Chiang Mai International Airport — Attraction in Chiang Mai Province

Overview Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) serves the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. As the main airport in northern Thailand, it provides both domestic and international flights. The airport has undergone expansion and renovations in recent years to accommodate rising passenger numbers.

Terminal Facilities The single terminal at CNX is spacious and modern. Check-in areas feature self service kiosks and counters for both domestic and international flights. Security screening areas tend to be fairly efficient. The departures area has a good selection of duty free shops, restaurants and cafes. Gate seating is ample. Free WiFi is available throughout the terminal. There are also luggage storage and passenger shower facilities.

Arrivals Arriving passengers can exit straight into the public pick-up area or through to the taxi ranks. Getting an airport taxi or arranging a pickup is straightforward. The arrivals area also has currency exchange booths, ATMs, SIM card vendors and ground transportation counters. Luggage delivery is quite fast once at the carousels.

Transportation Taxis are readily available for getting to and from central Chiang Mai. Rides take about 15-20 minutes and cost around 120-150 THB. For cheaper transport, shuttle buses run regularly to/from the airport for around 50-60 THB per person. Downtown is also accessible by shared red songthaew trucks.

Overall Experience The airport is well-organized with friendly staff. Navigation is easy given the single terminal. Flight delays are not too common. The only main negatives are the lack of train/metro access and the fact the airport is a bit distant from the city center. However, transportation options are plentiful. For a mid-sized city airport, Chiang Mai International punches above its weight in terms of facilities and services.

In summary, the airport provides a solid travel experience and is suitable for tourist, business and resident travelers. Improvements in recent years have expanded capacity and...

They say Thailand is the land of smiles. After spending 8 days in North Thailand, it does feel like that. The exception has to be the Chiang Mai Airport. This airport feels more North Korea than North Thailand.

I have been in more than 200 airports across 5 continents, and the experience here has to rank among the worst ever.

I cannot recall the last time I had to stand in line for more than an hour to clear customs and immigration at Departure (yes, Departure, not Arrival). The officers were plain disorganised, rude, and cocky. The time we were standing in line, we witnessed maybe 10 different shouting matches between different groups of passengers with the officers. There was incessant crying from children who were too tired/bored/scared standing in line waiting to just get on the plane and out of the place.

Apparently nobody has also taught the officers not to bully children. There was a lady officer who kept raising her voice at children in the queue, including my 6-yo when it was our turn to have our passports examined, "You hold your own passport and give it to me! If your father gives me your passport, I will not take it and you stay keep standing here!" It took alot of effort for me to avoid screaming back at her like the many other groups of passengers screaming at officers.

Unfortunately, it looked like it was mostly only budget airlines which are interested to fly in/out of this airport. Therefore it did not look like there was an option to purchase premium-class tickets and then hope for a less traumatic experience.

I pity the business owners who set up shops and F&B outlets in the transit area. Nobody was stopping at any of those. People who finally cleared customs and immigration were mostly literally running to the washroom (after holding bladders for 1.5 hours), and then running to their...

Chiang Mai International Airport, located in northern Thailand, offers a pleasant and convenient travel experience. During my recent visit, I found that the prices of products and services at the airport were quite reasonable. Additionally, the airport itself was not overly large but still modern and efficient.

One aspect that stood out to me was the affordability of the goods available at the airport. Whether it was souvenirs, snacks, or duty-free items, I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonable prices. It was refreshing to see that the airport did not take advantage of tourists by inflating prices unnecessarily.

The airport, while not as sprawling and busy as some other international airports, still provided all the necessary amenities and facilities. From check-in to security, everything was well-organized and efficient. Despite its smaller size, the airport had a modern and clean appearance, with comfortable seating areas and clear signage.

When it came to dining options, the choices were a bit limited. The majority of the available options were fast food or quick-service restaurants. While these options may not offer the most gourmet or authentic dining experiences, they did serve their purpose for a quick and convenient meal before or after a flight. I would have appreciated a wider variety of dining options, including more local cuisine.

Overall, I found Chiang Mai International Airport to be a pleasant and satisfactory travel hub. The reasonable prices of products and services were a definite highlight, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers. While the dining options were somewhat limited, the airport's modern and efficient facilities compensated for this minor inconvenience. For those traveling to or from Chiang Mai, this airport provides a convenient and...