Bangkok is a bustling metropolis, brimming with life and activity. It’s also a major international hub with two of the busiest airports in Thailand.
There are two international airports in Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Both BKK and DMK offer a variety of flights to destinations all over the world as well as domestic flights within Thailand. This is something you should consider when planning a connection in Bangkok, especially if you’re making a self-transfer.
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1. Airports in Bangkok
There are 2 major airports in Bangkok.
1.1 Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
In essence, this is the main airport in Bangkok.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), also known unofficially as Bangkok International Airport, is one of the busiest airports in Asia, handling millions of passengers annually. It serves as a major hub for the Southeast Asia region with numerous airlines operating from there, offering flights to countless destinations around the globe. For most international travelers, this is where they arrive to Bangkok.
The airport is a hub for Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways.
Official website: https://suvarnabhumi.airportthai.co.th/
1.2 Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)
This airport is also recognized as the hub for low-cost airlines.
As of 2023, several airlines operate from DMK Airport in Bangkok. You can see a list of airlines operating from Bangkok airports here.
Located north of the city, DMK is the second major airport in Bangkok. Airlines like AirAsia and Nok Air operate flights from this airport. Over the years, it has become an increasingly busy place. At present, there are various popular options for getting from DMK to Bangkok city center and elsewhere — taxi, bus, and train. There’s also a bus between DMK and BKK airports.
Official website: https://donmueang.airportthai.co.th/
1.3 Getting From DMK to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Traveling between airports in Bangkok takes about an hour.
If the traffic is very bad, it may take up to 2-2.5 hours.
This is just the travel time. Include the time needed for immigration, baggage collection, waiting for transportation, and other smaller things, and it will be closer to 2-3 hours on good days and 4-6 hours on more busy days.
There are several transportation options available:
- Taxi: the most straightforward and quickest option for travel between airports in Bangkok. Taxis are readily available at DMK, and the journey to BKK takes approximately 40-60 minutes, depending on traffic. The cost may vary depending on the time of day and the type of taxi you choose. On average, it will be around 450-600 THB. You can also use Grab app, and you’ll see the price before the trip.
- Free Shuttle Bus Between Airports in Bangkok: The Cheapest Option. There is a free shuttle bus between DMK and BKK airports.
- Public Bus and Train: A cost-effective means to travel between airports in Bangkok. The A1 and A2 buses run between DMK and the nearest BTS station (Mo Chit), from where you can take a train to BKK airport. The journey takes about 1-2 hours, and the total cost is around 100 THB per person. You have to take a bus to Mo Chit, from there a train to Phaya Thai train station (first stop for the airport train), and from there you have to change to airport express train.
- Private Shuttle / Airport Transfer: the most convenient mode of transportation. Private shuttle services are available in Bangkok. These services offer door-to-door transfers between DMK and BKK, with possible stops along the way. The cost will vary depending on the service provider and the type of vehicle chosen.
It’s important to remember that these airports aren’t right next to each other but are situated on different sides of Bangkok. So, the traffic between them can easily get congested, and you must plan accordingly.
Traveling between airports in Bangkok takes about 1 hour, and goes up to 2 hours. This is only travel time.
2. Connecting Flights in Bangkok
If you have a connecting flight (not self transfer), then it’s easy.
All you need to do is find your next gate, where your subsequent flight departs. For instance, if you are flying from London to Sydney via Bangkok, then in Bangkok you have to look for information regarding your flight to Sydney (Bangkok – Sydney). Look for information on flight information screens or ask someone at the airport.
- Are connecting flights always in the same terminal? No, not necessarily. You may have to change a terminal. You can find out when checking in for the flight or upon arrival in Bangkok (by asking airport staff).
- Do you have to go through security on connecting flights? You may have to. It will depend on where your next flight departs from.
- Do you have to go through immigration on connecting flights? No. If it’s a connecting flight, not a self-transfer flight, you don’t have to go through immigration between your flights in Bangkok.
- Is a 45-minute layover too short for Bangkok? If these are airline-protected connecting flights, it’s safe – this is how the airline has planned it, and they know what they are doing. That, however, doesn’t mean that you won’t miss your connecting flight. It may still happen. What to do if you miss connecting flight? Click here to learn more. Mostly they’ll give you a new flight for free. We have a set of guides on missed connecting flights.
3. Self-Transfer Flight in Bangkok
Consider the following if you have a self-transfer in Bangkok:
- There are two international airports in Bangkok. This might be the most crucial thing to know when transiting in Bangkok. Will you have to change airports to get to the next flight?
- Getting between airports in Bangkok takes at least an hour. That’s only the travel time. So, make sure to plan at least 2 – 4 hours between your flights in Bangkok, depending on how you plan to travel between the airports. Don’t forget about your baggage (see our guide on baggage rules on self-transfer flights).
- You may need a visa for Thailand. You will be entering Thailand. And if you need a visa to travel to Thailand, you will need a visa for this transit. Check the entry requirements of Bangkok before booking a flight.
Book protected self-transfer connection with Kiwi.
What is your experience with connecting flights in Bangkok? Self-transfer flights in Bangkok? Have you ever had a layover in Bangkok?
About the author:
Kaspars is a digital nomad and travel blogger who’s been traveling the world extensively since 2013. Since 2017, Kaspars has been writing about the less-known aspects of air travel, things like air passenger rights laws and regulations. He’s really good at simplifying complex concepts and making them easily understandable. Kaspars favorite airlines are Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.
