Bangkok Don Mueang Intl Airport (DMK) Flights & Information

Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) serves as a secondary hub in the giant city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the oldest international airports in the world, but runs smoothly despite its age and size. Here there are mostly domestic flights along with a few regional international flights. I have used this airport many times to hop shorter flights to Indonesia, Laos, northern parts of Thailand and Vietnam, and it always reminds me of something from a Wes Anderson film.

Bangkok’s other airport

I have found that people often confuse the two main airports of Bangkok when booking, so double check your itinerary before purchasing, and especially when making your arrival plans. DMK is not Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and they are about 40 minutes apart during light traffic (traffic can get very heavy in Bangkok) so don’t make the costly error of arriving to the wrong one.

Airlines at DMK

Although this airport primarily hosts low cost airlines, it does host a few others, too. I mostly use this airport to catch very convenient AirAsia flights all over the greater continent, but there are many other airlines flying from here, too.

Getting to the airport by road

Just 15 miles north of the city, Don Mueang is conveniently connected to the city center by road, although this can take up to an hour in heavier traffic. A hotel transfer service is by far the easiest way to get there, if available, but only when you have ample time to allow for possible traffic.

Of course, there are many taxis in Bangkok that can handle this journey inexpensively. To find them at the airport, just walk out of the terminal and follow the signs for taxis.

Getting to the airport by rail

The MRT Red Line is a newer service to travel between the airport and the city center. The journey is a mere 17 minutes, and of course avoids any traffic issues. At the airport you need to follow signs out of the terminal and through the parking area where you will find the rail ticketing.

At the moment, the train runs to and from Krungthep Apiwat Station in Bangkok, but more stops are being added for the future. Note that it does not run all night, but stops around midnight. It starts again at 5:30 am every morning.

Check in

Some of the airlines here have self-check-in kiosks and bag drop facilities. Note that security at Thai airports is very strict, and there are often multiple checks for additional screening. Even so, getting from the terminal entrance to your gate is never more than half an hour, in my experience.

Airport hotel

If you have an early flight and want to avoid the hassle of Bangkok traffic, there is a hotel connected to this airport. The Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel, which is locally considered a deluxe category hotel, has a plush design with lots of carpets and the lobby even has a piano.

I found the hotel easy to reach and a comfortable place to spend time by the airport. I especially enjoyed the classic Thai dining options available. There’s also a pool to beat that Bangkok heat. And if you’re just looking to spend the day here, day rates are available, too.

Terminal building

DMK is a small, easy to navigate airport with just two manageable terminals. Terminal 1 is for international flights and newly renovated Terminal 2 is for domestic flights. The two terminals are connected by an elevated, glass walkway after security so you can travel between them easily. Departure gates are on the second level for both terminals.

Airport dining

Although the airport is not big, it does have plenty of dining options and many of them are open 24 hours. Black Canyon Coffee at Gate 53 is my clear favorite here with a wide array of international (but locally roasted) beans. Red Diamond, at Terminal 2 arrivals (en route to the taxi stand), also has great specialty coffee and sells beans, which I find to be a great gift to bring back from Thailand.

The Magic Point food court offers Bangkok-style street food options like spicy papaya salad, tom yum soup and classic pad Thai. I find the food court dishes to be just as good as they are downtown, so it’s worth eating here if you’re hungry.

Shopping amenities

DMK airport has a pharmacy (Boots) and a 7-Eleven convenience store ,both open 24 hours per day with some fascinating over-the-counter medications and beauty products that I have never seen elsewhere. The airport also has various shops for clothes and shoes, but they take their duty-free shopping very seriously here so dive in if that is your relish.

The most unique and special store I’ve found here is Jim Thompson silk. This store has everything you could imagine in the finest Thai silk. Scarves from Jim Thompson are a great souvenir or gift for someone back home.

Additional amenities

There are multiple banks, cash ATMs, and money exchanges both before and after security in each terminal. There is also free Wi-Fi that allows 2-hour increments of connection, but it’s somewhat unreliable. After your two hours are up, you simply have to log back in to reconnect, so it’s essentially unlimited.

If you need medical help (and sometimes that Thai heat can really do you in) there are medical facilities on the first floor of Terminal 1 and at the arrivals hall in Terminal 2.

Luggage wrapping

I have found that sometimes it is wise to wrap large pieces of luggage in plastic, especially if I plan to check in a bag with valuables. I just like the peace of mind of having an extra layer of security on my bag, especially if I don’t plan to open it again until I return home.

There are a few bag wrapping stations at DMK where they can do this for you near check-in desks at both terminals. It’s a quick process and they only charge a small fee.

Car rental

Driving in Thailand is surprisingly easy, as long as you allow yourself to be patient. Just remember to stay on the left side of the road. As a rule, I find that there is a lot of traffic pretty much everywhere in Thailand, and trucks are prominent on most roads.

The airport offers most major car rental agencies (including Avis, Hertz, Budget and Europcar) along with a few smaller, local ones like Chic Car Rent. Most of these agencies are open 24 hours per day and are easily spotted as you exit the secure side of the airport on arrival.

Lounges

There are just a few lounges at DMK and they are all located airside. Unlike many airports, all of the lounges here can be accessed for a small fee. In my experience, the best is the Coral Executive Lounge, and they have three of these at this airport. For an additional charge, Coral lounges also have shower facilities if needed. There are no route or airline restrictions – just an entrance fee.

Luggage storage

If you’re cruising all over Asia on little planes like I love doing, I find it useful to leave large bags, extra clothes and gifts in the airport lockers. DMK airport has luggage lockers pre-security for a rather inexpensive fee, though this increases for longer periods of storage. You can leave your belongings here for several months. Note that you will need your passport for this transaction.

Observation deck

Something old school that I love about this airport is that they still have an observation deck to watch aircraft coming in and out. It’s in Terminal 1 on the fourth floor. Speaking of observation, between the two runways is a golf course, and golfers are held back every time a plane lands – just a little quirk of an old airport that always makes me smile.