Getting presentable upon arrival
 

Hi,

I'm expecting to fly FRA->BKK in a few weeks, *G but flying this time in economy.

Upon arrival I'd like to make myself more presentable after the long flight: refreshen up, change a shirt etc.

What are my options? is there an arrival lounge I could use for free (based on my *G status), or some other facilities?

Thanks.

no arrival lounges
not much options beside hotels nearby the airport. Novotel airport hotel provides day rooms

You can use the Louis Tavern lounge (follow indication) in order to find it. It's by payment only. I remember something like 27usd.

How feasible easy it is to go from an arrival gate to this lounge? I may be mistaken, but would have thought that from arrivals, one would have to pass through security (i.e. as one would for a connecting flight) in order to reach the departure areas including the lounges?

correct - Louis Tavern is accessible from departure level but I don't think its accessible from arrival level ...

Your best option is to bring a change of clothes with you onboard including 2 face cloths. A few hours before they serve breakfast get up make your way to the washroom. I usually wash my body with a damp washcloth with some soap and the dry myself with the other washcloth. I shave and ash my face etc.

Then change your clothes into fresh ones. Voila you have a fresh you, I have done this many a times except when I am transiting then I wait for the lounge.

If there are no other options and you don't need a shower (not sure if Louis Tavern offers that with lounge use anyway, ie without a room booking), the bathrooms in the terminal are not too bad. Not up to most at Changi, but not bad. I often use the one in the baggage hall after immigration. A quieter one is on the landside, one level up from arrivals, near the far end of the terminal (past the landside restaurants).

Get some wet naps and do a lav shower.
Do you immediately have to go in and do some business/meetings?
Another option is depending on where you are staying seeing if the hotel gym/fitness center has shower facilities.
If you're on leisure time and just wanted to freshen up for the day there are also Fitness First and the Virgin gym chains which sell you a day pass the same price as the tavern but you can get a workout in (I think it helps with jet lag) and also shower, sauna, jacuzzi, etc.

The gym at the Novotel has a nice locker room with showers, but I don't know if they allow non-guest / paid users. Guests do have to sign in to get a locker key / towel.

Thanks for the replies.

I was thinking of bringing along some wet baby wipes to freshen up upon arrival.

Would probably do it after landing in one of the restrooms on the way to immigration. Doing this on board seems like it would a cramped affair.

Cheers

I know technically it is not the right thing to do but I have been in your situation before in a few airports and I utilize the disabled toilets. They are a much bigger size, have their own sink, and offer a bit of privacy to strip down and change etc...

not nice! In certain countries you could get into real troubles!
not in Thailand; for the Thais all foreigners are disabled!

there are showers in some TG Royal Silk lounges in the transit area - concourse B, I guess, but not in the main lounge!

concourse B has no TG lounge
the ones in C and E have showers (both East and West in each concourse)
main D and domestic A have no showers
and F lounge of course as well

but that's all in departure area...and arrival passengers can't access if not in transit

Many long haul flights arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport early in the morning, so lots of Bangkok hotels are prepared to accommodate an early arrival check-in if you request it in advance. Depending on timing and logistics this might also be an option.

On the flip side many flights depart at midnight, so many hotels will allow you a late checkout (say 8pm) for half the nightly tariff.

SL