New Bangkok Lounge (Opened June 2015)
Oct 1, 2017, 9:24 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,545
They had numerous made to order dishes today. I did not count but 11 seems about right. Just two noodle soups. But the food was excellent and so was the cold buffer (remarkable chicken terrine). Quality is better than in HKG J lounges, but few noodle soup choices. And still the Ozzie sparkling Chandon.
Oct 2, 2017, 8:41 am
#182
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE ASIA
Programs: SQ KF GO, OZ GO, QR PC PLAT, TG ROP SL, LCAH SL, IHG SPIRE, Marriott BONVOY GO, HILTON GO
Posts: 641
Update
I've personally not been to HND CX lounge (I hope to visit soon!) but it would take quite a feat for any CX Lounge to top the ones in HKG!
Updates after two visits this weekend
- No more champagne. You have a choice of Ozzie Chandon Brut or Rose (Brut is better)
- Avoid between 9-11am. No seats due to BA/QF hordes. You can always try the JAL lounge before 10am and after 6pm.
- Pad Thai has gone off a bit. The dan-dan noodles is still inedible.
- They swapped the Aesop tolietries for a generic bottle on one visit. Available on others.
- No more champagne. You have a choice of Ozzie Chandon Brut or Rose (Brut is better)
- Avoid between 9-11am. No seats due to BA/QF hordes. You can always try the JAL lounge before 10am and after 6pm.
- Pad Thai has gone off a bit. The dan-dan noodles is still inedible.
- They swapped the Aesop tolietries for a generic bottle on one visit. Available on others.
Perhaps also because I was there on a Sat. morning.
JAL lounge is pretty inaccessible due to their restricted opening hours but I would love to try that some day.
Oct 2, 2017, 8:51 am
#183
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE ASIA
Programs: SQ KF GO, OZ GO, QR PC PLAT, TG ROP SL, LCAH SL, IHG SPIRE, Marriott BONVOY GO, HILTON GO
Posts: 641
My BKK experience @ 9/23
I was in the BKK lounge 2 weeks ago, and these are my observations (having been to & comparing them to the awesome HKG & TPE lounges + MNL as well) -
1. Not quite sure the 11 or so crab fried rice, pad thai dishes are really "made to order" in the true sense. Perhaps with the exception of the (wanton) noodle soups, and even then those have already been prepped in the main central kitchen and the noodles are just popped into hot water before the cooks/kitchen staff add wantons & soup. The meat buns are just steamed and served hot. I personally did not try the fried rice or pad Thai but I'd be surprised if each individual portion was cooked ala minute.
It seems the fried rice & noodle dishes kept coming out of the back kitchen pretty quickly.
It would be awesome if someone who is headed to the BKK lounge take a picture of the menu at the noodle bar just for reference.
2. In terms of quality, I think the noodle bars in HKG & TPE beat BKK hands down. The wantons, meat buns (char siew baos) and the siew mai taste like the frozen supermarket brands & they were just simply re-heated. There were no shrimps in the wantons (meat filling instead) which is not HKG style wanton noodles & the broth isn't tasty.
3. Still serving Chandon Brut & Rose, which is perfectly drink-able. In this instance, HKG lounges are better
4. Did not partake in the cold buffet in BKK or HKG lounges so I cannot comment on that.
But the hot (Western) buffet in HKG lounges is awesome, and offer a lot of variety. Did not notice any hot food buffet at the BKK lounge, only hot food items served at the noodle bar.
Overall an excellent lounge, but in this case, I would eat really good local Thai food in the city before heading to the airport.
1. Not quite sure the 11 or so crab fried rice, pad thai dishes are really "made to order" in the true sense. Perhaps with the exception of the (wanton) noodle soups, and even then those have already been prepped in the main central kitchen and the noodles are just popped into hot water before the cooks/kitchen staff add wantons & soup. The meat buns are just steamed and served hot. I personally did not try the fried rice or pad Thai but I'd be surprised if each individual portion was cooked ala minute.
It seems the fried rice & noodle dishes kept coming out of the back kitchen pretty quickly.
It would be awesome if someone who is headed to the BKK lounge take a picture of the menu at the noodle bar just for reference.
2. In terms of quality, I think the noodle bars in HKG & TPE beat BKK hands down. The wantons, meat buns (char siew baos) and the siew mai taste like the frozen supermarket brands & they were just simply re-heated. There were no shrimps in the wantons (meat filling instead) which is not HKG style wanton noodles & the broth isn't tasty.
