Thai Airways Concourse E Bangkok Lounge

The Thai Airways Royal Silk lounge in Concourse E is the last hangover of when Thai Airways had four small lounges in all of the Concourses, and all different. Now, only one is left, but it's better than you might expect, with a very good variety of food, and so-so self serve bar.

There are plenty of seats, and decent wifi. However the best part of the lounge is the superb view, vastly better than the view in the main Concourse D lounge.

Bangkok Thai Airways Concourse E lounge review

The small remote Thai Airways Lounge in Concourse E is a world away (and a 15 minute walk) from the main Central Thai Airways Lounge Concourse D

Very much an older style Thai Airways lounge, the Concourse E East lounge has to be the worst. It has space for 168 passengers - but in the late evening many more try and cram in. In the late evenings it can get packed, as it is the closest lounge to where the 'other' Star Alliance airlines generally have their gates, and few passengers think of going to the amazing Eva Air lounge Bangkok.

The lounge is on the left hand side of the concourse, on the lower level, as you walk towards the gates.

Past the entrance desk, the lounge splits left and right. There are acres of beige seats on the left, with 1+1 seats next to the window which are highly prized, and hard to get early in the evening.

Don't miss the excellent floral display here too, and the rather spartan newspaper rack.

In the middle of the lounge inland away from the windows is the buffet area, with a very small self serve bar on the glass shelf.

Then, further on, there are yet more seats, but to differentiate them, some of these armchairs are purple. And very comfortable they are too. There are a couple of TVs here too, and then the end wall which looks out onto the concourse.

There are showers by the bathrooms close to the reception area.

The central part of the lounge also has racks and racks of leather armchairs, now worn smooth thanks to there being so much traffic in the lounge: there are a few purple cloth armchairs near the entrance.

Of all the lounges to visit in Bangkok, the Concourse E East lounge used to be the worst, as the main satellite lounge for all the 'other' Star airlines. However, now three of the four satellite lounges have closed, it is the only lounge standing. This lounge used to be famous as the special Thai lounge for Vegetarian passengers. No longer is that the case either.

Food

There is buffet catering, with a long low counter in the middle of the lounge, and a shelf opposite it marked 'Vegetarian Corner'. And indeed, this is mainstay of the lounge. It always has many passengers coming in here to try out the veggie food: from vegetarian samosas, to veggie pies. They are all here.

Of course, there is some mainstream food too. There are cauldrons with noodles, rice, and curry.

Packets of sandwiches are on the central aisle, under a plastic cover.

Then in the corner of the buffet there is a fridge, with salads: this one is pretty decent: there is also ham and cheese in the fridge.

There are also plenty of rice and noodle dishes: however the selection here is much more limited than in most of the other Thai lounges.

Bar

The bar consists mainly of a fridge with cans of Carlsberg, Chang and Singa beer.

There are also a couple of bottles of wine, however wine is not a big thing in Bangkok, or in the lounges.

There is also a rack of spirits on the shelf, with Chivas Regal, Drambuie, Martini (x3).

Soft drinks are also in the fridge.

Bathrooms

This lounge has showers, often with quite an extensive queue to access them.

They are up the corridor to the left of reception: ask the cleaners for the next available shower: they will also provide towels.

Business Facilities

There is free fast wifi in the lounge.

This lounge is poor for newspapers, with only a few international papers here; mainly German.

Access

Business class and first class passengers of Thai Airways, and Star Alliance carriers.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Gold and Platinum members prior to Star Alliance flights.

Other Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers departing on Star Alliance flights.

Paid lounge members of Air Canada Maple Leaf Club (Worldwide plan only) and United Club, before Star Alliance flights.

Video: Thai Airways Lounge Concourse E

Thai Airways Lounge Concourse E video - Click to play

Thai Airways Lounge Concourse E video - Click to play