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Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport (DMK) Flights & Flight Status

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Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport: Expert advice and recommendations

Expert travel writer Robert Schrader shares all you need to know before booking a flight to or from Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport.
Robert Schrader
August 19, 2024

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) is the second-largest airport serving Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Once the country’s main international gateway, it mainly handles low-cost domestic flights in the present day. The facility can feel like a blast from the past, but the following tips are future-proof.

How to get to and from Bangkok and DMK?

Bangkok’s terrible traffic is a poorly-kept secret, and travelers bound for DMK are vulnerable to it. While an in-development new terminal will boost the airport’s capacity, and the modernized Don Mueang Station has made railway connections possible in theory, most passengers still need to access the airport via taxi or Grab, Southeast Asia’s answer to Uber.

When I lived in Bangkok in the late 2010s, I developed such an anxiety around the hassle of getting to DMK (insane traffic on the road northward from the city center through the busy Chatuchak district, and even worse ones within the crowded airport entrance itself) that I would avoid the airport entirely. After returning to Thailand many times as a tourist post-pandemic, however, I’ve come up with coping strategies.

If I absolutely have to use the airport, I try to choose an early morning or late night departure to limit my exposure to traffic. If this isn’t possible, I try to leave my hotel or apartment in the city center no less than two hours (for domestic) or three hours (for international) before departure. This gives me a full hour to reach the airport, in spite of it being just 22 km or 13 miles from Siam Station in central Bangkok. Prior to setting off for the airport, keep in mind that it has two terminals: Terminal 1 serves international flights, while Terminal 2 is for domestic flights.

On the way out of the airport, I typically call the Grab as I am walking from the jet bridge into the terminal (or, if I’m arriving internationally, right after I have cleared immigration). Private cars need to wait in an off-airport lot, and it takes them at least 10 minutes to reach the arrivals area of either terminal. While you can in theory get a proper taxi more immediately upon exiting the airport, Bangkok’s taxi drivers are notorious for refusing to use their meters and for charging travelers (especially non-locals) exorbitant fares to reach central Bangkok. I usually plan on needing an hour to reach my hotel or apartment, regardless of where in Bangkok I’m staying.

Traveling to and from DMK by rail is technically possible, but far from practical. This is first and foremost because Don Mueang Station is over half a mile by foot from both of the airport’s terminals. Secondly, at present, only the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Dark Red Line serves the airport. The line originates at Krung Thep Aphiwat Station, which will be the future hub of Thailand’s long-delayed high-speed rail network, but currently serves only local lines that few foreign tourists use.

In 2029, a high-speed rail line connecting DMK with Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Bangkok’s main airport, and U-Tapao (UTP) airport in Pattaya is scheduled to open. It will also pass through Phaya Thai Station in central Bangkok, which may make the railway option slightly more useful. Construction projects in Thailand are notorious for delays, however, so travelers should take this timeline with a grain of salt until further notice.

Navigating check-in, security and immigration at DMK

Don Mueang International was built for a different time, a reality that both its check-in and security areas reflect. If at all possible, you should check-in via the internet or your airline’s smartphone app. This way, even if you need to check a bag, you can merely make a stop at the bag drop area, rather than having to join one of the snaking, slow-moving check-in lines.

The story is slightly different when it comes to security. In spite of how antiquated the area looks, it has been my experience that lines move quickly. I don’t recall ever waiting longer than 20 minutes at any time of day. Note that Thailand doesn’t have any equivalent to TSA Precheck, so everyone joins the same line. Compounding this is the fact that DMK doesn’t offer priority lanes for premium class passengers or ones with special credentials (such as the APEC Business Travel Card), as Bangkok’s other airport (BKK) does.

If you’re traveling internationally from Terminal 1, you will need to clear immigration before passing through security, as Thailand requires a formal passport check on the way out. As is the case with the security line, I’ve found that the immigration lines move quickly, which makes sense given that DMK has relatively few international departures these days.

The wild card is that Terminal 1’s gate concourse is quite long, which means you may have to walk up to 20 minutes to your gate after clearing security. As a result, you should plan on needing up to 40 minutes to reach the gate area after entering the initial passport control line.

When arriving internationally at DMK, immigration lines tend to be more unruly. Staffing shortages are not uncommon in my experience. Compounding this is the fact that many international flights arrive from countries like China and India, whose nationals are subject to more stringent immigration requirements than most Western travelers.

To minimize disruptions, I recommend walking as quickly as you can to the immigration area once you get off the plane, and choosing the immigration line with the fewest people. Additionally, keep an eye out for staff members who may be preparing to open additional lanes. Be ready to join said lane when and if it opens.

Airport lounges and alternatives at DMK

In spite of most of the airlines that serve it being low-cost carriers, DMK has a satisfactory selection of lounges, many of which accept Priority Pass. If you aren’t a Priority Pass member, you can purchase access, though I’d say this isn’t worth it unless you have more than an hour before your flight.

In international Terminal 1, travelers can choose between the Coral Executive Lounge and the Miracle Lounge. If you’ve flown through Thai airports, these local brand names will be familiar. Both lounges are smaller and more spartan than their counterparts of Suvarnabhumi (BKK), though my experience has been that the Coral is the more crowded of the two, as it’s the first one you reach after clearing security.

