Popular Post JohnnyJazz Posted January 19, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2015 Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english "Too few and stinky toilets". Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one. "personell can't speak english". People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai? "too crowded at the check-inn" Check in earlier. "not enough smoking area's". That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important? " very long qeueu's". Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues? "crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality". Definitely not the responsibility of the airport. "restaurants can't speak english". The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know. "no free wifi". It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact. "too few seats for the A380 plane's". Which was there first, the airport or the A380s? "airline groundstaff can't speak english". All the staff speak enough English to do their job. Sviss Geez, correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are over 65 and not in international business .... If you are a business traveller (flying business or first) there are special lanes at the custom for you, both in and out, that usually take less than 5 mn to go through. Then you usually head to your airline business lounge where the quality of service depends of your airline, not the airport administration. If you chose to travel with cheap budget airlines, you get what you pay for. I can honestly say that as a business traveller going through Suvarnabhuni airport has always been a pleasant experience. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BangkokHank Posted January 19, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2015 My job takes me all around the world so I have spent a lot of times in immigration queues. At Brisbane and Melbourne airports I have witnessed 20 to 30 minute queue times while I have witnessed queue times of 1 hour and over at Charles De Gaulle and Joberg. I was in Bali 2 months ago and regrettably didn't use the express service people were offering when I entered the large immigration hall. Suffice to say I waited over 2 hours to get through. Don't even ask about Central and West Africa! As for Suvarnabhumi airport it is no different from a lot of airports. I have heard people grumbling in lines all over the world while waiting with their passport in one hand and a bag in the other. These people had no choice, but to wait. No express services were offered. In Bangkok this option is offered and in fact I use it costing me 850 baht. 850 baht! The price of a meal. The price of a nice glass of Merlot. A small price to pay to see my kids 1 hour earlier than I normally would. I don't get that choice in most airports. At Suvarnabhumi I do. Standing in the line won't speed up the waiting time. Complaining about it won't speed up the waiting time. You know what will speed up the waiting time? Paying 850 baht. If you don't like it pay the money to bypass it. It shouldn't be necessary to have to pay extra - and such a large amount at that (the price of four nice meals for me, or 850 liters of drinking water from the water machine in my apartment building) - just for reasonably prompt immigration service at an airport. In fact, having the option to pay extra for express service gives immigration officers the perverse incentive to serve people as slowly as possible - in order to entice as many people as possible to pay extra for the express service. No way would I reward them for that scam. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HooHaa Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 When I queue at immigration I get the feeling the immigration officers are doing me a big favor. I have never ever seen a smile on any of their faces. They are grossly understaffed. The regime cannot and will not accept constructive criticism. And as for the Taxi-drivers ........... they will never change their ways. We know and must remember "This Is Thailand" ever tried entering the US? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MikeOboe57 Posted January 19, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2015 And let´s not forget the lousy barriers at the departure level preventing you from grabbing a taxi that has just dropped off pax and is more than willing to take you "on meter" without any hassle. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab5BKK Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Just compare with SIN, KUL or HKG... Where is the winner? BKK? Not a chance! Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english "Too few and stinky toilets". Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one."personell can't speak english". People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai?"too crowded at the check-inn" Check in earlier."not enough smoking area's". That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important?" very long qeueu's". Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues?"crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality". Definitely not the responsibility of the airport."restaurants can't speak english". The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know."no free wifi". It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact."too few seats for the A380 plane's". Which was there first, the airport or the A380s?"airline groundstaff can't speak english". All the staff speak enough English to do their job. So, are you agreeing that airport does kinda suck? Anyone who flies in the region knows what a good airport is and what facilities and services are valued by a traveler.OB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab5BKK Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) Just compare with SIN, KUL or HKG... Where is the winner? BKK? Not a chance! BTW, some foreigners try to look more thai than Thais... so funny Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english "Too few and stinky toilets". Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one."personell can't speak english". People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai?"too crowded at the check-inn" Check in earlier."not enough smoking area's". That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important?" very long qeueu's". Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues?"crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality". Definitely not the responsibility of the airport."restaurants can't speak english". The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know."no free wifi". It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact."too few seats for the A380 plane's". Which was there first, the airport or the A380s?"airline groundstaff can't speak english". All the staff speak enough English to do their job. So, are you agreeing that airport does kinda suck? Anyone who flies in the region knows what a good airport is and what facilities and services are valued by a traveler.OB Edited January 19, 2015 by Fab5BKK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywalker69 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Too few and stinky toilets, personell can't speak english, too crowded at the check-inn, not enough smoking area's, no "good day sir" or smile, very long qeueu's, crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality, restaurants can't speak english, restaurants can't speak english, no free wifi, too few seats for the A380 plane's, and airline groundstaff