Suvarnabhumi Airport

[BKKSTAN]

Another thought. Does the main route into Bangkok involve tollroads?

I assume so,as there was an article in this mornings paper about a request to have the toll changed from 25 to 20 baht ,to help relieve traffic congestion

[arjay]

Yes, but are we talking of just one section (toll) or several?

For example, coing in from Don Muang to Sukumvit entailed, as I recollect, 60 bahts worth of tolls, paid in two places/instalments.

[beer monkey]

Satoshi Yamada, a passenger on the inbound flight from the northern Thai city of "Thitsanulok"

[beer monkey]

Novotel.

[quote]
The official hotel of Bangkok

[beer monkey]

[JimboPSM]

Novotel.

........... A side benefit of the opening of the new airport will be the close proximity of Pattaya, a famous Thai beach destination that has recently completely upgraded its image, attractions and tourism infrastructure ........

Hmm... I've never been to Pataya, so I'm wondering:

• 1. what it has upgraded from?
  2. what has it been upgraded to?
  

[arjay]

Satoshi Yamada, a passenger on the inbound flight from the northern Thai city of "Thitsanulok"

Well spotted Beer Monkey, and with the Thai pronounciation of "Th" defaulting to "T".

A side benefit of the opening of the new airport will be the close proximity of Pattaya, a famous Thai beach destination that has recently completely upgraded its image, attractions and tourism infrastructure ...

1. what it has upgraded from?
2. what has it been upgraded to?

Indeed, indeed

Perhaps that's why the restrictions on VOA's!! Either that or it (Pattaya) has been demolished?!

[beer monkey]

upgraded its image ???? LoL


here's a map of the area around the airport with road numbers/names.

[BKKSTAN]

Comments by some arriving passengers,todays,Bangkok Post

First-time visitor Jason Tuner and his two friends were impressed with the quick service inside the new Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday, but not so impressed by the slow service once they went outside. It took more than half an hour at the airport to find a taxi to take them to the Prince Palace Hotel, where they had booked to stay in Bangkok.

Problems with unclear signs and the ill-prepared public transport system were among the complaints that departing and arriving passengers and visitors had during the opening of Suvarnabhumi for some regular flights yesterday.

Most people, however, commented on the beautiful design and size of the airport.

Mr Tuner came from Singapore with Jetstar Asia Airways and found the service from the main terminal to the bus station inconvenient.

''Everything inside [the airport] is very comfortable and very fast. But I think it should have the taxi services queuing in front of the terminal exit,'' said the American, who works for a cargo firm and plans to stay in Bangkok for three days before heading to Phuket for another two days.

''It should not be that when you have come out of the luggage claims area you have to wait for the shuttle bus to take you to the bus terminal to take a taxi into the city,'' he said.

The complaint was also made by two foreigners who were at the airport to survey the area before going back again next month to pick up friends from Japan.

One of them, Reiner Zimmermann, said shuttle buses should have big doors and slopes for passengers with big bags.

When he went to the arrival area on the second floor, he found no sign of the meeting point. When he asked the airport staff, he was told that the meeting point was one floor up.

''It does not make sense,'' he said. ''When passengers come here for the first time with no mobile phone, no contact number, how will they know where their friends are waiting?''

Threerachart Aor-samarn, 35, a disabled man flying from Phitsanulok with Thai Airways, complained about the lack of a shuttle bus service for the handicapped and small toilet signs.

''The announcements to passengers aboard the flight were also unclear and I misunderstood the fact that the plane would land at the new airport. So I told my relative to wait for me at Don Muang airport,'' he said.

Prapee Tavornrat, 45, a private company employee, complained about high taxi fares as she had to pay 500 baht to get from Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi to the new airport.

Taxi driver Supol Treekaew admitted losing income on his first day at the new airport. He had been waiting there since 8.30am and after two hours, he still had no passengers. He hoped that when the new airport becomes fully operational on Sept 28, passengers would use the taxi service and he would get more money.

He complained about the fixed price for passengers going to Bangkok. The price is too cheap and so is the fare for Pattaya which is fixed at only 1,050 baht, whereas he used to charge passengers about 1,500 baht, he said.

But Uthai Pummakot, another taxi driver who queued at the public transport terminal, was lucky. He had surveyed the entrance to the airport since the night before and had passengers to go to Pattaya after waiting for more than two hours.

Besides the passengers arriving at the airport yesterday, many parents were there simply to get used to the new airport before picking up their children coming back from overseas next month.

Rossarin Vaitayanon, 78, said she and her friend hired a taxi to go to the airport and wait for her to return for about 800 baht from Bang Na.

She said the sign at the entrance on the Bang Na-Trat highway was not clear and other signs leading to the airport were too small. ''I expected to see many airplanes parked at the gates but none were parked there,'' she said.

[beer monkey]

i can't see where the nicotined stained glass "Smoking" rooms are on the index ......

[rickfarang]

What a fiasco.

I can't wait to fly into the New Bangkok Airport (which is much easier for me to pronounce). For inter-Thailand travel, the train is strting to look appealing again.

[BKKSTAN]

What a fiasco.

I can't wait to fly into the New Bangkok Airport (which is much easier for me to pronounce). For inter-Thailand travel, the train is strting to look appealing again.

For me the overnight sleeper train is far superior to all the hassles involved with flying here

Read, recently,where the train has been losing money!Maybe the new airport will increase the numbers of people taking the train.

