The penultimate stop on my Star Alliance Lounge tour in Bangkok (BKK) was the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge in the main terminal of the international departures area, a dated but comfortable lounge that is like the ugly step sister of the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge next door.
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok Review – Main Terminal (BKK)
This is a very central lounge: as you come out of the immigration exit controls, you can take an escalator directly downstairs to this facility.
Hours + Access + Location
Thai Airways used to distinguish between Royal Orchid (for Star Gold) and Royal Silk lounge (for business class passengers), but these days you can use any Royal Orchid or Royal Silk lounge if you have Star Alliance Gold status or are traveling in business class on a Star Alliance. Formally, the following passengers have access:
- Star Alliance business and first class passengers
- Star Alliance Gold members
- “Customers from our contracted credit cards” (according to Thai Airways)
- Paid access is also available according to Thai’s website, at a price of about 53 USD for access
The lounge is open daily from 5:00 am to 2:00 am and located in the main terminal directly adjacent to the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge.
Seating
It’s a large and sprawling lounge with seating narrow
I appreciated that though this lounge preceded USB-C, there were some USB-C charging ports that have been added more recently.
Food + Drinks
In terms of food, there were several warm Thai dishes, some pasta with marinara sauce, a salad bar, sandwiches, soup, and sweets. Unfortunately, there was Tom Yum noodles as part of the buffet and a large swatch of the lounge truly smelled repugnant (this dish has a pungent odor due to its fermented ingredients like fish sauce or shrimp paste).
A full-service bar offered beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, and coffee (though the coffee was machine-dispensed…there is much better coffee in the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge next door). There were also self-serve drinks (soft drinks, water, tea, and juice).
Kid’s Area
This lounge had a small area designated for young children…and it looked like the sort of thing my kids would have loved when they were young.
Restrooms + Showers
This lounge offers restroom and shower suites. If you wish to use the shower, check in with reception and you will be directed to the suite or added to the waitlist.
CONCLUSION
It’s not this is a bad lounge (other than the smell). In fact, I think it’s a comfortable and spacious lounge with a respectable selection of food and drinks. But I do prefer the next-door Royal Orchid Lounge and it’s literally connected by a door that is wide open. Thus, you can check out both and make the choice yourself, but one reason to choose this lounge might be if you are traveling with kids and want to occupy them for a bit prior to boarding.
It is no longer possible to purchase access. I found the same post and tried with 2 friends, when flying Thai Economy and only able to bring one with SA Gold. Another note regarding the Credit cards. I used to have a Thai branded card while living in Bangkok. They have restricted the lounge benefit to no longer include the main Thai lounge. These “sub par” Orchid lounges are now de facto Thais offering for credit cards holders (source: https://www.uob.co.th/personal-en/credit-cards/travel/royal-orchid-plus.page?s_cid=personal-top-menu&s_cid=personal-top-menu&s_cid=personal-top-menu)
That’s very interesting. In my case, I could walk freely back and forth between the connected Royal Orchid and Royal Silk Lounges. Maybe it was because I was Gold and in business, but the desk agent seemed to suggest both were the same.
We know that you have a distaste for Asian food so no surprise that you found the aroma of Tom Yum offensive but for Thai people and most Asian people it’s a welcoming aroma. I am surprised, though that a world traveler like you hasn’t developed a palette for global cuisine already.
I’ve tried!