Getting from Don Mueang Airport to Sukhumvit - any good alternatives to Grab?

[jfarang]

So, my flight landed at Don Mueang a bit before 5 pm yesterday, and I tried to book a Grab pickup from the domestic arrivals area, and the Grab drivers just kept accepting my booking request, then canceling as soon as they got stuck in traffic by the international area, and then picking someone up there instead.

After about 45 minutes of this, I wound up walking back into the airport, going New York caveman on the guy at Grab’s customer service counter, and getting him to personally call a driver and get him to show up. By the time I was done, a huge line of customers behind me were demanding the same thing. Overall, it took over an hour to get in a car.

So, I’m wondering two things:

1) Would it make more sense to just walk over to the international arrivals area and book from there?

2) Are there any good alternatives to Grab if you’re a solo traveler trying to get to Sukhumvit from Don Mueang Airport.

 

[h.harris135]

51 minutes ago, jfarang said:

So, my flight landed at Don Mueang a bit before 5 pm yesterday, and I tried to book a Grab pickup from the domestic arrivals area, and the Grab drivers just kept accepting my booking request, then canceling as soon as they got stuck in traffic by the international area, and then picking someone up there instead.

After about 45 minutes of this, I wound up walking back into the airport, going New York caveman on the guy at Grab’s customer service counter, and getting him to personally call a driver and get him to show up. By the time I was done, a huge line of customers behind me were demanding the same thing. Overall, it took over an hour to get in a car.

So, I’m wondering two things:

1) Would it make more sense to just walk over to the international arrivals area and book from there?

2) Are there any good alternatives to Grab if you’re a solo traveler trying to get to Sukhumvit from Don Mueang Airport.

 

Metered taxi ? I took one from DM back to Sukhumvit last year and meter was used with no question asked. Mine was from the international terminal though, and they have a waiting area for taxi inside the terminal which you take a number and wait until your number is called. I landed at rush hour (probably around 5pm same as yours) and the wait for a taxi was about 15-20 minutes. 

[bobblobfish]

If you have time, you can take the SRT Red Line train to Bang Sue station, change to MRT Blue Line and take that to Sukhumvit (Asoke) station. 

Edited February 8, 2025 by bobblobfish

[bgtp]

I took a metered taxi from the domestic terminal a couple of months ago. Had to walk over to a counter to get a number, then waited a couple of minutes for my taxi.  Pretty easy and quick.

[Rocky Rockstar]

12 hours ago, bobblobfish said:

If you have time, you can take the SRT Red Line train to Bang Sue station, change to MRT Blue Line and take that to Sukhumvit (Asoke) station. 

Have done that before and it did take AGES and involve a fair bit of walking (with luggage ofc) but yes is an alternative. Could also get SRT 2 stops to Lak Si Pink Line 2 stops to Wat Phra then sit on the Green line for 1+hr to Asoke.

Although not sure why you couldn’t just get a metered cab from the taxi station easiest way to get a taxi for sure…

 

Edited February 9, 2025 by Rocky Rockstar

[ezxray22]

I would avoid a 5 PM arrival if at all possible.

Ray

[j_omm]

If arriving at Don Muang ,I just go to bus area at start of International arrivals ..wait for bus Number 1 A ..There is  a space at front to put your suitcase ..They levae regularly

This bus will take you to Mo Chit BTS station Sukhumvit Line costs 40 baht takes around 20 mins from DM to Mo Chit,

At Mo Chit buy a ticket at locker around 50 baht to Nana /Asok and trains run every 5 mins or so .

Time wise it beats driving from DM to Sukhumvit esp if there is a lot of traffic on the roads

 

[psi_starstorm]

On 2/9/2025 at 12:39 AM, bobblobfish said:

If you have time, you can take the SRT Red Line train to Bang Sue station, change to MRT Blue Line and take that to Sukhumvit (Asoke) station. 

Is there any reasonable way to take the SRT to Bang Sue, get out at Bang Sue, and then call a car? 
I tried to do this, got out at Bang Sue, and walked around the ENTIRE station (which is huge) and couldn't find anything resembling a car pick-up point. I felt like it might as well have been a station isolated in space. So then I went down and took the blue line after 45 minutes of trying to find a way out lol.

[bobblobfish]

On 8/3/2025 at 9:26 PM, psi_starstorm said:

Is there any reasonable way to take the SRT to Bang Sue, get out at Bang Sue, and then call a car? 

If the main entrance isn't suitable for some reason (I never tried), then my pick would be the MRT Exit 2.

If you're planning to get a car/taxi anyway, Red Line to Bang Sue doesn't save you a ton of time. It might be better to get a taxi directly from the airport (or the main road just outside, to avoid the extra charge and scam attempts). 

 

[psi_starstorm]

On 8/6/2025 at 10:58 PM, bobblobfish said:

If the main entrance isn't suitable for some reason (I never tried), then my pick would be the MRT Exit 2.

If you're planning to get a car/taxi anyway, Red Line to Bang Sue doesn't save you a ton of time. It might be better to get a taxi directly from the airport (or the main road just outside, to avoid the extra charge and scam attempts). 

 

It could just be that the main entrance was closed that day, it was after 5pm but I most doors I tried were locked and wouldn't let me out of the building except one that went to a dumpster area out back. 
Honestly though, the walk from the airport to the red line is so long I'd almost rather take a taxi back anyways and be home by the time I could have gotten to the SRT haha. If you're getting back from a long trip, like 30 hours in a plane type thing it's a lot of walking to do when exhausted. 

[Rocky Rockstar]

Don’t know if I was ripped off but have metered taxis from DM to Suk whacked up in price?

Landed the other day & tried to get a grab (price came up at 425B) but no driver so opted for the metered taxi thinking it would be 500B at most…but it was 600B plus 70B to the driver…!

Journey time was normal so no issues there so dunno is that the normal price now or did my driver have a dodgy meter?

[bgtp]

1 hour ago, Rocky Rockstar said:

Don’t know if I was ripped off but have metered taxis from DM to Suk whacked up in price?

Landed the other day & tried to get a grab (price came up at 425B) but no driver so opted for the metered taxi thinking it would be 500B at most…but it was 600B plus 70B to the driver…!

Journey time was normal so no issues there so dunno is that the normal price now or did my driver have a dodgy meter?

I took a metered taxi from Don Muang to Phrom Phong a few days ago. The meter ended up around 300 baht, plus the 50 baht airport surcharge and 140 for tolls. Under 500B all in. Made great time, too; tollway to Rama 4 and in the back way, skipping Sukhumvit.