Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - BKK layover recommendations and questions

My wife and I are flying through BKK outbound and inbound on a *A award C itinerary to Italy and back.

Outbound it is a short layover (2hrs) so we will just lounge it and hopefully get a massage. On the way back we have a 10 hr layover (2.20pm - 12.15am) on 16 June so I think we will go into the city and do some shopping and get a drink and maybe food.

So here are my questions for your experts out there in TG land:

which of the TG C lounges in BKK are better than others and for what reasons? we are connecting between MEL flights and ZRH/VIE flights if that helps with gates etc...
will we be able to deplane from our VIE-BKK flight, go to the lounge, shower and leave our bags and proceed to immigration and out of the airport into town?
Looks like we will be taking the new Airport Link train City Line into town
I have been to BKK several times and know some parts better than others. My guess is my wife would like to go shopping - so planning on a visit to Pratunam Market and Central World Plaza. Any other suggestions that are easy to get to?
We may get dinner (open to recommendations) or may just end up going to a rooftop bar - so far looks like either Vertigo or Sky Bar - the former looks better placed for BTS/MRT. Any recommendations or other suggestions?
We also want to get a massage in the lounge before departure - can we book this before leaving for the city, or do we need to make it back with plenty of time to allow getting in line for one? Is it hard to get one in the C lounge?
When we arrive back at BKK, is there a departure tax and is it applicable for those purely in transit within the same day?
Is there an express security/immigration line(s) for C pax (arrivals and departures)?


TIA

I can't answer all of your questions. But if you leave airside, I believe you will be required to pay the departure tax on your way back.

If you are going to Central World anyway you might want to consider the rooftop bar/restaurant at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld.

Of course you know that whole section of Rama I is one shopping center after another. I like wandering around Siam Paragon. But CentralWorld is my fave.

Others with much more lounge experience will have to help you with those questions. I have been to a few of the TG lounges and have never personally thought that any of them were particularly better than the others. The main D lounge tends to be the most busy.

For travel with basically no luggage the Airport Link is probably a good option. The fare on the local train is much cheaper than the Express. Although links to the BTS/MRT aren't as straightforward as they should be. You might want to check out the Airport Link discussion in the Thailand forum for more info specifically related to that.

Departing in C you should be able to use the fast track immigration line. Arriving in TG C I think you are stuck with the main lines.

Central World is not fully reopened yet though.

The Centara Grand is open. The only part of CentralWorld still closed is Zen dept store and some of the shops in that immediate corner of the mall. Unless things have changed drastically since November it is pleasantly surprising how much of the mall is actually open...which is to say, most of it.

For travel with basically no luggage the Airport Link is probably a good option. The fare on the local train is much cheaper than the Express. Although links to the BTS/MRT aren't as straightforward as they should be. You might want to check out the Airport Link discussion in the Thailand forum for more info specifically related to that.



The link between BTS and city link at Phaya Thai is very easy, though you do need to change levels.

Haven't been through the MRT/Makassan area so can't speak to that.

My wife and I are flying through BKK outbound and inbound on a *A award C itinerary to Italy and back.

Outbound it is a short layover (2hrs) so we will just lounge it and hopefully get a massage. On the way back we have a 10 hr layover (2.20pm - 12.15am) on 16 June so I think we will go into the city and do some shopping and get a drink and maybe food.

So here are my questions for your experts out there in TG land:

which of the TG C lounges in BKK are better than others and for what reasons? we are connecting between MEL flights and ZRH/VIE flights if that helps with gates etc...
will we be able to deplane from our VIE-BKK flight, go to the lounge, shower and leave our bags and proceed to immigration and out of the airport into town?
Looks like we will be taking the new Airport Link train City Line into town
I have been to BKK several times and know some parts better than others. My guess is my wife would like to go shopping - so planning on a visit to Pratunam Market and Central World Plaza. Any other suggestions that are easy to get to?
We may get dinner (open to recommendations) or may just end up going to a rooftop bar - so far looks like either Vertigo or Sky Bar - the former looks better placed for BTS/MRT. Any recommendations or other suggestions?
We also want to get a massage in the lounge before departure - can we book this before leaving for the city, or do we need to make it back with plenty of time to allow getting in line for one? Is it hard to get one in the C lounge?
When we arrive back at BKK, is there a departure tax and is it applicable for those purely in transit within the same day?
Is there an express security/immigration line(s) for C pax (arrivals and departures)?