can't speak english "Too few and stinky toilets". Plenty of toilets and I've never come across a "stinky" one. "personell can't speak english". People that travellers need do speak enough English. Don't you speak Thai? "too crowded at the check-inn" Check in earlier. "not enough smoking area's". That only be a good thing, but who really cares and is it that important? " very long qeueu's". Is there one airport anywhere that doesn't have queues? "crappy dirty taxi's and driversmentality". Definitely not the responsibility of the airport. "restaurants can't speak english". The airport doesn't run the restaurants? This is not an English speaking country, you know. "no free wifi". It's an airport, do your internet stuff before or after you get there, or use your phone for contact. "too few seats for the A380 plane's". Which was there first, the airport or the A380s? "airline groundstaff can't speak english". All the staff speak enough English to do their job. Thanks to corruption Survarnabhumi is what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baerboxer Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 He's been here 10 years and only just had these issues? Lucky bugger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papayabokbok Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I Like Turtles!...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomyummer Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Suvarnabhumi was supposed to be everything that Don Muang was not, but it became just a cookie cutter version 10 times bigger and worse. Koki Aki! Cool name. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainman333 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 When I first came to Thailand many years ago, I actually thought the Thai government was in on the taxi scam because I thought how could a government knowingly allow scams like this to happen? But after a while and more travelling, I realized that taxi corruption and scams is universal in just about every country. Try going to Indonesia and the first thing that you are told by just about anyone there is not to take any taxi except ones from "blue bird" or something like that, it's like the whole country there knows what horrible scams they are but yet they do nothing about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falangjim Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 They are a disgrace. I remember my first time to Thailand in 2000 when the International Airport was Don Muang. I was shocked at how counter girls combed their hair and picked their noses in front of passengers. At the time, I thought it was all just "different" and didn't want to judge too harshly. I was on holiday, after all. But with each trip here I am reminded of taking the path of least resistance and deal with as little of the Thai service people as possible. I take great comfort flying by them as they try to sucker me into vans or cars promising good prices. I remember having a bit of a beard after being in the Middle East working. Dollars to donuts this made me the target for some wimp to haul me over to a stall and check my luggage again. And I had cleared customs! I was in the area supposedly free from any more checks. What a nice welcome. Eff you, very much. Construction in the airport has made getting out of the country no more fun than getting in. And don't get me started on the buffoons who stamp and seal your fate with wrong information at immigration. Twice I've been stamped incorrectly and it was me who paid dearly for their mistakes. It doesn't stop at Suvanabumi, either. Go to any Thai government agency like that crap-hole Chaeng Wattana and test your patience with officials in brown who make up for their stupidity with arrogance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocacoc Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 "There is a long line at the immigration checkpoint, but the airport did not open the empty counters,” he said. “I ended up waiting 30 minutes." This sounds like Big C Extra, Pattaya Klang. Same Same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceChee Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) I travel internationally a lot and I don't believe the airport in Thailand is any different. As a main point of entry , logically one would expect crowds, long lines and surly staff. If you see 1000+ folks in your line and know you can't get off work early ....trying to use the word stay professional is quite hard ...I work in hospitality industry and its hard to keep the smile up for 10 hours at all sorts when I fly into Thailand ...I distinctly dropped my efficient mindset I get on Incheon, Singapore or HK...this is Thailand and the honest observation is the further I get from the city ....the more thainess I experience This is probably why flying into chiangmai or one of the smaller airports have always been my preference when logistically possible Granted the taxis in Japan are very very hard to beat in comparison once you have used them as I have not seen cleaner taxis than them all over the world ...the dirtiest taxis I have seen are on France and USA As for the taxi scams , take a bit of effort and learn some Thai ...every time I have got out of the airport ....speaking thai and paying the tolls yourself means I have always paid the meter price , rounding it up at the end of the journey is a nice touch plus the 50 baht extra ...so if the fare is 279 ....I always give 350 Baht Edited January 19, 2015 by LawrenceChee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawatdeekhap123 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Nothing new here....move along please. Is this some sort of figure of speech, that means something or implies something? Why would we need to move along, presumably to something else. Seems like a valid topic to me. As far as airport taxis go, no thanks, I'd rather wait for a bus. Unfortunately, last trip, the next bus was full (wonder why, must be a lot of other people who'd rather take a bus even though they can afford international trips). So, I sat and waited for the bus after that one. Kind of sucked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post noitom Posted January 19, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 19, 2015 Thais are totally self absorbed with tremendous over inflated sense of self importance. They couldn't care less. They are oblivious to anything outside their own existence. They are in a state of simple consciousness. They cannot see the world around them or themselves in it. They are in the plane of simple consciousness, like cattle grazing in the field. Only knows its own existence and its next cud. