Getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the city

The Airport Rail Link

• 45 THB to Phaya Thai, 35 THB to Makkasan, under 30 minutes end to end.
• The line is 28 km with 8 stations and runs on its own elevated alignment, so Bangkok's traffic does not touch it.
• The station is in the basement of the terminal.

At these prices the calculation is not close. A taxi into central Bangkok costs several times as much and, at the wrong hour, takes three times as long.

The connections that matter

• Phaya Thai - interchange with the BTS Sukhumvit line, which serves Siam, Asok, Nana and most of where visitors stay.
• Makkasan - interchange with the MRT Blue line, for Sukhumvit, Silom and the old city direction.
• Both changes involve a short walk; neither is difficult with a bag.

Taxis, done properly

• Use the public taxi queue on level 1. It is signposted, it is regulated, and it is where the meter applies.
• Insist on the meter. A flat price quoted before you get in is the thing to decline.
• There is a small airport surcharge added to the metered fare, plus tolls if you use the expressway - both legitimate.
• Ignore anyone approaching you in the arrivals hall. The official service does not tout.
• Grab and Bolt both operate and remove the negotiation entirely.

Two Bangkok airports

Don Mueang (DMK) is the low-cost airport on the northern side of the city. It has no rail link of its own and connecting between the two airports across Bangkok is a serious undertaking - allow half a day if you have flights from both.