Thailand Life Tools

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

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What to do after you land, how to reach the city and what it costs, and what to know before you fly out.

CODE
BKK
CHECKED
RAIL · 05:30–24:00AIRPORT RAIL LINKTAXI · METERFLOOR 1APP · FLOOR 1GRAB · BOLTBANGKOK
Diagram of the order of things, not a floor plan or to scale.

Checked 4 November 2026.

For most people the train: Airport Rail Link (City Line) from Floor B, Suvarnabhumi station, 15–45 baht, running 05:30–24:00. (Based on reviews)

Taxi, Grab and Bolt are below, with what a taxi can add on top of the meter.

STEP BY STEP

After you land: in this order

Do these in order. Only the immigration step depends on your passport.

  1. Fill in the TDAC

    The Thailand Digital Arrival Card is free and opens 3 days before you arrive. See the TDAC page.

  2. Immigration

    Many passports can use the automatic gates (see the automatic gates page). A free priority lane is open to first and business class, disabled passengers, those with infants, pregnant women, over-70s, monks, long-stay and privilege visa holders and others on AOT’s list. Paid fast-track services exist and are sold by private operators.

  3. Baggage

    Arrivals are on floor 2; buses and taxis are on floor 1 and the rail link on floor B.

  4. SIM and money

    Set up an eSIM before you fly (see the eSIM page) and see the money exchange page for cash.

  5. To the city

    Pick a way from the table below.

Ways to the city

One row per way. Boarding points are written as the operator writes them. A fare marked “Based on reviews” has no operator page behind it.

WayWhere to boardHoursFare (baht)Basis
Airport Rail Link (City Line)To Phaya Thai (BTS). Distance-based, 15–45 baht; contactless bank cards work at all stations since 8 November 2025. Not part of the 20-baht flat fare that ended on the other lines. The operator may change after 2026 (contract extension under negotiation).Floor B, Suvarnabhumi station05:30–24:0015–45Based on reviews
Metered taxiSee “What a taxi can add up to” below.Floor 1, counter and ticket machines between gates 4 and 724 hoursMeterairport
Grab and BoltFare is the app amount; tolls are paid to the driver on top (from reviews).Floor 1, gate 4 (Grab lanes A–D)24 hoursShown in the appBased on reviews
Bus S1 (Khao San, Sanam Luang)AOT’s pages give different last times (17:00 and 20:00).Floor 1, gate 706:00–17:00 or 06:00–20:00 (two pages differ)60airport
City buses 554, 555, 558554 Rangsit via Lam Inthra, 555 Rangsit via the Rama 9 expressway, 558 Central Rama 2. Times differ between AOT’s pages.Floor 1, gate 7Still checkingup to 37airport
Minibuses 549, 552, 552A, 555, 559549 Min Buri, 552 On Nut, 552A Pak Nam, 555 Don Mueang, 559 Rangsit (AOT’s 2022 page).Still checkingStill checking27–60airport
AOT Limousine“Starting prices” by destination: Sukhumvit 24 and Silom 1,050, Sathorn 1,150, Ratchaprasong and Siam Paragon 950, Pattaya 2,700.Floor 2, AOT Limousine counters24 hoursfrom 950operator
Bus to Pattaya (Roong Reuang)Departures and the Pattaya page: see Leaving Bangkok.Floor 1, gate 807:30–18:30135operator
Bus to Hua Hin (Roong Reuang)About 4 hours; Cha-am stop. See Leaving Bangkok.Floor 1, gate 806:30–18:30361operator

What a taxi can add up to

The meter is not the whole fare. These are the items, as the notices and AOT list them. They are not added up here.

Meter
First kilometre 35 baht, or 40 for three-box saloons and vans; then 6.50 a km up to 10 km, 7 to 20 km, 8 to 40 km, 8.50 to 60 km, 9 to 80 km and 10.50 beyond; there is also a charge for time stuck in slow traffic.
Airport charge
50 baht on top of the meter, from the airport stand.
Tolls
Expressway and tollway fees are paid by the passenger.
Baggage
On airport runs only, see below.

Baggage charges (Bangkok-registered taxis, airport runs only)

  • A bag with a side over 26 inches: up to 20 baht each.
  • Bags of 26 inches or less: from the third bag, up to 20 baht each.
  • Golf bags, bicycles, instruments and similar items of 50 inches or more: up to 100 baht each; the same for boxes and bundles of 50 inches or more.

Wheelchairs, walking aids and bags you carry on your body (handbag, laptop bag, backpack) are exempt. The driver must tell you before the trip.

Ordinary trips inside the city have no baggage charge. To complain: DLT 1584, AOT 1722.

From the site owner. A few years ago I took the official stand’s meter taxi and paid more than the meter alone, with a charge per bag. The baggage rule above is that item. This is one past experience, not a fare.

The notices were read through news stories quoting the Gazette; the Gazette itself could not be opened.

Grab and Bolt

Grab has a designated pick-up zone on floor 1, gate 4: 12 lanes, with PIN lanes A–D, and staff on site 24 hours.

