Starting tomorrow, two airport bus lines will officially accept QR code payments.
Earlier this month, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) announced they would begin testing an initiative to allow passengers to pay using their phones. Tomorrow, the QR code payment system will officially be available for use on the A1 line (Don Mueang International Airport to Mo Chit route) and A2 (Don Mueang to Victory Monument route).
There’s no word on the Suvarnabhumi buses yet.
In order to take advantage of the QR system, however, passengers must have a mobile app from any bank in Thailand. Payments are made with bus conductors, who will have lanyards containing the code around their neck.
In practice, some passengers find QR payments “more convenient”, while others “don’t really understand how it works yet” or “didn’t even know about it,” reported The Standard.
In order to raise more awareness, BMTA has attached information about the new payment system inside the vehicles. Transit authorities will also make announcements explaining how it works on every line’s first and last stop.
BMTA also plans to implement QR code payments on other bus lines, including A3 (Don Mueang to Lumpini) and A4 (Don Meaung to Sanam Luang ) next month, with hopes to eventually cover every single bus route in Bangkok.
The bus stops at Don Mueang Airport are located on the first floor, outside Gate 6. Buses leave every 12 minutes starting at 7am to midnight. The fare is a flat-rate of THB30 (about US$1).
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