Thai Royal Orchid Spa.
Survarnabhumi Airport,
Bangkok, Thailand.

This won’t be news to many of you but here it is; Thai Airways offers massage services for Thai Airways premium passengers in business and first class. Business Class passengers are offered a thirty minute neck and shoulders or foot massage. First class passengers are offered a sixty minute full body oil or thai massage. We experienced the full sixty minute massage the last time we were through Survarnabumi on our last Round the World Trip and it was a terrific unique way to spend some time immediately prior to your flight. ^

After we disembarked, we entered into the older Survarnabhumi Bangkok airport. We passed through a security check and up one level and we were on the main departure concourse.



With some assistance, we found the Thai Royal Orchid Spa. The services are made available on a first come first served basis (no advance appointments accepted) and I had no idea how busy the spa was going to be. We decided to get the massage right away, instead of landing at the Royal Orchid Lounge where we might get too comfortable to get up again.



I dig the detail on the door handle pulls.



On arrival, we appeared to be the only ones in the spa aside from the staff. The usual information form was filled out. We both opted for the thirty minutes neck and shoulders massage.

We were led to a semi private walled area– I was somewhat expecting a row of boiler room chairs for some reason. MrsWT73 and I were separated for this experience as we enjoyed our 30 minute massages.





The neck and shoulders massage was of Thai variety (think lots of stretching without massage oil combined with very strong pressure). I found it very relaxing. The pressure was much stronger than expected for a free massage. I provided a $5 USD tip but the masseuse seemed a bit embarrassed to accept it.

After the massage, we enjoyed a lemongrass tea in the lounge afterwards. The Royal Orchid Spa area is air conditioned as it’s in an enclosed space, whereas the Royal Orchid lounge is not since it’s in an open air format with the concourse. The usual comment cards were also provided.







The Thai Royal Orchid Spa is probably one of the most unique ways in the world to spend a connection. I especially like that they perform a full service- a 30 minute neck and shoulders massage or a full 60 minute full body massage. It’s a much more "value add" than the smaller Spa services that Etihad offers in their Six Senses Spa in Abu Dhabi (15 minutes) or Elemis offers in their British Airways First Lounges at JFK New York or Heathrow, London (also 15 minutes).