Which Airport?

[jamesmontague]

Hi There,

I am flying into Bangkok in March. Spending some time there then coming to Phuket on Thai Airways.

My question is do ALL International and Domestic flights arrive and depart from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport or do some still operate from the old airport.

Dont want to turn up at the wrong one!

Cheers

[steve w]

all go from the new one,innit

[LivinLOS]

But maybe the old one is reopened for domestic flights from March 15th.

Welcome to Thai planning.

[jamesmontague]

danm... am arriving the 14th March and going to phuket on 20th.. if they are reopening the old one for domestic flights how can i find out? cheers

[steve w]

can but check the local airlines websites.

[jamesmontague]

cheers thanks for the advise!

[TanMan]

Your taxi driver should have it sorted for you on the day you leave for Phuket. Flying into Bangkok will be Suvarnabhumi.

[Talbotman]

THANK god i will be flying to phuket from pattaya (utapao) onmy return to bangkok will be no problem as its just as eeasy to get to sukhumvit from the old a/p as the new.

THIS IS just about the craziest idea i have heard from thai authorities do they not understand all the problems it will cause arriving at one airport and then having to cart all your luggage to the other side of the city to another airport ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL THEIR TOURIST INDUSTRY COMPLETELY ?

looks like the smart move now is head to pattaya spend a few days there then fly from utapao.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by Talbotman

THANK god i will be flying to phuket from pattaya (utapao) onmy return to bangkok will be no problem as its just as eeasy to get to sukhumvit from the old a/p as the new.

THIS IS just about the craziest idea i have heard from thai authorities do they not understand all the problems it will cause arriving at one airport and then having to cart all your luggage to the other side of the city to another airport ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL THEIR TOURIST INDUSTRY COMPLETELY ?

looks like the smart move now is head to pattaya spend a few days there then fly from utapao.

I have to agree with you Talbotman. It is just a crazy decision based on costs. Where else in the world would a country's flagship airline ,Thai Air, move from a new airport back to an old one to save on landing fees and running costs?

I know the industry is very competitive, but it appears the customer definitely does come last in their thinking.

[palaceboy]

I have been told by Thai Airways office in Copenhagen that even if they start using Don Muang for domestic flights, Thai Airways flights to Phuket and a few other major domestic destinations will still be using the new airport due to the number of passengers who connects from those flights to international destinations.

[LivinLOS]

Thats one plan.. But the new airport seems to be having real problems with the cracked runways that was reported and covered up pre opening..

I dont know how they intend to fix the runways without a full closure..

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I dont know how they intend to fix the runways without a full closure..

I had the exact same thought, and perhaps this move of some of the operations is the start of something much bigger. Maybe a way of trying to save face.

I think, however, that I read somewhere that Suvarnabhumi airport has 3 "completed" runways, but is only using two. That may give them the option of staggering the repair jobs, especially if the overall load is lessened.

[palaceboy]

I would have no complaint if they move everything back to Don Muang, I didn't really like Suvarnabhumi last time I was in LOS, I have been coming through Don Muang the last 15 years.
What I was worried about was to have to change airport coming from Copenhagen on Thai and connecting on Thai to Phuket.after 10 hours in the air I wouldn't like to check immigration and collect luggage in Suvarnabhumi and the get transport to Don Muang and check in again.
If that will be the case this will be my last flight with Thai through Bangkok.

[faultytowers]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Thats one plan.. But the new airport seems to be having real problems with the cracked runways that was reported and covered up pre opening..

I dont know how they intend to fix the runways without a full closure..

Check out this in the Nation.

Runway cracks widen at Suvarnabhumi

[Tom Yam]

Originally Posted by palaceboy

What I was worried about was to have to change airport coming from Copenhagen on Thai and connecting on Thai to Phuket.after 10 hours in the air I wouldn't like to check immigration and collect luggage in Suvarnabhumi and the get transport to Don Muang and check in again.
If that will be the case this will be my last flight with Thai through Bangkok.

Don´t worry...all domestic THAI Airways flights connecting international flights will take off in Suvarnabhumi even in the future. There won´t be a change so far.

But if you want to fly a low cost carrier instead it might happen to change the airport after March, 15.

