Suvarnabhumi International Airport Review
What’s tolerable:
- It’s not Don Mueang
- Easy to get to
- Good coffee options
On the downside:
- Immigration lines can get real long
- Food areas always packed
Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the definition of tolerable. It’s not good, but it is also not the disaster that’s known as Don Mueang International Airport (Click here to read the review). As Bangkok’s main airport and consistently running above capacity, it’s almost always busy. But, it is big enough to handle this for the most part.
Getting through immigration and security is basically a crapshoot. There are times I’ve breezed right past and other occasions where the process can take over an hour. I’ve arrived and departed at all times and still can’t get a read on the busy patterns.
The airport has a decent number of food and drink choices, including Starbucks, Dean & DeLuca and Dairy Queen in case you’re craving a Blizzard. There are two main food areas in Suvarnabhumi International Airport but finding a seat can be a challenge. There also some “cheap” food areas in the airport, but these seem to be hidden from the public.
The worst aspect of Suvarnabhumi International Airport has to be people stopping in the middle of pathways to take photos. I get it, there are cool art arrangements, but hot damn just get out of the way. Navigating parts of the airport is like driving through one of those test course, but instead of cones you need to weave your way through luggage and people.
Oh, and if you ever want to be embarrassed to be a tourist, check out the ground floor of the airport where the Airport Rail Link stops. There is no shortage of backpackers sleeping there in lieu of paying for a hotel/hostel. Congrats on saving that ten dollars (yes, you can find a place to stay in Bangkok for ten bucks). I’m sure your friends and family will be super proud.
Interesting tip: If you don’t want to catch a taxi at the airport and pay the extra fee, you can either use Grab (Uber doesn’t operate in Southeast Asia) or catch the Airport Rail Link into the city and hop into a cab there. Grab only picks people up at certain areas around Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Be sure to find exactly where you need to be.
Like this Suvarnabhumi International Airport review? Read about the Suvarnabhumi Airport secret tunnels here.