Both lounges offer a buffet consisting mainly of Thai food, as well as a full range of non-alcoholic beverages and limited bar service (wine and local beers like Chang and Singha).

Do note that if you’re flying AirAsia and are either traveling in business class or have purchased the “Red Carpet” add-on package, you are entitled to access a dedicated area of the Coral Executive Lounge, where you’ll enjoy premium cocktails, in addition to the normal spread of food and drink.

Most of DMK’s traffic these days is domestic, so it’s not surprising that there are more lounges in domestic Terminal 2. These include two lounges each from the Coral and Miracle brands. All four offer buffets of mostly Thai food, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and limited bar service, which are almost identical to what you find at their counterparts in International Terminal 1.

Nok Air, which operates many flights at the airport, operates its own lounge, which is open to select Nok Air passengers as well as Priority Pass members. While the food buffet here is slightly more expansive than those in the Coral or Miracle lounges, do note that only non-alcoholic beverages are available.

Luggage storage and delivery at DMK

DMK is home to a branch of Airportel, a convenient luggage storage and delivery service with many locations throughout Thailand. The facility has space for more than 2,000 bags, and can store bags for days, weeks or months at a flat of 100 THB (around $3) per bag, per day. Staff can also send bags to any address in Bangkok, be it a hotel, Airbnb apartment or residence.

Keep in mind that while Airportel is open 24 hours, it only has one location at DMK, in Terminal 2. So if you’re arriving internationally and need to store your bag, you will need to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 in order to avail Airportel’s services.

Connections at DMK

It is technically possible to connect via DMK, whether between domestic flights, international-to-domestic or domestic-to-international. Several factors can complicate your connections, however, so be aware of them.

Domestically, Terminal 2 is not inherently set-up for connections. Unless you pre-arrange the connection with your airline (such as by using AirAsia’s “Fly-Thru” service), you will need to exit the secure area, collect your bags and then complete check-in, bag drop and security procedures alongside other passengers. In this case, please allow for a minimum two-hour connecting time.

When connecting international-domestic or domestic-international, you will need to walk between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (or vice-versa), which requires you to exit your arrival terminal completely and walk via the outdoor sidewalk.

When arriving internationally, you will need to pass through immigration and customs prior to proceeding to your domestic flight. I recommend leaving no less than three hours between the arrival of your international flight and the departure of your domestic one. If arriving domestically and connecting to an international flight, two hours should be sufficient.

I do not recommend connecting between DMK and Bangkok’s other airport, Suvarnabhumi (BKK), whether domestically or internationally. The journey between the airports takes at least an hour, even without traffic, and is presently only practically possible via Grab or taxi. If you do need to arrive at one Bangkok airport and depart from the other, plan on spending a night in the city beforehand, both to minimize stress and to give yourself sufficient time to make the connection.

Parking at DMK

Very few foreign travelers drive private cars in Bangkok, which means parking at DMK is a rare consideration. If you do need to drive, however, you can park in one of two parking garages (one is three-story, the other is seven-story), where parking costs a maximum of 250 THB per day. The garages are connected to Terminal 2 via pedestrian bridge, which means international passengers will need to continue on foot to Terminal 1.

This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.

Flight Status - Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport

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Latest Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport flights

Recent round-trip flight deals

3/3Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
20h 30mLAX-DMK
3/11Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
25h 05mDMK-LAX
$722
2/25Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
20h 30mLAX-DMK
3/5Wed
1 stopCathay Pacific
25h 05mDMK-LAX
$723
2/25Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
20h 30mLAX-DMK
3/4Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
17h 30mDMK-LAX
$733
2/24Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
28h 30mLAX-DMK
3/25Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
37h 15mDMK-LAX
$738
3/11Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
28h 30mLAX-DMK
3/18Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
29h 35mDMK-LAX
$747
2/24Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
20h 30mLAX-DMK
3/3Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
33h 50mDMK-LAX
$748
2/26Wed
1 stopCathay Pacific
19h 50mSFO-DMK
3/11Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
25h 25mDMK-SFO
$761
3/11Tue
2 stops
31h 58mLAS-DMK
3/25Tue
2 stops
34h 11mDMK-LAS
$902
3/3Mon
1 stopCathay Pacific
21h 15mBOS-DMK
3/25Tue
1 stopCathay Pacific
39h 30mDMK-BOS
$1,006
5/6Tue
2 stops
25h 00mDEN-DMK
5/29Thu
2 stops
29h 38mDMK-DEN
$1,360

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FAQs about Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport

  • Is Bangkok Don Mueang Intl the only airport in Bangkok?

    No, there are 3 airports in Bangkok. These are Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Don Mueang Intl and Rayong Utapao Rayong Pattaya.

  • What is the busiest day to depart from Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport?

    The day with the most flights departing from Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport is generally Monday, with an average of 2 flights leaving the airport.

Airport information - Bangkok Don Mueang Intl

IATA CodeDMK
ServesBangkok
Terminals1, 2, D
Hub forPhilippine Airlines, Air Seychelles, Juneyao Airlines