Having just arrived at Schipol on KL878 from BKK I write this piece with incipient jetlag, so I hope readers will forgive any grammatical inconsistencies. Even after having slept on the decision, I still feel compelled to have a moan about the AF/KL lounge in BKK last night. Flyertalk seems as good a place as any to do so.

I arrived at the lounge at around 2200, about 90 minutes before the departures of both the AMS and CDG flights. Descending the stairs I was greeted by the usual stench of stale tobacco smoke, but that is not the source of my complaint: it's been like that for years.

What I was truly astounded by last night was the totally filthy state of the whole lounge. There were two pleasant and efficient ladies operating the entrance desk, but apparently no kitchen/cleaning staff on duty. Every single table - and I do not exaggerate here - EVERY table was strewn with half eaten plates of food, used napkins, empty drinks cans, and various other detritus. The bar area had been completely emptied of both hot and cold snacks. Empty wine and champagne bottles lay everywhere. In short, it was a total bloody shambles.

In almost a decade of using that lounge I have never seen it in such as state, nor indeed have I seen a lounge anywhere in the world so neglected. It is my hope that this was a one-off situation, perhaps precipitated by staff absences. Either way, the AF/KL station manager at BKK seriously needs to get a grip of the matter.

Rant over.