I'm just back from Indonesia - more on that later, but I thought I'd share a few tips I figured out about the new Bangkok airport:

Thai check-in is handled a bit differently than at the old airport. Instead of seperate queues for each counter position, they now have just one queue for the entire row (H & J for international economy). This makes the queue look rather long, but I've seen more people waiting at the old airport. It did seem like they could have had more people working the counters, but they probably are still short staffed.

If you want to avoid the queue entirely, then use the internet to check in 2 to 24 hours before your flight. Then you can walk up to the "Internet Check-in" counter, check your luggage and get your boarding pass. You might need to be an ROP member to use internet check-in. I'm not sure.

One thing to note is that there's no queue for ROP/Star Alliance gold card members. I asked and they said there wasn't. That may change, but for now there's no way to avoid standing in line except to use the internet.

Check-in, immigration and duty free shopping are all on level 4. This level only extends a short wat up the concourses, then you have to go through security and down to level three to access the gates. There can be a big line at the security checkpoint, but I found that there are escallators at the intersections of the councourses that allow you to go down to level three - where there are a few more duty free shops as well as the airline lounges. You can go through security on level three and there's almost no queue going that way.

On returning, immigration and baggage claim were no problem. After getting your bag, they unfortunately still allow people to crowd around the exits from customs, sometimes blocking the exit. Immigration, baggage claim and customs are on level 2. I went down to level one to get a taxi, where there were certainly a lot waiting. There was a bit of a line at the first queue, but then one of the Thais working for the airport pointed out there was another queue just a short walk away. There are in fact at least three taxi queues (essentially, one domestic and two international) at the airport. The next one down was no waiting, and I arrived at a time that's usually difficult to get a taxi from the old airport.

A few other notes: Driving up to the airport is quite an experience at night, with the blue lights in the roof enhancing the gem-like quality of the main terminal.

There's a lot more food in the airside departure area than at the old airport, but it is pricey, since the duty free operator takes 25% of the sales price for rent. Land-side, most of the restaurants are on the third floor.

Day rooms are on concourse G but it didn't look like they were quite ready.

I had my boarding pass exactly 30 minutes after leaving my home. Taxi was 160 Baht.

Thanks for the info. As a Star Alliance Gold Member, if there is not a dedicated line, you should be able to check in using the Business Class counter.

Bisbee, you may have answered my question - is there a separate queue for Business class (or just a separate counter)?

thanks michael.....how close do you live to central sukhumvit, so we can judge driving time?? thanks....bob

don't forget the gtg's....we all want to meet you and others too...

Thanks Michael. This will come in handy for my trip coming up.

So the taxi lines are not as bad as i have been hearing? i would rather take a taxi to our hotel than do the limo thing but was worried we would be standing in line for an hour to get one!

Day rooms - anyone know who is running them and how to make reservations? I am very interested in the Day rooms! We have a Novotel Banga reservation - just in case.

I though you had to take a shutle bus to the taxi and bus terminal

They re-thought this and deceided to have taxis available at one level below the arrival level. The line up can be long depending the time of day. But some people have gone up to the departure level (4) and got a taxi that was droping travelers off. I guess you are not realy supose to do this but nothing was said.

I live north of Rama IX, just off the Ekamai extension. From the lower Sukhumvit area, it may be best to use the expressway to Rama IX.

Day rooms are run by Louis Tavern, same as before.

Business class has it's own check-in row, as does first class. I was told (perhaps incorrectly) that the business class row couldn't be used by Gold members, but I will check it out next time anyway. Also, first class passengers have their own little lounge area for check-in. No standing in line at all. You're also escorted all the way through immigration, both outbound and incoming.

The bus to the public transportation center still exists, but it seems you only need to use that if renting a car or if you want to take one of the new airport buses into the city or Pattaya. They seem to have given up entirely on the idea of taking a bus out to get a taxi.

Also, the new airport seems to have turned a lot of Thais into plane-spotters. There are so many of them lining some of the access roads that a couple of push-carts have set up business there!

Thai Airways Check-In Details:

Royal First Class Check-in
• Drop off at Entrance No.1, PTC 4th floor
• Check-in at Royal First Class Check-in Lounge (Row A/B)
• Royal First Class passengers will be escorted by the staff member from curbside through all services.
• Other premium services provided are
• Porter Service from curbside to Royal Orchid Premium Check-in
• Fast Track Immigration • Royal First Lounge (Concourse D, Garden View)
• Royal Orchid Spa Lounge (Concourse D, Airside View)
• Royal Orchid Lounge (Concourse E, Airside View)

Royal Silk Class
• Drop off at Entrance No.1, PTC 4th floor
• Sit Down Check-in Service is provided (Row A/B)
• Other premium services :
• Fast Track Immigration
• Royal Silk Lounge (Concourse D, Garden View)
• Royal Silk Lounge (Concourse C, Airside View)
• Royal Orchid Lounge (Concourse E, Airside View)

Premium Economy / Economy / Royal Orchid Plus Gold / STAR Gold / Group •
Drop off at Entrance No.4/5, PTC 4th floor
• Check-in Row H/J. Kiosks are also available for check-in.
• Other premium services for STAR Gold customers :
• Royal Silk Lounges (Concourse C, D)
• Royal Orchid Lounge (Concourse E)

Domestic Flights
Royal Silk Class
• Drop of at Entrance No. 2, PTC 4th floor
• Check in at dedicated check-in desk in Row C
• Other premium services :
• Royal Silk Domestic Lounge (Concourse A 2nd Floor , Garden View)

Premium Economy / Economy / Royal Orchid Plus Gold / STAR Gold / Group
• Drop off at Entrance No. 2, PTC 4th floor
• Check-in Row C. Kiosk and Internet Check-in are also available for domestic travel. The kiosks are located at Row C. The baggage drop-point for Kiosk and Internet Check-in are located at first check-in desk of each row.

So according to my post above, Thai does not have special lines for Star Gold or Royal Orchid Plus Gold. This has to be an oversite by them and I'm sure they are hearing it from their own Royal Orchid Gold members. In other airports I've been to, this is how it is handled. I would expect them to change this soon. I'll be there this weekend so I'll see what else I can find out about this.

For more information about arrivals departures etc go to www.thaiairways.com and click on the link at the top for Suvarnabhumi airport. It has the information noted by Bisbee and lots more about transport, arrivals, lounges and maps of the building.

Bisbee, thanks for that very detailed info.

Many thanks Michael for all this info. Many of us were counting on you. You came through.

I'm still not clear about taxis or limos. You said a taxi was BHT 160 from your place? Is it true that limos are almost double what they were from the old airport? Before the airport opened we were being told a one way to the Marriott would be about US $34. If one can get a taxi that will absolutely use a meter is it still pretty reasonable?

We will have just a few hours at the Marriott Resort (Riverside) following a 23 hr trip, then on to Phuket the next day. When we arrive we will be pretty tired and I expect a pre arranged ride will be best, or a limo from a stand, how much are they charging? any idea?

Getting back to the airport the next noon a taxi/with meter will be fine.
Thanks again.
Sue

I'm heading out again (Beijing this time) so I thought I would update this thread. The Thai queues have been sorted out. There's a special Star Gold check-in on Row H closest to the front. The regular check-in lines were much shorter this time as well, although I'm leaving much later in the day, which probably makes up some of the difference.

The Thai lounge is still a bit crowded, since many other airlines still haven't finished their own lounges, but at least they finally got the internet room sorted - that's where I'm writing this from!