Bangkok
 

I will fly to BKK next month and have a early morning departure at 7 am back from BKK. I´ll arrive at 0.30 from HKT.
When does the UA check-in open?
Which lounges can I use?
Any good airport hotel around?
Anybody with experiences in connecting from AirAsia to UA? Terminal change?

Tim

I'm not certain exactly when the United desk is open, but I have been there as early as 5:30 AM and they were up and running. If you are *Gold or a member of the Red Carpet Club, you will be able to use any * Alliance Lounges. The RCC at terminal 2 is rather small, but there is also a Thai Airways lounge just before the security check forgate 31, I think. I have never seen the Singapore lounge open for the 7 AM flight, but you check them out, since they are right by the RCC. The Amari is connected to the Airport but is rather pricey. The Asia Hotel is nearby, and is a good value. I think that there are sleeping rooms on one of the upper floors, but I'm not sure, since I always go into town. Sorry I can't help with the transfer, having never done it. When are you flying? I'm on 882 on 3 MAR. Hope this helps.

There is a lot of good info in both the Bangkok Airport and TG forums, where you will find all of your questions asked and answered.

There are hotels nearby, and airside day rooms, but you will not be able to get airside until you check-in with UA, pay your departure tax and clear immigration.

The UA counter probably opens at 05:00.

I stayed at the Asia Airport Hotel a couple of months ago - it's definitely cheaper than the Amari, but it was at the level of a Comfort Inn. So depending on your budget and what type of hotel you prefer, the Asia hotel may not be your best choice (I wouldn't stay there again).

I didn't use any of the lounges when I arrived (also at 0.30), but did spend an hour or two at the Royal Orchid Executive Class Lounge, which was quite nice - computer terminals with free Internet access, free Thai massages, lots of food, and the usual magazines. If you're flying in F, they will drive you to/from your hotel.

The UA check-in opens at 4am, IIRC.

Slightly OT....UA Thailand has a new GM as of this week. Good guy! (yes, I've met him)

Cool. Can you get him to train his agents how to issue refunds? I cancelled/refunded part of a ticket in BKK the other week and when inquiring with UA refunds today, found out that not only did they never put in for the refund, but they instead somehow redeemed two of my unused flight coupons as paper tickets. (This was an e-ticket)

I can't even begin to explain how fun trying to deal with this is right now...

As earlier post mentioned, check the BKK and TG forums for lots of ideas.

Your schedule really does not allow much time for a hotel, so you might want to consider just hanging out in the terminal (ugh!). However, if you really want a hotel, there is the very convenient but pricey Amari (I paid about US $135 last summer) and the Miracle Grand, which is quite nice and substantially cheaper at about US $55. Check out Asia Hotels.com. (Apologies for the plug, but they have worked well for me.)