Suvarnabhumi International Airport - Arrival: International, Domestic, Immigration & Lobby

Suvarnabhumi International Airport ushers a traveler arriving in Thailand. The airport is a tourist-friend commune; a transient community of people with places to go. International arrival understandably takes a little more time due to the immigration formalities. You arrive and rush your way to the immigration counters with your filled-up forms. Queue til you get your turn then hand in your passport and immigration forms, then a departure card is stapled to your passport which is given back to you. A photograph is also taken of you so be sure to take off eye glasses, bonnets, hats, etc. Some nationals are asked to show return tickets so you might as well have them with you, just in case.

Just after the immigration counters are rows of foreign exchange counters... the same hall where you claim your checked in baggage. You may choose to buy some Thai baht there, but there are several more counters at the arrival lobby... and the exchange rate isn't all that different. Changing money may be a little better once you're in the city, but they're hard to find if you arrive after midnight. You do have to pay your taxi in cash... so make sure to buy some Thai baht for your fare out of the airport.

Domestic arrival is obviously faster since there's no immigration formalities to deal with. What's more, if you arrive in daylight, you get to see the beautiful garden as you step into the baggage claim hallway.

The Arrival Lobby is located at the 2nd level of the airport. This lobby has information counters, as well as a Tourist Information of Thailand (TAT) at the extreme end of the hall. If you have queries, someone will be there to help you get some answers even at 2AM or 4AM. They also have free brochures and maps to some of the more popular destinations of the country.

This lobby also has the Left Luggage, a Tourist Police Assistance Center, several foreign exchange counters, and shops like 7-11, Family Mart, Boots Pharmacy, The News, etc. You can take a taxi from the first level of the building (via elevator, escalator or walkalator if you're using carts with over-sized bags). ATM machines and toilets are available in the same level.

Taxis are preferred instead of limousine service. These metered taxis are available in taxi counters just outside level one (1st floor). The city link trains are available between 6AM to 12 midnight, and you can access this from the 1st level area. It's cheap, fast and convenient. Most one-way ticket to the city center won't cost you more than 40B. Do NOT get return train tickets unless you will return within the same day. The ticket counter will ask you if you want a return or not. A train ticket is good only on the day of purchase.

Have a safe and fun time in Bangkok.

This is the Eye in the Sky!


Walkalator upon your arrival in Suvarnabhumi.


Queue at the Immigration Counters. Photography is prohibited. Be discreet if you're taking photos (like me) and shut the flash! This explains the blurred quality of these immigration photos.


Queue at the Immigration Counter. these counters are labelled accordingly for Local or Foreign Passports.


The view after passing through immigration: getting stamped in!


Claim your baggage at the International Baggage Claim. These baggage stands have signs containing your flight number and your city of origin.


There are 2-3 foreign exchange counters right after immigration, but there's more at the arrival lobby. These counters are open even at 3AM.


Baggage Counter at the Domestic Arrival Hall!


Amazing view of a lush garden upon arrival at the domestic wing.








Lobby at Level 2.





Rotating entrance at Level 2


Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) information booth


Arrival Lobby, 2nd level


Some shops at the arrival lobby.


7-11


Boots Pharmacy


Family Mart - there's another branch at the 3rd and 1st level. This is a 24-hour convenience store.


Left Luggage near the Tourist Police Station at the 2nd level.


Tourist Police. They have good visibility especially during the day.


General Information and a little history of Suvarnabhumi - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2008/04/bangkoks-suvarnabhumi-international.html

Walkalator to the 1st level if you're pushing a cart with you. You can get your taxis there. This is also the way to the trains.

Mactan Cebu International Airport Arrival Hall

Arriving in Cebu, a traveler is ushered into this relatively laidback metropolis through the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) located in Mactan Island which is a mere 20 minute ride to Cebu City center, barring traffic. But traffic has engulfed the byways that take you to the city center so expect a plodding, snail-paced ride as you get to and away from the airport. My trip to the city center (Fuente Osmena area) took 40 minutes; and a bit faster - 30 minutes getting back to the airport from the centro.

Arrival is pretty much a straight forward affair. You deplane and head straight to a common hall (above) for your baggage claim. This hall also leads straight to the exit doors. Within the same hall, you find a helpful information counter that will suggest hotels for you (they'll ask what your budget is) and has information on several other concerns.

