October 3rd, 2006, 07:17
It's not just you selfish passengers, you know (although here's one guy's opinion from FlyerTalk, the Frequent Flyer forum)
Just went through Suvarnambumi today... can't say my experience has been good... just a couple of comments for now:
1. The lights used were also very harsh, and all in one place on the third level and gave the whole place a hospital feel... but there were very few lights on the gates level, which made the whole gate area very dark, especially nighttime
2. The split level design of the airport is not user friendly.. you go up and down on the escalators for no reason at all... go up for departure areas, then go down for lounge, then go back up for shops and then through security and then go down again for gate area...
3. Gate areas too small and not enough seating... was at gate C2, and there were maybe a less than 100 seats in the whole departure gate area.. tons of people were standing around with nowhere to sit.. this was only for a 333.. can't imagine how many people there will be with a 744..
4. The whole airport just looks so sterile, and others have mentioned it, the floor and tiles were already stained and dirty looking..
5. boarding process is horrible... reminds me of FRA where after anouncing boarding for premium passengers only.. everyone just crowds around the doors while people in business class are trying to get through.. not because the people wanted to be in the way, but there's not actually enough space for the people to move to!
6. took forever for the plane to taxi as the airport is so big it takes a while to get to the runway...
overall, while its newer and glitzier, I personally think its a step down from Don Muang..
from http://www.flyertalk.com/forums/showthr ... 732&page=3 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606732&page=3) (if you want the reference)
It's also us poor importers and exporters (my family company trades out of Thailand)
Traders: Air freights stuck in slow lane
Fresh food halted in fear of delay and loss
ARANEE JAIIMSIN
While the focus at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport has been on reducing inconvenience for passengers, air-freight specialists say their problems are even worse and demand more urgent attention.
Air exports of fresh agricultural products were currently at 80% of normal quantities because logistics procedures at Suvarnabhumi had been poorly prepared, said Waiyawut Nisapakultorn, secretary-general of the Thai Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association.
On the airport's first day of operations last Thursday, no fresh produce shipments were delivered to Hong Kong or Beijing, while some shipments to Dubai faced problems, he said.
"The loss derived from the fact that the government was in a hurry to open the airport and paid less attention to providing proper facilities for air-freight forwarders," said Mr Waiyawut.
Agricultural products _ plants, fruit, vegetables and ornamental fish _ account for about 40% of air export volume from Thailand and were worth about 11 billion baht last year.
Many fruit and vegetable exporters suspended their shipments over the weekend because they were afraid that clients would be upset about delayed or even lost shipments due to poor logistics procedures at the airport, said Mr Waiyawut.
"Exporters must be responsible for clients' [damage] claims without any assistance from airlines." The rest of the story is at http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/02Oct2006_biz01.php
Just went through Suvarnambumi today... can't say my experience has been good... just a couple of comments for now:
1. The lights used were also very harsh, and all in one place on the third level and gave the whole place a hospital feel... but there were very few lights on the gates level, which made the whole gate area very dark, especially nighttime
2. The split level design of the airport is not user friendly.. you go up and down on the escalators for no reason at all... go up for departure areas, then go down for lounge, then go back up for shops and then through security and then go down again for gate area...
3. Gate areas too small and not enough seating... was at gate C2, and there were maybe a less than 100 seats in the whole departure gate area.. tons of people were standing around with nowhere to sit.. this was only for a 333.. can't imagine how many people there will be with a 744..
4. The whole airport just looks so sterile, and others have mentioned it, the floor and tiles were already stained and dirty looking..
5. boarding process is horrible... reminds me of FRA where after anouncing boarding for premium passengers only.. everyone just crowds around the doors while people in business class are trying to get through.. not because the people wanted to be in the way, but there's not actually enough space for the people to move to!
6. took forever for the plane to taxi as the airport is so big it takes a while to get to the runway...
overall, while its newer and glitzier, I personally think its a step down from Don Muang..
from http://www.flyertalk.com/forums/showthr ... 732&page=3 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606732&page=3) (if you want the reference)
It's also us poor importers and exporters (my family company trades out of Thailand)
Traders: Air freights stuck in slow lane
Fresh food halted in fear of delay and loss
ARANEE JAIIMSIN
While the focus at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport has been on reducing inconvenience for passengers, air-freight specialists say their problems are even worse and demand more urgent attention.
Air exports of fresh agricultural products were currently at 80% of normal quantities because logistics procedures at Suvarnabhumi had been poorly prepared, said Waiyawut Nisapakultorn, secretary-general of the Thai Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association.
On the airport's first day of operations last Thursday, no fresh produce shipments were delivered to Hong Kong or Beijing, while some shipments to Dubai faced problems, he said.
"The loss derived from the fact that the government was in a hurry to open the airport and paid less attention to providing proper facilities for air-freight forwarders," said Mr Waiyawut.
Agricultural products _ plants, fruit, vegetables and ornamental fish _ account for about 40% of air export volume from Thailand and were worth about 11 billion baht last year.
Many fruit and vegetable exporters suspended their shipments over the weekend because they were afraid that clients would be upset about delayed or even lost shipments due to poor logistics procedures at the airport, said Mr Waiyawut.
"Exporters must be responsible for clients' [damage] claims without any assistance from airlines." The rest of the story is at http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/02Oct2006_biz01.php