THE FLIGHT
AirAsia FD3036 to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
THE ARRIVAL
I’ve organized a 5.30 am switch from Mai Khao, near the airport, forward of a 6.45 am flight. It is reducing it nice however these are the occasions advisable by my lodge. The drive to the airport takes quarter-hour; the roads are empty. All’s nicely till my driver turns into the departure lanes for the worldwide terminal as an alternative of the home terminal the place my flight departs from. No drawback; he loops again round and drives subsequent door, including simply three minutes to the journey. In any case, walkways join the 2 terminals.
THE LOOK
There are three terminals – Terminal X for constitution flights, Terminal 2 for worldwide and Terminal 3 for home. The home terminal is a smaller model of the worldwide terminal subsequent door. The entire place underwent an intensive renovation in 2016, tripling capability to cater for greater than 20 million passengers a yr.
CHECK-IN
Thailand’s third busiest airport, behind Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok, is virtually empty. The one individual within the queue in entrance of me is gone by the point I attain the AirAsia counter. Being a funds airline, I count on my hand baggage to be weighed upon check-in and in preparation, I would offloaded a number of objects that I would usually take onboard. I would even scoffed down the takeaway breakfast supplied by my lodge in case it tipped me over my weight allowance, so I am nearly dissatisfied when no effort is made to verify that I would adhered to their restrictions. The AirAsia consultant behind the check-in counter asks for my passport, checks my baggage via to Chiang Rai – my connecting flight from Bangkok – then palms over boarding passes with a smile.
SECURITY
As many as seven safety personnel workers every of the 4 X-ray machines. It looks like overkill, notably contemplating most stand round idly with little to do. Nevertheless it’s unbelievably environment friendly, as nicely. One line is vacant, so a smiling official politely waves me over. 4 pairs of palms gently nudge my bag alongside the conveyor belt after it has handed via the screening course of.
FOOD AND DRINK
Two Burger Kings, two Subways and a Gloria Jean’s espresso outlet – all are acquainted names. One I am not acquainted with is 2 {Dollars} Espresso, although I can work out what it affords. A number of native cafes and meals shops serve rice and noodle dishes and soups, plus there are quite a few snack shops and a Zurich Bread Cafe. All up, there’s loads of alternative, although solely half are open at this early hour.
RETAIL THERAPY
Slim pickings, actually. Simply memento and jewelry shops, and a pharmacy. Just like the meals shops, most aren’t open but.
PASSING TIME
Effectively, the departure lounge is actually clear. Robotic vacuum cleaners with inbuilt sensors, bearing uncanny resemblances to Star Wars’ R2-D2, roam the ground, sweeping up garbage and mud that is not there. There’s loads of seating, some telephone charging stations and coin-operated therapeutic massage chairs. Not one of the airline lounges are open but. Reverse Departure Gate 4, therapeutic massage prices from THB180 ($7.40) for quarter-hour.
THE VERDICT
If solely all airport experiences had been this simple. No surprise the employees are smiling.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★★
The author was a visitor of the Minor Inns group that features the Anantara and Avani manufacturers.
