Fukuoka Airport (Thai VietJet Air from FUK → BKK)

My trip to Fukuoka is coming to a close, and the final stop on this journey is – you guessed it – the airport. My Thai VietJet flight today is a really early one, so after only a couple hours of sleep at the hotel, I made my way to Fukuoka Airport.

Located right around the city center, you have a decent selection of ways to head there. But what exactly are some of those options? What was the airport experience like? And how was my flight with Thai VietJet? Let’s get to it. How Good is Fukuoka Airport & Thai VietJet Actually?

–To Fukuoka Airport: Your Options–
–via Taxi–
–via City Bus–
–via Subway–
–My Recommendations–
–Airport & Check-In–
–Security Check & Immigration–
–Inside the Airport Terminal–
–Sweets Shop–
–Dining Option: Krazy Meat–
–7-11–
–Vending Machines–
–To the Airport Gates & Boarding–
–On Board the Plane–
–Window View–
–At Suvarnabhumi Airport–
–Verdict–

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Side Note: This review will go over the “Heading to Fukuoka Airport” experience. For how to head to Fukuoka’s city areas once you arrive at the airport, check out my other review here:
Full Review: Thai Vietjet Air (Bangkok → Fukuoka) – How Good Is It Actually?

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🚅 Heading to Fukuoka Airport – Your Options 🚅

Assuming you’re headed towards the International Terminal, here are some of the options you have to get here.

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🚔 Taxi 🚔
(¥1,500 – 3,000 / 10 – 30 minutes from Hakata & Tenjin areas.)

I’ll say upfront that travelling via taxi is by far the most expensive way to get to the airport. But considering how close it is to the main city, it’s a surprisingly attractive option if you’re travelling in a group or with family.

Exact fares will range from ¥1,500~3,000 depending on where you start + traffic conditions, but with a group of four, it works out to just around ¥375~750 per person. You also get the other benefits from a taxi ride, like pick-ups right by the hotel, no need to carry any luggage, and just an overall smooth experience.

Since I was with my family on this trip, we decided to head to the airport via taxi today. Our ride from around Tenjin Station took just under 10 minutes (5:41 – 5:50 A.M.) with minimal traffic, with a final cost of ¥1,950 – averaging out to just over ¥490 per person.

In all, a pretty great option to take for the airport. The priciest route, sure, but for the convenience you get, I say it’s well worth it.

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🚌 City Bus 🚌
(¥270 / 15 minutes from Hakata Bus Terminal / Every 15~20 minutes.)

If you’re staying right around Hakata Station, then the buses at Hakata Bus Terminal would be my recommendation. Prices are more or less the same as the subway, but with here, the buses will take you straight to the International Terminal. I took this route the last time I was at Fukuoka, and from what I can remember, the ride was pretty nice – with more than enough space for all my luggage.

It’s a pretty straightforward journey. And if you’re right around Hakata Station, the buses here should provide you with the best balance of time, cost, and convenience.

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🚅 Subway 🚅
(¥260 / 5-10 mins from Hakata & Tenjin Station + 15 mins for Shuttle Bus)

Getting to Fukuoka airport via subway is relatively simple, as it’s only a quick 2 stations away from Hakata Station and 5 stops from Tenjin Station. (Kuko Line, Fukuoka Airport Station.) If you’re flying domestic, exit from the station and you’ll arrive right at the Domestic Terminal. But if you’re heading for the International Terminal, the journey doesn’t end here.

Fukuoka Airport’s International Terminal isn’t connected to the subway, so you’ll need to take their free shuttle bus from the Domestic Terminal to get there. Queueing times will vary, but once you’re on the bus, the journey takes about 10-15 minutes (for a total of 30 mins + waiting time). It’s not a bad way to head to the airport, of course. But do keep the extra travel time in mind.

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⭐ Out of all the options I covered, what’s my recommendation? ⭐

🚔 If you’re travelling in a group, I’d recommend the taxi as it’s not a substantial price increase when you split the cost – especially considering the convenience of it all.

🚌 If you’re staying around Hakata Station, then taking the bus at Hakata Bus Terminal is the way to go.

🚅 If you’re around a subway station and aren’t in too much of a hurry, then the subway + shuttle bus combo should work just as well.

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✈️ Flight Check-In ✈️

Once you’re at the International Terminal, you’ll want to head over to Floor 3 to check in to your flight. If you’re unsure of which check-in counter to head to, you can always refer to the display monitors around the airport.

