Suvarnabhumi Satellite Terminal

[tamada]

It's been open and in use since late last year but I had the first opportunity to use it earlier this month departing on Austrian to Vienna.

Check-in, security and immigration is unchanged and still done in the main terminal. The entrance to the long escalator to the S gates is clearly marked with purple signage, leading off from the middle of the main east-west, D gate concourse.

They have staff checking your boarding pass to ensure that only S gate users can get on the shuttle train. I assume this is to prevent people getting lost, improve security and deter the curious.

The shuttle trains are shorter than the platforms (there were 3 unused automated platform doors) and run every 2 minutes so they were full for each transfer. I sat and watched a couple of runs before getting on one.

Although externally the S terminal looks similar in design to the main terminal, it's more open plan inside, looking similar to the expanded non-Schengen gates at Helsinki-Vanta (HEL). Shops, services and lounges are mostly aligned centrally with the large, open plan gate areas giving an impression of being less confined than the boxed-in main terminal gates. Pretty much every location has a view of the high, arching ceiling making it brighter and airier than the main terminal. Loads of still unassigned retail, dining and duty free spaces so still a work in progress. I used the Miracle Lounge which was very quiet, offering similar dining and beverage as their main terminal lounges and a view from their central, mezzanine location.

The S terminal was far less busy and the late evening boarding for a full 777 was fast and efficient. However, my friend recently departed early evening through the S terminal for his Qatar A380 flight and he lamented having to queue for about 10 minutes for the terminal train. Looks like for now, the train is still less than the maximum amount of carriages.

I would factor in at least an extra 10 minutes to your 'usual' gate time after immigration and security checks. As well as Austrian and Qatar, I have seen AirAsia, Turkish and Thai aircraft parked at S gates. I am not sure if there's any advanced published information on what flights or carriers use the S terminal gates but Thai AirAsia X uses S the terminal exclusively.

I returned on Singapore Airlines which used the main terminal gates so it will be interesting to read of the experiences for an S terminal arrival.

[Udon Map]

I would factor in at least an extra 10 minutes to your 'usual' gate time after immigration and security checks.

More. If your flight leaves from one of the gates further away from the mid-terminal, where you come out after the train, add anther 5-10 minutes for the walk.

[tamada]

I would factor in at least an extra 10 minutes to your 'usual' gate time after immigration and security checks.

More. If your flight leaves from one of the gates further away from the mid-terminal, where you come out after the train, add anther 5-10 minutes for the walk.

Good point, I recall reading somewhere that the AOT advice is "allow an extra 20 minutes".

[deankham]

I arrived into the new Satellite terminal on the early morning Qatar Airways flight. Flight arrived almost an hour early.

At first did not realise we were at the new terminal until we ended up at the train.

Was quiet and a train was leaving as we headed down the escalator. Less than a minute later another one arrived on the opposite platform and we got straight on.

I'd say it didn't add any time to arriving into old / main terminal as we saved the normal long walk from the end gates where Qatar Airways always seemed to end up and the train drops you pretty close to immigration.