If you require left luggage facility, head leftwards to find Ibales Baggage Depository (see below for rates) just beside the entrance for passengers with connecting flights. There's not much here in terms of shops which are mostly found at the Departure Hall located at the other end of the building.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE COUNTER

Arrival Hall has 2 Foreign Exchange counters. The one beside a souvenir shops (left, if you're standing from the baggage claim facing exit) is open from 5:30AM to 11:30PM. There's another stand-alone counter near the post just before the exit door, but they seem to have different times, but most probably has the same schedule as the aforementioned. There is no ATM machine at the arrival hall, but you can proceed to the departure hall and find a couple of ATM machines - if you need to withdraw local money upon arrival.

TAXIS

Once outside Arrival Hall, there's a narrow lane that faces the departure hall building where , from across, your welcome party waits. Posts are marked 21-23, and so on thus you can use these posts as point of reference. If you're leaving the airport on your own, then there are three types of taxis to consider: a fixed-rate taxi (which is pricey) a yellow airport taxi, and the white metered public taxi which is the cheapest option.

Get the white metered taxis (photo below). White taxis queue and wait for passengers near the airport entrance so head towards that queue (cross the road to the front building and turn right). This queue is accessible at the end of the departure building. A guard will moderate the queue and give you a coupon before entering your cab (just in case you have complaints about your ride).

The Yellow Airport Taxis which start their flag-down rate at Ph70 then an additional P4 for every 300 kilometers to your destination. Once again, you're given a complaints coupon bearing your taxi number just in case there's a reportable incident. Possible infractions are enumerated on that piece of paper: rude driver, no meter, overcharging, etc.

Yellow taxis are expensive, almost 2x the rate you'll get compared to the ordinary white metered taxis - but you don't have to haggle anymore - or worry about overpricing. The 3rd and more expensive option is the fixed-rate taxis - so let me not discuss this further. Cebu drivers are relatively an honest lot - and in my numerous Cebu visits, I realized that these yellow taxis or fixed rate taxis are not necessary anymore. Save up and use the white-metered taxis. Prepare to pay between PhP230 to PhP260 if your destination is Cebu City. 

If you're heading to Talisay or Danao, then taxi would be an expensive option. When I asked one my downtown hotels how much they charge for their hotel service, it was a whooping P600. Why pay that much when most rates shouldn't cost you more than PhP250? 

The airport is the Philippines' second primary gateway after the NAIA airports in Luzon. The terminal building incorporates both international and domestic flights with a combined capacity for almost 5 million passengers. However, with such estimates, MCIA feels small, and hallways have low ceilings. Plans are underway for expansion and and the construction of two more boarding bridges or jetways to complement the existing four. A new cargo terminal has also been proposed.

The more exciting news is, MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete also proposes to establish a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, not dissimilar to Malaysia's Rapid Transit system, to transport airport passengers to and from MCIAA from different parts of Cebu. This will complement and maybe integrated into the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System being planned in Cebu City.

Arrival Hallway

CARRIERS

Airlines flying into MCIA are as follows: Air Busan, AirPhil Express, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Jeju Air, Korean Air, Mid-Sea Express, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, SilkAir, Tiger Airways, and Zest Airways. Air Asia and Tiger Air have been added to this rooster. Before we forget, the airport has a terminal fee of P200 ($4.60) payable in local currency, but most tickets incorporate this upon purchase..

PORTERAGE

If you require help in carrying your luggage, porterage service charges PhP10 for the first two baggage, then another PhP10 for every succeeding items. That's exceedingly cheap, if you ask me. Otherwise, trolleys are free.

This is the Eye in the Sky.

The way out from the arrival hall.

Arrival hallway where the baggage claim is.

Alegre Beach Resort booth has folded and is replaced with a Foreign Exchange Counter and an Insurance Company (Mapfre/Insular). This foreign exchange counter is open from 5:30AM to 11:30PM.

Currency Exchange  and a Mapfre/Insular Insurance Corporation booth. Beside this, to its right, is the "Arrival Shop" selling stuff like flipflops and souvenir items. Forex is open from 5:30AM to 11:30PM.

Ibales Luggage Depository is the airport's Left Luggage service. It is located on the same hall as the baggage claim (at the far end, left of the conveyors). To leave a baggage here, you have to submit your baggage at the security check first. Once done, take your bags at Ibales, complete a "Deposit Form", remove any cash or jewelry from them.

The rate is as follows: 0 to 2 hours - P75; 2 to 4 hours - P150; 4 to 10 hours - P250; 10 to 24 hours - P300. For over-sized baggage (bikes and surfboards) - 0 to 2 hours - P200, 2 to 4 hours - P300; 4 to 10 hours - P400; 10 to 24 hours - P500. Baggage not claimed 45 days from depositing them becomes Ibales' property.

