Travelling to and within Thailand / Air Transportation
Thailand has 3 international airports. The Don Muang International Airport north of Bangkok serves central Thailand. In the north, there is an international airport at Chiang Mai while the south has Phuket International Airport. The flag carrier of Thailand is Thai Airways, which provides international and domestic air services.
For international flights, Thai Airways has a highly modern fleet of jumbo jets, DC 10’s and Airbus 300’s. These fly regular services to 7 cities in Europe, 21 in Asia, 2 in the US and 4 in Australia.
Domestically, Thai Airways links 19 airports in different parts of the kingdom. The prevailing aircraft for connections between Bangkok and major provincial cities is the Boeing 737. Shorter routes are served by Short 330’s. Domestic flights are much cheaper per kilometer than are international flights.
Some tourist destinations such as Ko Samui are served by the small private airline Bangkok Airways (airline addresses see below).
The airport tax at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport is 200 Baht for international flights and 20 Baht for domestic flights.
For international destinations, Thai nationals and foreign permanent residents have to pay a travel tax of 1,000 Baht.
Airport Authority of Thailand
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
Tel 535-1111, 535-1254, 535-1301
Airport Connections
There are 6 different means of transportation between Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport and the city: 1) regular taxi (with yellow registration plate), 2) limousine car, 3) mini-bus, 4) public bus (aircon and non-aircon), 5) normal trains from northern and northeastern destinations and 6) special airport express trains.
Taxi fares depend on the distance and must be negotiated before boarding the taxi. A limousine car charges 300 Baht per car for any destination in Bangkok while the mini-bus costs 100 Baht per person for any hotel, or just 60 Baht to the city terminal (Asia Hotel). Both limousine car and mini-bus are run by Thai Airways International and operate 24 hours. Large hotels customarily send cars to pick up passengers who have reservations.
By Bus
The cheapest way to travel between the airport and the city is by public bus. There are bus stops right in front of the airport.
No 4 (aircon) Airport - Pratunam Market - Rajadamri Road - Lumphini Park - Silom Road - New Road, 15 Baht, until 20:00
No 10 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Ratwithi Road - Southern Bus Terminal, 15 Baht, until 20:30
No 13 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Sukhumvit Road - Eastern Bus Terminal, 15 Baht, until 20:00
No 29 (aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Siam Square - Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), 15 Baht, until 20:30
No 29 (blue sign non-aircon) same routing as No 29 aircon bus, 3 Baht, until 22:00
No 59 (blue sign non-aircon) Airport - Northern Bus Terminal - Victory Monument - Ratchadamnoen Klang Ave - Phramane Ground (Sanam Luang), 3 Baht, until 21:30
No 95 (blue sign non-aircon) Airport - Bangkapi - Ramkhamhaeng University, 3 Baht, until 21:30
There are also number 59 and 29 buses with red signboards. They ply different, shorter routes than the buses with blue signboards.
An aircon coach connects the airport directly with Pattaya; departures from the airport are 3 times a day at 9:00, 12:00 and 19:00. Tickets are 180 Baht per trip.
By Train
A convenient connection between the airport and the city is by rail - but only for those who come from or want to get into the Silom Road area, as Silom Road is just about 15 minutes by taxi or bus from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station. To take a train doesn’t make much sense for those who come from or want to get into the Sukhumvit Road area as it usually takes about an hour to travel from the Hua Lamphong station to Sukhumvit Road, or the other way around.
While it has been possible to travel between Don Muang airport and Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station for many years, a special Airport Express train service has only been introduced November 1, 1991. For the straight amount of 100 Baht per passenger, the State Railway of Thailand not only connects between Hua Lamphong station and Don Muang station but also provides transportation in an air-conditioned bus between the airport and the railway station. As the trains make the distance in about 35min, they are considerably faster than buses.
Tickets are sold at the Thai Airway’s limousine counter in the arrival hall of the international terminal, at the Thai counter in the arrival hall of the domestic terminal and on platform 12 of Hua Lamphong station.
Ordinary train connections between Hua Lamphong station and Don Muang station cost less than half, even when travelling first class, but this does not include a shuttle service between the airport terminals and the Don Muang railway station.
The Don Muang railway station and the airport terminals are just a few hundred meters apart and there is a foot bridge crossing the highway. With little luggage, one can easily walk the distance.
Bangkok - Don Muang
Airport Express departures are at 7:35, 10:35, 13:35, 15:35, 17:55 and 20:45.
All other trains leaving Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station for northern or northeastern destinations stop at Don Muang. Most trains take about 45min. There is no scheduled stop between Bangkok and Don Muang, but nevertheless, many trains stop for a minute or two at Bang Sue station in the northern part of town. While the normal fares for the distance of 22km are just 5 Baht for 3rd class, 10 for 2nd class and 18 for 1st class, there is a rapid or express train charge of 20 Baht and 30 Baht, respectively, on all but 5 of the 18 trains daily. To go to the Don Muang Airport by train is a valuable option especially during night hours when there are no buses and one would otherwise have to take a taxi. Departures from Hua Lamphong Station are at 6:15 (arr 6:54), 6:40 (arr 7:23), 6:50 (arr 7:35), 7:05 (arr 7:48), 7:15 (arr 8:01), 8:20 (arr 8:58), 8:30 (arr 9:15), 10:55 (arr 11:30), 11:05 (arr 11:40), 15:00 (arr 15:40), 15:25 (arr 16:12), 16:35 (arr 17:12), 18:00 (arr 18:40), 18:45 (arr 19:26), 19:00 (arr 19:42), 19:40 (arr 20:20), 20:00 (arr 20:40), 20:30 (arr 21:12), 21:00 (arr 21:42), 21:50 (arr 22:29), 22:00 (arr 22:43), 22:25 (arr 23:02), 22:45 (arr 23:26), 23:10 (arr 23:46) and 23:25 (arr 0:09).
Don Muang - Bangkok
Special Airport Express departures are at 8:50, 11:40, 14:35, 16:55, 19:40 and 22:05.
All normal trains from northern and northeastern destinations have their last stop at Don Muang before proceeding to Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station. Trains are convenient to get into towns if one’s plane arrives during the night hours when buses don’t operate. For fares and other remarks see entries under the opposite direction. Departures at Don Muang Railway Station for Bangkok are at 2:11 (arr 3:00), 2:46 (arr 3:30), 3:20 (arr 4:00), 3:41 (arr 4:25), 3:55 (arr 4:35), 4:04 (arr 4:45), 4:20 (arr 5:00), 4:38 (arr 5:20), 4:48 (arr 5:30), 5:02 (arr 5:40), 5:20 (arr 6:00), 5:43 (arr 6:25), 7:41 (arr 8:25), 9:43 (arr 10:25), 11:17 (arr 12:00), 13:40 (arr 14:15), 14:07 (arr 14:55), 14:18 (arr 15:00), 15:54 (arr 16:30), 16:39 (arr 17:25), 17:07 (arr 17:50), 17:55 (arr 18:40), 18:53 (arr 19:40), 19:23 (arr 20:05) and 21:49 (arr 22:25).
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