TIA

I prefer the lounges on C and E concourse (choice depends on flight departure gate) because they are quieter and less crowded than the main D lounge, and C/E have showers whereas D does not. After similar long layovers and heading into town, it feels good to come back and hit the shower then some clean clothes--assuming I didn't spa in town and shower/change there.

BKK lounges are departure lounges, so no, you will not be able to hit the showers there on arrival. But why would you want to? You'll only get hot and sweaty in town. Best to get through immigration and out the door. TG C passengers are currently getting expedited immigration, there are special desks for this (see other recent posts for details). Your checked bags should be tagged all the way through to final destination. You'll either need to take your carry-ons with you, or you can leave with Left Luggage which is after Customs, on the nonsecure side of Arrivals (2nd floor I think). I think it's 100 Baht per day per piece. DON'T LEAVE VALUABLES like critical medicines or computers.

City Line into Town is OK. If you want to go to Pratunam Market and then Central World, you can get off at the Rajprarop stop (next to last) and walk south to Pratunam, then further south to Central World. I was in Central World about 10 days ago, and while a lot of shops are open--everything except the Zen end--it still has a bit of a dead and lifeless feel about it. I didn't care for it but pop in and see what you think. You could also take the City Line all the way to end Phya Thai station, then take Skytrain to Siam and check out the entire Siam Square area (MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, etc. ) MUCH livelier and IMO much better shopping.

Westin/Vertigo is by Asok Skytrain/Sukumvit MRT. If that is your last stop before heading to airport, then take MRT to Phetburi (I think that's the right stop), come up to sidewalk and walk slightly north towards the expressway, the entrance to the Makassan station will be under there to your left. It is a surprisingly long walk from MRT to entry to station (up to 10 minutes and be careful at the road crossing). You do not want to make this connection in either direction with more than a daypack or light shopping bags, trust me.
From Makassan station, you can either take the Express directly to the Airport no stops OR the City Line with a few stops. I'd take whichever comes along first. From Vertigo, I'd allow at least 50 minutes to get you back to airport terminal, including walking/waiting/transfer times. Then pick up your stuff at Left Luggage.

Technically, if you leave the airport during the connection, you will be liable to pay the THB 700 departure tax, each. Sometimes this is caught, sometimes not but if your boarding pass was issued at a place other than BKK, likely it will be caught and you will need to pay it at the TG Royal Silk check-in desk. F/C passengers do have their own immigration checkpoint (far end near the A desks)--you might try going through and if they stamp you without sending you back to check-in to pay the tax, you're home free. Otherwise, allow an extra 10 minutes to deal with this just in case. You can also try the dodge of only getting boarding passes as far as BKK, thus forcing yourself to get fresh boarding passes in BKK for the onward flight--but there is still a risk that check-in personnel would ask for the tax. It's a tossup whichever gambit you try.

Normally for your C massage, you get 30 minutes of foot or 30 minutes of head/neck. This will be at the Spa area on the C concourse. Not booked in advance but if it's a busy time, you may have to wait. I usually go for massage first and if there is a wait, head to lounge for my shower first. Don't leave yourself too little time before flight departure or you may have to forego.

BKK lounges are departure lounges, so no, you will not be able to hit the showers there on arrival. But why would you want to? You'll only get hot and sweaty in town. Best to get through immigration and out the door.

