have improved significantly in the last 2 years.The reported new electronic destination system should help even further

- The AOT has stated that they only allow taxis not older than 4 years to use the stand but this is not the case. At least give customers that don't want an old taxi the choice.

- The main problem which is conducive to scamming and frustration is the long wait for taxis 2kms away at the taxi car park. Some drivers like the break - they can have some food, a shower, a nap etc. However, I'd close this and build a smaller holding area (600-800 large) designed such that taxis basically drop a pax off at Level 4 and then immediately enter this area before proceeding to Level 1. That could conceivably cut down the waiting time to 20-30 mins max. AT high demand times drivers would be essentially driving from Level 4 to Level 1.

Obviously, arriving and departing taxi demands don't match but there could easily be a system where the AOT just automatically notifies taxi companies for taxis in the area when demand looks to be exceeding supply.

Careful now. You're heading very close to organised there. A few people working at the rank might get dizzy and have to lie down!

Sent from my phone, hence brevity and gypos

[lovetotravel]

I normally setup a taxi service to meet me on arrival. Easy to do and ensures the fare is reasonable and the car is in good shape. The last time I tried the departures level, a cop stopped the taxi and we were stuck for 30 minutes negotiating. I was finally allowed to leave. Never again. Not worth the hassle.

[GeorgeKi]

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

I fly in and out of swampy 1- 3 times a month fr last 5 years. I have never waited more than 10 mins for a taxi in the official taxi location ( it's normally 2-3 minutes )also never been scammed getting taxi there. Also a bit sad to see middle aged and above men complaining about 50 baht, surely at that stage in life we have some savings tucked away for such extravagances ?:-)

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Well that's unbelievably lucky for you getting taxis so easily - when I and others experience lengthy queues at various times of day and different seasons - so unbelievable I don't believe it. Just as you can't comprehend people wanting a quick exit at Level 4, I don't believe your tales of 2-3 minute 'normal' queues at Level 1, it is so sad when people have to make up these kind of tales to bolster their weak arguments.

[kurnell]

How much are the airport limos and what sort of car are they? Camry I assume?

[draftvader]

How much are the airport limos and what sort of car are they? Camry I assume?

I have used 2 services. 1 is the one I book going to the airport (because AOT is rubbish for booking to the airport) for parents (who don't want to deal with idiot taxi driver on their own).

http://www.limousine.in.th/

The price from Chaeng Wattana is B1,300. They use Camry. They are polite, well dressed and the website booking function is good enough, it isn't real-time but an e-mail with a paypal link. They are responsive with their confirmation and very friendly if you need to call.

Coming from the airport I have used AOT for the times when enough is enough. They charge B1,300 and use a variety of vehicles. The last time we were 2 adults and 1 baby with MAXIMUM luggage (2 large suitcases, 1 Saloman duffle bag (big), 2 cabin cases, 2 rucsacs and a pram) so they put us in an Isuzu MU7 for the same price.

Both companies use Easy Pass so it is quick and painless at the tolls too.

[kkerry]

 

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

I fly in and out of swampy 1- 3 times a month fr last 5 years. I have never waited more than 10 mins for a taxi in the official taxi location ( it's normally 2-3 minutes )also never been scammed getting taxi there. Also a bit sad to see middle aged and above men complaining about 50 baht, surely at that stage in life we have some savings tucked away for such extravagances ?:-)

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Well that's unbelievably lucky for you getting taxis so easily - when I and others experience lengthy queues at various times of day and different seasons - so unbelievable I don't believe it. Just as you can't comprehend people wanting a quick exit at Level 4, I don't believe your tales of 2-3 minute 'normal' queues at Level 1, it is so sad when people have to make up these kind of tales to bolster their weak arguments.

 

Thing is there are more than a few posters on here including myself who find the stories of always having to wait 30 minutes for a taxi pretty unbelievable. I travel frequently at different times of the day and night and I find the taxi line quick to negotiate, usually in a cab in a few minutes. Have had some dodgy drivers but at least I have a ticket so I could try to pursue any issues if I wanted to, something it might be harder to do from the top level. Arguing about it on the internet is a waste of time anyway as we all have our individual experiences and queues aren't going to get any longer or shorter whatever might be said here.

