I am traveling in C ICN-BKK-HKT-HKG. My layover in BKK is about 2 hours. I am curious to know what the best lounge options are in ICN, BKK and HKG. I assume that Star Alliance lounges are an option too. In BKK since I am transfering to a domestic flight I imagine that limits the lounge choices?
Lastly, I noticed that my flight from BKK to HKT is on a 747 but they only sell it as two class. Do they use the F section of the plane at all? Who gets to sit there?
Hi peter, I prefer the clubhouse in HKG, the Qantas in BKK and ICN I don't know. Of the *A in BKK, try SQ because they serve ice cream, TG are currently going through a "woe is me" period, and the food is terrible. If you are on a 2 class 747, the front is used, entry is by smiling, and grovelling, but mainly by knowing that if you ask at check in at BKK, they will release a seat, regards bkkrop.
Thanks for your reply. I don't think I would be allowed in the Clubhouse (HKG) or the Qantas lounge in BKK as I am not on those airlines nor do I have status. Do TG pax have rights to those lounges?
As for SQ in BKK, that would be fine, but since I am connecting to a domestic flight (BKK-HKT) won't I be in a domestic area of the terminal, and therefore not able to access the SQ lounge?
Ah, sorry misread your post, the TG lounges in HKG and BKK are good, in fact very good, just that we become fussy about small things as you travel all the time. The domestic TG terminal has a smaller one, but I wouldn't go out of my way to sit there. If it's your first visit to BKK airport, 2 hours to traverse the international to domestic and have a look around, is pleasant and relaxing, have a good trip, regards bkkrop
Well, I understand that the TG lounge on the domestic side is not as good as the international ones. However, I would not expect that I could browse around the international terminal at all. Once I exit the plane I assume I will need to clear customs in BKK. Isn't that correct?
In the old setup at BKK there was no problem accessing the international lounge on an international-to-domestic transfer. Under the new security setup that began last month, you now must pass through security to get to the lounge level, and you must show your boarding pass to do so. It they examine the boarding pass and see that it's domestic and not international, I'm guessing they will refuse you entry, though cannot be sure as I don't think there have been any reports of anyone trying this. If you can get through security, then you should be able to get into the TG or SQ international lounges. If you arrive at a busy time though, you could spend a lot of time just getting through security, and then will have to go through security again (international-to-domestic security) before your flight. So even if you can it might not be worth it. Definitely though the international lounges are better than the TG domestic lounge.
At ICN, there are two *A lounges, both operated by OZ, one in the main terminal and one in the concourse. TG operates out of the concourse, so if you try to access the main OZ lounge they will likely try to force you to the concourse lounge, though if you insist they will likely let you in the main terminal lounge. I however wouldn't bother. They are very similar and the main terminal lounge is often overcrowded, whereas the concourse lounge I've never seen overcrowded. So simply take the train after immigration to the concourse and then follow the signs to the OZ lounge up one level from departures. It's a fairly decent lounge, has showers, but hot food service times aren't the best and if you're not there during meal times, the only options may be snacks, salad, or instant noodles.
In HKG, most consider the TG lounge to be the best *A lounge. The SQ lounge I've heard is quite bad. Some people like the UA RCC, but I've never been there so can't comment. The TG lounge I believe used to have Hagen Dazs ice cream but recently downgraded to some awful Nestle ice cream - just another sign of TG's downgrading of their food across the board. The view though from that lounge is superb in my opinion.
At HKT, your only option is the TG lounge, which is quite basic and nothing great.
Well, I understand that the TG lounge on the domestic side is not as good as the international ones. However, I would not expect that I could browse around the international terminal at all. Once I exit the plane I assume I will need to clear customs in BKK. Isn't that correct?
I just spent about 2.5-3 hrs in the domestic lounge on Sunday on an AKL-BKK-HKT transfer with wife and toddler. I have to somewhat disagree with the posts that lounge is so inferior. I actually quite liked it. It was nearly empty, and there are some very comfortable sofas where you could quite easily sleep. My recollection of the TG international lounges at Bangkok was that they were very busy, most seats taken, and large. Perhaps I was lucky when I was at domestic and unlicky at international so my experience may not be correct at all times (it was very late at night, last flight).
Lots of staff around and very attentive and playing with the baby, so that gave us some time off too.
I also liked that my gate was literally across the way so I could pop out and see what the boarding situation was before leaving the lounge.
Food sucked, and no alcohol, but there is a decent and cheap foodcourt about a minutes walk away and I brought a big can of Heineken into the lounge and poured it into glass and no one seemed to mind!
If I had the choice (which as explained above we dont anymore!) I would even think about that lounge as an option on an international flight if other lounges were busy!
At HKG, it depends on where your flight is parked. If your gate # is 28 or lower, the SQ lounge is the nearest *A lounge. They have just moved to a new location nearer to gates 15/16, a little to the "left" of the old lounge. It's brand new but I heard that it has no toilet. I haven't had a flight assigned to a low enough gate no. for me to really try the new lounge.
The UA RCC and TG lounges are almost side-by-side upstairs near gate 60. TG flights are usually at gate no. 40 or higher, so the UA RCC and TG lounges will likely be your best choices. I haven't been to the UA RCC for a while and it used to be inferior to TG. I heard that it has improved and I plan on stopping by on my next trip. I also heard that the same caterer as TG lounge is now managing the UA RCC thus the food and drink offer have improved. Both TG and UA lounges are open and have nice view of the apron. The food and drink offer at HKG TG lounge were very good when I last visited a few months ago.
The Thai Domestic lounge at BKK is not very good, and the lounge in HKT isnt much better.
No booze in the lounge at all for domestic flights or on the plane either... is this a Thai law or something?
I have been to the UA RCC in HKG recently and although the TG lounge is better, the RCC isn't all that bad. I spent most of my time there and liked it. You can check both of them out.
