Review: Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok Airport (BKK)

Review: Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok Airport (BKK)

NAME: Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge
Airport: BKK
DATE: May 2024
REVIEW RATING:
BEN SAYS: The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge is Thai Airways' best business class lounge, with modern decor, and an extensive selection of food and drinks. It's not the most memorable lounge in the world, but it's still worth a visit if you're a Star Alliance premium flyer.
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During my Allegris round the world journey, I had the chance to fly Thai Airways’ Boeing 777 first class from Bangkok to Tokyo. Prior to my flight, I visited the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge. In this post I’ll be reviewing the business class section of the lounge, and then in the next installment I’ll be reviewing the first class section of the lounge.

While Thai Airways has nine lounges at Bangkok Airport, the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge is Thai Airways’ flagship lounge facility, which first opened in late 2019 (not exactly great timing for opening a new international lounge in Bangkok!).

I do think this is Thai Airways’ nicest business class lounge. However, it’s not particularly memorable, and doesn’t rank among the best business class lounges in the world. For that matter, it’s actually not that differentiated from the carrier’s other lounges, other than being a bit more modern.

It’s also kind of sad how Thai Airways closed its airport spa, so the airline no longer offers spa treatments for passengers, even though they are available at some Priority Pass lounges in the terminal, like the Coral Finest Business Class Lounge.

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok location

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok is located in International Concourse D, on level three, right near gate D4. Interestingly the lounge takes up the space immediately next to the existing Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge (which I’ve reviewed before), even though the entrances are quite far from one another.

Thai Airways lounge map Bangkok Airport

This lounge couldn’t be more central… it’s literally in the very middle of the terminal. Bangkok Airport has a layout whereby this part of the terminal basically consists of two connected “crosses,” and this lounge is exactly where those areas connect.

Bangkok Airport International Concourse D
Bangkok Airport International Concourse D
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge entrance

Note that if you’re originating in Bangkok, you can also enter the lounge via an escalator near fast track security, and there’s clear signage there. However, in this case I was in transit, so didn’t enter that way.

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok hours

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok is open daily from 5AM until 2AM, so it just closes for three hours every night. It’s interesting how most Priority Pass lounges at the airport are open 24/7, while this lounge closes briefly. I guess that’s fair enough, given that there aren’t many Star Alliance flights departing in the very early hours of the morning.

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok entry requirements

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok follows standard Star Alliance lounge access rules. That’s to say that all Star Alliance business class passengers (on Thai Airways and other airlines) get access to the lounge, as do Star Alliance Gold members departing on any Star Alliance flight.

Business class passengers can’t bring any guests, while Star Alliance Gold members can bring one guest.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge A380 model

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok seating & layout

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok is 2,089 square meters (~22,500 square feet), with seating for 463 passengers. So the lounge is reasonably big, but not huge, when you consider this is the carrier’s hub. Also note that those numbers include the first class section.

The business class section of the lounge is a long space that’s pretty narrow, and it runs along one main corridor. The main part of the lounge is inside the entrance and to the right, while to the left is the first class section of the lounge, plus a small bar area for business class.

The lounge is broken up into several smaller areas through the use of partitions. Some of the partitions are “walls” with fake plants, while others have a faux glossy wood finish.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating

When you enter the lounge and turn right, you’ll first find several seating areas that have purple and blush(ish) chairs arranged in rows, facing one another. There are a decent amount of charging options in these areas of the lounge, though I found that some of the outlets didn’t work.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating

Mixed into this seating were several communal workstations, at least offering tables off of which you can easily set up your laptop and work.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating

When you get deeper into the lounge, there’s some variation in the seating, as there are options more catered to eating and drinking, including cafe-style tables with a couple of seats, high-top communal tables, and more.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge seating

Then in the very back of the lounge you’ll find a bar, featuring cocktails and barista coffee.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge bar

The business class lounge also has a second hidden bar. It’s inside the entrance to the lounge and to the left, right by the first class area. Most people never even go this way, so this could be a good place to hang out.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge bar

All-in-all, I’d say it’s a pretty nice lounge space, though let me share a few more observations.

First, the lounge lacks views, as it primarily faces the interior of the terminal, which isn’t the most exciting view. Furthermore, the lounge seating isn’t very varied. There’s no dedicated rest area, no entertainment room, no kids room, etc. It’s just bland lounge seating, plus a dining area. Lastly, while the lounge has Wi-Fi, I didn’t find the speeds to be great, especially as the lounge got busier.

