New Airport Observations

[qualtrough]

Arrived at the new airport late at night a couple of days ago. Some observations.

1. I was surprised that the passageways to the terminal have rather low ceilings. Coming from HK the new airport seems more confining.

2. Long, long walk from plane to terminal.

3. Cleared customs very quickly, under 5 minutes. Hope that lasts.

4. First baggage arrived quickly, but baggage continued to arrive for over an hour. Needless to say one of my bags was in the very last group to arrive. Very slow. The baggage machine in use works in such a way as to produce a big bang every time a bag drops down.

5. Amused myself observing baggage cart defect noted by others. Must have seen half a dozen people place a small bag on the cart only to have it fall right off the back. How in the world did this obvious defect make it to the manufacturing stage? The carts are otherwise OK and I believe larger than the Don Muang ones.

6. Failed to find much info on transport options. It may be there, but I didn't see it.

7. Total chaos at arrival area. You have to push your way through at times. Touts aplenty. Really bad and creates a poor first impression for new arrivals.

8. Ground level area is an accident waiting to happen. To get to the private car service I used we had to cross a 4 or 5 lane roadway. Cars and vans were zooming by at high speed. People coming from parts of the world where cars stop for pedestrians (e.g. LAX) will be very vulnerable if something isn't done to make it safer.

Edited October 4, 2006 by qualtrough

[Soju]

Arrived at the new airport late at night a couple of days ago. Some observations.

2. Long, long walk from plane to terminal.

I've seen several other reports about long walks. When I arrived there wasn't any long walk. It was a long way from the gate to immigration, but all the way there were moving walkways, all of which were working. So my question is, were there no moving walkways from your gate? Or were some of them not working? Or was the long walk just because you chose to walk rather than stand on the moving walkways?

I personally always walk on the moving walkways if possible, or if not choose to walk along side them as after spending many hours sitting on a plane I like the bit of exercise.

[qualtrough]

So my question is, were there no moving walkways from your gate? Or were some of them not working? Or was the long walk just because you chose to walk rather than stand on the moving walkways?

I personally always walk on the moving walkways if possible, or if not choose to walk along side them as after spending many hours sitting on a plane I like the bit of exercise.

There are walkways and they do work. My comment was directed at the fact that the distance from gate to immigration/baggage seemed very long in comparison to most other airports I am familiar with. Perhaps we came in at the furthest gate? While the walkways help, the problem is that people tend to stand on both sides and make it difficult to walk. In that case if you are in a hurry you can walk faster than you would move on the belt.