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happydude303 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 At least you know it doesn't get any worse once you leave the airport. Lol and it don't get any better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 With Singapore and Hong Kong as potential models, Thailand ended up with the disaster that is BKK....very poor design, not passenger friendly, hopelessly slow both in respect of passenger movement and baggage services, a public transport link that is farcical, a taxi system notorious for its rip-offs as well as violence against passengers. It derives the same income, or close to it, as Singapore and Hong Kong but provides an infinitely inferior experience....more akin to Jakarts or Manila. Sure, it wouldn't really matter were it not for the economy's reliance on tourism. Woeful. Put Kuala Lumpur also in the list of good airports. Thailand is just far behind the rest. Even the watertaps don't work at Suvarnabhumi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnThailandJohn Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I take it this guy has not been to many airports. While there should be no excuse for having registered taxi's ripping people off or anybody being ripped off if they have read about or been through the airport ... I really don't see much difference between BKK and other airports close to its size. Takes me longer to get into and out of most US airports even though I am a citizen. Traffic is rarely a problem getting in and out, lots of food, free wifi,quick immigration and security lines. Sometimes can be a haul to your terminal but they got electric walkways and still faster than taking trams or buses. I know of know airport that is a pleasant experiences and never have such expectations an airport is anything but an airport. Okay if had to change one thing I wished they had toilets like many of them at Narita (and terminal 21) but then again I go to the airport to leave or arrive and not take a dump and coming in after a long flight just about any toilet will beat those on a plane. What makes a good airport in my mind is how fast you can get in or out and BKK is consistently one of the best for international flights imo compared with most airports that handle as many passengers .... not the best but one of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussieinthailand Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 TIT.......... say's it all really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooka Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) The airport be blown up. It is an eyesore and definately not user friendly. It is totally outdated bulldoze it and build a new modern one where the planes actually dock and you don't have to catch a bus for 10 km to your plane then walk up a ladder. Edited January 19, 2015 by chooka 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnThailandJohn Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) In 2012 BKK was the 14th largest airport by number of passengers but now is about the 23rd since DM started consistently handling flights again ... another airport you can complain about as it is incredibly old but another one I can easily get in and out except for the sometimes long taxi queue but the street is very close and can save 50 baht and time if you can make the short walk. The World's Top Airports 2012 ..... #25 BKK 2013 ..... #38 BKK 2014 .... #48 BKK http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards/world_airport_rating_2012.html Although a lot less passengers and much quicker immigration / customs lines seems like either more complaining type folks coming through or there are issues that have arose since the number of passengers have decreased. Over 400 Airports compared each year and the criteria surveyed is located at http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards/awards_methodology.html Despite its slipping in the ranking BKK has rated around the top 6% through 12% best airports in the world the last 3 years. Respectable numbers and a far cry from being awful once we accept airports in general are not enjoyable places. Edited January 19, 2015 by JohnThailandJohn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kf6vci Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Come on, manning each and every counter should be doable. We had a taxi driver who didn't know an industrial zone nearby... We were on the phone and he kept circling... a friend got into a rogue taxi with the meter turned off. I got the number and complained. What happened? Exactly, nothing, nada. And the driver was an elderly "dwarf". Hewascaught on video by condoas well. But they simply don't care. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Now this subject is also on the Thai TV-news. The army has to check EVERY taxi if they will use the metre What was the airport manager doing all those years since he didn't notice it? Guess it's time to replace him/her for a farang manager who just does what he is paid for. And when will the Thai finally see that the chinese tourists are totally messing up Don Muang airport? They have such bad manners that it will lead to fistfights soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoilSpoil Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 My pregnant wife fainted in the immigration queues during a 6:00 am international domestic transfer. I literally had to fight my way through the chaotic mess to get her out of the line an put her in a chair. No one of the staff helped us. Suvarnabhumi is a disgrace. Let me not begin about Thai Airways check inn staff........ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRGTINGTONG Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) It's not perfect but I,ve never had any problems with the airport, old one or the new one, I would say I prefer swampi to the uk airports back home. Why try and compare Thai standards to your own countries standards, we are all different. If you don't like it then don't come again, simple........... Edited January 20, 2015 by MRGTINGTONG 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdecas Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Matters have come to a pretty pass when a Japanese - a member of the most polite and unwilling to offend nation on the planet - is willing to lay into Thais. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thian Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 It's not perfect but I,ve never had any problems with the airport, old one or the new one, I would say I prefer swampi to the uk airports back home. Why try and compare Thai standards to your own countries standards, we are all different. Mind you, The UK has about the worst airports of whole Europe. Suvarnabhumi is a new airport, a prestige project and it should have become the hub of Asia. Hongkong, KLIA, Changi are much much better and it's not only the airport but especially the personell who are trained to do their jobs properly. An international airport where nobody speaks english......Thailand only! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoilSpoil Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 It's not perfect but I,ve never had any problems with the airport, old one or the new one, I would say I prefer swampi to the uk airports back home. Why try and compare Thai standards to your own countries standards, we are all different. If you don't like it then don't come again, simple........... When living in a glass house ................... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/AOT-wants-Suvarnabhumi-to-be-No-1-among-large-airp-30215849.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Good on him, tell it how it is. It is as King Power designed this airport. Domestic fully serviced by moving walkways and no Duty free. International a 2km. hike through shops controlled by King Power and No moving walkways. A disgrace ! They don't understand the concept of duty free, it's supposed to be cheaper, but at Suvanabhumi goods are more expensive than in town. It also looks shabby compared to Heathrow's new terminal 2, which is a smooth, efficient and stress free experience, and I bought a pair of Oakleys at two thirds of the retail price. 50 Baht in the Chiang Rai night market. The lady said they were " gin gin"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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