Thailand - BKK overnite lounge for family of 6

We are arriving late on a UA flight (803, arriving at 11:40 pm). We leave the next morning on an Air Asia flight at 6:50 am for Chiang Rai. With six, it just isn't worth leaving the airport to get a hotel for all of 4 hours (the more people, the slower the people move:)

Sooo, any chance we can pay our way into a lounge for the night? If so, how do we do this? Are the lounges prior to clearing customs? How do we stay on that side, and can we then clear customs at say 5:00 am to go for our domestic flight?

Not sure if I'm making myself clear, but I'm hoping someone out there understands what I'm trying to do.

Oh, hubby is UA 1P (*gold) if this makes any difference in this case.

Thanks so very much for all help/suggestions!

Jennifer

Many lounges are closed between 0100-0530, which is probably when you want to crash.

There are inexpensive hotels near the airport, which may suit depending on the composition/ages of your family.

The following may also assist: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/53901-pay-per-use-lounges-in-bkk-airport/

Cheers, TK

I am pretty sure you will need to clear Immigration, claim your checked bags, clear Customs and then you will be "land-side". There you could camp out in the terminal; there will be a lot of other people doing the same, where you need to check in with Air Asia in the AM, or find a nearby hotel, which might be worth it if only for a shower?

The Food Court on Level 1/Door 10 is open 7/24.

there is the Louis' Tavern Dayrooms in the transit area, it is open 24/7.

I'd get the more expensive rooms, the cheapies that TG gave me complimentary because it was an overnight layover weren't isolated from the rooms on either side (if you brushed the curtains aside and pressed against the glass you could walk from one room to the other). The better rooms are actually a proper room - not flash, but you can crash out for a few hours.

The Novotel is on the airport grounds, but outside immigration. It is about USD180 a night (I would've stayed there, but the promo making it 75/night finished while I was in the air).

The Starbucks in the food court area isn't a bad place to crash out either, it was empty at night both times I was there, and has room for a hockey team - so a family of 6 is easy. Get the kids to stock up on internet passes while people are at the information booths.

it will take you 45-60 minutes to get off the plane , do the long walk to Customs , wait in line and get your bags , so you are getting close to 1am

You might ask what time the Air Asia desk opens so you can check in, if at 5am you have only 4 hours so not much time to get to Hotel, and you also need to go thru departure immigration.

I would think about changing at least $100 to baht at the exchange places next to baggage , then go to the food court or 7-11/ family mart to get something to eat and then "camp out" near the Air Asia check in area,
or Starbucks area ( I never found it)

have the kids bring their own pillows !

then with the $$$$ you save take them someplace fun !

RB

you canot through check if flying Air Asia so you would have to clear customs and immigration then I would be surprised if Air Asia would check the bags a that time. Onlyother option would be the Novotel at the airport.

Many lounges are closed between 0100-0530, which is probably when you want to crash.

There are inexpensive hotels near the airport, which may suit depending on the composition/ages of your family.

The following may also assist: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/53901-pay-per-use-lounges-in-bkk-airport/

Cheers, TK

Lounge is open 24 hours.

I don't blame you for not wanting to spend the dosh for just a few hours. And I'd stay at the airport.

Will you have checked bags on the UA flight? If so, you're choices are:

1) Go through immigration right away to get to baggage claim and get them off the belt, then through Customs. You'll now be on the non-secure side, with no way to get back to the secure side until Air Asia opens and you can check-in for the onward flight and get BP's. Even if you could get through domestic security to the secure side, I don't think there's much open there in the wee hours.

2) Stay on the secure side, head for Louis Tavern rooms (assuming there are any available). Take a chance that staff will pick up your unclaimed checked bags from the UA incoming flight, and put them somewhere for you to try to locate later. (personally I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this)

If nobody will have a checked bag on the incoming, you can try to stay on the transit side if Louis Tavern room is available, then go through immigration in the morning and around to Air Asia check-in, then through security to your domestic gate.

I personally wouldn't put a lot of faith that at your late arrival, Louis Tavern will have anything still available. I think down at lower level where the Airport Express train comes in, I think there are a bunch of padded benches without armrests. Should be quiet after the last train comes in. There's a convenience store somewhere down there. Bring some of those blow-up pillows and something to cover yourselves (lightweight sleep sheet or travel blanket, etc.) since the a/c is often cold.

We are arriving late on a UA flight (803, arriving at 11:40 pm). We leave the next morning on an Air Asia flight at 6:50 am for Chiang Rai. With six, it just isn't worth leaving the airport to get a hotel for all of 4 hours.

Star Gold lounge privileges are are limited (6 is too many for 1 Gold card) and for departing passengers on Star Alliance flights, so would not be applicable for your Air Asia departure anyway.

As to your other question, I am sorry, because I understand you don't feel it's worth the trouble to get a hotel... but I still think it could be a worthwhile plan. The cost of BKK rooms can be quite minimal, with minimal expectations, and even with 2 x 700THB(ish) rooms, your family could get a good 4 hours sleep. With a bit of sleep on flight 803 down, 4 hours could supplement the needed balance and make a bit of difference in the following day. It's not like the prices would need to break the bank.

