Landing At Don Mueang International Airport In Bangkok

Posted by : foongpc | Friday, May 17, 2013 | Published in

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Last January I flew to Bangkok for a short holiday with a friend. I can almost hear some of you loyal readers shouting out loud "Again?!!"

Yes, again.

In fact, this must be my 5th time holidaying in Bangkok. I am not sure why, but I just don't seem to get tired of this city. There are always new things to discover and I have enjoyed every single one of my trips there.

Read More > Things I Did In Bangkok

Only this time, instead of landing at my favorite Suvarnabhumi International Airport, my AirAsia flight had diverted to the older and much smaller Don Mueang International Airport. In case you didn't know, AirAsia had moved all flight operations from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang since October 1st, 2012.

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However, I was quite pleased that there were less crowd at Don Mueang, although I must say it was quite annoying to find our luggage coming out from another conveyor belt instead of the one where we were supposed to wait! Not very efficient eh?

But wait! I have jumped the line. There's something I wanted to tell you regarding my flight with AirAsia.

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While boarding the plane to Bangkok at LCCT in Malaysia, the male flight attendant asked me to place my backpack in the luggage compartment above the seats. I was surprised as I have flown with AirAsia so many times, and this is the first time I was asked to do such a thing.

I told him that I have always placed my backpack on the floor under the seat in front. He told me that was against the rules. No bags allowed on the floor. Really? Since when?

Besides, my backpack was not large and long like a backpacker's backpack if you know what I mean. It's just like a children's school bag! Can you see my backpack on the chair in the picture below?

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Oh by the way, that's the picture of my hotel room in Bangkok. The hotel is a boutique hotel by the name of Bangkok Loft Inn and it's one of the best hotels in that price range that I have ever stayed in Bangkok. More about this hotel in my next post.

Read More > My Experience Flying Thai Airways

Back to my story. I was adamant in NOT placing my backpack in the luggage compartment. The flight steward insisted that I do as he asked. I refused. Deadlock. He was a bit irritated. I was furious. But I kept smiling and so did he. Although I was sure he could see the fakeness in my smile as clearly as I saw the fakeness in his. In the end, the customer won. Hah!

Now tell me, dear readers, did I do anything wrong? If I did, why was I allowed to place my backpack on the floor under the seats every time I flew in an AirAsia plane? Or did they just change the rules?

Anyway, upon landing at Don Mueang International Airport, my friend and I took a taxi to our hotel. The only problem was, the taxi driver did not seem quite sure where exactly our hotel was located.

Coming Up Next : My Stay At Bangkok Loft Inn 

Comments (60)

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Wah I've lost count how many times you went to Bangkok. 5 already? WOW!!!

Last time I check, the rules still say you can place bag on the floor under the seat. Either he's mistaken or there's a new rule we don't know about. Did he confirm this matter with his fellow colleagues?
1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
Nymphadora's avatar

Nymphadora · 638 weeks ago

When I was on my way from Geneva to London on British Airways, I was told by a stewardess that I have to put my satchel bag on the luggage compartment. The bag was very tiny by the way, containing only my passport, boarding ticket and purse. I refused and told her I will just hold it on my lap. She didn't agree. I said under my seat then. Like in your case, the stewardess insisted on the luggage compartment. In the end, I put my bag in the magazine compartment in front of me. It fits perfectly there. She put on a fake smile and walked away.

There were a few ladies carrying huge ass Prada or Coach handbags and none of the stewardess even said anything to them.
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
I think it really depends on the steward/ess on duty. I also usually have a handbag with my on my lap all the times I fly. Sometimes they will ask me to put under the seat but sometimes they let me have it on my lap! But so far never insisted for me to put it in the overhead compartment. I think if you insist to put underneath the seat it is fine too, because that's what's shown in the safety video as well!
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
hmm...you are such a hard customer to handle. haha..... but good on you. I don't find anything wrong with that too.....(to put the bag under the seat). I don't like to put my bag on the compartment above too. Recently, I flew AA flight, and I got no issues with the bag problem. I hugged my bag all the way in the flight like hugging a pillow. haha
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
Wow such annoying? I flew with AA to Bali.. I don't seems to have problem at all. I have back pack too... carrying ipad inside.. nobody question me.. at all.. lol.. ;)
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
no idea! I always put my bags on my lap anyway :) but some flight attendants insist otherwise
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
YES! panda is always right, who on earth can argue with panda? ;)
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
I was a former flight attendant.

Its actually for your safety. Most of the crew are too lazy to do ask passengers to put up the compartment.
Now imagine in an emergency crash landing scenario +fire scenario.

U've 200 passengers with small bags like yours who insisted on putting it below the floor or holding. There will be 200 "small objects" flying around/obstructing the passage ways/strewn all over in an emergency.

It can costs lives

Can you picture that?

By right, the hardworking crew should be commended for asking u to place it above the luggage compartment.

But most of "other" crews are too damn lazy to do it, because they know they have to waste their energy on passengers like yourself x200 pax.
Why bother?
Just serve the meals and get at the end of the month get their paycheck.

What the crew did was for the safety of all pax.
1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
i always put my backpack about the same size as yours underneath the seat than in the luggage compartment, I am not somehow comfortable having my backpack or bags with important things inside be far from my sight.
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
I love going to Bangkok too and I go every year. :P
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
eastcoastlife's avatar

eastcoastlife · 638 weeks ago

Your room at Bangkok Loft Inn looks spacious. i will wait for your review. Hope it is easily accessible by skytrain.
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
did u noticed that u can't adjust the seat anymore in AA? I think many people prefer flying via malindo airways now, but only to kk and kch :(
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
honestly, i have'nt yet experienced to stay in a hotel or
to ride a plane hahaha
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
i like that red plane is was cute and
was my favorite color
My recent post FIRST B(log) DAY (Part 5)
1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
the rooms seems simple yet very comfy!
just the perfect place to rest after long hours of travelling
My recent post FIRST B(log) DAY (Part 5)
1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
have a great day and happy blogging foong,
take care always and god bless you
My recent post FIRST B(log) DAY (Part 5)
1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
Faisal Admar's avatar

Faisal Admar · 638 weeks ago

i'm not sure about you can't place your bag under the seat because usually when i fly, i put it in the luggage compartment..

hey its a nice hotel. i'll be going to bangkok this november.
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1 reply · active 638 weeks ago
I always put my backpack under the seat in front of me..no complain at all!
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1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
What?! LOL! I thought it was stated that can put on the floor under the front seat on the safety sheet right? =/
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1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
haha! so funny! sorry, if it happened to me, I also will refused to do so. Wait, I often put on my lap. hahaha! and they say nothing bout it.
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1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
Anyway, gonna dig out ur BKK post for my BKK trip on July! :p
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1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
Wah! U'd been so many times as well. I only went twice but I love to go again. Just like you, I had never get tired with Bangkok. Plan to go again end of this year although just went during this year CNY
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1 reply · active 637 weeks ago
Regarding ur bag, as far as I know, I guess one of the reason the male flight attendant requested you to put your bag on the above compartment was because either you were sitting in nearby emergency seats. I experienced this when I given a seat near the emergency exit.
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Well, I was not sitting near the emergency exit. In fact, I think I am a few rows behind, at the wing area. So still don't know why!
<3 <3
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