VeitJet’s check-in counters open roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes before departure time, and if you want my thoughts, I highly recommend you arrive more or less when counters open. Arriving early means you gotta wait in line (20-25 mins in my case,) but trust me when I say there’s a decent amount of things to do while you’re here.

Checking in here is pretty straightforward – present your passport and booking information, check-in your bags, a little bit of confirmation, and you’re pretty much good to go. For my booking of four, the whole thing took just under 10 minutes.

Side Note: You can find some snack shops and restaurants by the check-in area, as well as an Observation Deck up by the 4th floor. My flight was super early, so nothing was open, but if you wanna look around before you head to immigration, you have a few options outside. Do note that any liquids you buy will have to pass through security, so maybe buy your water inside.

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🚶‍♂️ Security Clearance & Immigration 🚶‍♂️

Once check-ins are done, you’re ready to head to Security Clearance and Immigration. Queue times will vary of course, but if you have one of the earliest flights (like me)… you’re in for a decent wait.

There’s the initial line up before security counters opened – I was early by 30 mins – and even by then, the queue was already like 30% around the airport. Once it finally opened, it was another 15-20 mins before I finally entered security clearance. But after that, the actual security + immigration process only took like 5 minutes.

So yeah, peak hours can easily take like 30+ minutes. But under most hours, I assume it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes or so.

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✈️ Inside the Airport Terminal ✈️

Once you’re past immigration, you’re basically free until it’s boarding time. You can find a Duty Free Shop right after immigration, but if it’s last minute sweets shopping you’re after – you have quite a few options.

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🍰 Sweets Shops 🍰

You can find a couple of sweets shops around the terminal – with the largest one located right after you pass immigration.

From local sweets like Hiyoko cakes, to nation-wide options like Jaga Pokkuru, Yoku Moku’s Cigares, Royce’s selection of chocolates, and surprisingly, Tokyo Banana, if you need some last-chance sweets as gifts for others (or, let’s be real, for yourself) this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

And from what I’ve noticed, the prices here appear to be the same as the shops outside.

Side Note: For some frozen/chilled treats like LeTAO’s cheesecakes, they’ll also provide you with some ice packs for the journey – which will help you chill your sweets for like 5-8 hours.

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🍱 Krazy Meat 🍱

If you want a proper final meal before leaving Japan, here’s Krazy Meat with their Donburi, Curries, and other snacks.

I wanted to try their Shoga Yaki (Ginger Pork), but since my flight was a bit early, I went for one of their lighter options this time.

🍱 Menchi Katsu (¥420) 🍱

Their Menchi Katsu is relatively simple – a deep fried cutlet of minced pork and some spices. Pretty great flavors, and since I ordered it right as the store opened, it was quite fresh!

It’s rather light salt-wise, but that’s easily solvable with a bit of Tonkatsu Sauce. But overall really good, and I’d get it again

You can find Krazy Meat by the left side of the terminal (Gate 50-51.)

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🍱 7-11 🍱

For something quick and easy – and the only thing that was open at the time – here’s 7-11 for your food and snack needs.

Standard 7-11 offerings of course, with a rather large stock of ready-to-eat snacks and meals, from sandwiches and baked goods, to Onigiri rice balls and rice bowls like Katsudon.

The lines shouldn’t be too long under normal hours, but as the first store to open when I arrived, the queue was incredibly long… so much so it looped the entire store. The flow was moderately fast, so no major issues.

I got whatever I could while I was in line, and I ended up with a couple of Onigiri, some burgers, and a bowl of Katsudon. The flavors were pretty good for a microwaved meal, so for a quick bite, I don’t have much to complain about. (Big plus to the Katsudon – with its separate containers for the rice and pork mix.)

You can find this 7-11 by the right side of the terminal (Direction of Gates 56-59.)

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🥤 Vending Machines 🥤

For just some drink options, you can find a couple of vending machines throughout the terminal. Prices are slightly higher than your typical vending machines outside… but it’s at an airport, so probably not too surprising.

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🚶‍♂️ Heading to the Gate 🚶‍♂️

Once you’re done with any last-minute shopping, it’s time to head to your departure gate. The International Terminal layout is pretty straightforward, so have a look at which gates are where, and make either a left or right turn.

You’ll find some little snack and gift shops both ways, so if you’re in a rush and still have some leftover time at the gate, you still have the opportunity for your last last-minute shopping.