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok food & drinks

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok has a respectable food and drink selection, with both Asian and Western options. This blows away most other lounges at the airport, in terms of both quantity and quality. There were a couple of different food stations, to avoid too much crowding in any area.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet

During my morning visit, cold options included everything from a salad bar, to fresh fruit, to cold cuts, to sweets, to pastries, to quiche, to finger sandwiches, to ice cream.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet

There was also a huge selection of warm options, including eggs, baked beans, breakfast potatoes, several Thai dishes, and more.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet

In addition to the buffet, there was a cooked to order breakfast selection, where you could request scrambled eggs, miso soup, omelets, or porridge with shrimp or minced chicken.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge menu

Self-serve drink options included a variety of soft drinks, juice, water, coffee, tea, and beer.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge drinks
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge buffet

In addition to that, wine, cocktails, and barista coffee were available from one of the two bars in the lounge. The alcohol selection seemed reasonably high end, and I appreciated the fact that there was a recommended cocktail list.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge cocktails

Thai Airways Business Lounge Bangkok bathrooms & showers

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok has a couple of sets of bathrooms, which feel surprisingly luxurious. The men’s room had several sinks, urinals, and stalls.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge bathrooms
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge bathrooms
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge bathrooms

The lounge also has a couple of shower suites, which are nicely appointed.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge shower suites
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge shower suites

Bottom line

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge is a solid lounge, and is an improvement over the carrier’s other hub business class lounges. I was most impressed by the food and drink selection, which was definitely above average. While the lounge has reasonably nice decor, the lounge lacks views, and also doesn’t have much variety in terms of seating and amenities.

What do you make of the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge Bangkok?

Conversations (11)
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  1. Upgradedtraveller Guest

    It’s a great lounge an while I agree the food quantity and quality is likely better than other options at BKK, its not really the healthiest: https://www.nuttedoutnutrition.com.au/airportreview/thai-airways-business-class-lounge/

  2. Edvard Member

    "Then in the very back of the lounge you’ll find a bar, featuring cocktails and barista coffee."

    That is actually right after the entrance, coming from landside.

  3. Phillip Diamond

    The only thing I would say about this lounge, is that if you are travelling late at night during the westbound rush hour, it is uncomfortably packed! But then again what lounge doesn’t have its peak occupancy these days?

  4. yoloswag420 Guest

    Very interesting set of BKK lounge reviews, did you also get a chance to go to EVA's BKK lounge as well? They have a mini-hub out of BKK, so I'd imagine it's quite good.

    BKK has a lot of lounge options between Star Alliance and Priority Pass, so would you say this is the best one overall?

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ yoloswag420 -- It is indeed an interesting airport for lounges. Unfortunately the EVA Air and Singapore Airlines lounges both aren't 24/7, so I wasn't able to check them out, as their hours didn't work with my visit. I do think this is probably the best Star Alliance lounge at the airport, though. However, I suspect the Qatar Premium Lounge is the best business class lounge at the airport, though I haven't been.

    2. JJW Guest

      Ben, I do think the Qatar Premium Lounge is by far the best lounge at BKK. I gained entry via a JL business class flight to KIX in June and I was blown away. I've never been to QR's lounges at their hub, but if their BKK lounge is anything to go by, I cannot imagine the heights of luxury their hub lounges must be.

    3. Daniel from Finland Guest

      The BKK and SIN QR lounges are far better than the huge, overcrowded and hectic lounges at DOH, and a joy to visit.

    4. JJW Guest

      @Daniel from Finland, thanks for the insight. I'm more of a *A network kinda flyer, so chances that I'll use QR's lounges at DOH are slim. I shall let that BKK experience be my only and the best benchmark then.

    5. CSP18 Guest

      I have not been to any of the Thai Airways lounges, but the EVA lounge is very good. It has apron views and nicer design than the Thai lounge according to the impression that I get from Ben's review. I can also recommend the SQ lounge. It does not have any apron views, but it was quiet when I visited, and I remember that the food was excellent (for a business class lounge).

    6. Taiwan Starts Here Guest

      For my money, EVA's BKK lounge is the best lounge in its system. Stylish, sophisticated and everything the TPE lounges just are not.

    7. Csb Guest

      Last month we left after 10 minutes for the Eva Air Lounge which was much quieter and had a far better drink selection, so would definitely rank the Eva air lounge above

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Edvard Member

"Then in the very back of the lounge you’ll find a bar, featuring cocktails and barista coffee." That is actually right after the entrance, coming from landside.

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Upgradedtraveller Guest

It’s a great lounge an while I agree the food quantity and quality is likely better than other options at BKK, its not really the healthiest: https://www.nuttedoutnutrition.com.au/airportreview/thai-airways-business-class-lounge/

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Csb Guest

Last month we left after 10 minutes for the Eva Air Lounge which was much quieter and had a far better drink selection, so would definitely rank the Eva air lounge above

0
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