Right I realise that but if we were simply transiting without exiting we would go through transit straight to the lounges? So once in the lounges is there a way to exit back out past immigration (as there is/was at LHR, ZRH, FRA)?

I agree though - quite happy to head into town and shower once we get back to the airport/lounge.



Technically, if you leave the airport during the connection, you will be liable to pay the THB 700 departure tax, each. Sometimes this is caught, sometimes not but if your boarding pass was issued at a place other than BKK, likely it will be caught and you will need to pay it at the TG Royal Silk check-in desk. F/C passengers do have their own immigration checkpoint (far end near the A desks)--you might try going through and if they stamp you without sending you back to check-in to pay the tax, you're home free. Otherwise, allow an extra 10 minutes to deal with this just in case. You can also try the dodge of only getting boarding passes as far as BKK, thus forcing yourself to get fresh boarding passes in BKK for the onward flight--but there is still a risk that check-in personnel would ask for the tax. It's a tossup whichever gambit you try.

IN what circumstances is it NOT caught? Last time I was in BKK Immigration checked for a sticker on your BP as to whether you had paid it - do they not always check? or can checkin agents give you one without collecting the tax?

If you want to go to Pratunam Market and then Central World, you can get off at the Rajprarop stop (next to last) and walk south to Pratunam, then further south to Central World. I was in Central World about 10 days ago, and while a lot of shops are open--everything except the Zen end--it still has a bit of a dead and lifeless feel about it. I didn't care for it but pop in and see what you think. You could also take the City Line all the way to end Phya Thai station, then take Skytrain to Siam and check out the entire Siam Square area (MBK, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, etc. ) MUCH livelier and IMO much better shopping.

Good advice re Siam - I had thought that part or all of Central World had been burnt in the riots. I like Zen (have bought several things there) but would be interested in checking out Siam Square. I guess we can do them both since they are close.

You'll either need to take your carry-ons with you, or you can leave with Left Luggage which is after Customs, on the nonsecure side of Arrivals (2nd floor I think). I think it's 100 Baht per day per piece. DON'T LEAVE VALUABLES like critical medicines or computers.

That sucks since we don't want to be getting around town with laptops and gadgets. Sounds like we need to take our wheel-a-boards with us :(

Right I realise that but if we were simply transiting without exiting we would go through transit straight to the lounges? So once in the lounges is there a way to exit back out past immigration (as there is/was at LHR, ZRH, FRA)?

....

That sucks since we don't want to be getting around town with laptops and gadgets. Sounds like we need to take our wheel-a-boards with us :(

Yes, if you've already got your onward boarding passes, just proceed upstairs to a lounge from the downstairs arrivals level. Visit the lounge, shower, relax for a bit, then go back downstairs and exit through immigration.

You can leave your carry-on luggage in the lounge luggage storage area but it's at your own risk. Advise the lounge staff you're going to leave luggage so they don't think to cart it away for destruction, disposal or sale ... they will say it's at your own risk and they cannot take any responsibility for security reasons (security... it's like the "cover all" reason for absolutely anything at an airport these days). I'd suggest labelling the luggage with your surname, flight number and date. Also ensure it's locked up securely. As always, don't leave anything of value.

See my comments inserted in bold as relevant:
Right I realise that but if we were simply transiting without exiting we would go through transit straight to the lounges? So once in the lounges is there a way to exit back out past immigration (as there is/was at LHR, ZRH, FRA)?

Between your arrival path and the lounges, will be another transit security checkpoint that you have to go through before you can continue your path to the lounges. Once at the lounge and presenting your onward boarding pass, I'm not sure if you will be able to come back with same boarding pass and hit lounge again 8-ish hours later, if that is your intention. I seem to recall my boarding pass was scanned at the lounge desk.


IN what circumstances is it NOT caught? Last time I was in BKK Immigration checked for a sticker on your BP as to whether you had paid it - do they not always check? or can checkin agents give you one without collecting the tax?