[thailandbeachisland]

Thanks to all these stupid people I do not take taxis anymore. I guess that I am not the only one. Anybody has found a solution to avoid the monkey queue ?

[apiwan]

Came in last night to discover on 4th floor. There is turnstiles and guards.

The taxi guy ssid pass the luggage over then jump.

I wasn't happy with this because I had 2 cases ( Xmas )

The reason is guy said lots of lost property not returned.

Drivers scamming tourists.

Luckily the taxi Q was not long.

But it can be a nightmare at times.

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[yermanee]

Was curbside yesterday evening on the arrival floor waiting for my driver bringing the car from the parking lot.

This was just outside gate 3 and I noticed a lot of taxi's bringing people to the airport and picking up passengers (mostly Thais) just arrived, without any control from security.

Seems the taxidrivers have wisened-up.

So for all you people who don't do it for the 50 Baht savings, you don't even have to make your way to the 4th floor anymore saves you legwork and time as wel.

Yermanee

[yogavnture]

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.

yes its true no more taxi at departure area........I feel like a cow. I went to first floor and if you walk far enuf out from airport their were a few taxis their waiting for meter only. its only a matter of time before the taxis figure out how to get around this sucky problem. the taxis don't like the current system and the customers don't like it either..........who wins, the mafia who is collecting the 50 baht , that I have to pay to wait after being on a plane for 16 hours!!!

[apiwan]

Will be there on Wednesday morning.

Gonna try if its possible to go to the car park

Take the lift to 4th floor. Then hopefully come out on the taxi dropping off side.

Worth a try ;-)

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[RubbaJohnny]

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.

Unbelievably ,cabs cannot enter but leave you about 200yards away on the main highway that links Asoke

There is a free golf caddy (Yes yes not him) ,I offered to pay but it really is free

If you have light or roller trolley the station is a good place to arrive as I can walk to my digs there is also canal sanseebif you abe to leap on a ferry over 2foot rope with handbaggage

Manuy cabs TheMercure at Fortune Tower is a dusty 200m walk across abig intersection

Sadly altho you can check in on very very few airlines at makkasan if you take the frequent stopping line unlikely to get a seat on normal times let alone today,at least at Phay Tai start the quick have chance of a seat

The Express has been rescheduled during the currentcock up/RESET

NB If you tell cab makkasan station you may end up at street levl old SRT staion 1km west,need to askl for MAKKASAN AIRPORT STATION

Bum Voyag

[kingalfred]

Can we have some simple info please.On arrival at airport where to go to get "official" Taxi rank? Avoiding the scammers.Is it same floor as arrivals or go up to next floor?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[yermanee]

Can we have some simple info please.On arrival at airport where to go to get "official" Taxi rank? Avoiding the scammers.Is it same floor as arrivals or go up to next floor?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Amazing what one can find on the Suvarnabhumi website. For clarity 1 floor down from arrivals.

Here you go :

Yermanee

Edited January 23, 2014 by yermanee

[kkerry]

Found these photos I took November 2012 on a Tuesday around midday... there isn't always a line at the official taxi counters

Edited January 23, 2014 by kkerry

[thailandbeachisland]

Will be there on Wednesday morning. Gonna try if its possible to go to the car park Take the lift to 4th floor. Then hopefully come out on the taxi dropping off side. Worth a try ;-) Sent from my GT-I9305 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Not possible of course, 4th floor is not linked to dropoff.

[apiwan]

Will be there on Wednesday morning. Gonna try if its possible to go to the car park Take the lift to 4th floor. Then hopefully come out on the taxi dropping off side. Worth a try ;-) Sent from my GT-I9305 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Not possible of course, 4th floor is not linked to dropoff.

