One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
KBV7.6+0.8
HKT6.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
KBV6.3+0.7
HKT5.6
Food & retail
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
KBV5.8
HKT6.0+0.2
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
KBV6.8+1.2
HKT5.6
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
KBV5.8+0.4
HKT5.4
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
KBV5.4
HKT5.8+0.4
Best for
KBV
Ao Nang / Railay / Koh Lanta leisure trips with a short-to-medium road transferPriority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass holders on international departures who clear immigration firstDomestic AirAsia / Lion / Thai / Bangkok Airways banks toward BKK / DMK / HKT spokesTravelers who prefer a smaller DoA field over overcrowded HKT when the schedule fits
HKT
Beach / resort arrivals who want the international terminal once and a pre-booked transferPriority Pass holders who will actually open a Coral door before a long-haul bankDomestic Bangkok LCC hops that stay entirely inside the Domestic TerminalTravelers who treat HKT as a destination airport, not a tight self-connect machine
Watch out for
KBV
No sterile walk between domestic and international — immigration/TDAC still applyOnly one live network lounge (Pearl Exclusive) — international airside, max 2h; PP/LK say T1, DragonPass says T3Published customs/immigration window plus on-demand — late charters can wait on CIQTaxiway construction (SUP A21/26) through 30 Nov 2026 on the single 14/32 runwayTDAC QR mandatory for foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025
HKT
Wrong-building curb drops (International vs Domestic)Peak-season immigration and security snakes on European / Chinese leisure banksAssuming an airside walk exists between international and domesticSingle-runway weather and go-around ripple with no metro escape from road jamsUnverified CY2025 compilations — AOT has not published a full-year 2025 PDF
Amenities and tips
KBV
The Pearl Exclusive LoungeConnected T1–T3 campusFixed-fare airport taxi countersTerminal / lounge Wi-FiLandside sealed waterCompact café / travel retail
Connected DoA leisure field — still leave slack for CIQ, weather, and taxiway works
Short walks once you are in the right stream; CIQ windows, monsoon banks, and 2026 taxiway works still punish thin connections.
Enter via Terminal 1 — T3 is real, not a blog typo
Connected T1–T3 campus; international still needs immigration. Do not plan a sterile domestic↔international walk.
Pearl Exclusive if you have PP / LoungeKey / DragonPass — otherwise landside sealed water
One live network lounge, international only. Landside sealed water is the cheap hydration play.
KBV · Connected Department of Airports Andaman leisure gateway 10 km from Krabi town — T1–T3 campus with a usable Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass Pearl room after immigration, offset by no rail, a single runway, taxiway works through 30 Nov 2026, and CIQ hours that are not truly 24/7.
HKT · Thailand’s overcrowded Andaman leisure gateway — clear international vs domestic split and a usable Coral Priority Pass network, but official AOT design capacity is still 12.5 million while CY2024 already ran 17,215,315 on a single runway with no rail link. Phase 2 toward 18 million is officially 2028–2031, not 2029.