You could online check-in, be in the taxi back to the airport at 5:30.... with folks all with each a bit more sleep and freshly showered.

..

2) Stay on the secure side, head for Louis Tavern rooms (assuming there are any available). Take a chance that staff will pick up your unclaimed checked bags from the UA incoming flight, and put them somewhere for you to try to locate later. (personally I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this)

If nobody will have a checked bag on the incoming, you can try to stay on the transit side if Louis Tavern room is available, then go through immigration in the morning and around to Air Asia check-in, then through security to your domestic gate.

I personally wouldn't put a lot of faith that at your late arrival, Louis Tavern will have anything still available. I think down at lower level where the Airport Express train comes in, I think there are a bunch of padded benches without armrests. Should be quiet after the last train comes in. There's a convenience store somewhere down there. Bring some of those blow-up pillows and something to cover yourselves (lightweight sleep sheet or travel blanket, etc.) since the a/c is often cold.

Louis Tavern is not an option: No entry without onward int BP. On top of that the rooms begin at 2400B for one person for a 4 hour stint. More people increase the cost.

Louis Tavern is not an option: No entry without onward int BP. On top of that the rooms begin at 2400B for one person for a 4 hour stint. More people increase the cost.

Seriously? Has it always been this way?--I could have sworn it was about 3 years ago when I used them without showing any onward BP of any kind. Though my memory could be wrong...

Anyway, I guess the OP is down to two choices, both after going through baggage claim and Customs: either get a hotel room(s) or finding a place to camp out on the nonsecure side of the terminal.

OP here...

I want to thank all of you for your suggestions. I still don't see us leaving the airport (moving 6 cranky people, including 2 teenagers and 2 preteens just isn't worth it). Yes, I know there are hotels 10 min away, but till we grab a taxi (really 2), get there & check in, really not much sleep as we have to get up again, check out, get 2 taxis and get through security by 6:10 when boarding starts.

I'm still trying to figure this out, so:

1. Is there anyway to stay airside prior to going through immigration? Then we could go through immigration later (say 4 am) and then on to the domestic side for our Air Asia flights.

2. Is there a lounge I can PAY for to get all of us in (I know here in the US you can buy a day pass for $50/pp). I saw something about the Louis Tavern CIP lounges...not the full on "rooms" but just a lounge? Would that be available to us?

Otherwise, I guess we will just be hanging out in the airport with our travel pillows and blankets.

Thanks again,

Jennifer

OP here...

I want to thank all of you for your suggestions. I still don't see us leaving the airport (moving 6 cranky people, including 2 teenagers and 2 preteens just isn't worth it). Yes, I know there are hotels 10 min away, but till we grab a taxi (really 2), get there & check in, really not much sleep as we have to get up again, check out, get 2 taxis and get through security by 6:10 when boarding starts.

I'm still trying to figure this out, so:

1. Is there anyway to stay airside prior to going through immigration? Then we could go through immigration later (say 4 am) and then on to the domestic side for our Air Asia flights.

2. Is there a lounge I can PAY for to get all of us in (I know here in the US you can buy a day pass for $50/pp). I saw something about the Louis Tavern CIP lounges...not the full on "rooms" but just a lounge? Would that be available to us?

Otherwise, I guess we will just be hanging out in the airport with our travel pillows and blankets.

Thanks again,

Jennifer

Hey Jennifer. Give this a look SilverGoldGarden Hotel is the airport hotel we use free Mini van shuttle ,so you'll all fit .10 mins from airport. Timed it. Clean safe friendly. They meet you gate gate 3/4. Hotel Located next to Tesco and 7/11 convenice stores( beer n snacks). $27 pr room. I'd take 2 rooms for your 6. Shower ,wifi,AC,Thailand recharge ready for nxt flt. We pass throu every couple o months ThaiDai www.baanyanuiseaview.com

, I guess we will just be hanging out in the airport with our travel pillows and blankets.

Thanks again,

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, when we travel with my brother and the tribe, we grab some lie flat lounge chairs which are at the end of the C pier, just before the gates start. There has to be 20 or so there, and I imagine they must/might be at the end of the other piers too. The children sleep well. There is a CIP lounge as you enter this wing and the Thai lounge on the right has slumber rooms. You will be alright, teenagers and preteens can sleep anywhere;)

I assume you have checked luggage?

I would not recommend you delay your passage through Immigration, to try and stay in International transit/air-side. I'm not sure how easy it will be to find your bags ~ 4 hours after you land; I assume UA pulls those off the belts and stores them somewhere. And Immigration officials may be overly interested in why you delayed your entry?

Maybe best to pass through Immigration, claim your bags, exit through Customs, then look for a place to pass the time land-side, in the main passenger terminal building, or at a nearby hotel.

No, no checked luggage. Not because of the fees (hubby's status takes care of that) but because we can't stand the hassle. 1 roller & 1 personal bag/backpack per person in this family. If it doesn't fit in one or the other, it doesn't go. We've traveled everywhere with this policy (even 2 weeks in London & Paris 2 years ago). We just wash clothes at a local laundromat every so often (or rent an apartment with a washer/dryer like we did in Paris).

So, with no checked luggage, how do we stay airside? I'm gathering that there is not a lot of places to sit/hangout landside.

Thanks so much everyone!