BKK City Air Terminal

[Cocitus23]

On a recent trip I had two brief stopovers in Bangkok. Each time I took the express train from the lower level of the fabulous BKK terminal to Makassan, where the station is located within the City Air Terminal (CAT), an enormous new building, sparkling clean. A couple of things mystified me about the building, and indeed the train service.

(A) On the four times I passed through (twice coming, twice going), both the train and the CAT building were totally deserted. Why? It seemed to me that the train service was both excellent and cheap. And why are the check-in counters not operating?

(B) Many passengers will need to move, with baggage, from the CAT to the adjacent Metro station, Petchaburi. But no provision has been made to facilitate this movement, so that the traveller must drag his/her bags across broken pavements, train tracks and four lanes of Bangkok traffic. This seems bizarre, given the billions spent on the other facilities.
Can any of you, better acquainted with Bangkok than I am, offer explanations for these odd situations.

Thanks,
Cocitus23.

 

[moa999]

Its Bangkok - logic doesn't come into it.

Everyone uses the Local line rather than Express, it is much cheaper.
People tend to use Phaya Thai station which has a better connection to the BTS of the same name.

 

[ozmille]

Typical Bangkok is all I can say. Like the need to climb four steps before getting to the escalator :shock:

 

[timster]

BKK has cheap taxis, airport buses, and limos. There was no need for an airport train, particularly one with bad connections. However other cities have such a train, so Bangkok had to have one too. As people say "TIT" - "This is Thailand" ... the local equivalent of "Only in America".
Probably the only people who will use it are first time visitors who know airport trains are often the best option in other countries. Anyone who does their homework will avoid it like the white elephant it is.

 

[bushtuckerman]

Moa999 is pretty much on the money.

The express link currently costs 150 ThBt round trip and 90 ThBt one-way, which is a bit expensive for locals. Also, if going to Sukhumvit or Ekamai or places east of the CBD then its a bit of a circuitous route. Meter-taxis are convenient, but riskier. The Airport Express buses are pretty much on a par with the train.

PhyaThai is the logical stop because it is part of the Skytrain route.

However, when I used the express train last (9July and 14Aug) it was well-patronised and pretty much full of tourists on both occasions. Maybe patronage is dependent on flight arrival and departure times.

(Personally, I think the new link, the BTS and MRT are fabulous and collectively put Australia's commuter transport systems to shame, but that's a whole different story for a different thread).

Cheers
Bush​

 

[Cocitus23]

Moa999 is pretty much on the money.

Personally, I think the new link, the BTS and MRT are fabulous and collectively put Australia's commuter transport systems to shame, Cheers
Bush​

Thanks, bushtuckerman. I agree entirely with your sentiment, quoted above.
What I'm still struggling to understand is the non-use of the magnificent City Air Terminal. We have nothing vaguely comparable in Australia. It's a huge facility, sparkling and spacious, but on each occasion I passed through it was totally empty. Are you familiar with it? Any comments about it?

Cocitus23.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Once Makassan is properly connected to the MRT network, proper taxi stands with easy road access and
signage are added and the surrounding area is built up, along with the check in service being open, then I suspect more people will use it.

Certainly the 'local' line is almost at capacity now so paying extra to use the proper airport train is worth it for the extra space and to avoid the crowds, while the addition of the Phaya Thai express avoiding Makassan altogether also works.

 

[adrian]

Best way to get from BKK to the Intercontinental???

I haven't been to BKK since the new train has opened, but will be landing there on Wednesday around 2pm. There will be 2 of us needing to get to the Intercon on 973 PLOENCHIT ROAD* , and we will have a fair bit of luggage with usI have always used the tiny taxis at the airport, but you can sit in traffic forever....Any suggestions on the easiest & fastest way to get to the Intercon - regular taxi, or new sky train plus taxi at the other end?Will also be making the return trip 2 days later, but very early, for a 8am flight.Any suggestions for the best way to travel? Thanks

 

[moa999]

Re: Best way to get from BKK to the Intercontinental???

