Bangkok – known for its palaces, markets & tuk-tuks.
It is also the largest city in Thailand while also being its capital.
And there is a high probability that you will fly into Bangkok before taking a domestic flight to your final destination.
Writing a list of all the cool things to do in Bangkok would require another blog post (or a dedicated Bangkok blog), so I will save you from that because you want to know what SIM card and eSIM options are available at the airport.
This guide is about Bangkok's main international airport, not Bangkok's budget/old/regional airport called Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport. You can also get SIM cards at that airport, which you can read in my Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport SIM card buying guide.
Anyway, which SIM cards are available at the airport?
You can get an AIS Thailand, TrueMove H, or Dtac Thailand SIM card for between 249 THB (7.00 USD) and 1549 THB (43.55 USD) at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
That is quite a spread – what gives?
The validity of these SIM cards ranges from seven days to 180 days.
And some SIM cards give you unlimited data and minutes, which adds up (but these plans are still reasonably priced).
Before COVID-19, SIM cards sold at airports were often overpriced.
When I revisited Thailand in March 2023, SIM cards were sold at the official listing prices (again – based on four international airports I visited, including Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport) 🥳.
So you do not have to worry about getting scammed by airport sales staff anymore (as they tried doing to me in 2017 🙄).
Anyway, let's review all your options and see if getting a SIM card at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is even worth it.
Original publication: 11th of April 2023. Last updated: 7th of November 2023.
Table of Contents
Mobile Operators in Thailand
Before I tell you about the SIM card and eSIM options you have at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, you first need to know about all the mobile operators in Thailand.
Thailand has three mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- AIS Thailand
- TrueMove H
- Dtac Thailand
As of March 2023, TrueMove H and Dtac Thailand have become one entity (True Corp). According to CommsUpdate, the two companies must operate as separate corporations for at least three years. So, there will still be dedicated TrueMove H and Dtac Thailand stores, stalls, booths & SIM cards for now.
Thailand is also home to various Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), including My by CAT and Pengiun SIM.
But they heavily throttle their speeds to 256 Kbps, 512 Kbps & 1 Mbps – anything below 6 Mbps is intolerable, I have to say.
You cannot get these SIM cards at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, so you do not have to worry about them.
But I still wanted to let you know in case you cannot or do not buy a SIM card at the airport and buy one in Bangkok proper.
Check out my Thailand SIM card buying guide for more information about Thai SIM cards.
Alright, back to what Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has to offer to us.
Where to Buy a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport?
Several booths and stores at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport sell SIM cards (and eSIMs) from the three Thai mobile operators: AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand.
Unlike some Thai airports (like Phuket International Airport), the arrival halls of the domestic and international terminals at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are under one roof.
Luckily, the distance between the two terminals at Phuket International Airport is only a two- to three-minute walk… it could be worse, like in Australia (up to 45 minutes at Brisbane and Sydney airports!).
If you are reading this, you will most likely be an international arriver, so I will write this guide from that angle.
Before going through customs (so after baggage claim but before entering the arrivals hall), there are plenty of stalls, booths & stores of AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand.
Each mobile operator has three to five stores selling tourist SIM cards.
So if the queue for one mobile operator you are interested in is too long for your liking, walk a minute or two to three other stalls, and you should be fine (especially the ones on the ends – baggage claim area 20-23 and 6-11).
Are the queues still too long? Worry not; after passing customs and entering the actual arrivals hall, the mobile operators have two or three stores selling SIM cards.
Unless you are walking around blindfolded, you cannot miss any of these stores – located before and after customs.
Let's go through each mobile operator to see what they offer us at the airport.
What SIM Cards & Plans does AIS Thailand Sell at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (+Prices)?
AIS Thailand sells its tourist SIM cards at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, costing between 299 THB and 1699 THB.
I will list all the prices in THB (Thai Baht).
To convert THB to your currency (let's say MYR – Malaysian Ringgit) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
AIS, standing for Advanced Info Service, is the largest mobile operator in Thailand.
It is also the mobile operator with the best reception and the fastest overall speeds (on 4G/LTE and 5G NR).
However, TrueMove H and Dtac Thailand announced they will merge into one company (True Corp), which the regulator approved in March 2023.
