AMS From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1689 posts, RR: 12 Posted (3 years 10 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 7785 times:
I've heard that Thai Airways has opened an Economy class lounge at BKK?
I'm wondering if only Transfer passengers can use this lounge, or also departing passengers from BKK?. Does anyone has any experience with this lounge and what kind of amenities does TG offer in this lounge?
Elephantboy From Thailand, joined Sep 2003, 147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 10 months 18 hours ago) and read 7452 times:
I haven't heard about it. But Bangkok Airways has lounges for economy class passengers both domestic and international. It provides snacks and drinks, including tea and coffee with free internet stations and newspaper. Very nice and clean facilities. All free of charge.
NYC2theworld From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 653 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 16 hours ago) and read 7353 times:
Quoting Elephantboy (Reply 1): I haven't heard about it. But Bangkok Airways has lounges for economy class passengers both domestic and international. It provides snacks and drinks, including tea and coffee with free internet stations and newspaper. Very nice and clean facilities. All free of charge.
What would be the point of an economy lounge...isn't that the terminal?
Always wonderers if this "last and final boarding call" is in fact THE last and final boarding call.
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 10 months 16 hours ago) and read 7340 times:
Quoting NYC2theworld (Reply 2): What would be the point of an economy lounge...isn't that the terminal?
Are you really asking for an answer or is that a joke? I think it's pretty obvious, to offer passengers a smaller area where they can relax and get away from the chaos of the terminal. In an international terminal there are passengers on many different carriers. This lounge would offer similar amenities that a J-class of F-class lounge would offer, just on a more help-yourself and less of a luxurious scale. I think its a fabulous idea. Hell, if the airline has the money, why not. Problem is most airlines can't invest that kind of money right now, otherwise I'm sure others would follow real close behind.
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Airpearl From Malaysia, joined May 2001, 934 posts, RR: 37 Reply 4, posted (3 years 10 months 11 hours ago) and read 7148 times:
Quoting AMS (Thread starter): I've heard that Thai Airways has opened an Economy class lounge at BKK?
I haven't heard TG was re-opening a lounge. If so, it must be fairly recent.
The airline used to have a Y Class Transit Lounge when the airport first opened. Located at the same level as the airline's Royal Silk Lounges, it was a good sized place with sofas, recliners and a pay snack bar, but it was not widely advertised or known. It lasted for about a year or so I guess before being closed down. Pity, it was one the few places at BKK where you can find a comfortable seat on transit while travelling Y.
LXA340 From Switzerland, joined Nov 2006, 2104 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 9 hours ago) and read 6949 times:
In times of demand for always cheaper tickets in Y Class which means for airlines to reduce the services offered for Y Class passengers Y Class lounges for major airlines would not make any sense at all.
NYC2theworld From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 653 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 7 hours ago) and read 6831 times:
Quoting VikingA346 (Reply 3): Are you really asking for an answer or is that a joke? I think it's pretty obvious, to offer passengers a smaller area where they can relax and get away from the chaos of the terminal. In an international terminal there are passengers on many different carriers. This lounge would offer similar amenities that a J-class of F-class lounge would offer, just on a more help-yourself and less of a luxurious scale. I think its a fabulous idea. Hell, if the airline has the money, why not. Problem is most airlines can't invest that kind of money right now, otherwise I'm sure others would follow real close behind.
No it wasn't a joke. It seems like a waste of money to now have a separate area so that your coach passengers which are paying some of your lowest fares to now have their own place to relax. It diminishes the value a little bit of having a business and first lounge (even though their amenities are better).
I don't think others would follow close behind because the cost of their tickets in Y class barely cover the expense of flying, now add an additional expense for renting, staffing, maintaining a lounge for them?
People already complain about business and first class lounges being packed. Is this only for full fare coach customers or can basically any customer in coach enter the lounge?
Always wonderers if this "last and final boarding call" is in fact THE last and final boarding call.
Wouwout From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 124 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 7 hours ago) and read 6816 times:
I've used the Bangkok Air economy lounge a few times, both the international and domestic lounges at BKK. Lovely niche and appreciated it very much. Bangkok Air are quite expensive on some routes because they have an almost monopoly. Such as flights from BKK to REP
Nice airline.
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 4 hours ago) and read 6629 times:
Quoting NYC2theworld (Reply 9): I don't think others would follow close behind because the cost of their tickets in Y class barely cover the expense of flying, now add an additional expense for renting, staffing, maintaining a lounge for them?