Outside the arrival hall. The opposite side is where the Waiting area is. Greeters wait just across (though it's not much of a place).

Diagonal Parking just outside the arrival hall. To get to the white taxi stand, cross this road and turn right until you reach a stair to your left. On top of the stair and to the right is the taxi stand for white metered taxis. There is no haggling here and is generally safe. Taxi coupons are given to you by a guard before getting inside your cab.

White metered taxis queue by the shed, located just outside the arrival hall. This is near the airport entrance. A guard gives away coupons and facilitates the queue of passengers and taxis.

Airport Taxi counter - yellow taxis to transport you to your destination. At the arrival building just across this arrival lobby is the queue for the cheaper white metered taxis. To get to the cheaper non-airport taxis, you have to cross the street and wheel yourself out of the front building (the arrival hall). White metered taxis queue just in front and the guard will give you a coupon just in case you have complaints about your taxi ride.

Yellow taxis are metered but they have higher rates per kilometer travelled. You get them from a taxi queue just outside the arrival hall. The cheaper option is the white metered taxis available at another stand across this road and up a stair, at the entrance of the airport.

NAIA Terminal 3 Arrival Hall (2011) - Part 2 of 5

I love coming out of the immigration and custom counters, gliding down the escalator to the baggage claim area with this view. It takes my breath away every single time. The white pillars, glistening floors, unobtrusive interior lighting all come together to usher you into the city. You see, some arrivals aren't always pleasant.

WHY IT ISN"T ALWAYS FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

I recently overheard an immigartion lady - yes, a youngish college-looking lady - speak in her loudest voice, I could hear her 4 counters away with clarity. She was talking to a Taiwanese national. "Where is your return ticket?" "What exact time is your flight departure?" "Are you in transit or are you staying longer?" This degree of rudeness - yes, RUDENESS, is unbecoming of a country who prides itself in being hospitable - in the land of smiles.

Arrival Hall exit from the baggage claim hallway. You'll come out this way, and the left wing exit as well. You can't miss the welcome party from the rails.

The airport clinic is located here at the arrival hall which seems to be an ëntrance door"of several airport personnel as well.

For tourists who expect a hotel pick-up, you'll see this "firing squad" line just after exiting the baggage claim hall. Expect these ladies and gentlemen bearing your name on white boards.

I shiver at the thought of other countries welcoming me that way. It is NOT always "Fun in the Philippines", Mr. Tourism Secretary. Nope. I know the difference between civility (and "just doing our job") and rudeness. A few seconds later, a well-fed middle-aged Customs Official was kicking the carton box of an Indian national. Another one was rummaging carelessly through someone else's huge baggage, questioning why he has toys which, to me didn't seem an inordinate amount. What if you had a big family? There is something amiss here. Manners are important to welcome visitors - and these are visitors! Civil service demands rightful conduct. Unfortunately, you can't always teach manners in school.

This is the arrival hall's baggage claim area. From here, walk through those unmanned yellow counters and out to the exit where a throng gathers to meet their arriving guests.

The only Duty-Free Shop at the international arrival hall just BEFORE you do your immigration/customs formalities. Most people rush on and do their last-minute shopping right after they've cleared immigration. But some can't wait. :)

NAIA Terminal 3 Arrival Lobby.

NAIA 3's Arrival Hall is open to a traveler's or a tourist's welcome party. There is a Viewing Gallery just facing the exit hall, located at the mezzanine floor, between the Departure Level and the Arrival hallway. There are a couple of restaurants available here; a Car Rental Service Booth (a conglomerate serviced by Avis, Hertz, Nasugbu, Alamo, etc). ATM Machines (RCBC, PNB, BPI Express) and a Forex Booth; a left luggage secure storage facility called "Luggage and More", a Lost and Found Service, toilets, and some telephone booths. The Pre-Paid Taxi Booth is located outside, between Bays 6 to 10. (Go out of the main exit door and turn to your right.)

For overseas foreign workers, there's now an OWWA and POEA Counters near the Cebu Pacific Office at the left wing of the hall. A Protectabag Counter is beside this OWWA Counter which wraps bags starting from P160.

If you want to be met outside the hall, the most central place would be between Bays 5 to 7 outside, just for reference.

At the left wing of the Arrival Hall, where most welcoming committee wait for their guests, there are a few restaurants: "Le Bistro", "Mommy's Goodies and Foodtsuff", "Chubby China", "Eat+Drink" which is open 24-7. It also has a Fruit Tea Mix stall beside it. The latest restaurant is Tsim Sha Tsui located just beside Burger King franchise at the right wind, near the left luggage facility.

