Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Free shuttle: inner roadway at Gate 3, Level 2, main terminal
View travel guidance →Suvarnabhumi–Don Mueang Airport Transfer(Suvarnabhumi–Don Mueang Airport Transfer)
If both BKK and DMK appear on your tickets, you must leave one airport and travel to the other. The free shuttle serves passengers with connecting flights. Check the next flight's departure airport and check-in deadline first, then find the boarding point for your direction.
Four things to check first
Airport code for the next flight
BKK is Suvarnabhumi and DMK is Don Mueang. They are different airports, even when both flight listings name Bangkok as the city.
Luggage and immigration procedures
Because you are changing airports, check with your airline whether you must complete immigration, baggage collection and customs. Do not assume your bags will transfer automatically to the next flight.
Check-in and baggage acceptance deadlines for your next flight
Check your next airline's check-in, checked-baggage and gate closing times. Arriving at the airport is not the same as completing boarding.
Transport and documents
If the shuttle is running and you can show a connecting ticket and ID, consider the free shuttle. Otherwise compare taxis and prebooked pickups.
Free shuttle boarding points in both directions
| Direction of travel | Boarding point | How to get there |
|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi BKK → Don Mueang DMK | BKK main terminal, Level 2 · Inner road by Door 3 | Arrivals → Gate 3 shuttle counter → document check → bus |
| Don Mueang DMK → Suvarnabhumi BKK | DMK Terminal 1 international building · Level 1, Door 6 | Check your arrival terminal → Terminal 1, Level 1 → Gate 6 shuttle signs |
Free shuttle eligibility and required documents
The shuttle is for passengers connecting between flights at the two airports. Prepare your next flight's ticket or proof of onward travel, plus your passport or ID. Save the booking screen so you can show it offline.
This is not a free city bus for ordinary sightseers or visitors travelling to the airport without a flight. Have your documents checked at the counter before boarding.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's BKK→DMK guidance asks for a Don Mueang flight ticket or e-ticket departing within 24 hours of arrival at Suvarnabhumi, plus a passport. Have the booking for that direction ready and confirm boarding conditions at the counter.
| What to prepare | What to check |
|---|---|
| Connecting ticket and booking evidence | Next departure airport, date, flight number and booking name |
| Passport or ID | Original documents used to identify the passenger |
| Guidance from your next airline | Check-in, baggage acceptance and gate closing times |
Operating hours, waiting time and connection allowance
If you arrive just after a shuttle leaves, you must wait for the next one. Flight delays and traffic can add further time, so do not judge whether your connection is possible using driving time alone.
If you bought the two flights separately, ask each airline about changes and protection if a delay causes you to miss the next flight. If the connection looks too tight, contact the next airline and consider transport alternatives before waiting for the shuttle.
| Item | Information | What to allow for in your itinerary |
|---|---|---|
| Operating hours | 05:00~24:00 | Check alternative transport for late-night arrivals or departures |
| Departure interval | BKK official guidance: every 30 minutes | Add the bus waiting interval to the journey time |
| Driving time | Depends on road traffic | Check current driving estimates in map directions just before departure |
| Total transfer time | Immigration and baggage collection + shuttle wait + road journey + next-flight procedures | Count the entire period from your first flight's arrival to the next flight's departure |
Both airports and directions in either direction
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airport locations
Select a pin for its location and related travel guidance.
Pins show airport facility locations. Use the boarding table above for the levels and gates in both directions. The directions links below show road routes and estimates.
Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
Free shuttle: Gate 6, Level 1, Terminal 1 international building
View travel guidance →Taking the free shuttle and catching your next flight
Prepare your luggage and documents at the arrival airport
Complete the immigration, baggage collection, customs and other procedures required for your flight, then have your next flight's ticket ready.
Go to the counter for your direction of travel
At BKK, use Level 2, Door 3. At DMK, use Terminal 1, Level 1, Door 6.
Show your connecting ticket and ID
Check eligibility and the next bus at the counter.
Boarding the bus and checking luggage
Load large bags as directed by staff, and keep your passport and next-flight documents with you.
After arriving, go to the next flight's terminal and counter
Follow the next flight's departure guidance and complete the required check-in, baggage drop, security and immigration procedures.
If the shuttle is unsuitable: taxis and prebooked pickups
Even in a taxi, give the next airport's name and terminal rather than just Bangkok. Pin Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) on the map and confirm it with the driver.
| Mode of transport | When choosing | Check costs and boarding |
|---|---|---|
| Regular airport taxi | Outside shuttle hours, ineligible for the shuttle, or travelling immediately rather than waiting | Check meter or long-distance terms + airport surcharge + actual tolls · prepare cash |
| Prebooked pickup | For larger groups or when arranging luggage and child seats in advance | For an airport-change transfer, check the destination, passenger and luggage numbers, whether tolls are included, and the waiting policy for delayed flights. |
| Grab and ride-hailing services | When comparing vehicles and estimated fares in an app | Check the departure airport's assigned pickup point, payment method and extra charges |
Continue from your arrival airport to the city
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the free shuttle without a connecting ticket?
AOT provides this service for passengers with connecting flights between the two airports and requires an onward flight ticket or travel evidence and identification.
Can I board directly at Don Mueang's domestic arrivals building?
The free inter-airport shuttle boarding point is listed as Gate 6, Level 1 of Terminal 1, the international building. Go there from your arrival terminal.
Is there a direct airport train between the two airports?
The free shuttle on this page travels by road. ARL and the Red Line are separate railways and do not directly connect both airports on one train.
If I checked in online, can I go straight to the gate on arrival?
Checked luggage or document checks may require a counter or Bag Drop procedure. Follow the next airline's instructions.
More airport transfer guides
View official sources · 4
AOT BKK shuttle boarding point, eligibility and frequency ↗
AOT DMK: Terminal 1, Level 1, Door 6 ↗
Thai Government guidance on boarding at Don Mueang ↗
Tourism Authority of Thailand: BKK→DMK connecting ticket within 24 hours ↗
Fares and hours follow each official published guide. Check the applicable conditions on the actual ticket purchase screen and the airport's information that day.