Well, that's why in my statement I clearly said "IF" airlines had money right now, which they don't, and maybe won't be having for a long while...I would be surprised if others followed right now, but I wouldn't be if the economic times were better and airlines were in fierce competition with some cash to spare.
Quoting NYC2theworld (Reply 9): Is this only for full fare coach customers or can basically any customer in coach enter the lounge?
Well, that would just depend on what the airline chooses. It's tough to single out people and say "well, if you had paid $300 more, you would have been able to use this lounge". It would be a nightmare trying to explain to people why they aren't entitled to a "economy class lounge" when they purchased an "economy" ticket. Doesn't really fly too well.... If you're going to have an economy lounge, you have to let all economy pax in IMHO. Not many people pay full fare Y nowadays anyway, so it would be kinda silly to builda lounge and staff it for these select individuals.
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Elephantboy From Thailand, joined Sep 2003, 147 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 2 hours ago) and read 6497 times:
Quoting NYC2theworld (Reply 9): People already complain about business and first class lounges being packed. Is this only for full fare coach customers or can basically any customer in coach enter the lounge?
It is for every passenger. PG also has lounges for all passengers at Phuket, Chiang Mai and, certainly, at their own airports; Samui, Sukhothai and Trat. It has lounge in Phnom Penh airport too.
Star_world From Ireland, joined Jun 2001, 1234 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 1 hour ago) and read 6446 times:
Quoting VikingA346 (Reply 11): It would be a nightmare trying to explain to people why they aren't entitled to a "economy class lounge" when they purchased an "economy" ticket. Doesn't really fly too well.... If you're going to have an economy lounge, you have to let all economy pax in IMHO. Not many people pay full fare Y nowadays anyway, so it would be kinda silly to builda lounge and staff it for these select individuals.
BA do it on UK domestic flights - full fare Y tickets are branded as "Business UK" even though they sit in the same cabin as everyone else, but they can use the business class lounge. Similar concept could work fine here - just brand the full fare Y tickets as something different and give them some extra perks at the airport, etc.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21464 posts, RR: 24 Reply 14, posted (3 years 10 months 1 hour ago) and read 6428 times:
Quoting VikingA346 (Reply 3): Quoting NYC2theworld (Reply 2):
What would be the point of an economy lounge...isn't that the terminal?
Are you really asking for an answer or is that a joke? I think it's pretty obvious, to offer passengers a smaller area where they can relax and get away from the chaos of the terminal. In an international terminal there are passengers on many different carriers. This lounge would offer similar amenities that a J-class of F-class lounge would offer, just on a more help-yourself and less of a luxurious scale. I think its a fabulous idea. Hell, if the airline has the money, why not. Problem is most airlines can't invest that kind of money right now, otherwise I'm sure others would follow real close behind.
Economy class passengers are probably at least 10 times as numerous as premium class passengers at most full-service airlines. I can't see how any airline could justify such a huge lounge to cater to several thousand passengers simultaneously. And no no major airport has that kind of space available even if an airline could afford to pay the rent. Fares paid by Y class passengers wouldn't cover the costs. Sounds like a totally impractical idea except for very small niche carriers.
Spud757 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2007, 291 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 6196 times:
Nice idea.... transited at BKK back in april on a TG flight USM-BKK-LHR.
At USM their lounge had free drinks and snacks, comfotable seats etc. The airport is operated by PG so their concept of lounge for Y passengers is already established. It's a nice touch. Great thing was even though I was flying with TG the facilities were open to me. Guess it's a case of PG dominating USM ops so not much point having a seperate area for non PG flights (only 2 TG flights to BKK per day).
Got to BKK and wasn't impressed. Yeah the structure of the airport is impressive but inside I thought it was bleak. Too much bare concrete. A Y class transit lounge for TG customers would be nice, it's a shame only PG has such facilities at BKK. I agree that a Y class lounge for all TG passengers would be a big operation at BKK considering TG are the main player there. But something for transit passengers could work maybe as it would be smaller scale and a nice touch to refrsh and relax for those arriving or departing on a long haul via BKK.
I do have a lounge pass membership in anycase so used that but I felt sorry for TG transit passengers in Y having to sit on uncomfortable metal seats in that airport. BKK isn't a patch on SIN or HKG for terminal comfort IMHO.
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