No stickers. Perhaps you are thinking of the old days where the tax was paid separately at those silly machines prior to immigration. Now, the tax is included in the ticket IF you have a departure from BKK; but not included if you are routed as an intl-to-intl through-connection. I have had overnight 22 hour connections where I only BP'd and short checked bags to BKK only, took everything with me to hotel, checked back in at desk the next day, got my BP and new bag check, and wasn't asked to pay tax--I'm sure it was an oversight on their part, not due to any charm of mine. Last 2 years, 4/5 times = 80% success rate. I think without this sort of connection though, might be harder for them to overlook. Not impossible on same-day connection, but more difficult. However, if you are talking about dinner and drinks at Vertigo, and shopping, then worrying about 700 baht x 2 for tax seems to be a bit incongruent, doesn't it? Maybe plan to have to pay the tax, and go for cheaper dinner and drinks to make it up.

<snip>

That sucks since we don't want to be getting around town with laptops and gadgets. Sounds like we need to take our wheel-a-boards with us

You don't want to be wheeling your crap around Bangkok. What I have done is to pack the non-valuables in the wheelaboard, lock it well, stick it in Left Luggage, then use my lightweight small daypack to carry my laptop, thumb drives, camera, critical meds, etc. If there are two of you, you should be able to do same. Pare down, then split the load. Often I'll have the empty, flattened daypack inside the wheelie, then upon arrival, quickly pull out the daypack and stick the goodies in it, before putting the wheelie at Left Luggage. Daypacks are much easier to get around with and less tiring. Note: at Left Luggage, they will xray your bag immediately upon your submittal of it, so they can check for bombs...and who's got good stuff inside worth stealing. ;) Actually, I've never had issues with Left Luggage at BKK and don't know anybody who ever has, but theoretically, thefts are always possible and you agree to absolve them of responsibility when you submit stuff for holding.



There's no way I would leave my stuff in the lounge.

Between your arrival path and the lounges, will be another transit security checkpoint that you have to go through before you can continue your path to the lounges. Once at the lounge and presenting your onward boarding pass, I'm not sure if you will be able to come back with same boarding pass and hit lounge again 8-ish hours later, if that is your intention. I seem to recall my boarding pass was scanned at the lounge desk.

So you don't think hgp's post above is right (about going back downstairs and exiting through immigration)?

As for access to the lounge - whether BP is scanned or not, our access to the lounge is based on Class of Travel not the BP itself - I don't see how whether the BP is previously scanned or not matters. If I went to the lounge, showered, and then came out again and made use of various facilities within the airport (airside) I could obviously come back to the lounge as often and for however long I wished before my departing flight, no?

No stickers. Perhaps you are thinking of the old days where the tax was paid separately at those silly machines prior to immigration. Now, the tax is included in the ticket IF you have a departure from BKK; but not included if you are routed as an intl-to-intl through-connection. I have had overnight 22 hour connections where I only BP'd and short checked bags to BKK only, took everything with me to hotel, checked back in at desk the next day, got my BP and new bag check, and wasn't asked to pay tax--I'm sure it was an oversight on their part, not due to any charm of mine. Last 2 years, 4/5 times = 80% success rate. I think without this sort of connection though, might be harder for them to overlook. Not impossible on same-day connection, but more difficult. However, if you are talking about dinner and drinks at Vertigo, and shopping, then worrying about 700 baht x 2 for tax seems to be a bit incongruent, doesn't it? Maybe plan to have to pay the tax, and go for cheaper dinner and drinks to make it up.

Makes sense, thanks. Given the prices at Vertigo I don't think we will be dining - just grabbing a drink and enjoying the view. And yes the 1400 baht is not necessarily the issue (although the cheapskate in me would still like to avoid it on a transit :) ). It's more of a "how much cash do i need to carry in baht" thing - if I am paying at check-in I assume I can pay using a credit card?

