naughim

Can I access lounge on all international locations I I am flying Business class on a United award ticket.
I am flying from KTM=>BKK (Thai)=>HGH (Air China)=>SFO (UA)=>MSP (UA).
I am mainly concerned to get a lounge access on BKK as I have 9 hour transit. I will land at 6:15 pm and my next flight is at 3:00 am. Is there any lounge that I can access for as long as possible? If that is not an option, can I pay to enter any of the lounge?
And lastly, can I access the SFO lounge upon arrival as I am traveling on United Polaris?
Thank you for all your feedback.

findark

I'm not initimately familiar with the BKK lounges, but you should have access to any/all of the *A member lounges in BKK as a pax departing on a *A flight in Business Class.

Yes, as a customer in United Polaris business, you have access to the United Arrivals Lounge (landside) at SFO in addition to the United Clubs. The Arrivals Lounge has showers, which might be nice.

You also have access to the United Club in MSP on arrival, but I doubt you'd be interested

laxmillenial

Short answer: Yes. You are eligible for partner *Alliance lounges because you are flying Business class. The eligible text you are looking for when searching would be "• Business Class passengers departing same day on any Star Alliance operating flight". This will get you into some lounges, like the Royal Orchid Lounge in BKK. It is free for business class passengers.

If you arrive before 12PM into SFO, then you can access the Arrivals lounge at SFO.

EmailKid

Don't remember what time Royal Orchid lounge closes, but it does close overnight. IIRC it opens at 5 a.m., but that won't help you.

When you check in at Thai counter they will stamp your BP with lounge invitation, and I for one like the lounge (haven't tried any others at BKK).

From discussion in Thailand forum, Louis Tavern (spelling may be off) is open 24 hours, but from what's been posted it's not as nice as RO, and it's a pay lounge. There is also a landside hotel, but it's pricey.

Suggest visitig Thai and Thailand fora, there's a good chance they will have more info, but please word your posts (if any) in a way that does not break FT's no crossposting rule.

JVPhoto

I'm pretty sure you'll be loungless for an hour or two in BKK before you flight. As others said if you arrive before 12 you can use the SFO arrivals lounge. From the INTL arrival go up the escalators across the check in counters and down the escalators connecting to the other terminal. It can be a little tricky but if you have the time it's nice to stop and I've never had to wait for a shower. They also have better food than the United Club so I would enjoy that for a bit over going to the UC once you go back through security.

If you can enter Thailand I would honestly rather go into Bangkok and get some food and kill time doing that.

EmailKid

Agree. IIRC, you should not have to pay exit tax, as it's connection.

ARL (Airport Rail Link) will get you to Bangkok quick and cheap, but you'll have to take a taxi back as it only runs till about midnight or so. I've used ARL on a five hour connection during the day. There is a left luggage place if you don't want to lug your stuff around - that's what I did, even though I don't check luggage.

A tip from an old Thailand hand, if you go this route, whatever you do, don't take a taxi that's parked, only a moving taxi.

Again see Thailand forum, and it will be clear why

Kacee

The new SQ lounge is probably the best option at BKK, but I don't think they have showers. You can visit all the *A lounges at BKK if you like. That includes TG, BR, and SQ. Nine hours is a long time in that airport.

belfordrocks

In BKK the EVA lounge closes at 3.30am due to the late BKK-VIE departure

WineCountryUA

A* departure lounge access is provided when departing on a *A International Business ticket (award or paid) {access is provided in other cases too, beyond the scope of the OP's question).

So access is possible at KTM, BKK, HGH
for lounges and hours see http://www.staralliance.com/lounge-finder

No departure lounge access at SFO but
UC access in SFO as arriving UA premium cabin passenger and access to the UA SFO Arrivals lounge as an arriving UA International Business (Polaris) if arriving before noon. (the UA HGH-SFO arrives at roughly 8AM).
Note the SFO Arrivals lounge is outside of security -- after clearing customs / immigration.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ls-lounge.html

=======
As this is mostly about *A lounge access, will move this to *A forum.

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

Kacee

OP will have access to the United Club at SFO (and MSP) based on the same day UA Polaris business ticket. (I missed this one answering a similar question just last week.)

WineCountryUA

Yep -- did not put all the facts togther.

findark

{delete, wayyy too late to the party}

timster

Listed EVA (BR) closing times differ by day, but I have never been there that late, so YMMV.
WED/FRI/SUN: 06:00~02:30+1 ; MON/TUE/THU/SAT: 06:00~03:30+1

The TG lounges close at 2am, after all their flights to Europe leave. They get crowded late evening.

SQ closes at 11pm.

The TG and BR lounges have showers. SQ doesn't.

The TG lounges are generally regarded as rather poor lounges, and inferior to BR and SQ, esp for food.

The only chance of a bed airside is the Louis Tavern ... now Miracle I believe. But it's not cheap.

Exiting BKK and re-entering can be a hassle, so I would lean towards staying airside (esp if it's your first time in Thailand). Although there is almost nothing to do either airside or landside within the airport, and nothing much nearby. BKK is a pretty horrid modern airport IMHO. I imagine after midnight it's even worse.

My plan would probably be SQ or BR early evening for food, and maybe try to sleep (I read somewhere that SQ now have secluded seating rooms since the renovation). Shower at BR after midnight to prepare for your next flight ?

JVPhoto

How is entering or exiting BKK a hassle? It will probably take a combined 30 min and for the train to Siam and a taxi back you're spending less than $10. Beats sitting in a lounge for hours.
I think if a traveler can handle Nepal they should be able to manage a evening in Bangkok.

Edit: and just checking the OP will be in J and have access to the priority lanes.

dvs7310

Exactly, when you have access to the Priority Lanes, I think going downtown during extended layovers at BKK is quite easy.