When they merge, AIS will no longer be the largest mobile operator, but it will still have the best coverage because Dtac Thailand's is trash, lol).
There is no shortage of AIS stores and booths at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, whether in the baggage claim area or the arrivals hall.
You can even get the AIS tourist SIM card in the airport's departure hall.
But why would you put in the effort going there when more accessible options are available 🗿.
Okay, back to arrivals – here, the standard AIS Thailand Tourist SIM cards are available, plus a few variations not available in regular AIS stores.
You have the following six variants:
| Price | Credit | Data | Social Data 2 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 299 THB | 100 THB | 10 GB | Unlimited | 8 days |
| 499 THB | 100 THB | Unlimited 1 | Unlimited | 8 days |
| 699 THB | 50 THB | Unlimited @ 4 Mbps | Unlimited | 15 days |
| 999 THB | 50 THB | Unlimited @ 10 Mbps | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 1399 THB | 200 THB | 100 GB | Unlimited | 15 days |
| 1699 THB | 50 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 at other airports, like Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), you only get 25 GB instead of unlimited data – this is a Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport exclusive
2 for Facebook, Instagram, Line, TikTok, Twitter, WeChat & YouTube
With all plans, except for the 699 THB and 999 THB ones, you get full speeds on the AIS Thailand network, including 5G NR access.
Some out there… I am not naming names… incorrectly claim that speeds are up to 100 Mbps.
I bought the 1399 THB SIM card (paid in cash) with 200 THB credit, 100 GB of (max. speed) data, and unlimited data for select social media apps (Facebook, Instagram, Line, TikTok, Twitter, WeChat & YouTube), valid for 15 days.
Of the 76 speed tests I did for my AIS Thailand review, only 13 of the 76 results were below 100 Mbps.
Most were on islands (Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui), where I did not expect blazing-fast speeds anyway (but still got them).
But with an average download speed of 223.17 Mbps, I can confidently say that your speeds are not throttled to 100 Mbps with AIS Thailand (but some other Thai SIM cards do instead, but more about them later).
Back to AIS Thailand's plans offered at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, I would not go for any plans of these speed-restricted plans, but they can be useful for those wanting to use a lot of data without worrying about hitting their data limit.
As shown in the picture shown earlier, the AIS stores at airports accept cash only, so be prepared to have some.
Do note that practically all Thai ATMs charge the same 220 THB fee for withdrawing cash with international cards, so I recommend getting (close to) enough money to last you your trip to save on withdrawal fees (as they can add up quickly).
But if your bank or credit union automatically refunds ATM fees, you do not have to worry about this.
Once you have selected your SIM card, you have to hand over your passport and phone so that they can activate the plan and adjust your APN settings when needed.
The salesperson will also take a photo of you as part of Thailand's SIM card registration laws.
This whole process will take up to three minutes if there is not a long queue ahead of you.
Now you are ready to use Thailand's best mobile network 🥳!
Unfortunately, AIS Thailand eSIMs are not available at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
But you can get one if you visit the AIS traveler website:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 399 THB | 25 GB | 8 days |
| 599 THB | 35 GB | 15 days |
| 899 THB | 50 GB | 30 days |
| 1299 THB | 300 GB 1 | 30 days |
| 1650 THB | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 on 3G and 4G/LTE only (no 5G NR access unlike the other plans)
If you do not want to deal with Thailand's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
Why does it matter? Optus from Australia had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
Anyway, I write about the best travel eSIMs for Thailand in my Best Thailand eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Thai eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans Does TrueMove H Sell at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (+Prices)?
TrueMove H sells its tourist SIM cards at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, costing between 299 THB and 999 THB.
I will list all the prices in THB (Thai Baht).
To convert THB to your currency (let's say MYR – Malaysian Ringgit) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
TrueMove H, although many omit the H, is the second-largest mobile operator in Thailand.
It is also the mobile operator with the second-best reception and second-fastest overall speeds (on 4G/LTE and 5G NR).
In some locations, it performs better than AIS Thailand – the current market leader.
TrueMove H and Dtac Thailand announced they will merge into one company (True Corp), which was approved by the regulator in March 2023.