Absolutely right, went there but forgot to post,

What I did observe was that Thais and falangs we're walking through to the taxis, and the security guy was holding the gate at an angle you could squeeze through,

Weird

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[thailandbeachisland]

Security guards get 20 thb from taxi when they can get a customer...

[fifthcolumn]

I have never waited at Swampy for a taxi in the rank, ever. Often I have strolled up and there has been no line - none. Zero. I have only had one problem with a taxi and he started in with some bs about toll roads befire our friends took off (they were going to ksr after 11pm). Told him to blow me, wife went back to queue, we reported him and his attitude changed fast. Seeing he was going to lose fare, lose face and be reported.

I can't say that lines don't exist.

Funny though, these guys going up to arrivals will be first to cry about being ripped off or scammed if things go sour.

Going upside was a Don Muang thing as well as Manila, Jakarta. Maybe I just don't fly enough to see the problem. I have never, ever had a queue more than five mins since the airport opened.

Just take the airport link if its running and please KEEP YOUR BAGS TO A MINIMUM IF YOU ARE TRANSF TO MRT OR BTS!! IF YOU RUN OVER ME WITH YOUR ROLL BAG I WILL SMACK YOU.

What is it in the nature of persons with roll bags that make them so oblivious to people around them?

[sms747]

official taxi rank is for mugs, you don't see many Thai's using them. Get the train, or the shuttle bus to the transport hub where there are buses and vans and taxi's without rigged meters, spoilt for choice and no queuing up. Shuttle bus take 5 mins.

[fifthcolumn]

Try getting a taxi to take you, on the meter, to a location outside of the centre (we live on Chaeng Wattana). Last time (August) they tried to force a B800 fare on me and my family even though I speak enough Thai to explain that they should use the meter and that I know how much it will cost. There was no budging. The meter was not going on and they would not include the toll-ways in this fee. This was at the official desk to a family travelling with a baby.

If they can cure this problem then I would be fine with them ensuring we use the downstairs rank. Smiling whilst looking at a compromised target? A**es!

I realize you were with your family, he really had you by the balls and you should have reported him complete with photo of plate and taxi id.

Get in the car, ask for meter if they "forget". If no meter, demand. If no meter get out of the car at the first occasion (never put your bag in the trunk). Walk across traffic. Done.

Call the tourist police while you are in the car, don't play around. Put them on speaker with the driver. Tell the dtiver prior. Just a thought.

[sms747]

trunk). Walk across traffic. Done.

Call the tourist police while you are in the car, don't play around. Put them on speaker with the driver. Tell the dtiver prior. Just a thought.

You don't live here do you

[lingua101]

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.

Well I have not been to Bangkok since Aug 2013, so when I was there in January 2014, yes I saw that turnstiles. I wonder why they installed it and thinking it is just waste of money.

Now after reading this threat I know....

[lingua101]

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 ...

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Agree... the waiting time for cabs can be long. Just curious. Can one walk to the car park area which I remember has a connecting bridge and go down and cross the street and get a taxi?

[bubba]

Will be there on Wednesday morning. Gonna try if its possible to go to the car park Take the lift to 4th floor. Then hopefully come out on the taxi dropping off side. Worth a try ;-) Sent from my GT-I9305 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Not possible of course, 4th floor is not linked to dropoff.

Absolutely right, went there but forgot to post,

What I did observe was that Thais and falangs we're walking through to the taxis, and the security guy was holding the gate at an angle you could squeeze through,

Weird

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

This is exactly what I saw last week: the guard was assisting by holding the one-way turnstile open at an angle so that passengers would walk out and get a taxi on the other side.

[thehelmsman]

Just flew in this morning, went to top floor as usual, hopped in a cab with meter. Same as I've been doing for years. Don't see what the problem is. That little gate rolls both ways.

[kkerry]

Meanwhile, the regular taxi stand was again overrun with passengers queuing up when I was there recently...

On a Tuesday morning....

A Saturday afternoon...

[BookMan]

Meanwhile, the regular taxi stand was again overrun with passengers queuing up when I was there recently...

