Throughout my Allegris around the world journey, I had the prospect to fly Thai Airways’ Boeing 777 first-class from Bangkok to Tokyo. Previous to my flight, I visited the Thai Airways First Class Lounge, positioned throughout the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Status Lounge.
Look, I’ve gotta be sincere, this facility made me sort of unhappy, because it pales compared to the bottom expertise that Thai Airways used to supply in Bangkok, up till a number of years in the past (which has since been became the Coral Most interesting Enterprise Class Lounge).
Not solely was Thai Airways’ previous first-class lounge nicer and cozier, however the airline additionally had a spa, and first-class passengers obtained an hour-long full physique therapeutic massage, which was the most effective complimentary airport spa therapy on the market.
The brand new facility is kind of underwhelming, by comparability. Whereas the lounge is (unnecessarily?) spacious and has a la carte eating, it in any other case has no particular facilities, and I discovered the service within the lounge to be downright weird. So whereas it’s a nice place to go a while, I wouldn’t rank this among the many world’s finest first-class lounges.
Thai Airways’ unique first-class floor companies
Let me begin by acknowledging the a part of the Thai Airways first-class floor expertise that’s most spectacular.
Thai Airways escorts first-class passengers each step of the way in which in Bangkok (both by foot or golf cart), from once they arrive on the airport, to once they board. Nonetheless, that’s not one thing I took benefit of on this journey:
- I used to be in transit in Bangkok on separate tickets, so I by no means went to Thai Airways’ first-class check-in facility
- I elected to not be escorted to the airplane, since I wished to get aboard forward of the opposite first-class passengers, in order that I may get some good cabin photos
However on the whole Thai Airways gives a seamless and attentive first-class floor expertise, and it’s one thing the airline ought to be counseled for.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok location
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok is positioned throughout the service’s Royal Orchid Status Lounge in Worldwide Concourse D, on degree three, proper close to gate D4.
The lounge has a central location, and might both be accessed from the concourse (proper throughout from gate D4), or from an escalator simply previous quick monitor safety.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok hours
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok is open every day from 5AM till 2AM, so it simply closes for 3 hours each evening. In actuality, Thai Airways solely has three planes with first-class, so there are at most three flights a day which have a firstclass cabin (usually to London and Tokyo).
These flights both depart within the early morning or late at evening, so you’ll be able to count on this lounge will often be empty (or not less than almost empty) in the midst of the day.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok entry necessities
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok is meant primarily for Thai Airways first-class passengers, on the service’s restricted variety of flights that includes this cabin. Nonetheless, the lounge may also be accessed by different Star Alliance first-class passengers, do you have to be touring on Lufthansa, SWISS, and so on. Eligible passengers can usher in one visitor.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok seating & structure
Once you enter the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Status Lounge and have an eligible first-class ticket, you’ll be escorted to the left, the place the roped off first-class part of the lounge is positioned. The primary class part takes up perhaps one quarter of the whole lounge house, I’d estimate.
One factor I’ve to offer the lounge credit score for is that I assure it’ll by no means really feel crowded. It’s big when you think about that you simply’ll usually share the lounge with at most half a dozen folks or so.
As you enter the lounge, you’ll first see the eating space, with eight tables (the identical variety of tables as first-class seats on a 777), seating two folks every.
Then there’s an space of the lounge with comfy leather-based chairs for enjoyable. There are round 30 seats, so once more, you’ll by no means really feel such as you don’t have sufficient house right here.
Off to the facet there’s one other seating space, with the identical varieties of chairs, however they’re alongside a wall.
Lastly, the lounge has a non-public room, which company are welcome to make use of, if obtainable. The personal room has chairs and sofas, plus a TV.
So far as the view goes, the lounge simply faces the inside of the concourse, so it’s not an inspiring view in any respect.
So yeah, I’m conflicted on the design of the lounge. No less than it’s good and spacious, although it’s missing with regards to facilities. You’d assume they might have blended up the seating a bit extra, and perhaps may have added facilities like a bar space, workstations, and so on.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok meals & drinks
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok primarily has an a la carte eating idea, but in addition has a small buffet. Throughout my morning go to, the buffet had some sweets, canapés, chilly cuts, cheese, salad, and contemporary fruit.
There have been two different small stations, one with Thai desserts, and one with nuts and entire fruit.
The lounge’s a la carte eating choice is in depth (I apologize for the standard of the menu photos, nevertheless it was unimaginable to get photos with out shadows, on account of how the menu e book was certain). First, there’s an all-day eating menu, obtainable any hour that the lounge is open.
Then there’s a breakfast menu, obtainable from 5AM till 11AM every day.
Subsequent, there’s a lunch and dinner menu, obtainable from 11AM till 1AM every day.
There’s additionally an in depth drink record, together with mushy drinks, espresso, wine, beer, and extra, which yow will discover beneath.
Upon arriving on the lounge, I used to be proactively introduced “violet bliss” as a welcome drink, which is a butterfly pea flower tea, and it’s additionally the service’s signature drink. I additionally ordered a cappuccino and glowing water.
I wasn’t very hungry, however figured that I ought to order one thing. I settled on the spring rolls and taro stuffed steamed buns. Each had been moderately good, although I wouldn’t say it was any type of connoisseur eating.
If I had been hungrier or it had been later within the day, perhaps I might have had a distinct impression.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok bogs & showers
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok has its personal bogs, separate from the enterprise class part of the lounge.
The lads’s room was fantastically designed and likewise spotlessly clear, and had a number of sinks, urinals, and stalls.
The lounge additionally has a few luxuriously appointed bathe suites, every containing a walk-in bathe, a sink, and a rest room, with Euphoria toiletries.
Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok service
The service within the Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok actually confuses me. Previous to my go to, two mates individually informed me about how the service within the lounge isn’t good, regardless of it being stupidly overstaffed. I puzzled how that could possibly be… nicely, I can verify it’s true.
Throughout my go to, there have been eight attendants within the first-class lounge to serve folks, even supposing there could be at absolute most eight passengers. I discovered their presence to nearly me uncomfortable, since they only stood there company.
However what I discovered even stranger is that regardless of the excessive staffing degree, the service wasn’t in any respect attentive or proactive. Let me simply give a number of examples (whereas acknowledging these are all minor factors individually, however when you’re going to have staffing ranges like this, service ought to be flawless):
- After I was introduced meals, I wasn’t supplied with any cutlery; after I requested, it took them a number of minutes to deliver it to me
- After I completed my meal, the employees didn’t come over to clear my plates or glasses till I particularly known as them over to take action (and this was after I had been completed for a number of minutes, and pulled out my laptop computer to work)
- Whereas within the eating space, at no level was I requested if I wished a drink refill, or if I wished to order anything
- Ultimately I moved from the eating space to the lounging space, and a employees member by no means checked on me to see if I wished something to drink there both
It’s unusual, as a result of all of the employees had been pleasant, so I’ve to think about this can be a coaching concern. It’s one thing I hope the airline fixes, as a result of it’s such a straightforward space for enchancment. In spite of everything, Thailand is a hospitable nation.
Backside line
The Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok is a blended bag. The lounge is spacious, gives a strong a la carte eating choice, and has a few personal rooms and showers.
Nonetheless, service within the lounge leaves rather a lot to be desired, and there aren’t any actual particular facilities. This lounge pales compared to the service’s former lounge, so when you’ve been to that, you’ll be able to’t assist however be a bit disenchanted when visiting this facility. I positive do miss these hour-long full physique massages…
What’s your tackle the Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok?
