Flights to/from Thailand status, news, and updates

[Big Boy]

I walked through Don Mueang late Sunday evening and thought how badly designed the airport was. Huge corridors being lit/air conditioned. Then at the end of the corridors vast expanses of nothingness, again being lit/air conditioned. There really was a lot of wasted space/electricity.

Then the actual floors were so highly polished, together with the reflection of the excessive lighting above, it was actually hurting my eyes/making me feel unsteady on my feet.

IMHO the entire Don Mueang airport needs review.

[Dannie Boy]

I looked but couldn’t find when the current terminal was built, but it’s obviously quite old, so no surprise that it’s not an efficient layout - hopefully something that will be rectified in the update?

[PeteC]

Some Don Mueang history:

https://www.airport-technology.com/proj ... a/?cf-view

[Big Boy]

That article alone says a lot. It used to cater for 105,000 passengers a day, but now caters for 20,000.

Obviously a lot of expense involved spending that huge sum of cash expanding the airport to 40% of what it used to be

Bonkers.

[PeteC]

That article alone says a lot. It used to cater for 105,000 passengers a day, but now caters for 20,000.

Obviously a lot of brown envelopes involved spending that huge sum of cash expanding the airport to 40% of what it used to be

Bonkers.

Note: The above article is dated 2010 as the only one I could find. Posted for the technical data more so than any current volume/redesign data.

[Big Boy]

Of course, but the fact the airport functioned at 105,000 passengers per day, and that is actually 38,000,000 / 365, so daily numbers would have well exceeded that number. Now they want to throw a load of money at what looked to be a pretty good airport on Sunday to upgrade it to handle less than 40% of what it used to handle. You have to wonder what they are going to spend the money on.

I did notice a lot of technology solutions already, which are usually expensive - robots constantly cleaning, check-in, etc. very smooth with bar code technology doing the work. Accommodation seemed plentiful - spare seats a plenty. Numerous food and drink outlets.

Obviously, the RTAF want their cut already for the golf course.

[STEVE G]

....Numerous food and drink outlets.

That's the one thing I missed when Don Muang stopped handling international flights, there used to be some decent pubs there where you could waste an hour or two waiting for your flight.
There was that large Bill Bentley place on the mezzanine above the check-in hall, a bar with a beer garden outside on the roof of the terminal and I seem to remember a German style bar as well.
Suvarnabhumi is just a shopping mall in comparison.

[STEVE G]

I'm just in the process of departure from Suvarnabhumi and had a pleasant surprise. I read a couple of weeks ago that they were installing automatic gates at passport control for departures but assumed they would just be for Thais but they work with a British passport as well.
A girl at the entry asked to see my passport and sent me that way, no queue and through in seconds.
I've no idea what other countries can use them as there were no signs.

[Dannie Boy]

So no stamp in your passport?


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[STEVE G]

So no stamp in your passport?


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No, I assume all that is recorded electronically.

[Dannie Boy]

My god, how will Thailand exist without the ability to stamp something!!


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[STEVE G]

^Yes!
I was impressed anyway, I can see why a bit of scrutiny is required on arrival but on departure for most people, all they need to know is that you've gone.

[Nereus]

^Yes!
I was impressed anyway, I can see why a bit of scrutiny is required on arrival but on departure for most people, all they need to know is that you've gone.

I would be more concerned about my next arrival!

[KanDoo]

Same Same you fly out of the States. The is no immigration departure. Check in with your airline, get on your plane, and off you go

[STEVE G]

^Yes!
I was impressed anyway, I can see why a bit of scrutiny is required on arrival but on departure for most people, all they need to know is that you've gone.

I would be more concerned about my next arrival!

You can still queue up for an immigration officer if you want but I was much happier with the automated system.