Passengers only have to select a destination and the size of vehicle required. The machine then issues a ticket with a reservation number and directions to the rank where their taxi is waiting on it.
Tourism Authority of Thailand boss Thawatchai Arunyik says the new system will enhance the arrivals experience and facilitate passengers access to taxis. The management team at Suvarnabhumi claim the waiting time for a taxi is now as low as five seconds.
This is a far cry from the old system in which passengers queued in one line while dispatchers ascertained where they wanted to go and then allocated taxis. This system was open to abuse and some regular airport users alleged drivers paid the dispatchers for the more lucrative long-distance fares
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This is not possible under the new system as passengers are automatically given the next taxi in the queue. It is immaterial whether the destination is Bangkok’s Bang Kapi District or the eastern seaboard resort of Pattaya.
The taxi booths at Suvarnabhumi are across from gates four and seven in the Arrivals area. The taxis are fitted with meters and passengers pay the fare shown plus a THB50 surcharge for the airport service as well as any toll fees for motorways used en route.
Bangkok airport auto taxi queue goes live
News in Asia
Thailand’s main international airport has launched its long-awaited automated queuing system for taxis. Suvarnabhumi Airport is just outside the capital city of Bangkok and has 10 brand-new booths from which arriving passengers press a button and get an automatic taxi reservation.