Suva Tuesday AM.jpg

On a Tuesday morning....

Suva Saturday.jpg

A Saturday afternoon...

[RabC]

You most certainly can still get a taxi at the departure level. I have done it twice since they put the fence up. Just turn the turnstyle 1/4 turn and walk right through with your bags.

At first glance it appears you can not go through. The first time I walked out of the door and the drivers were flagging me over. When I went across they showed me how to do it.

For me it is not about saving 50 baht in lieu of going to the arrival level. I live in Pattaya and always pay 900 + 60 tolls at the departure level.

The last times I was at the 4th floor departures area, there were guards at every turnstile. During my last two visits, I stopped and watched the scene, and in nearly every case, the guard turned away people seeking to go past the turnstile and catch a taxi. Where there no guards when you went past the turnstiles?

And again to all those posting comments that we 4th floor taxi grabbers are cheap skates who don't want to pay 50 baht - that is not the point. The point is (1) it is far faster than going down and queuing for one, (2) I can select the driver and car that I wish, and (3) I like the idea of providing fares to taxis so that they do not have an unpaid return to the city. I have read elsewhere that many people are already finding it more difficult to find a taxi to the airport now. Not just any taxi can go downstairs and queue - they have to have an airport permit. And I think we can all imagine what is involved in getting said permits and that there is a great deal of money to be made by those who issue them.

Oh, and I often tip more than the 50 baht airport fee to a driver who has a decent car, isn't drunk or methed out, and drives safely and professionally. We all should.

So you like circumventing the rules . Try taking an "illegal " taxi in the rest of the world and see what happens . Those guys in the official line have queued and taken their place in the line for passengers, the drivers on the departures floor are bypassing this and seeing their fellow,drivers off for money. What you condone is not only,illegal it immoral .

Excuse as to how much you tip and that you are not a cheap Charlie are just a smoke screen to your illegal activities . I hope,you are caught .

Edited March 16, 2014 by RabC

[thailandbeachisland]

You most certainly can still get a taxi at the departure level. I have done it twice since they put the fence up. Just turn the turnstyle 1/4 turn and walk right through with your bags.

At first glance it appears you can not go through. The first time I walked out of the door and the drivers were flagging me over. When I went across they showed me how to do it.

For me it is not about saving 50 baht in lieu of going to the arrival level. I live in Pattaya and always pay 900 + 60 tolls at the departure level.

The last times I was at the 4th floor departures area, there were guards at every turnstile. During my last two visits, I stopped and watched the scene, and in nearly every case, the guard turned away people seeking to go past the turnstile and catch a taxi. Where there no guards when you went past the turnstiles?

And again to all those posting comments that we 4th floor taxi grabbers are cheap skates who don't want to pay 50 baht - that is not the point. The point is (1) it is far faster than going down and queuing for one, (2) I can select the driver and car that I wish, and (3) I like the idea of providing fares to taxis so that they do not have an unpaid return to the city. I have read elsewhere that many people are already finding it more difficult to find a taxi to the airport now. Not just any taxi can go downstairs and queue - they have to have an airport permit. And I think we can all imagine what is involved in getting said permits and that there is a great deal of money to be made by those who issue them.

Oh, and I often tip more than the 50 baht airport fee to a driver who has a decent car, isn't drunk or methed out, and drives safely and professionally. We all should.

So you like circumventing the rules . Try taking an "illegal " taxi in the rest of the world and see what happens . Those guys in the official line have queued and taken their place in the line for passengers, the drivers on the departures floor are bypassing this and seeing their fellow,drivers off for money. What you condone is not only,illegal it immoral .

Excuse as to how much you tip and that you are not a cheap Charlie are just a smoke screen to your illegal activities . I hope,you are caught .

I don't queue, I don't tip, and I could have my own private but I don't want as they are exactly the same monkeys as the taxi, what's wrong ?

Stupid rules or laws are made to be broken as must as possible. I am the one who choose the drive that I want, and nobody will ever force me to ride a cab that I didn't choose.