|
|
Suvarnabhumi
Suvarnabhumi Located 30km
(19 miles) to the east of
Bangkok, space-age
Suvarnabhumi Airport (สุวรรณภูมิ),
pronounced "soo-wanna-poom",
(IATA: BKK) (ICAO: VTBS) [2]
started operations in
September 2006 and is now
Bangkok's main airport as
well as the busiest airport
in Southeast Asia, used by
all international flights as
well as all Thai Airways
(TG), Bangkok Airways (PG),
Air Asia (FD), SGA Airline
(5E) and PBair (9Q) domestic
flights. There is only one
terminal building, which
covers both domestic and
international flights, but
it's huge (by some measures
the world's largest) so
allow time for getting
around.
Suvarnabhumi offers all
facilities expected of a
major international airport
(transit hotel, ATMs, money
exchange). The cheapest
place to eat is the Magic
food court on Level 1, near
Gate 8, while perhaps the
most comfortable and
relaxing of the airport's
restaurants and cafes is the
Sky Lounge on the 6th floor.
Here you can have your latte
while sitting in plush
leather sofas and enjoying a
panoramic view over the
runways - prices are also
quite reasonable with coffee
around 70 baht a cup. The
observation lounge on 7th is
not much to see since the
steel structure of the roof
blocks most of the airport
view. There are a few stores
in the check-in area
including a convenience
store and a post office;
however, the real shopping
experience awaits travellers
on the other side of
immigration in the departure
lounge area, where the
number of shops and duty
free outlets leaves you
wondering if you are in a
mall or an airport. Beware
though, that past security
in the gate waiting area,
there are no services except
toilets and seating.
|
|