Another interesting option for pasalubongs (gifts) is Claudettes, a stall near the exit gates (right wing). It sells brazo de mercedes, sandwiches, chocolate cakes, brownies, mamon. tiramisu, cheesecakes, canned drinks, etc.

Nearby, there are a couple of ATM machines: BPI and PNB. PNB (Philippine National Bank) also has a cash counter. A NAIA Car Rental can be found here as well. Just across the waiting hall (where well wishers could wait for their guests as the latter leave the baggage area), there's a "Scoop International" if you require your ice cream fix.

UPDATE

SCHEDULES OF SHOPS and COUNTERS

As of February 17, 2015, first level has opened several bank counters and foreign exchange center. Land Bank forex is open from 8:30AM to 3PM for banking transactions, but their forex is open 24-hours. Philippine National Bank and Metro Bank are open 24 hours. The following have ATM machines at the arrival hall: PBB, BPI and PNB. There's a yellow-colored stand-alone Forex counter that's open 24 hours near one of the exits. Philtrust Bank is open for money exchange until 6PM.

Banco de Oro (BDO), one of the biggest banks of the country, has opened a counter at the arrival hall. They open at 8AM up to 12 midnight. Also, this was the only counter where a guard manning the counter did NOT want to answer a straight forward question, i.e. what time do they close. "Saan po kayo, sir? Para saan po yan?" he asked me before finally hesitating with a "12 midnight, sir." Geez. What's wrong with these BDO people. It's a simple and common question. You'd think they were operating an illegitimate business.

This Forex Counter is the only one found at the domestic arrival area's baggage claim hall, just before exiting. It is open until 7PM. At the International Arrival's side, the counter also closes at 7PM. If you're out of luck or cash, there are several 24-hour Forex Counters open 24 hours just after exiting the baggage claim area.

PBCom and PSBank also have their own ATM machines. RCBC has its own ATM at the departure hall, front. At the back, after check-in is a Citibank and Land Bank ATM. There is another Forex Counter just before getting into the pre-departure area (domestic and international) - and its open 24 hours.

Can you shop or dine during the wee hours? Of course. There are ATM machines and forex counters everywhere. Outside the pre-departure hall, most duty free shops are open, even the restaurants. A new shop called "Don't Forget About the Kids" (a toy shop) is open 24 hours. Coffee Bean closes at 2AM. The new McDonalds, Jollibee, Dimsum and Dumplings; Kenny Roger's Roasters, and Wendy's are open 24 hours. 7-11 is open 24 hours. Seattle's Best, near 7-11, is open 24 hours. Shakey's close at 10PM. The new Havaianna's store closes at 10PM (near McDo). Cowan Asian restaurant closes at 10PM. Kenko Spa, if you fancy a massage, is open 24 hours as well. Raiku Japanese Restaurant is open 24 hours - and so is Yellow Cab if you fancy a pizza or pasta. Chubby China restaurant at the arrival hall is open 24 hours. Burger King at the arrival hall closes at 12 midnight.

Pre-departure shops mostly close at 10PM and open at 2AM. Espressamente for your caffeine fix, closes at 8:30PM; Nescafe shop opens at 7:30AM and closes at 8PM. Victoria Secret at the domestic predeparture hall opens at 2AM and closes at 8PM. The one and only Foreign Exchange counter at the domestic predeparture opens from 2AM to 6PM only. Cafe France closes at 5PM. National Bookstore opens from 6AM and closes shop at 6:30PM. KR Express grocery opens from 2AM to 6PM.

Army Navy shop near gate 33 closes at 6PM. Krispy Kreme opens from 2AM to 6PM.

AVOID MARY GRACE CAFE

And just so you avoid delays, if you're taking a meal or snack at the Food Court, we feel we need this special mention. Avoid Mary Grace Cafe. The place is messy, the servers are inattentive and take forever to serve you and they forget orders. 

This is the Eye in the Sky.

RCBC Money Exchange Counter. To the left are 2 ATM machines; to the right are some telephones.

Just at the corner, under this escalator, is the Left Luggage Room. Turn right.

Airport staff and maintenance crew in green shirts queuing for something. As an update, this once-empty hallway has been opened and now leads to the covered parking building.

Le Bistro

Mommy's Goodies and Foodstuff

Chubby China

Claudette's 

DOT's Tourist Information Counter

BPI ATM machine

PNB's banking counter

Rent a mobile wifi at "Roam Buddy"" where a wifi unit can set you back PhP1,500 for a 3-day use. 