3. Still serving Chandon Brut & Rose, which is perfectly drink-able. In this instance, HKG lounges are better
4. Did not partake in the cold buffet in BKK or HKG lounges so I cannot comment on that.
But the hot (Western) buffet in HKG lounges is awesome, and offer a lot of variety. Did not notice any hot food buffet at the BKK lounge, only hot food items served at the noodle bar.
Overall an excellent lounge, but in this case, I would eat really good local Thai food in the city before heading to the airport.
Oct 2, 2017, 11:35 am
#184
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, DL PM, , Hilton Diamond (from being in a bed), SPG Plat, MR Plat
Posts: 922
My favourite outstation combined lounge especially when you are in a time between CX flights and you are the only person! Great staff and amazing runway views.
Oct 2, 2017, 11:38 pm
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,545
Just a general statement.
CX has made a real effort to improve outstations lounges. Compared to a few years ago, I find LHR-CDG-BKK-HND excellent lounges. Bravo CX.
CX has made a real effort to improve outstations lounges. Compared to a few years ago, I find LHR-CDG-BKK-HND excellent lounges. Bravo CX.
Oct 4, 2017, 5:27 am
#186
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PEK
Programs: BAEC, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 244
Does anyone know the up to date opening times for the CX lounge at BKK?
In particualar, if it is open past 630pm? The oneworld site says it is 3 nights per week (to 1am), CX website says not. I can't see any late night CX flights it would stay open for, but maybe I have missed something.
Am flying JL late tomorrow night (Thurs) and would much prefer to use the CX lounge!
In particualar, if it is open past 630pm? The oneworld site says it is 3 nights per week (to 1am), CX website says not. I can't see any late night CX flights it would stay open for, but maybe I have missed something.
Am flying JL late tomorrow night (Thurs) and would much prefer to use the CX lounge!
Oct 4, 2017, 6:22 am
#187
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 479
Does anyone know the up to date opening times for the CX lounge at BKK?
In particualar, if it is open past 630pm? The oneworld site says it is 3 nights per week (to 1am), CX website says not. I can't see any late night CX flights it would stay open for, but maybe I have missed something.
Am flying JL late tomorrow night (Thurs) and would much prefer to use the CX lounge!
In particualar, if it is open past 630pm? The oneworld site says it is 3 nights per week (to 1am), CX website says not. I can't see any late night CX flights it would stay open for, but maybe I have missed something.
Am flying JL late tomorrow night (Thurs) and would much prefer to use the CX lounge!
Last flight tomorrow (Thurs) is 18:50.
Oct 4, 2017, 6:30 am
#188
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
I agree and it's great. The biggest improvement has to be MNL where the previous lounge was a complete dump and the new one is on par with the one in BKK.
Oct 4, 2017, 8:15 pm
#189
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: TYO / CGK / NYC
Programs: JL JGC
Posts: 20
just visited the cx lounge after escaping the very crowded jl sakura lounge this morning. so thanks for the info in this thread.
imo, cx has better selection of food, seating, and interestingly is closer to the gate for my jl flight.
fyi, the noodle bar had 4 hot breakfast options (wonton noodle, crab meat fried rice, egg bennedict and rice porridge with chicken meat) and 3 dim sum menu (pork bun, shrimp/pork siau may, & sago dumpling)
imo, cx has better selection of food, seating, and interestingly is closer to the gate for my jl flight.
fyi, the noodle bar had 4 hot breakfast options (wonton noodle, crab meat fried rice, egg bennedict and rice porridge with chicken meat) and 3 dim sum menu (pork bun, shrimp/pork siau may, & sago dumpling)
Oct 17, 2017, 12:10 pm
#191
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
Oct 17, 2017, 5:34 pm
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Secondarily no, because the guest isn't flying on a OW airline.
Oct 17, 2017, 5:39 pm
#193
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,756
Hmmm... question: 1 J award ticket owner can get into CX lounge by definition. The F pax is only F on HKG-JFK segment (ticket BKK-HKG-JFK) since there is no F service BKK-JFK and he is also without any status (CX or OW). Can this F pax bring in OW guest in BKK?
Oct 17, 2017, 5:43 pm
#194
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,903
Officially not, but you can try asking nicely.
Oct 17, 2017, 5:51 pm
#195
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,756
https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...dmittance.html
I just did some checking myself and found the above link. What do you mean by official not? Is it due to capacity control?
I just did some checking myself and found the above link. What do you mean by official not? Is it due to capacity control?