The Airport Express to Suvarnabhumi
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on September 2nd, 2011 filed in travel tipWhen Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in September 2006 the only way of travelling between it and the central areas of the city was by taking a taxi, limousine or one of the time-consuming Bangkok Mass Transit Authority air-conditioned buses. That all changed in August last year when the long awaited Airport Link came into service.
The Airport Link offers passengers two travel choices: the Express Line and the City Line. Express services were non-stop from Makkasan Station to Suvarnabhumi, but a few months ago the service was extended as far as Phaya Thai Station. The total journey now takes 18 minutes with fares set at 150 Baht for a single journey.
The City Line also starts at Phaya Thai, but stops at Makkasan and five other stations en route. Journey times are longer, but not by much, and trains are less frequent. The slight inconvenience is more than compensated for by the savings on ticket prices. To Suvarnabhumi, it is 45 Baht from Phaya Thai and from Makkasan it is 35 Baht.
A few weeks ago I went to Suvarnabhumi Airport on the City Line. Usually I travel from Phaya Thai, but I was in Huay Kwang and it was easier and quicker to get to Phetchaburi on the Metro and then take the 200m walk to Makkasan. An indication that Bangkok residents think the Express Line is too expensive came when people pointed me to the City Line entrance and said tuk gwa (cheaper).