#26
jfchandler
Posted 2010-08-23 23:52:13
Are you kidding??? You pay the 100 baht Express fare and the airport, and then if you want to go all the way to Phyathai, they're going to charge you an extra 15 baht to transfer to the City Line at Makkasan??? That's a pretty raw deal... considering the entire City Line fare if 15 baht now...and later to rise a bit after the promo period is finished... 
 thailien8, on 2010-08-23 23:39:35, said:
In July, when the trial runs were free, I rode the Airport Express train from Phaya Thai station to the airport. No stops, fast, convenient; I thought that's how it's gonna be. Well, no. Today, the first day of full train operation, I paid 15 baht at the airport to ride the City Line, rather than 100 baht to ride the Express train, and I'm glad I did. The City Line took me all the way to Phaya Thai terminal station, from where it's an easy walk to the Skytrain station. Had I paid 100 baht for the "fast" train, I would have had to transfer to the City Line at Makkasan station, costing an extra 15 baht and more waiting time, in order to reach the Skytrain.
Posted 2010-08-23 23:55:19
sam666, on 2010-08-23 11:09:30, said:
Kinda pointless imo, theres no lifts on BTS and I bet MRT too, so how in gods name do I carry a 70lbs suitcase up all them stairs in the heat and a laptop bag / backpack????
You can't.
Posted 2010-08-24 19:36:34
lomatopo, on 2010-08-23 17:54:15, said: Makasan station is very nice. No taxis in sight. The walk to the Petchaburi MRT station is not too bad, much better than I thought it would be. Maybe 10 - 15 minutes all in from exiting the train to the MRT station entrance.
What distance would that 10 to 15 minute walk cover? 500m? It sounds like a long time to be hauling luggage.
Is there a correctly scaled route map available online?
Edited by hyperdimension, 2010-08-24 19:42:33.
Posted 2010-08-24 22:01:14
jfchandler, on 2010-08-23 23:52:13, said:
Are you kidding??? You pay the 100 baht Express fare and the airport, and then if you want to go all the way to Phyathai, they're going to charge you an extra 15 baht to transfer to the City Line at Makkasan??? That's a pretty raw deal... considering the entire City Line fare if 15 baht now...and later to rise a bit after the promo period is finished...
thailien8, on 2010-08-23 23:39:35, said:
In July, when the trial runs were free, I rode the Airport Express Train from Phaya Thai station to the airport. No stops, fast, convenient; I thought that's how it's gonna be. Well, no.
Today, the first day of full train operation, I paid 15 baht at the airport to ride the City Line, rather than 100 baht to ride the Express Train, and I'm glad I did. The City Line took me all the way to Phaya Thai terminal station, from where it's an easy walk to the Skytrain station. Had I paid 100 baht for the "fast" train, I would have had to transfer to the City Line at Makkasan station, costing an extra 15 baht and more waiting time, in order to reach the Skytrain.
Not kidding, and annoyed as well; but not surprised. TIT, after all. Why the Express Line stops at Makkasan station is a mystery to me. Could this be a concession to the taxi mafia? We rail addicts must change trains, and pay twice, to reach our beloved Skytrain from the airport, if we are so foolish as to take the Express Train. But, TIT again, this is no problem. Just pay the lower price to take the slightly slower City Line Train, and you will be a two-minute walk, above the traffic, from Skytrain's Phaya Thai station.
Posted 2010-08-24 22:06:31
thailien8, on 2010-08-24 22:01:14, said:
Not kidding, and annoyed as well; but not surprised. TIT, after all. Why the Express Line stops at Makkasan station is a mystery to me. Could this be a concession to the taxi mafia? We rail addicts must change trains, and pay twice, to reach our beloved Skytrain from the airport, if we are so foolish as to take the Express Train. But, TIT again, this is no problem. Just pay the lower price to take the slightly slower City Line Train, and you will be a two-minute walk, above the traffic, from Skytrain's Phaya Thai station.
The express runs from Makkasan station because it is set up as an airport check in. Check in there and you don't need to check in at the airport.
#31
jfchandler
Posted 2010-08-24 22:29:48
Glad they set up the airport checking location at Makkasan, which has no MRT or BTS direct connection... Really convenient and smart planning...
I thought they were going to do some kind of similar airport check-in deal at Phyathai... But guess I'm wrong about that???
Let's think now... got 3 or 4-50 pound suitcases for an international flight. Do I want to lug them from Makkasan on the 10-minute plus walk on a nothing/nowhere street down to the Petchburi MRT station or visa versa... Or if not, take a cab to/from Makkasan... And if I'm going to do that, might as well just stick with a taxi straight from the airport...
I think a bit of psychology needs to come into play here... Living in Thailand, you learn to put up with all kinds of perceived day-to-day nuisances... But when I'm traveling to or from the airport for an international flight, hassles are the last thing I want... No lugging bags down the street. No lugging bags up and/or down staircases at the stations. No transferring from one train to another on the ARL...
I want to dump/stow my bags and then just go... go to the airport.... or go home after a long flight. Not engage is a baggage triathalon navigating multiple rail lines, stairs, and walking down streets in the middle of nowhere...
Posted 2010-08-24 22:53:32
jfchandler, on 2010-08-24 22:29:48, said:
Glad they set up the airport checking location at Makkasan, which has no MRT or BTS direct connection... Really convenient and smart planning...
I thought they were going to do some kind of similar airport check-in deal at Phyathai... But guess I'm wrong about that???
Let's think now... got 3 or 4-50 pound suitcases for an international flight. Do I want to lug them from Makkasan on the 10-minute plus walk on a nothing/nowhere street down to the Petchburi MRT station or visa versa... Or if not, take a cab to/from Makkasan... And if I'm going to do that, might as well just stick with a taxi straight from the airport...
I think a bit of psychology needs to come into play here... Living in Thailand, you learn to put up with all kinds of perceived day-to-day nuisances... But when I'm traveling to or from the airport for an international flight, hassles are the last thing I want... No lugging bags down the street. No lugging bags up and/or down staircases at the stations. No transferring from one train to another on the ARL...
I want to dump/stow my bags and then just go... go to the airport.... or go home after a long flight. Not engage is a baggage triathalon navigating multiple rail lines, stairs, and walking down streets in the middle of nowhere...
Yes ... agree. I live a 10-15 min taxi ride (average traffic) from Makkasan and still don't think I would use it ... but with check in there, it potentially saves an hour, particularly in peak or rain affected traffic.
#33
jfchandler
Posted 2010-08-24 23:29:51
What exact kind of "check-in" are they talking about doing at Makkasan???
Luggage check-in? Airline flight check in? Immigration check-out/clearance? Security screening?
Posted 2010-08-24 23:54:49
jfchandler, on 2010-08-24 23:29:51, said:
What exact kind of "check-in" are they talking about doing at Makkasan???
Luggage check-in? Airline flight check in? Immigration check-out/clearance? Security screening?
Luggage and airline flight check in (apparently not available until the end of the year). You still need to go through immigration and security at the airport.
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