Suvarnabhumi Airport has a single main terminal for check-in and all security checks. That’s good news – you don’t have to worry about moving between buildings, as you do at other Asian airports.

The international section is located on the right-hand side of the terminal, and the domestic section on the left. Both are interconnected.

• Arrivals: Ground floor
• Departures: 4th floor
• Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Satellite terminal

In the centre of the airport grounds is a satellite terminal housing some of the departure gates. You can get there free of charge on the automated train in about 3 minutes.

You don’t need to worry about anything extra – everything is part of a single system and takes place after you’ve passed through security, which is carried out at the main terminal.

Connecting flights in Bangkok

The most important question when changing flights is: ‘How much time should I allow?’

Below you’ll find realistic scenarios based on the type of connection.

💡 Not sure how to go about changing flights at the airport? Take a look at our general guide to changing flights.

Hotels near Bangkok BKK Airport

<-> International Airport

A very simple and straightforward option.

If you have flights on a single ticket:

• you remain in the transit area – you do not go through immigration and therefore do not need to fill in an arrival card for Thailand
• you go through security– clearly signposted and designated for transit passengers only
• your luggage is automatically transferred

Realistic minimum connection times based on our experience:

• 35 minutes – transfer between gates in the main terminal or within the satellite terminal
• 45 minutes – transfer between the main and satellite terminals
• A 60-minute transfer is manageable (at security, tell the staff you have a ‘tight connection’ and you may be directed to the priority queue)

If you have two separate bookings:

• you’ll usually need to go through standard immigration, exit the terminal, and go through the main security check into the domestic section
• A direct transfer via the transit area may not be possible, even if you only have hand luggage and have checked in online for your next flight

Are you continuing your journey?

On our website, you’ll find detailed guides on how transport from the airport works and what to do immediately upon arrival at your next destination:

The most common onward journeys from Bangkok:

• 👉 Transport from Manila Airport to the city centre
• 👉 Kuala Lumpur – top places to visit
• 👉 Hong Kong – visas and differences compared to mainland China

If you’re travelling to another country, it’s worth having your mobile data sorted before you land:

Get an international eSIM before you fly

International -> Domestic

If you are travelling on to another part of Thailand after arriving in Bangkok, you will go through immigration but will remain within the same terminal.

If both flights are on the same booking:

• you’ll stay in the transit area – you’ll go through immigration for transfer passengers
  • queues at immigration can usually take between 10 and 30 minutes
• you go through security– clearly signposted and designated for transit passengers only
  • Well organised; queues are usually under 15 minutes
• Luggage is transferred automatically– this is unusual compared to other similar transfer points around the world

Realistic minimum connection times based on our experience:

• 60 minutes – transfer between gates in the main terminal
• 75 minutes – transfer between the satellite terminal and the main terminal
• A 90-minute connection can be managed without any problems

If you have two separate bookings:

• you will usually have to go through standard immigration checks, exit the terminal and pass through the main security checkpoint into the domestic section
• a direct transfer via the transit zone may not be possible, even if you only have hand luggage and have checked in online for your next flight

Are you continuing your journey further within Thailand?

We have separate guides for the most common onward journeys from Bangkok, including transport from the airport and accommodation tips:

• 👉 Phuket – a clear guide to transport from the airport
• 👉 Koh Samui – the best things to do
• 👉 Krabi – the most beautiful beaches and islands
• 🛂 How to fill in a Thai arrival card

If you’re planning to travel around Thailand by train or bus, you can easily book your journeys online:

Bus, ferry and train tickets – 12go.asia

Domestic -> International

Upon arrival from another Thai city, you must go through both security and passport control.

Your luggage is sometimes transferred automatically, sometimes not – always check this when you first check in.

Actual time, based on my experience:

• 35–80 minutes, depending on how busy immigration is.

If you’re flying to Europe or Asia during the evening rush hour, allow for a longer buffer.

Domestic <-> Domestic

The quickest option.

If you are transferring between two domestic flights within Thailand, you do not need to leave the transit area.

You won’t need to go through any security checks either, and your luggage will be transferred automatically.

This type of transfer usually takes 15–20 minutes, depending on the distance to the departure gate.

Transfer to Don Mueang Airport

If you’re combining flights between Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), you’ll need to travel across the city.

• A free shuttle bus runs from 5.00 am until midnight.
• The journey takes 80–100 minutes, depending on traffic.

If you are combining separate flight tickets, we recommend allowing at least 6 hours’ buffer.

I provide more information in the Transport section.

Is it worth visiting the city whilst you’re on a layover?

If you have at least 8 hours between flights, it might be worth a quick visit to Bangkok.

But be realistic:

• 1 hour’s journey to the city centre
• 1 hour back
• return to the airport 2 hours before departure

Out of the 8 hours, you’ll have approximately 3–4 hours of free time.

You can find detailed instructions in a separate article 👉 Itinerary for a stopover in Bangkok.

If you’re planning to use maps, book a Grab or sort out transport during your layover, you won’t be able to do so without mobile data.

Get a Thai eSIM before you arrive

How does immigration control work on arrival?

Bangkok Airport is known for its often very long queues at immigration.

There are three different counters. In the shared corridor leading to all the counters, always check the screen showing the estimated queue times for each counter.

My experiences in Bangkok have varied completely each time. Once I didn’t spend even 10 minutes in the queue, another time it was over 60 minutes, and last time it was about 20 minutes.

However, that was before September 2026. Since then, the automated gates have been in operation not only for Thai citizens but also for many other nationalities, which has significantly reduced the queuing time.

You can use the automated gates in the following situations:

• you hold a passport from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, the EU (all countries), Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates
• you have previously visited Thailand with the passport you are currently travelling on (if this is your first visit to Thailand, you must go to an immigration officer)