I haven't been to BKK since the new train has opened, but will be landing there on Wednesday around 2pm. There will be 2 of us needing to get to the Intercon on 973 PLOENCHIT ROAD* , and we will have a fair bit of luggage with usI have always used the tiny taxis at the airport, but you can sit in traffic forever....Any suggestions on the easiest & fastest way to get to the Intercon - regular taxi, or new sky train plus taxi at the other end?Will also be making the return trip 2 days later, but very early, for a 8am flight.Any suggestions for the best way to travel? Thanks

Now that the Express continues to Phaya Taya, Express Airport Link to Phaya Taya, then BTS three stops to Chit Lom, walk back on the SkyBridge towards Siam. Direct entrance to Intercontinental from the SkyBridge.

BTS and Airport Link open at 6am but probably better using a taxi at that time.

 

[adrian]

Re: Best way to get from BKK to the Intercontinental???

Now that the Express continues to Phaya Taya, Express Airport Link to Phaya Taya, then BTS three stops to Chit Lom, walk back on the SkyBridge towards Siam. Direct entrance to Intercontinental from the SkyBridge.

BTS and Airport Link open at 6am but probably better using a taxi at that time.

Thanks, that sounds easier than dealing with the afternoon traffic in a taxi.

 

[Hvr]

Actually the train system serves a very good purpose in BKK, it keeps the taxi drivers honest. They know that if they act too badly people will avoid them completely because there is now an alternative.

 

[JohnK]

The new airport link in BKK was a very good idea and unlike Brisbane's airtrain runs until midnight and is only a fraction of the cost.

I will use Airport link and BTS if I am not in a hurry to get to my destination even though there is a fair of bit of walking with luggage at Phaya Thai station.

 

[dajop]

I used the (local) airport train on Sunday, had 6 hrs to kill (by choice) between arriving internationally and outbound domestic flight. Was nice to be able to pay very little for a trip into Chatuchak markets and back (which it was very convenient for) for very little cost (I know taxis are fairly cheap but for luggage-less transits the train is pretty good). The local train was packed in both directions, I transferred to BTS (skytrain) inbound and outbound used MRT. Have used the MRT/Airtrain connection before, and it is not the easiest connection, due to all sorts of obstacles. But without luggage it was fine!

But for getting to hotels I can see why it is probably not the best/most convenient option as really it replicate the fast bit of the journey into Bangkok (the freeway bit), but to get from the terminal to the hotel for many would still require a taxi - and this is the the slow bit in city traffic (getting off the freeway and getting to hotel - or in this case getting from the terminal to the hotel).

 

[Sequel]

I will be spending a couple of days in Bangkok in a few weeks, and while I usually travel by myself and am not adverse to catching the train in different parts of the world (including the mistake of leaning against the glass in Shanghai as the two 400km/h trains passed - new undies please!), this trip is with SWMBO plus 2x Sequel juniors and in a city I haven't been to before.

Having read the "issues" with changing lines (staying at Crowne Plaza Lumpini Park which I believe is near a station) and also some horror stories of cabs in Bangkok, I was thinking of a private car.

For comparison, can anyone give me a guide as to the cost of a cab airport to city vs. train vs. private car. I have been quoted THB2,400/AUD75 for hotel car which will obviously be the upper end of options.

Cheers
Sequel

 

[dajop]

For comparison, can anyone give me a guide as to the cost of a cab airport to city vs. train vs. private car. I have been quoted THB2,400/AUD75 for hotel car which will obviously be the upper end of options.

As it happens I stayed at the Le Meridien very near to the CP last night.

- AOT Limousine available on arrival, various priced options, I went in Camry, cost 1100B. Reliable.
- Metered taxi back to the airport today cost 320B including tolls
- Express train + MRT about 180B
- Local train (which takes 10min longer than express train) about 75B

 

[serfty]

Cab from airport should be no more than ~300B + ~80B tolls (you pay them). This includes the 50B ex Airport fee.

Cab on the return should be less as no ex airport fee. More here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ts-and-scams-in-bangkok-31029.html#post453455

 

[Sequel]

Thanks guys!