I've used the TG lounges many times on arrival in the morning, then gone down, through immigration, into town, then back at night for my flight. Never been a problem getting back into the lounges for me. That's always been when flying TG, not any other *G carrier. In fact, when I've just stayed airside, I'll lounge hop, and even if more than 6 or 8 hours, never a problem getting into as many of the lounges, including the SQ lounge, as I want. TG scans my BP each time.

I've used the TG lounges many times on arrival in the morning, then gone down, through immigration, into town, then back at night for my flight. Never been a problem getting back into the lounges for me. That's always been when flying TG, not any other *G carrier. In fact, when I've just stayed airside, I'll lounge hop, and even if more than 6 or 8 hours, never a problem getting into as many of the lounges, including the SQ lounge, as I want. TG scans my BP each time.

Concur. You can enter and leave the lounges as often as you wish. The fact that your layover is 8+ hours is not an issue. Lounge access is determined by class of service and/or *A membership tier.

Lounge hopping is a good idea. Different lounges have different benefits. Have fun!

So some suggestion for my home-turf hmmm...

BKK have only departure lounge becuase the executives who make decisions for the lounges know that you will be sweaty the moment you step out of the building haha.

So a good idea to catch a train to the city. I find the cityline faster than the BTS (since the Airport-link have less curves than the BTS and MRT) and fast enough to get me in town so I save a bit on the trian ticket just to spend it somewhere else (maybe Lord Jim or shopping)

I don't really recommend to walk down to CentralWorld from Rajprarob Airport link station if you will be there in the middle of the day (think how hot will be around 3PM not counting on pollutions from traffics)

My best advise would be to go to the end off the Airport Link city-line station called Phayathai and catch a BTS from there. As you got on BTS, get down at Chit Lom station not Siam (since Central World is nearer to the Chit Lom station side). If you want to explore the new museum in Siam Discovery, or wanting to go buy a book in the biggest bookstore in town at Kinokuniya Siam Paragon then just get down at Siam.

For the roof-top dinner I would recommend Le Blue at the President Tower (where Silom RD. Intersects with Bang Rak Rd. if you want a super-luxurious roof-top dinner) other than that Centara Grand's is a fine choice.

To get back to Airport from town do the same thing, ride the BTS to Phayathai station then change to the city-line Airportlink. From Phayathai you could change to the Express line at the next station. I would not recommend to go to MTR Phetcburi station because they still didn't provide any adequate link between the Airportlink station to the MTR station compared to the BTS-Cityline station link.

You are now in the basement of the airport. If you already have your boarding pass and have checked your belongings then process to the immigration service somewhere between check-in desk row A&B. After you finish your passport checking procedure... ta da~ there is a lounge in front of you (I was there last-month).

For the ฿700 fee question, I would like to ask you a question back. If you have enough money to spend a minivacation in Bangkok and a nice roof-top dinner which the price tag is way beyond ฿700 why couldn't you pay it. So that AOT (the company that runs Thailand's major Airports) could have some money to run Bangkok Airport and its facilities in a good shape.

Enjoy your "mini-vacation" in Bangkok

Rabbz_StarAlliance

Hi

I have a similar question, booked LHR to BKK in F landing at 15.05 then departing BKK to SYD in F next day at 07.55 so obviously need to book a hotel for the overnight stay and would like to head into Bangkok to do some shopping and eating in the evening. Would you recommend booking a hotel in town and travelling back to the airport early in the morning or booking a hotel in the airport and getting back to the airport at night after dinner etc?
Also does anyone know if my baggage will be routed straight through or will I need to collect it and re-check it in the following morning?

Thanks

Hi

I have a similar question, booked LHR to BKK in F landing at 15.05 then departing BKK to SYD in F next day at 07.55 so obviously need to book a hotel for the overnight stay and would like to head into Bangkok to do some shopping and eating in the evening. Would you recommend booking a hotel in town and travelling back to the airport early in the morning or booking a hotel in the airport and getting back to the airport at night after dinner etc?
Also does anyone know if my baggage will be routed straight through or will I need to collect it and re-check it in the following morning?

