Long layover at Bangkok and other Thai lounge advice

[Sudz74]

We haven’t flown long haul in decades (so excuse naivity) and newish to lounge land. We have upcoming flights to/from BKK (thanks to HfP heads up on new BA Gatwick flights back in March). Flight leaves BKK just before 11pm and I assume BA desk is unlikely to open 8pm and so won’t be able to access lounge until then (flying J and silver).
We will be arriving on a domestic flight from Phuket with Bangkok Airways at around 4:30pm. Am I right in assuming there’s no landside options for lounges? Have a few PP and DragonPass credits.
Alternatively, if there is left luggage at the airport, has anyone got any suggestions for three hours to spend close to airport? (we will have stayed in Bangkok earlier in the holiday).
Any advice for domestic lounges in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket also appreciated. There seem to be lots of possibilities. Thanks

[BBbetter]

Is Oman air lounge access available to you?

https://milelion.com/2022/05/23/review-oman-air-lounge-bangkok/

The above article also has a list of lounges.

Believe the BKK airport is a bit far to get into city and return quickly. The airport might have some good spas, restaurants etc. Alternately, check if nearby hotels can do a day package.

[aseftel]

From memory:
– All the lounges are airside
– There are a couple of capsule hotels in the basement
– There’s a landside food court
– There’s a landside left luggage service

[The real Swiss Tony]

The problem you will likely have at BKK is if the check in desk out front is closed, so is the transfer desk airside (this was the case I had with QR)

If you’re HBO (I assume you’re not) and BKK allows online check in for BA, you could stay airside.

https://www.bangkokair.com/through-check-in

I also recall BKK transfer desks being happy to pull bags from the belt and re-tag them for the final destination but I’m not sure if they still allow that. The whole Thailand CIQ deal may however be in your favour here (but the link above suggests only on a single ticket).

However, unless someone advises otherwise, I’d be minded to follow this guidance from the ANA website https://www.ana.co.jp/en/es/travel-information/airport-and-city-info/bangkok and try to check in at the international terminal in Phuket. Give yourself some extra time but the worst they can say is no.

I had a layover of a similar duration and looked at trying to get into BKK but it wasn’t worth it. CX were however kind enough to let me into their lounge (I was HBO) whilst I waited for the QR transfer desk to open. Security were happy with my e-ticket.

[BP]

Maybe pay a visit to the airport food court for some cheap and very tasty authentic Thai food? It’s called “Magic Food Point” and is on the 1st floor.

Most dishes are 100thb or less so it’s very cheap.

[SamG]

Bangkok Airways will not check through on separate tickets anymore so I suspect you’ll end up hanging about for the BA counter unfortunately unless you go to one of the local hotels, usually OK to store your bags whilst you have a meal or a drink etc

[Sudz74]

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful. Yes will not be HBO though light on luggage. Oman lounge looks good but as we will have free access to a oneworld lounge by the time we’re in international departures (though possibly only JAL by early evening) we probably won’t use up any lounge passes. Priority Pass site oddly suggests visiting the Novatel (presumably an AD as not a PP benefit) so might do that for a swim and have food in airport.

[djdj]

Thanks for posting this question, we are in the same boat, flying out of Koh samui. Landing around 5pm and then have the 10.55pm flight to catch to lgw

[Sudz74]

Update from BKK after an amazing 14 nights in Thailand. BA desks actually opened sometime after 6pm so over 4 and a half hours before scheduled departure at 10:55pm to LGW. We had faffed around for a bit anyway, buying treats for my work from the 7 to 11 (a couple of stores landside) and it was dark so didn’t try to leave the airport or even sample the food stalls as suggested.

Tonight’s flight is from the satellite so were given “complementary” passes to Miracle lounge there but are checking out the JAL lounge for some food first as so much time. Check in staff seemed very keen for us to head straight to the satellite – presumably some pax sample too much Sake and don’t make it that far.

On our travels around Thailand we used the Coral domestic lounges (on PP/Dragonpass) at BKK, Chiang Mai and Phuket. All a bit meh except for complimentary shoulder neck and head massages at BKK and Phuket. To describe Chiangmai lounge as a broom cupboard would be inflating its size (and ambiance). Certainly wouldn’t have parted with hard earnt cash for the experience.

Thanks again for responses.

[BBbetter]

Most restaurants at those airports would’ve given you a better experience and authentic food at a fraction of the cost of a uk restaurant.

I’ll never understand the obsession with lounges for some.

[Sudz74]

BBbetter wrote:

Most restaurants at those airports would’ve given you a better experience and authentic food at a fraction of the cost of a uk restaurant.

I’ll never understand the obsession with lounges for some.

I agree with the food comment though we didn’t eat more than snacks at any of the lounges and it wasn’t “meal time”. Lounges are a bit of a novelty and search for calm for us. So yes, temporarily obsessed, guilty as charged. We’ve had amazing food from stalls and restaurants alike, spending under £15 for 2 most days.

[John]

Miracle lounge had a very authentic selection of Thai and other Asian food when I used it in 2018.

Food was also excellent in TG, SQ and BR lounges. May have deteriorated since, I don’t know.

Just for information, the left luggage service is the basement level beside the train station which charges 100 baht per day, card payments accepted. It’s not extremely secure as the luggage is just stored in the open, but the staff are watching it 24/7.

There is a “secure” storage service inside an office which X-rays your bags, which is on the 1st floor and costs 2.5x more.

[anuj]

BKK lounges:

Turkish – mediocre but useful for the free massage
Oman Air – a bit better
Qatar Premium – very good with cocktail bar and made to order food

Miracle lounge first class – very good for a priority pass lounge, many airlines only give you an invite for the business lounge so I used my priority pass to try the first class

[jek]

We also just returned from our trip via the 22:55 BKK LGW. Visited the JAL lounge first (QR and CX are closed in three hours before departure). BA now flies from the satellite terminal which is quiet. The Miracle Business Lounge was disappointing compared to the JAL lounge (and crowded).

[djdj]

Looks like most pp can’t be used in most of the lounges from April 1st
https://milelion.com/2025/03/21/priority-pass-is-losing-all-its-airline-lounges-in-bangkok/