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🛫 Boarding the Plane 🛫

The boarding procedure at Fukuoka Airport is more or less the same as any other. Once the plane is ready to board, head towards the gate and a staff member will scan you into the flight – so make sure your passport and tickets are ready.

Once that’s done, take the escalators downstairs and make your way towards the aircraft.

And while you head there, here’s your one chance to take any photos of your plane.

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✈️ On the Plane ✈️

My flight today was on Thai VetJet flight VZ711, an Airbus A321Z flying from Fukuoka Airport bound for Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The flight time is around 5 hours and 40 minutes – a rather early flight at 8:55 A.M. that lands right as afternoon hits at 12:35 P.M.

The flight experience was a pretty nice one overall. The seats are configured in a 3-3 formation, and were quite comfy throughout the trip, with a good amount of space to move about.

Like my previous flight with Thai VietJet, if I really had to nitpick something, it’s that I’d like the leg room to be *just* a little bit more spacious. It’s not bad by itself, but it was somewhat noticeable when I tried to fully extend my legs out to do some stretching. Other than that minor detail, the flight went by very smoothly with no delays.

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✈️ Window View ✈️

Easily my favorite part of any flight, here are some of the scenes you can expect while flying on VZ711 (right window side.) The flight was from 8 A.M. to about 12 P.M., so there’s unfortunately no sunrise, sunset, or night sky to speak of, but you do get one really good view early on.

About 15 minutes in, you’ll be treated to a beautiful aerial view of Komorino and Kurume City, alongside the Chikugo and Homan rivers that flow around it. I wasn’t expecting anything going into this flight, and this surprise view was truly something special.

Whether or not you actually fly over Kurume will depend on the day’s flight path. But if you do, you’re in for a real treat, so enjoy the view for the next 5 or so minutes – and grab some photos while you’re at it.

Once you head past the clouds and onto cruising altitude, there isn’t much else other than the sky for a couple of hours. Might not be the best view for photos, but it’s still pretty cool to look at throughout the journey.

And finally, about 15 minutes before landing, look out the window and have a view of Thailand’s countryside – just outside the city of Bangkok. There’s a lot of agricultural areas on this side of the country, so you’ll be seeing a lot of rectangular patches of green and yellow.

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🛬 At Suvarnabhumi Airport 🛬

And after 5 hours and 14 mins of travel (thanks, tailwinds!), I’ve finally arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport. This is where I usually say immigrations and customs are next, but depending on how packed the airport is, there is one extra step that you gotta deal with – the shuttle to the airport.

My flight’s one of the unlucky ones, so after leaving the plane, we hopped on a shuttle bus for a 5-minute ride to the airport terminal.

It’s a little inconvenient, but at least you are driven to right where immigration is – saving you a little bit of energy.

And like any other airport, the Immigration area is divided between Thai and International passports, so head over to the right section. The local passport side is pretty quick, and it’s usually a 5-10 minute wait at worst. On the international side… you might wanna head there as soon as you can. I have a Thai passport, so I don’t have to deal with this, but your experience can differ wildly based on what other flights happen to land when you do.

If you make it before the other flights do, immigration should be just as quick as the Thai side. But if you’re unlucky… I’ve heard stores of the lines being anywhere from 30 mins to well over an hour.

Once immigration’s done, everything else is pretty simple. Pick up your bags from the luggage belt, head out through the customs door, and you’re basically all set.

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⭐VERDICT⭐

So how good is the Fukuoka Airport and VietJet Air experience actually?

Let’s separate it into two parts – starting from Fukuoka Airport. First off, being so close to the city means you get to spend more hours at Fukuoka – which is always a plus. (At the cost of some pretty awkward ways to head to the International Terminal.) If I had to describe the airport in a single word, I’d say it’s extremely ‘Simple’ – in a good way, of course. I had one of the earliest flights of the day, so there was a bit of queueing up to do, but everything else was pretty smooth and well-managed. Nothing fancy, but has just about everything you need.

And as for the overall Thai VietJet experience? Yeah, it’s definitely a nice one. Check-in went by smoothly, the plane was comfy, overall a very pleasant trip with nothing much to complain about. It’s a low-cost airline, so I’m not expecting a full-service experience (in-flight meals, lounges, slightly larger seats, etc.) And when you pair up the price to the whole flight experience, I say it’s well worth the cost. So if you wanna travel between Fukuoka and Bangkok at a pretty affordable price point, then I say head on over to Thai VietJet and book your flights.