Previous Installments:
- Introduction: Flying All 3 Big Gulf Carrier Airbus A380s in First Class on a Single Trip
- Check-in and Houston Airport Executive Club
- Air France and KLM Lounges
- Emirates First Class, Houston – Dubai
- Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai – B Concourse
- Emirates Airbus A380 First Class, Dubai – Bangkok
- St. Regis Bangkok
- Street Food, Fine Dining, and Custom Suits in Bangkok
From Bangkok I was heading to Doha. It’s a city where many people connect, given the growth of Qatar Airways, but I’d never actually spent any time there. I’ve always wanted to see the Museum of Islamic Art, though, and so making a stop there for a couple of days would work really well for me.
It coincided nicely with Qatar operating an Airbus A380 from Bangkok to Doha, the only aircraft on which they offer a first class cabin. Award space is pretty easy to come by on the route.
On arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi I proceeded to the Qatar Airways check-in counters.
Formalities were quick and I received boarding passes and lounge invitation. There was no line to speak of at security or premium passenger passport control, so we were airside in no time.
The Thai Airways first class lounge that most people are familiar with is on the airport’s D concourse and it’s right across the corridor from the airline’s spa.
Qatar Airways arranges lounge access through Thai, but their flight departs from the E concourse. As a result they arrange first class lounge access in the E concourse first class lounge — which is basically a big deserted room inside the Royal Orchid (business class) lounge.
While the main first class lounge is better for sure, what makes that lounge awesome is the overall first class ground experience — escort to lounge and gate, buggy, and access to hour-long treatments in the spa.
Those things are exclusive for Thai Airways passengers anyway so it’s really just a difference of food options being in the satellite first class lounge.
We were welcomed inside the Royal Orchid lounge and directed to the room that’s exclusively for first class passengers.
It wasn’t a large lounge, it was just a large room within a lounge. But there were plenty of seating areas and we were the only passengers. We sat by the window.
There was a dedicated attendant for the lounge, and he brought over a menu (which was rather limited to say the least).
(Click to enlarge)
There was a business center.
And also dedicated bathroom and showers.
There was a kitchen area with small buffet and self service bar as well.
I didn’t do any of the self serve, and instead ordered a cappucino and some eggs, which were presented with a hot towel.
The service here was good, the seating comfortable and the internet worked, though the food was disappointing. It’s not a place I’d arrive early for just to experience, but it was right on the concourse with the gate we’d be departing from so I appreciated its convenience.
Food was very surprising for a first class lounge. Breakfast looked like something you might be served at Denny’s. I’m always weary of lounges where everything is wrapped in cellophane. That usually means it isn’t fresh and it’s wrapped to last for hours. I hope the food service was better inflight.
@Mark on the contrary, it’s customary in many Asian countries to wrap all food products for a perceived sanitary appearance. In fact, during the bird flu crisis, many public areas that involved regular touching, such as elevator buttons, were plastic wrapped as well.
But agreed on the non-buffet options. Kind of meh.
Such a shame we QR F passengers can’t use the concourse D offering. I would like to try it.