New Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Had the opportunity to try out this airport while it was in its second day of operation. The airport is huge, one of the biggest if not the biggest in the world. Everything was not completed yet, touch ups was still ongoing. Getting there by metered taxi cost about slightly less than THB290 from Silom area including a toll fee of THB40. Most taxi drivers should know how to get there, however, make sure you alight at the right check in row, otherwise it could be quite a walk. There was no jam on a Saturday, the journey took less than 45 minutes. Given the hotel staff's advice of 2 hours' allowance to reach the airport, I reached there too early for checkin. But prepare 2 hours for your trip to the airport if a jam is expected. If you are claiming VAT Refund, make sure you proceed to the customs for inspection BEFORE checking in your luggage, otherwise you may not get your refund. The refund is done after the immigration process just before the boarding security checks and the counter requires a custom stamp on the VAT invoices before they can give u the refund. Immigration counters are aplenty here, so expect a shorter wait. Security check is very thorough, every cm of your body is scanned carefully - maybe they have plenty of time cos there are not many flights operating out of this airport while I was there. Shops were not ready yet, though it is claimed that there will be a kilometre stretch of shops (u can imagine the size of the airport). Judging from the state of completion, I expect the airport to be fully functional earliest in November 2006, though most airlines will start using the airport from 26 Sept onwards. This airport is supposed to challenge Singapore's Changi Airport as a hub for air travel and I strongly suspect that the Thai planners took quite a no. of learning trips down to Changi cos I see lots of similarity to Changi Airport.

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The new Bangkok Airport has recently been completed and is a nice airport to navigate around (as far as airports go).

Better airport than the former BAA. It is quite big and clean. This pic is taken by my uncle who recently sent me. I went there in 2005 when this airport was not ready.