Review: THAI Royal First Lounge, Concourse E Bangkok (BKK)

Trip To Osaka and Hong Kong Flying Thai Airways First Class & Turkish Airlines Business Class

Since I knew Mike would be in Australia and New Zealand with his Singelresor group in February, I needed to travel somewhere for a few days and thought I'd book a flight from Europe to Japan and back from Hong Kong using my Turkish Airlines miles. So last November, I redeemed 67,500 miles for a first class award flying from Frankfurt to Osaka via Bangkok in Thai Airways First Class. The taxes was just about 800 SEK which was very reasonable. On the flight back from Hong Kong to Stockholm, I redeemed (I actually borrowed miles from Mike) 45,000 miles to fly Turkish Airlines in Business Class. I've been to both Osaka and Hong Kong a few times in the past so my plan was not really to explore them but rather to just see a few sights during this period. I have to admit, to be able to fly on one of my favorite airlines in first class (thanks to their Rimowa amenity kit and excellent first class lounge in Bangkok among others) and visit two amazing cities is just awesome 😉



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THAI Royal First Lounge, Concourse E Bangkok Airport

Date of visit: February 20, 2017

Location: Concourse E, level 3, by gate E2
Access: THAI Royal First Class passengers departing on a same-day flight +1 guest; first class passengers departing on a Star Alliance flight +1 guest; Qatar Airways first class passengers
Opening hours: Daily, 5am to 2am

NOTE: The first class lounge is just a dedicated area located to the left of the lounge's reception area.

Lounge Entrance

THAI Royal Orchid Lounge entrance

Lounge Reception

Lounge reception

THAI Royal First Class Lounge

Seating

Lounge seating

The lounge has a seating capacity of only 22 which could make the lounge crowded during peak times.

Dining

There are two buffet areas: this one is located to the left as you enter the lounge and offered different crackers, green curry chicken pie, mixed vegetable pie, spinach quiche, mini pizza, fruits, etc.

Pies, pizzas and quiche

The second buffet area is located behind the seating area where the espresso machine, a ref for beverage and wine trolley were located.

There are also different types of sandwiches, prawn cocktail, fruits and desserts 😋

Tea corner

Ref with beverages like Perrier, Coke, Sprite, Schweppes, Heineken, juice, yogurt, etc.

Wine trolley

Water and nuts

Royal First Lounge menu

Royal First Lounge menu

From the menu, I had the Shrimp Wanton Soup which was excellent 😋

Work & Entertainment

There's one PC and a printer

Magazines and newspapers

There's also a TV screen showing BBC.

Toilet & Shower Room

Toilet

Shower room

One of three shower rooms with Thann skincare products

The amenities included razor and shaving cream, a comb, toothbrush and toothpaste. I did not see the L´Occitane set (shampoo, lotion, shower gel and conditioner) provided in the First Class Lounge in Concourse D although I'm not sure if it is being given just before taking the shower.

View

View from the lounge

CONCLUSION

I have been to the First Class Lounge in Concourse D a lot of times so I thought I'd visit this smaller lounge in Concourse E the next time I transit in Bangkok flying in first class. I was told that it was actually a small area and used mostly by passengers who have short connection time so I did not expect much. The two buffet areas had an average offering so it was good that they offer ala carte service. Still, I thought the choices were still not that extensive. There were only one guest when I came although a family of 5 arrived later (they were flying first class on Qatar Airways) so I would think this lounge could be crowded during peak hours. It was nice visiting this reserved area for first class passengers but I definitely would use the main lounge in Concourse D the next time I'm flying in THAI first class and transferring in Bangkok as the main lounge is a lot better.


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