When they merge, True Corp will become the largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers (but its network will not be instantly better than AIS Thailand's because Dtac Thailand's network is trash, lmao).
There is no shortage of TrueMove H stores and booths at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, whether in the baggage claim area or the arrivals hall.
You can even get TrueMove H tourist SIM cards in the airport's departure hall from the booth closest to security.
So not this one (below) close to the entrance because it only sells travel SIM cards to be used abroad – not in Thailand.
And if you think I am incorrect, you are probably thinking of the AIS (e)SIM2FLY travel (e)SIM (cards) – those include 500 MB for local use. Not the TrueMove H Travel SIM cards – I know my SIM cards 😏.
Or the Klook booth (whether you pre-ordered it on its site or not).
But why would you put in the effort to go to the departures hall when more accessible options are available in the arrivals hall? 🗿
Anyway, TrueMove H has two tourist SIM card lines: TrueMove H Thailand Tourist SIM and TrueMove H Infinite SIM.
What is the difference between these two lines?
The regular TrueMove H Thailand Tourist SIM cards include data with data allowance (+unlimited data at reduced speeds after exhausting your high-speed data allowance) and unlimited on-net minutes.
While the TrueMove H Infinite SIM cards include unlimited data @ max. speeds (5G NR) and unlimited local minutes.
The Infinite SIM cards are usually only 100 THB (close to 2.80 USD) more expensive than the regular tourist SIM cards, so I recommend them.
A significant upgrade for a small price 😍.
The following seven TrueMove H Thailand Tourist (Infinite) SIM cards are available:
| Price | Data | Social Data 2 | Local Minutes | (International) Call Credit | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 299 THB | 15 GB | Unlimited 3 | Unlimited | 100 THB | 16 days |
| 399 THB | 25 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100 THB | 16 days |
| 399 THB | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 100 THB | 8 days |
| 599 THB | 30 GB | Unlimited 3 | Unlimited | 50 THB | 30 days |
| 699 THB | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 100 THB | 15 days |
| 899 THB 1 | 50 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 100 THB | 30 days |
| 999 THB | Unlimited | N/A | Unlimited | 100 THB | 30 days |
1 at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), this SIM card costs 950 THB instead of 899 THB🕵🏿♂️
2 for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Kakao, Line, Pinterest, QQ, Skype, Snapchat, Twitter, Viber, WeChat, Weibo & WhatsApp
3 +10 GB for TikTok
Unlike some other airports, like Bangkok Don-Mueang International Airport (DMK) or Koh Samui Airport (USM), TrueMove H does not have airport-exclusive plans at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
All the SIM cards and prices are straight from the offers on its website.
This is good… at least you are not being overcharged, and the benefits are generous for the relatively low prices.
Or being done dirty.
What do I mean by that? Look at the plans at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport.
Some parts have been covered – can you guess what it is?
You probably do not have time for that, so I will tell you – the 100 THB credit for international use.
Or the 899 THB costing 999 THB at that airport, as mentioned earlier.
Honestly, I am not sure why this is allowed by TrueMove H anyway.
But this is why I visit multiple airports to see what SIM cards are offered there.
And if the prices or plans are outrageous… I will let you know 🤓.
However, the TrueMove H store at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport also has an incredible that you cannot find elsewhere.
For 250 THB, I got 30 GB of data and unlimited data for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Kakao, Line, Pinterest, QQ, Skype, Snapchat, TikTok (10 GB only), Twitter, Viber, WeChat, Weibo & WhatsApp for 7 days.
This is cheaper than the cheapest TrueMove H Tourist SIM card (299 THB) while also giving you double the data (30 GB vs. 15 GB) – and still with 5G NR access (which was important to me).
Be aware that just like with AIS Thailand, the TrueMove H stores accept cash only (unlike Dtac stores).
At least the ones in the baggage claim area – the ones in the arrivals hall may accept cards.
Do note that practically all Thai ATMs charge the same 220 THB fee for withdrawing cash with international cards, so I recommend getting (close to) enough money to last you your trip to save on withdrawal fees (as they can add up quickly).
But if your bank or credit union automatically refunds ATM fees, you do not have to worry about this.
