Coss Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Source Koki Aki is really, really disappointed in his adopted home’s airport, and no one is really disagreeing with him. The Japanese expat’s detailed report of his miserable experiences at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in which he suggests Thais should be ashamed of their national gateway, has been widely read to a stunning lack of outrage or rebuke. "I can say Suvarnabhumi Airport is the disgrace of Thailand," he posted online in both Japanese and Thai. "Thai people show terrible service to foreigners at their national airport, the very first entry point to their country." Aki, who claims to have worked here for over 10 years, listed everything that wrong at the airport, starting with the immigration checkpoint when he stepped off the plane. "There is a long line at the immigration checkpoint, but the airport did not open the empty counters,†he said. “I ended up waiting 30 minutes." Sounds like a fast day at BKK immigration, but Aki wasn’t done yet. After that a taxi driver tried to rip him off by demanding THB700 for a ride to Saphan Kwai. The taxi stand told Aki to get a bigger taxi and gave him a ticket, but instead he asked for the manager. The manager only asked him to return the ticket and told him it was up to him to work something out with a driver. "That's weird. The driver wouldn't use the meter. This is a decision made by one side. It's not a negotiation. You accept this kind of rip-off here? You don't care about these bad drivers?" he complained to staff, who then proceeded to ignore him. "This is Thailand's national airport. This is the taxi stop at the national airport. Passengers are ignored and ripped off. What would foreigners like us do?" Aki wrote. For the high tax charges it demands, Aki said the airport should not suffer from such long lines, broken elevators and terrible service. “When passengers ask for information, staff just keep playing with their smartphones,†he said. “Aren't they a disgrace of this country? They show laziness and lack of generosity to foreigners." The post has been shared more than 11,000 times since yesterday and featured by several Thai media outlets. Soon after it opened eight years ago, Suvarnabhumi proved unable to keep pace with demand and a series of expensive expansions have been under way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Thamada... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YimSiam Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 The airport is a disgrace, true enough - Thaksin's Folly (though really, I suppose it worked out very well for him financially, aside from any contribution it may have made to him losing his job). For a new, massive airport, that one is indeed crap - attitude of service workers aside, every element is a failure. Glassed concourses heated to high temps on sunny days, smoking rooms without ventilation have doors propped open, added aircon units everywhere due to failed a/c planning make the place look like a cemetery marked by massive gray tombstones, interminable walks, buckling runways, embarrassingly poor signage and numbering systems, and yes - immigration lines not worthy of a tourism mecca... But I've never had a taxi problem from the airport, ever. And most staff have been nice enough. Either with or without the 50 baht upcharge, taxi's always been fair - we all pay 800 baht, right? Kidding. I've never had a problem. I'm dubious that someone who speaks Thai could not be able to ensure a normal ride - unless he has some enormous luggage, or is a total dickhead. I'm voting for the latter - a dickhead, who has tired of living in Thailand, but doesn't want to make the decision to leave and so is handing that decision over to the Thai authorities to make for him... YimSiam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 ...or the Thais know that he is Japanese and they expect to be able to rip him off! One or two times, out of over 100 times, I encountered a "bad" taxi, so 2% of the taxis What airport is really good? Me thinks they all have their quirks and issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelgianBoy Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 The airport is a disgrace, true enough - Thaksin's Folly (though really, I suppose it worked out very well for him financially, aside from any contribution it may have made to him losing his job). For a new, massive airport, that one is indeed crap - attitude of service workers aside, every element is a failure. Glassed concourses heated to high temps on sunny days, smoking rooms without ventilation have doors propped open, added aircon units everywhere due to failed a/c planning make the place look like a cemetery marked by massive gray tombstones, interminable walks, buckling runways, embarrassingly poor signage and numbering systems, and yes - immigration lines not worthy of a tourism mecca... But I've never had a taxi problem from the airport, ever. And most staff have been nice enough. Either with or without the 50 baht upcharge, taxi's always been fair - we all pay 800 baht, right? Kidding. I've never had a problem. I'm dubious that someone who speaks Thai could not be able to ensure a normal ride - unless he has some enormous luggage, or is a total dickhead. I'm voting for the latter - a dickhead, who has tired of living in Thailand, but doesn't want to make the decision to leave and so is handing that decision over to the Thai authorities to make for him... YimSiam Totally agree with you, shite airport, bu never had a bad taxi there. BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo_bill Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I have used Suvanabumi 10 times ( 5 in 5 out ) last year and even if somebody would pay me 500 Baht if I could find anything to complain about : I couldn't . Except that I cannot spell the name right and that they closed the access to the taxis at departure . You find the occasional driver insisting on 500 Baht downtown but if you suggest he drives round the airport back to the taxi pickup this problem solves itself automatically so to say . Khun Koki Aki should try Dubai or Abu Dhabi at peak time and he would praise Suvanpumm . “When passengers ask for information, staff just keep playing with their smartphones,†he said. I belong to the sort of people whose fuse immediately blows when I try to talk to somebody who then keeps on staring at his smartphone ; i may officially confirm that I did never ever have this sort of experience at the airport . But then I cannot remember that I ever tried to talk to somebody there . Apart from this I find Thailand great anyway ; Khun Aki should spend more time in the Beergarden , plenty of people will try to talk to him . Smartphone no promprem . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Not to worry, the offending taxi driver has been banned from Swampypoom. All is well in the world again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 i'm with buffb, I like the airport, just wish I could say it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Try this slowly ... AAAAAAIR POOOOOOOOOOOORT. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I have been flying a lot the last 1.5 years and Suvarnabhumi is reasonable but totally overpriced for food and drinks after immigration. So far I have had no problems with taxis from Suvi and I always go to the queue downstairs. I have had nightmares trying to get taxis from Khao san, Silom and Sukhumvit though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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