You can now check in your luggage at the Makkasan Airport Link station up to 12 hours before departure for free (although you still need to buy a train ticket). That’s the good news. Unfortunately, this is currently only possible for flights with Thai and Bangkok Airways. Every other airline has turned down offers to set up shop in the train station. As a result, 21 out of 28 check-in counters remain unused, while the seven that are open see little traffic. While things are expected to pick up, you’ll still have to check-in a full three hours before departure to use the service. Are you meant to check in, go home, then return to the train station later? Also, the promotional prices have ended: the 15-min express ride is now B150 (up from B100) and the twice slower city line costs B15-45 depending on the distance traveled (up from a flat B15).