No,I really don't think so because the train will lose passengers that connected from Don Muang airport and the 30 day ''visa runners''

[BKKSTAN]

New info for safety,don't get caught in the revolving doors

Google

AVIATION SUVARNABHUMI PITFALLS

Trouble spots identified at the new airport

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

The modern look and beautiful design of Suvarnabhumi airport are harbouring potential dangers for unaware passengers and the airport authority is doing its best to get rid of the problems. A survey by the Bangkok Post found at least five spots where danger loomed and could stop air passengers from boarding the planes in time.

The potential danger spots include the car park building and its walkway leading to the terminal's third floor, revolving doors, sharp-edged air-conditioners fixed on the floor, escalators, and the slippery marble floor at the departure area for out-bound passengers.

Airport director Somchai Sawasdipol admitted yesterday that a design flaw was to blame for threatening passenger safety.

At the car park building, there are no long cement walls around each floor to prevent cars from plummeting to the ground. The building was just fenced by an aluminium structure and lines of iron at its sides.

Although the lines are beautiful and make it look like a ''see-through'' building, the safety of drivers has been brought into question because if they reverse their cars carelessly they could plunge to the ground. Mr Somchai said there might be a need to build cement walls around each floor to prevent accidents.

An unusually ''large space'' was also seen at the corner of the walkway, which is again fenced by an aluminium structure and slings. It connects the car park building and the terminal's third floor. The space is too wide and would put the life of small children in danger if they were around as they could accidentally fall through it.

To solve the problem, Mr Somchai said a strong plastic fence would be built along the walkway.

The 10 revolving doors at the terminal may cause problems for passengers not familiar with this type of door. Mr Somchai said the drawback was the doors stop moving and get locked if too many people use them at the same time.

In the first two years, he said airport staff would be on hand to advise passengers on how to use the doors. Technicians are also needed to regularly adjust their sensors because a malfunction could easily cause the doors to stop working and trap people.

Inside the terminal, several modern air-conditioners on the floor could harm careless people and their children with their sharp corners. Mr Somchai said tree pots might be placed near them to prevent people from hitting against their corners.

[Paul]

Since when did Thailand ever worry about the safety of its people ?
Take a walk down any high street in Thailand and count the number of obstacles/hazzards
God help them when 'Claims Direct' get their foot in the door
"wheres theres blame - theres a claim" LOL

[beer monkey]

The 10 revolving doors at the terminal may cause problems for passengers not familiar with this type of door. Mr Somchai said the drawback was the doors stop moving and get locked if too many people use them at the same time.

In the first two years, he said airport staff would be on hand to advise passengers on how to use the doors.

surely do they think there really are idiots out there, not having the brain cells needed to work out how to use a revolving door, it go'es Round .. and they are going to employ airport staff for two years to show those who can't think for themselves how to use a door.
What about after the two years are up are the one's that can't grasp the basic's going to get stuck in the doors....... LOL

[BKKSTAN]

Since when did Thailand ever worry about the safety of its people ?
Take a walk down any high street in Thailand and count the number of obstacles/hazzards
God help them when 'Claims Direct' get their foot in the door
"wheres theres blame - theres a claim" LOL

I don't think it is a matter about ''care''!They don't want tourist travelers to hurt themselves and the damage publicised.They actually believe that their new airport will be the ''hub'' for Asian air travel

[BKKSTAN]

More problems!

Bangkok Post:

BEFORE TAKE-OFF / 9 DAYS TO GO

Pongsak: New airport's glass roof has leaks

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal conceded yesterday the glass roof of Suvarnabhumi airport has leaks, with up to 500 trouble spots altogether. But he assured the authorities could fix the problems before the commercial opening on Sept 28.

Mr Pongsak said of the total, over 400 spots had already been sealed.

He said leaks became visible after recent downpours. They were mainly on sections of the roof above passages connecting the 563,000 sqm passenger terminal and concourses, particularly the area near the silicone seals of the glass roofing.

They were caused by workers polishing the glass before the silicone seals had dried properly, Mr Pongsak said.

He said the problem was not serious.

"Heavy rains forced rainwater through the leaks into the passenger terminal. This was expected and the number of leaks was small, accounting for less than 1% [of the overall 100,000 seals on the roof]. It's a common problem for a new airport and can be solved," he said.

The minister has ordered immediate repairs to the glass roof.

Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepon said the leaks were spotted four days ago and would be plugged by Sept 25. ITO Joint Venture, the contractor for the passenger terminal, will fix the leaks as the building has a two-year warranty. He also confirmed that the leaks were not a major problem.

Mr Pongsak has told airport staff to immediately sort out danger areas in the passenger terminal and car park building.

He said metal rails near elevator doors on upper floors were not in place and there were big gaps through which children or even adults could fall. Warning signs and safety nets will be put in place.

Passages connecting the car park building and the passenger terminal are built with metal frames. Transparent but strong plastic panels will be attached to stop people falling through those rails.

Put into Quotes by Mod Team

[beer monkey]

500 leaks, 400 have been dealt with so now they are on the look out for only 100 buckets. or 100 umberella's for 100 employee's.

He said metal rails near elevator doors on upper floors were not in place and there were big gaps through which children or even adults could fall. Warning signs and " safety nets" will be put in place.

and presumeably everyone will be provided with a crash helmet too. :

(put in quotes by myself)

[farang]

(put in quotes by myself)

LOL LOL

[beer monkey]

after a little speculation regarding new airport may not be opening on time....Holes in the roof,gaps to fall through, doors that revolve,to few toilets, oh and military coup but looks like it's opening on time

Suvarnabhumi Airport opens on schedule

Suvarnabhumi Airport will start full operation according to the schedule of Sept 28, 2006, said Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin today.

Earlier, there were speculations that the coup might further delay the opening of the new airport.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) officials also confirmed that Suvarnabhumi Airport would start full operation as scheduled of September 28, 2006.