The Thai Airways Royal First Lounge in Bangkok offers personalized service, a la carte dining, and a quiet oasis from bustling Suvarnabhumi Airport.
This review will include photos from my visits over the years…I’ve never reviewed this lounge before and it does not seem to change.
Service actually starts before you arrive in the lounge. If you are connecting in Bangkok and traveling in first class, expect a golf cart to pick you up at your arrival gate. You’ll need to clear security again, but won’t have to make the walk yourself.
Thai Airways Airways Royal First Lounge Bangkok Seating
Inside the lounge, expect a warm greeting and escort to your desired seating area. The lounge, at least in my six visits over the years, has never been crowded. In fact, I have never failed to score a private seating room, of which there are 5-6. The room includes a couch and chairs, coffee table, and TV. While ideal for families or groups traveling together, it is nice when you are traveling solo as the rest of the lounge does not provide much privacy.
If the private rooms are crowded, there is plenty of additional seating in the lounge.
Thai Airways Airways Royal First Lounge Bangkok Service
My favorite part of the lounge is the service. With only one exception (which I will discuss in a post tomorrow), I have enjoyed flawless service over the years. Moments after seating you will be approached with a menu and sometimes a cold towel. The a la carte menu changes from time to time but expect a mix of eastern and western items.
Thai Airways Airways Royal First Lounge BKK Food + Drink
Best to avoid the western food in the lounge. I’ve had my fair share of omelets and sandwiches, but the best meal I’ve ever had was a bowl of Thai spicy coconut soup with chicken during my last visit. It was exceptional.
I’ve tried cocktails, fresh squeezed juice, smoothies, coffee, and tea in the lounge and never been disappointed. The fresh-pressed apple juice, however, is my favorite.
While lounge staff are happy to bring the food right to your seat, there is also a dining room and small buffet area.
Thai Airways Airways Royal First Lounge BKK Showers + Restrooms
Showers and restroom are also available, although leave time for a massage in the Royal Orchid Spa across the hall and you can shower there.
CONCLUSION
The best part of using the Royal First Lounge is access to the Royal Orchid Spa across the hall. I’ll review that in my next installment. Do give yourself some time to enjoy this lounge if you are flying in Thai Airways first class. I enjoy every visit.
I’m still looking for Swiss update, that two weeks ago you said would come “soon.”
There has been a complication.
Nice review. The photos of the Western offerings made me laugh.
Looking forward to the Royal Orchid Spa review.
When Thai get it right they have a good product. The real problem is that they are so inconsistent and quite often get it more wrong than right and if things go wrong give up all hope.
On board their first product is generally consistent though there are a few 747s with old seating. Traveling the kangaroo route their connections are dreadful as from Northern Europe they often involve a 12+ hour layover outbound and about 6 on return. Why they cannot arrange things so this does not happen remains a mystery but it has much to do with only the A380s and the 747s having first and the way the routes operate.
I have no hope of anything getting any better!
Had a 12 hour layover in Bangkok on our way to Auckland this year. My wife and I stayed up to enjoy the first class on our flight from Munich since we don’t do it often. With the flight leaving Munich around 1400, we typically don’t sleep on the flight so we can maximize our time as it’s only around a 10 hour flight. We arrived in the first class lounge and they offered us a private room. We wanted to sleep, so we headed toward the back and their sleeping rooms. They aren’t terrible, not an actual bed, but rather a flat leather sofa like and not big enough for two. When you’re tired, you can pretty much sleep on anything. So my wife and I each had our own room. Slept for around 6 hours, had a shower and still had plenty of time to enjoy the lounge and one of the private rooms. Had great service and food/drinks. We both got our 30 min massages before heading to the gate for our flight to Auckland as it was business class on one of their new 787s.
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Many thanks!