Once you have selected your SIM card, you have to hand over your passport and phone so that they can activate the plan and adjust your APN settings when needed.
The salesperson will also take a photo of you as part of Thailand's SIM card registration laws.
This whole process will take up to three minutes if there is no long queue ahead of you.
Now you are ready to use Thailand's second-best mobile network 🥳!
All TrueMove H plans sold at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are available as physical SIM cards only and not as eSIMs.
If you do not want to deal with Thailand's SIM card registration requirements but still want to be connected here, consider a travel eSIM that can be used in the country.
Why does it matter? Optus from Australia had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
Anyway, I write about the best travel eSIMs for Thailand in my Best Thailand eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Thai eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans Does Dtac Thailand Sell at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (+Prices)?
Dtac Thailand sells its tourist SIM cards at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, costing between 249 THB and 1549 THB.
I will list all the prices in THB (Thai Baht).
To convert THB to your currency (let's say MYR – Malaysian Ringgit) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Dtac Thailand is the smallest mobile operator in Thailand.
Even then, it still has more than 16 million subscribers.
Dtac Thailand is the cheapest mobile operator in the country.
But… it also has the worst network and the slowest speeds in Thailand.
Although Dtac Thailand performs well in urban areas, and surprisingly in rural areas too (including islands), your experience with it will not be pleasant.
Trust me… I have used Dtac Thailand for weeks and compared it to AIS Thailand and TrueMove H 🤓.
Anyway, TrueMove H and Dtac Thailand announced they will merge into one company (True Corp), which was approved by the regulator in March 2023.
When they merge, True Corp will become the largest mobile operator in terms of subscribers (but its network will not be instantly better than AIS Thailand's because of Dtac Thailand, lol).
There is no shortage of Dtac stores and booths at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, whether in the baggage claim area or the arrivals hall.
Even before getting to the luggage belts, you will see Dtac Thailand's advertisement banners like the one below.
Or this small booth, which was actually selling Dtac Happy Tourist SIM cards.
While you also have a Dtac stall at the airport's departure hall, it only sells travel SIM cards to be used abroad – not in Thailand.
As you can see in the image below.
But the Klook stall nearby does sell some of Dtac Thailand's SIM cards (whether you pre-ordered it on its site or not).
But why would you put in the effort to go to the departures hall when more accessible options are available in the arrivals hall?🗿
Dtac Thailand has three tourist SIM cards from the Happy Tourist SIM line:
| Price | Credit | Data | Social Data 1 | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 149 THB | 15 THB | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4 days |
| 299 THB | 15 THB | 15 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 days |
| 599 THB | 15 THB | 30 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15 days |
1 for Facebook Messenger, Kakao, Line, WeChat & WhatsApp
The 149 THB SIM card is almost impossible to find.
They are not sold at any international airport, and I could only find them in a Familymart on an island (Koh Samui) – not even in Bangkok.
But I may have been unlucky 🤷🏿♂️.
Do note that Dtac Thailand promotes the fact that all its Happy Tourist SIM cards @ “max. speeds”.
But on the back of the starter pack, speeds are up to 100 Mbps.
On itself, 100 Mbps is not bad at all… but getting speeds faster than 30 Mbps is a challenge (even in Bangkok) 🗿.
But I will discuss that in my Dtac Thailand review instead… we still have a few more plans to talk about that are sold at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport!
When you approach a Dtac store, you will notice more plans are being advertised than the three I mentioned earlier are advertised.
These SIM cards are only sold at airports – you cannot get them in regular Dtac stores or from resellers.
You have the Worry-Free Packages, Value for Money Packages & “Unlimited Data” SIM cards.
Let's start with the Worry-Free Packages, which are, according to Dtac staff, the most sold ones.
You have these five Worry-Free Packages:
| Price | Credit | Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 249 THB | 200 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 349 THB | 200 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 8 days |
| 699 THB | 200 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 16 days |
| 999 THB | 200 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 1199 THB | 200 THB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 90 days |
At other airports, like Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), this plan is also known as Unlimited Internet Plans instead, but they are the same.
But there, you also have a 299 THB option, giving you unlimited data and on-net minutes for eight days (but no off-net/international call/text credit, unlike the 349 THB SIM card).