Thanks

I would suggest to book a airport hotel, there are number of the cheap ones that provide free shuttle. They are sufficient for sleeping and later getting quickly to the airport in the morning. Book on Expedia or similar.

If it is one ticket, then baggage goes directly.

Hi. We have 2 BKK layovers in November. Both are int-int flights on inbound & outbound. It will be my first time in BKK, and our carryons are just daypacks. Looking forward to the CityLine/SkyTrain to town, but not sure if there's sufficient time (and if B700 is worthwhile for ~3.5 hours actually spent in town). We are interested in sights, a little window-shopping and trying local street food. :)

The first BKK layover is 5.5 hours (1:30pm - 7pm) in coach on Sunday. The second BKK layover is 8.5 hours (9am - 5:30pm) in business on Wednesday. Heard alot about the Orchid Spa and I would love to try the 30 minutes massage. So, do we:

a) Spend both layovers hanging around in the airport (on the 2nd BKK layover, do a 'lounge-hopping'),

b) Go to town on the 1st layover and see if there is anything we missed out during the 1st trip, we can revisit on the 2nd layover,

c) Only go to town on the 2nd layover, and if we missed the 30 minutes massage (only one of us will enjoy it) with lounge benefits, so be it? By the way, it's our first international trip with a Business Class award ticket. Are we going to miss out on all that amenities?

By the way, I just want to make sure that the B700 tax applies only 1 time for each layover if we decide to go to town (at the immigration counter?).. is that right? And at coach, I doubt I'll be able to get the Fastrack, but it's doable at business? So, that will save us some time on the 2nd layover.

Any suggestions/comments are welcomed!

TIA

1) You will be assessed the Bht 700 tax for each city visit, both incoming and outgoing. That's 2 times per person. There's no provision for one assessment per round-trip through BKK.

2) Fasttrack will not be available on your Y direction, but will be available on the return journey when flying business on TG or some other airlines, who will give you a fasttrack pass.

3) Your first layover of 5.5 scheduled hours is on the bubble as to whether it's worth it to go into city after subtracting entry/exit + transport time. You didn't mention arrival/departure time of day or night, which could make a difference. Maybe just plan to hang airside, take advantage of lounge access if you can (are you *A Gold on any airline?), and do the city visit in the other direction when you have more time. If you get back to the airport a couple of hours before your return journey departure, you probably will have time to get a 30 minute massage if they aren't too backed up, and also a quick shower at the (C or E) Thai lounge, handy after a day of bopping around the city.

Unfortunately we are not *A Gold,:( so, no lounge.... Our first layover (from 1:30pm - 7pm), we will probably spend time wandering around in the airport. Any good local restaurants we should try for an early dinner there? :)

On the second layover, in Business (from 9am - 5:30pm), we will visit the city and pay the tax (Bht 700/person). Will try to head back to the airport around 3pm for the quick shower and hopefully a 30 min massage...

Thanks jiejie for the suggestions...

Hi all,

New to TG and TG forum.

Travelling end July LHR-BKK (evening departure, arriving 15:05) in F, connecting to SIN 4:30 later in C (as no F on that flight). Will I be transferred in the buggy 'thing' to the lounge? Would that be the C or F lounge? Any ideas about the massages available?

Thanks a lot!

Hi all,

New to TG and TG forum.

Travelling end July LHR-BKK (evening departure, arriving 15:05) in F, connecting to SIN 4:30 later in C (as no F on that flight). Will I be transferred in the buggy 'thing' to the lounge? Would that be the C or F lounge? Any ideas about the massages available?

Thanks a lot!

No.

But if you want the REAL answer please look at the myriad threads that are delved into weekly on this very topic.