Originally Posted by RobUAIntl
Ok -- so not many stores open yet, but is it possible to get a massage? The old BKK had a place where they had assembly line massage. One person would work on your shoulders & back and another would work on your feet at the same time. A nice thing before a long flight.
And if there is a massage place, any idea what time it opens. I'm transiting in BKK in early november from 3:30 am to 6:30am. Arriving from Bangalore on TG and leaving on UA to SFO via NRT.
Stores
well, yesterday, from what I saw, on Level 4 (Shopping level) of all Concourses, almost all stores and center island kiosk-type restaurants are open...so Im not sure what you mean about many stores not being open...(are you referring to another area?) I did a walk around the entire Level 4 yesterday (and all of Level 3, Concourses A, B, C and D (did not have a chance to see Level 3 Concourses E, F & G) ) no need to go to spinning class, that was quite a cardio workout....
Massage Places
yes from what I saw yesterday on departure, there is a massage place on Level 4, Concourse Intersection (D,E,F&G).....the large signboard said Thai Massage 45 minutes = B500 (there were quite a few other offerings, but I dont remember them)....
also on Level 3 below (on Concourse A), I saw another massage place with many offerings, but the only one I remember was Thai massage or foot reflex massage 1 hour=B600. The counter attendant said this place was open 24 hours a day, but Im not sure this is correct.
Travel from Wireless Road to the new Airport
On a Saturday morning, minimal traffic, the entire trip was only about 35 minutes...first tollway cost B40, second tollway cost B25 and taxi fare on the meter cost exactly B220 (total B 285), but that was a relatively lucky traffic-free trip.... at first I was concerned that the trip would be so much more trouble than the trip to Don Muang, but this is really not the case....
Check-in Business Class on THAI
Very pleasant process....taxi dropped me off at Level 4 Departure Zone, I entered Entrance One (Premium Check-in Entrance)...met at the MASSIVE revolving door by a "wai-ing" THAI attendant.... if you turn immedately left you will enter the dedicated TG First Class check-in row and enclosed check-in lounge and if you turn right you will enter the dedicated TG Silk Class check-in area and open lobby....
at the Silk Class check-in area, I was led to one of the many available check-in counters, where you can sit in front of the attendant on an ottoman (there is also a hotel-like seating lobby just adjacent to these counters for your travel group to relax, which is a very nice touch, no stressful chaos like at the old airport)
after a very quick no-wait process, I went to a single small podium (with a smiling THAI attendent) to pay the departure tax of B500 (not increased yet)....
immediately after that, there are 8 exit immigration counters dedicated to Silk Class, but when I approached there were only 3 counters manned (or womanned?) ....but that was fine...no waiting to be processed (very quick).....
THAI Lounges
Immediately after exiting immigation, you have a choice to continue straight on (on the same Level 4) to the shopping zone, or descend down escalators either into the Silk Class lounge (Level 3) or another set of escalators deeper down to Level 2 (Departure Gates)
The THAI Silk Class lounge down the first set of escalators is very nicely set up (it has slumber chaise zones, internet zones, kids playroom (which appears to be sound-proofed--thank heaven for small favors), wi-fi access for laptops, bars, a self-playing piano, work areas, telephone rooms, snack bars--but limited snacks so far, such as pastries, sandwiches, etc.)....I actually like the warmer feel of the lounge better than my favorite Cathay Pacific Business Class lounge in Hong Kong, except the food zone at Cathay is MUCH MUCH better....
my only temporary complaint is that the Silk lounge was UNUSUALLY full of occupants (although it was a rather large lounge)...
later I spoke with the lounge attendants and they told me that this was the only THAI lounge completed so far (except for the neighboring TG First Class lounge, which also seemed rather large but totally empty--I could peek-in through frosted glass auto-doors)...she said that eight more TG lounges would be coming on-line very soon.....
also, she said that other Star Alliance flyers (she did not specify if they were economy class passengers with Star Gold status and/or business class passengers flying on other Star carriers) were using the lounge that day, so this significantly added to the crowd....
also, she oddly stated that all Star alliance partners can use the lounge except United Airlines which uses a "commercial lounge" called "Louis Tavern"...I was really surprised by this comment and am a bit sceptical of its accuracy.....
Anyway, I asked her if OneWorld premium passengers (like Qantas business passengers) were using the TG Silk lounge that day and she said they were not permitted to use it....I told her that I heard the Qantas lounges were not completed yet and that TG might be temporarily allowing access to Qantas passengers....she said they are not allowed access.....In any event the Silk class lounge was very full so I cant imagine accommodating other alliances....
On my stroll around the Concourses, I noticed that other TG lounges and the TG Spa lounge (all on Level 3) was under interior fit-out....
Other lounges
I took a stroll on Level 3, Concourse A to take a peek at the combined First class/business class "Louis Tavern" lounge (Concourse signs refer to "CIP lounge"--I dont understand the connection).....I used my Priority Pass (that I get free with my Mastercard) to enter....it is good-sized, but very bare bones at the moment, with many sofa chairs, some newspapers and magazines, drinks and small snacks....
in the lounge itself, there are escalators up to a second level, which I was advised will be the future airside "Miracle" day room hotel...it seems to be at the beginning stages of fit-out.
I was also told by the attendant that there are two more Louis Tavern lounges on Level 3 (way on the other side, near the intersection of Concourses D,E,F&G).....I did not have a chance to check them out...
Lastly, I noticed on Level 3, Concourse C (other nice airline lounges being fitted out, many workers---but not sure which airlines) and also on Level 3, Concourse B, there is a large "business center"
Although everything is not complete yet, I had a very good experience on departure and would imagine that if you are flying premium classes, your procedures are very stream-lined......the walk to the departure gate is really not any more work than HK in my opinion (once you are familiar with the lay-out).... by the way, the walkalators? or travelators? are positioned traveling outward to the left and inward to the right....once you become familiar its simple....
Im not sure that the restroom complaints are valid so far....I visited three in different Concourses and none of them were crowded to the point of waiting in line....however I did notice workers still adjusting the auto water sprouts...
I do agree that the cleaning staff have not been fully organized yet...I saw LOTS of staff cleaning, but they were not deployed efficiently in critical zones...perhaps time to change contractors....
I did notice that the airport is VERY BUSY....lots and lots of visitors to Thailand...