Next, we have four Value for Money Packages (also known as Best Value Packages at other airports):
| Price | Credit | Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 259 THB | 15 THB | 7 GB | Unlimited | 8 days |
| 349 THB | 15 THB | 20 GB | Unlimited | 16 days |
| 699 THB | 15 THB | 40 GB | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 999 THB | 15 THB | 90 GB | Unlimited | 90 days |
Yes, all plans mentioned so far and upcoming ones can be purchased as an eSIM too 🥳 Dtac Thailand is the only Thai mobile operator offering this consistently at airports. The others often do not or with select plans only.
If you already have a plan in mind you wish to purchase, you may have to shop around because not all stores and stalls have all starter packs in stock, as shown in the photo below.
Finally, we have two “Unlimited Data” SIM cards that are semi-exclusive to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.
But… you do not get unlimited data with these plans… you get a standard data allowance.
And no wonder I am not a fan of Dtac Thailand's practices 🙄.
For 899 THB, you get 50 THB credit and 60 GB per month (180 GB) for 90 days.
Spend 1549 THB, and you get only 15 THB credit and still 60 GB per month (360 GB) for 180 days.
While 60 GB/month will be more than enough for most of us (even me, lol), I would still prefer having full control over how I use my data allowance. 🤷🏿♂️
Note: I purposefully skipped over the 299 THB and 599 THB plans because those are the standard Dtac Happy Tourist SIM cards – the first Dtac Thailand plans I mentioned in this section).
Below is an overview of all Dtac Thailand SIM cards sold at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport:
So, which SIM card did I get?
I purchased the 299 THB Happy Tourist SIM (with unlimited data for 8 days) – but I got it at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) instead.
There, the salesperson was kind enough to extend the validity to 12 days instead of upselling me to a higher-tier plan.
And the best part… I did not even ask for this extension! She just did it for me unprompted.
I have bought many SIM cards (at airports) in the decade, and no other country would extend the validity of plans like that… missing out on sales 😳.
Anyway, note that Dtac stores do accept card payments.
Even then, I want to remind you that practically all Thai ATMs charge the same 220 THB fee for withdrawing cash with international cards, so I recommend getting (close to) enough money to last you your trip to save on withdrawal fees (as they can add up quickly).
But if your bank or credit union automatically refunds ATM fees, you do not have to worry about this.
Once you have selected your SIM card or eSIM, you have to hand over your passport and phone so that they can activate the plan and adjust your APN settings when needed.
The salesperson will also take a photo of you as part of Thailand's SIM card registration laws.
This whole process will take up to three minutes if there is no long queue ahead of you.
Now you are ready to use your Dtac Thailand SIM card 🥳.
You can get some/any plan mentioned in this section as an eSIM (without extra charges).
But you can also get the Dtac Happy Tourist SIM cards as an eSIM before going to Thailand.
Many resellers have Dtac Happy Tourist eSIMs in stock, including my favorite Airalo.
Unlike getting a Dtac Happy Tourist eSIM in Thailand, purchasing it from Airalo does not require registration.
Why does it matter? Optus from Australia had a large-scale hack where the identities of more than 10 million people were stolen in October 2022, including mine 🤯.
Luckily for me, only basic (and outdated) info was leaked.
In my boyfriend's case, his passport document number was also stolen… so that was nice 🫠.
And hacks like this happen all the time – apparently. 1.3 billion SIM card registration-related data was stolen in Indonesia around the same time 😒.
But do note that you cannot extend the validity of the eSIM if you buy it from Airalo or other resellers – you would need to buy another eSIM.
Moreover, the ones sold on Airalo are slightly more expensive than those purchased in Thailand.
299 THB is roughly 8.45 USD – Airalo charges 9.90 USD for this eSIM (15 50 GB for 8 days).
599 THB is about 16.95 USD. If you were to get this eSIM from Airalo (with 30 GB for 15 days), you would pay 19.95 USD.
Are these outrageous surcharges? Not at all – especially knowing you can skip the (potentially long) queues at the airport.
It looks like Airalo sells an exclusive and much more generous Dtac Happy Tourist plan than Dtac Thailand itself.