[LivinLOS]

You seem to show a lot of confidence based on some very conflicting data.. How are they going to repair the runways which need to be closed to repair if they dont shift all flights to Don Muang then ??

[LivinLOS]

As posted today

Runway cracks widen at Suvarnabhumi

SUVARNABHUMI: -- Cracks in the runways at Suvarnabhumi Airport runways have expanded and may affect passenger safety, according to the head of a panel looking into the construction of the multibillion-baht facility.

"The cracks in the runway and taxiways are truly an urgent matter that could become cri-tical, particularly to the safety of passengers, if nothing is solved," said Prapan Koonmee, chair-

man of the National Legislative Assembly's Suvarnabhumi Airport subcommittee.

Prapan and his panel visited the airport yesterday to inspect the construction-related problems, as well as alleged irregularities in the space allocated to duty-free shops.

The panel found several cracks on the runways and taxiways as well as in the terminal buildings and floors, which they believe are a result of construction flaws.

"If the airport had been operational for two or three years we could put it down to heavy use. But the current situation shows the problems at Suvarnabhumi are likely to come from its construction," said Prapan.

He added the runway and taxiway cracks had spread and as much as 100,000 square metres of tarmac would be affected if nothing were done.

"It is crucial that the involved parties find the causes and solutions to this matter," said Prapan.

He claimed debris from a cracked runway overseas had caused an aircraft accident that killed 130 people.

The subcommittee will conclude its investigation in two to three weeks and then report to the government.

It will ask parties involved in the airport's construction to give evidence on Friday.

--The Nation 2007-01-22

[Tom Yam]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

You seem to show a lot of confidence based on some very conflicting data.. How are they going to repair the runways which need to be closed to repair if they dont shift all flights to Don Muang then ??

That´s my state of knowledge according to official communiques (Thai Airways).

But I have to admit: Anything can change at anytime and all bets are off! Due to the fact ...it´s Thailand!

[MrDK]

Besides the confusion as to who is going to fly from where and when. I don't see what the fuzz is all about. Many big cities in the world operate more than one airport and generally one or maybe two are major international airports and the rest being domestic or regional airports.

In Los Angeles there are 6 airports (LAX, Burbank, Parmdale, Ontario, Long Beach and Orange County). Flying from Asia or Europe to LA you are bound to land in LAX so what do you do when you want to continue on with a smaller discount airline. Either that airline see the opportunity to operate some flights from LAX or you find a way to shuttle to another airport. This is just one example, San Fransisco has 3 airports, New York 2, So Florida 3, Houston 2, Washington DC 3, London 4, etc, etc, etc.

If Bangkok chose to operate 2 airports it will only be the interim situation that will be an issue.

[faultytowers]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Besides the confusion as to who is going to fly from where and when. I don't see what the fuzz is all about.
If Bangkok chose to operate 2 airports it will only be the interim situation that will be an issue.

The main issue that people are concerned about is the lack of "real" information. Most of us book our tickets well in advance of traveling and the uncertainty about which airlines will fly from each airport will effect connection times etc. I normally choose the shortest connecting time (as recommended by the airline) , but if I suddenly find I have to travel to the other airport I would probably miss my flight.

As these changes are (possibly) going to take effect shortly before Songkran , there could be a lot of B.M's scurrying between airports and possibly missing their flights.

[djtheman]

My buddy who is picking me up at the airport asked me, "which airport?" Of course I assumed it's the new airport (I'm flying from the states to BKK with arrival Feb. 18). Now I read in this thread... well I read the new airport, but there seems to be some skepticism. Do I tell my buddy to pick me up at the new airport?

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by djtheman

My buddy who is picking me up at the airport asked me, "which airport?" Of course I assumed it's the new airport (I'm flying from the states to BKK with arrival Feb. 18). Now I read in this thread... well I read the new airport, but there seems to be some skepticism. Do I tell my buddy to pick me up at the new airport?

Yes, the new airport is still fully operational. Even if, or when they reopen Don Muang it will not be for a few weeks yet at least.

[pablo]

Thai Airways stated previously (that if Don Muang airport was reopened), they would still operate to 3 domestic locations, from "Soo-wanna poom" (the new) airport!

The 3 "international" connections (to remain at the new airport), are Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi.


Pablo

[LivinLOS]

Thats if they keep SWB open..