New Airport Bus Service

[Gaybutton]

Thank you Daleinpattaya for sending this to me.

[Jun]

I also read about that in the Bangkok Post. They don't tell us where in Pattaya the bus stops.

The existing airport bus service stops twice on Sukhumvit and in Jomtien. I find that far more convenient than services from Ekkamai, which stop at the northern bus station.
These days, the existing Suvarnabhumi bus can be sold out for 2 or more hours in advance. Therefore, I book in advance, usually either online or by visiting the Jomtien station.
Some additional capacity would be welcome.

The other question would be do these buses go directly, without detours to other stations or ridiculous stops for fuel, food or toilets?
The existing Jomtien~Airport bus is one of the rare bus services that go directly, with no messing around.

[Gaybutton]

They don't tell us where in Pattaya the bus stops.

Or where to catch it to go to the airports or where to get tickets. Wherever it stops, unless you're lucky you will probably need a taxi or baht bus anyway to get from the bus stop to your hotel.

I also don't see anything that tells where within the airports to catch the buses.

Apparently no service is offered between Pattaya and the U-Tapao airport.

If anyone has or gets that information, please post.

It would be nice is they ever build the promised high speed railway between the airports and major cities which would make bothering with the buses obsolete.

[Jun]

Or where to catch it to go to the airports or where to get tickets. Wherever it stops, unless you're lucky you will probably need a taxi or baht bus anyway to get from the bus stop to your hotel.

The last time I arrived at the Northern bus station was probably almost 10 years ago and the Songthaew quoted me 200 baht. He quoted 30 baht to the Thais and they weren't having it either.

If I'm staying in South Pattaya, theoretically I can get off the Jomtien bus on Sukhumvit and take a 10 baht songthaew along Pattaya Tai. Although the service frequency is very low these days and I sometimes get a 50 baht motosai.
Anywhere I might stay in Jomtien is walkable from the Jomtien bus station. There is a 10 baht Songthaew going past that station as well.

Taking a taxi from the northern bus station to Jomtien might add 40 minutes or more to the trip.

At the airports, I presume they will have ticket booths next to the existing operators. Whether these open all day for such an infrequent service is a question.

[Gaybutton]

At the airports, I presume they will have ticket booths next to the existing operators. Whether these open all day for such an infrequent service is a question.

The answers to these questions certainly need to be posted as soon as we can get them.

I'm wondering why this new service is opening at the end of high season rather than earlier. I would say they either weren't ready until now or they want to test the waters and work out the kinks and problems before the next high season.

[Daleinpattaya]

Thank the gods we don’t blame you messenger!!! 55555555

[Jun]

Thank the gods we don’t blame you messenger!!!

Yes. Good that there"s absolutely none of that going on and thank you for sharing the information.

On the other hand, the company that is organising the bus service ought to consider publishing enough detail to allow users to compare the service with the existing options.
Where the bus terminates is a big part of that.
Also how to book.. I'll need a bus a few days after their service commences. If they don't tell me how to find it, I'll use the existing service.

I'm wondering why this new service is opening at the end of high season rather than earlier. I would say they either weren't ready until now or they want to test the waters and work out the kinks and problems before the next high season.

They are also starting with a very low frequency of service. I'd hope this might just be the start and that they might increase the number of buses by the next high season. On a popular route, having services on at least an hourly basis would be sensible.

[Dodger]

.......the company that is organising the bus service ought to consider publishing enough detail to allow users to compare the service with the existing options.

The distance between "Perfect" and "Thailand" is about equal to the circumference of Planet Earth...40,000 kms. So the fact that they published the departure/arrival times is a good start.

Patience (not perfection) is a virtue.

[Jun]

Patience (not perfection) is a virtue.

I think we all learned that some time ago. It's particularly useful with buses and trains.
Although, the existing airport bus is well above average for departing almost on time.

[christianpfc]

BKK to Pattaya or Hua Hin are already covered by line 389 (BKK to Pattaya). Don't know about DMK.

The frequency of the new service is too low. I wouldn't want to wait hours for the next bus. Furthermore, arriving by plane, there is always chance of delays (not just the plane, immigration as well), you might lose your ticket for that. I would only use that service if the next bus happens to be within 1 h of me turning up at the booking counter.