Globe and Smart offer "free" traveler sim for tourists. It is really free but you'd have to purchase load for the sim, of course.

Burger King is near "Luggage and More".

We know of "Tsim Sha Tsui"as that popular area in Hong Kong's Kowloon district, but it has its namesake in an airport shop in Cebu. Now, it's also in Manila's Terminal 3, beside Burger King. Food here is delicious but serving is rather small. Try their sweet and sour pork, meat spring roll, quail egg siu mai or their congee with spiced egg.

A Duty-Free Shop (above and below) has just opened at the right wing of the arrival hall near the entrance to the covered parking and "Burger King" to its left.

Duty-Free Shop on the way to the Covered Parking Building

This display near just in front of the new Duty-Free Shop baffles me. It's ugly, occupies too much space and doesn't even have signage that describes what it is exactly.

The stair at the left wing leads to the mezzanine level where there are the administrative offices, the terminal chapel and the Viewing Gallery.

PUBLIC BUSES AND AIRPORT SHUTTLES

The airport has an "Airport Loop" service, a shuttle that transports passengers among Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4. The shuttle usually parks at or near the Arrival Bay 8. This will transport passengers from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4. This service is free for ticketed passengers, but if there's a nonticketed passenger accompanying you, a minimal fee of PhP20 will be charged to the nonpassenger. This shuttle is supposed to be available 24 hours a day but I have my doubts re: "24 hours". This is one option other than the taxi. There has to be enough time allotted for travel between the 2 terminals because of intermittently heavy traffic between the terminals.

Buses that ply out of the airport and beyond are actually available here. I have to say that I haven't tried this bus service but it looks convenient if you want to head to, say Ayala, Ortigas, Cubao, Trinoma, Balintawak, Alabang, Alabang, etc. This route is posted on a photo here. Please DO NOT ask me for more information about this bus service because I will not reply to such query.

The Airport Loop shuttles among the 4 terminals 1 to 4. Free for ticketed passengers , but PhP20 for non-ticketed. Look for these shuttles at Bay 8 or thereabouts at the Arrival Exit.

Public Commuter Bus (please read above and check out the published route below).

Published route of the Public Commuter Bus at the arrival exit, usually at Bay 8 or thereabouts.

Numbered columns as waiting "bays" just outside the Arrival Hall. The Pre-Paid Taxi Booth is somewhere between Bays 6 to 10. Parking is just across this road.

Numbered Bays for reference.

Spacious zen-inspired male toilet.

Check out Basic Information on NAIA 3 here: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/08/naia-terminal-3-manila.html

More on NAIA 3 - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-naia-terminal-3-and-rude-skies-of.html

NAIA 3 2011 Departure Hall & Services - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2011/02/naia-terminal-3-departure-hall-up-close.html

NAIA Terminal 3 Takes in Some Color - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2014/10/naia-terminal-3-takes-in-some-color.html

UP NEXT - Parts 3, 4, 5

For specific inquiries, here are some important telephone numbers and email addresses at the T3:

Airport Trunkline	+63.2.877-7888
Terminal Manager	+63.2.666-1513	tm.3@miaa.gov.ph
Asst. Terminal Manager	+63.2.425-2262	atm.3@miaa.gov.ph
Terminal Operations	+63.2.666-1512	to.3@miaa.gov.ph
Concierge	+63.2.666-1474	conc.3@miaa.gov.ph
Lost & Found	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8139	iid@miaa.gov.ph
Bureau of Animal Industry	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8238/8239	quarantine_bai@yahoo.com
Bureau of Customs	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8127/8197	info@customs.gov.ph
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8238/8239	bfarmfdc@bfar.gov.ph
Bureau of Immigration	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8128/8187	xinfo@immigration.gov.ph
Bureau of Plant Industry	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8238/8239	buplant@yahoo.com
Bureau of Quarantine	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8125/8193	info@quarantine.doh.gov.ph
DENR Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8238/8239	denrncr_wtmu@yahoo.com
Philippine Overseas Employment Adminnistration	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8051	info@poea.gov.ph
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority	+63.2.877-7888 loc.8159
Customer Relations Center	+63.2.823-0669	crc@miaa.gov.ph
Passenger & Customer Relations	+63.2.877-7888 loc. 8044	pao@miaa.gov.ph
Terminal Administration	+63.2.877-7888 loc. 8074	t3admin@miaa.gov.ph
Terminal Security & Safety	+63.2.877-7888 loc. 8129	tss@miaa.gov.ph
Terminal Engineering	+63.2.877-7888	te3@miaa.gov.ph