Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Taxi Service

>Read about changes coming: Thai Military cleverly clamps down on the Bangkok Airport taxi chaos     

Catching an official taxi from BKK Airport is very confusing and almost all travellers that have not been to this airport before end up taking a pirate taxi. The official taxis are safer and cheaper, but you need to know the secrets of locating them.

After exiting the baggage claim and customs, you will walk into an arrivals hall on the second floor of the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You will immediately be surrounded by touts saying "taxi" or "hotel" or offering other Bangkok Airport transfer options. Ignore all of them and DO NOT talk to them. Look for the huge glass wall in front of you.

Official taxis may be found on the first floor (one floor BELOW where you exit customs). Turn immediately to the left and follow the glass wall almost to the end and take any stairs or elevator down one level. Then on the lower level, either near gate 4 or 7, you will see outside on the corridor a desk or two and possibly a line-up. This is the official taxi from BKK Airport stand. You are still ignoring all touts saying "taxi" -- they may become somewhat aggressive as you near the official taxi line and even try to convince you not to line up.

At the front of the line, there are usually one or two people at a desk will ask you where you are going. Their job is to determine your destination and communicate it to the taxi driver, who will speak little if any English. If you have pre-booked your hotel, make sure to bring the printout map that they supply. Maps generally DO NOT work in Thailand as Thai people do not use them and do not understand them.

This person at the desk will charge THB 50 to your bill and this fee will be collected from the Taxi driver at the end of your taxi from BKK Airport journey. Do not pay anything to the desk person and do not tip as Thailand is not a tipping culture.

The person at the desk will assign you a taxi from the line and likely that taxi driver will come and meet you and take the piece of paper from the person at the desk. The taxi driver will offer to stow your luggage in the trunk of the cab, although there isn't usually too much room due to the LPG cylinder in many cabs. Before putting the luggage into the trunk, have a peek into the middle front of the taxi for the meter to be on and running (you should see the '35' flagfall price in red or green). If you don't see it, say "meter" to the driver. This might start a negotiation of price or just a "ok". If the driver tries to fix a price, you will be ripped off, so stick to "meter" or walk away and find another taxi.

For the Bangkok Airport to city routes you may be asked "Highway?" There are toll highways leading from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport into town, you may be asked what you would like to do. We recommend saying "Up to you" or "You choose" to the driver. They will then most likely pick the faster route which might be the regular road under the highway. If you are taking the toll highway, you will need to pay the tolls at the toll gate. If you have exact change then give this to the driver, otherwise give a THB 100 note and the toll booth will provide change. If you are only carrying 1000 THB notes, you can use one here to get change, but just make sure the driver gives you the right change back!

Update: There is change coming to BKK! A new computerized airport taxi cab queue is to be implemented by mid-July 2014.