From our own rides. Bolt only, not Grab: we agree the pick-up in the Bolt chat first, then go up to the departures level (floor 4) and give the driver the door number. It often came out a little cheaper. That is our experience, not a rule, and it is not always cheaper.

Reviews say Bolt is often the cheaper one but cancels more often, so keep both apps installed.

The fare is the app amount; tolls are paid to the driver on top (from reviews). The 50-baht airport charge applies to metered taxis only.

Arriving as a group

With three or more people, or a lot of luggage, a pre-booked airport pick-up is worth comparing (the site owner’s view). A standard saloon takes about three people and three bags; larger vehicles are below.

Vehicle sizes (seller’s list) (Klook)

  • Saloon: 3 / 3
  • SUV: 4 / 3
  • 9-seat van: 8 / 8
  • 11-seat van: 10 / 8

Pre-book below

The terminals

Suvarnabhumi has the main terminal and the SAT-1 satellite terminal (28 gates), joined by an automated people mover of about 3 minutes (AOT).

Departures are on floor 4, arrivals on floor 2, buses and taxis on floor 1 and the Airport Rail Link on floor B.

Before you fly out

AOT advises passengers to allow at least 2 hours.

To claim a VAT refund see the VAT refund page.

Airport fee and departure tax

International departures: 1,120 baht passenger service charge (was 730), on tickets issued from 20 June 2026. Domestic: 130 baht, unchanged.

It is included in the ticket; you do not pay it separately at the airport. Children aged 2 and under, and international transit passengers who stay in the transit area, are exempt.

A 1,000-baht departure tax on air passengers was proposed (public hearing 30 September 2026 to 29 October 2026). It has been postponed, so you do not pay it now. No start date has been announced.

Lounges

All lounges are behind security and for departures. You cannot use them on arrival.

LoungeWhereHoursPrice
Miracle LoungeInternational: concourses A, C, D, F, G and SAT-1; domestic: concourse D24 hoursStill checking
The Coral Executive LoungeInternational: concourses C, D; domestic: concourse A24 hoursStill checking

Prices that change often are left out; “Still checking” means the price was not confirmed.

Between the two airports

Bangkok has two international airports. Check which one your flight uses before you set out.

Free shuttle for passengers transferring between the airports (boarding pass and passport or ID needed): 05:00–24:00, every 30 minutes by AOT’s Don Mueang page; the 2023 government page says one bus an hour and 1–2 hours in all.

Don Mueang: terminal 1 gate 3 and terminal 2 gate 14 (AOT’s page; an older page says terminal 1 floor 1 gate 6). Suvarnabhumi: floor 2, gate 3.

Paid: minibus 555 from Suvarnabhumi, a taxi, or Airport Rail Link to Makkasan, MRT to Phetchaburi, then the MRT to Bang Sue and the Red Line (from guides).

If you booked two separate tickets, leave a wide margin: the shuttle alone is 1–2 hours by the government’s figure.

Questions

How do I get from Suvarnabhumi to the city centre?
The Airport Rail Link is the usual answer: 15–45 baht from Floor B, Suvarnabhumi station. (Based on reviews)
How much is a taxi from Suvarnabhumi?
A metered fare plus the 50-baht airport charge and any tolls; baggage charges can apply on airport runs. These are listed under “What a taxi can add up to”, not added up.
Which airport is my flight, Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang?
Check the airport code on your ticket: BKK is Suvarnabhumi, DMK is Don Mueang. There is a free shuttle between them for transfer passengers.
Can I use a lounge when I arrive?
No. The lounges are behind security and for departures.
Do I pay the 1,120-baht airport fee at the airport?
No. It is included in the ticket for international flights ticketed from 20 June 2026.
Is there a 1,000-baht departure tax?
It was proposed and has been postponed. You do not pay it now.

TDAC arrival cardAutomatic immigration gatesVAT refundMoney exchangeeSIMLeaving BangkokBus to PattayaBus to Hua HinFlights to Chiang MaiKhao San RoadThe other airport: Don Mueang Airport (DMK)Bangkok hub

Buying online

These links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are not shown here because they change daily; the seller’s page has the price.

Airport pick-up from Suvarnabhumi

  • Pick the vehicle for your people and bags.
  • Check the free waiting time and what happens if your flight is late.
  • Check where the driver meets you.

Book a pick-upAffiliate linkPer the seller’s page

★ 4.8 · 4,833 reviews

Arrival help (fast track, meet and greet)

  • Not needed if you qualify for the free priority lane (see Immigration above).
  • If you are denied entry, the seller does not refund.
  • Check how many bags are covered.

See arrival helpAffiliate linkPer the seller’s page

★ 4.7 · 933 reviews

Lounge (departures only)

  • Behind security, so not usable on arrival.
  • A boarding pass is needed.
  • Check the time included.

See loungeAffiliate linkPer the seller’s page

★ 4.1 · 4,045 reviews

eSIM for your arrival

  • Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
  • See the eSIM page for how to choose.

See eSIM plansAffiliate linkPer the seller’s page