Previously, Airalo sold the Dtac Happy Tourist 15 Days eSIM, which gave you “unlimited” data, which was actually 30 GB of high-speed data. But it got replaced with an exclusive 1000 GB variant, costing the same (19.95 USD). However, even this one got replaced with the TrueMove H Tourist Infinite eSIM, giving you truly unlimited data on a much better network for the same price.
But remember this: unlike most Airalo eSIMs, which get activated as soon as you connect to a supported network (so you can install it months in advance without starting the validity), the validity of Dtac (or TrueMove H) eSIMs starts as soon as you install it on your phone.
So do not install this eSIM any sooner than a day before arriving in Thailand.
Better yet, wait until you are in Thailand before scanning the QR code.
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Thailand (especially those not using the Dtac Thailand network.
You can read about them in my Best Thailand eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Should You Get a SIM Card (or eSIM) at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport?
I recommend getting a SIM card at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport because tourist SIM cards with generous allowances and perks are available at normal prices from AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand.
The three mobile operators have multiple stores and booths where you can get SIM cards (and eSIMs), allowing you to skip long queues if one store is too busy.
Although there is an AIS stall even before immigration, I discourage you from getting a SIM card there, as you will be in the immigration queue much longer due to many other passengers getting ahead of you (especially if you were one of the first lucky few to get off the plane).
Whether you buy a SIM card before or after luggage claim does not matter as much, but the stores in the arrivals hall tend to be less busy because most travelers buy their SIM cards at luggage claim.
AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand sell SIM cards (and eSIMs) within these price ranges:
- AIS Thailand: 299 THB – 1699 THB (six options – no eSIMs when I was in Thailand (March 2023))
- TrueMove H: 299 THB – 999 THB (seven options – no eSIMs when I was in Thailand (March 2023))
- Dtac Thailand: 249 THB – 1549 THB (15 options)
Some SIM cards and plans sold at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are not advertised on the mobile operators' websites.
As they are only sold at airports (including other ones like Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Phuket International Airport (HKT) & Samui Airport (USM)).
Either way, the SIM cards are reasonably priced for the perks you get – let alone the service quality (except for Dtac Thailand).
This may sound strange to some readers, as SIM cards sold at any Thai airport used to be overpriced.
And that used to be the case because of COVID-19 (at least in 2017) – something must have changed since then.
For example, A SIM card that generally would have been 500 THB would be sold for 800 THB or more.
I visited four airports during this trip, and none of the staff at any of these airports tried to overcharge me.
For example, TrueMove H at Bangkok-Don Mueang International Airport sold me 30 GB of data for only 250 THB and extended it to 12 days because they were nice (and I did not even know this was possible).
Or Dtac Thailand, at the same airport as above, sold me the 299 THB eight-day SIM card while extending it to 12 days.
And as I did not know salespeople at airports could do this, I did not ask for any of these extensions – they just offered it unprompted 😳.
But do not expect this type of treatment at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport 🗿.
I bought my AIS SIM card at this airport, and they just told me to buy a SIM card covering my total stay (as I expected, lol).
Overall, AIS Thailand, TrueMove H & Dtac Thailand have attractive starter packs at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, and I recommend getting a SIM card here as you will not pay the tourist/convenience tax.
Thai SIM Card Reviews
I tried out the best Thai SIM cards that you can easily buy as a tourist in Thailand.
You should read those reviews.
>>> AIS Thailand Review | TrueMove H Review | Dtac Thailand Review <<<
But you can still make an educated purchase after reading the Thai SIM card reviews.
I also tried out various travel eSIMs in Thailand: Airalo (Asialink & Discover Global), Holafly & Nomad (Thailand & SEA-Oceania).
You should also read those reviews.
>>> Airalo Asialink eSIM in Thailand Review | Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Thailand Review | Holafly Thailand eSIM Review | Nomad Thailand eSIM Review | Nomad SEA-Oceania eSIM in Thailand Review <<<
Check out my reviews page if you want to read all the other reviews I have written, including other Asian SIM cards.
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Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on saving money while traveling every now and then.
Let's Be Social
Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone?
A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
Learn More About Who Adu Actually Is
Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!