The first stop on my Star Alliance Lounge tour in Bangkok (BKK) was the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge in Concourse E, a dated but comfortable lounge that was virtually empty.
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok Review – Concourse E (BKK)
Thai Airways used to have lounges in each concourse, but now only operates five lounges on the international side of BKK. But maybe this particular lounge is unecessary?
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 near gate E3 in Concourse E, on the third floor.
Seating
As you enter, you can head left or right for seating, with a mix of chairs (ranging from high-back to low-back to wing chair to easy chair), though no couches. You may struggle to find an electrical outlet in this lounge, unlike the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge.
Food + Drinks
A full-service bar offered beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, and coffee (though the coffee was machine-dispensed…there is much better coffee as well in the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge).
Some soft drinks, water, and juice (plus yogurt), were self-serve.
There was also self-service coffee (espresso machine plus powdered instant coffee) next to the ice cream refrigerator.
In terms of food, there were several warm Thai dishes, some pasta with marinara sauce, a salad bar, sandwiches, soup, and sweets.
Restroom + Showers
Shower suites and restrooms are available in this lounge.
Magazines + Newspapers
Since we don’t see them in USA lounges any longer, I always get a kick seeing actual magazines and newspapers in a lounge…such a vestige of the past.
CONCLUSION
While I suspect this lounge can get crowded later at night, it was empty during my visit…literally empty. The space is dated, but comfortable and there’s a wide selection of food and drinks plus a full-service bar with an extensive cocktail menu and friendly bartenders ready to make whatever concoction you’d like.
That said, the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge is a far better lounge, with more food and drink options and a more spacious and modern feel with more electrical outlets within reach.
An an aside, the Royal Orchid Lounge directly across the hall from this lounge was closed, but back during the pandemic, it was the only Thai Lounge open in the entire airport.
A decade ago, the J lounges in BKK were pretty weak. The full bar and cocktail offering is a major improvement.
It’s a respectable lounge indeed and the Prestige Lounge I’ll review later in the week is fitting of a hub.
Matt, I was trying to search the site, but, couldn’t find it; have you ever visited/reviewed Qatar lounge at BKK? I believe it’s in concourse D at Suvarnabhumi. Have an upcoming trip and looking forward to checking it out.
The only good thing in that lounge is the showers. As Star Gold, the best option at BKK is Singapore Krisflyer lounge. Next best is EVA. I’m Thai ROP and avoid the Thai lounges, even the “prestige”