In this series
Review:Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge T3 SIN
Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Boeing 787-10 SIN to BKK
Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Boeing 787-10 SIN to BKK
Review:
EVA Air Lounge BKK
Review:
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge BKK
Review:
Singapore Airlines Business Class Boeing 777-200ER BKK to SIN
AIRPORT TRANSFER
We made
our way to the airport the same way we arrived by means of the airport express.
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| Connecting in BKK |
We connected through the local BTS system. Our hotel was one stop away from the interchange with the airport express and we got on our way to the airport around half-an-hour from when we left the hotel.
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| Commuting in BKK |
I thought the views on the train ride to the airport were rather interesting. The landscapes varied and got less and less metropolitan and increasingly rural as we sped closer to the airport.
Using
flightradar24, I managed to confirm that 9V-SVN would be operating our return
journey to Singapore.
We
arrived at the airport station around 4pm local time.
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| Commuting in BKK |
Signage
and wayfinding in Suvarnabhumi was clear and we had no problems making our way
to the departure hall to drop off our baggage and check-in for our flight.
CHECK-IN
The
airport was crowded then, with the departure hall closer to the Thai Airways
counters packed full with a mix of travellers from Asian and European countries
– who just like us, were the reason for the notorious evening peak traffic in
Suvarnabhumi.
The
Singapore Airlines check-in counter is located in row K in Suvanabhumi – which
is easy to locate once you make it past the horde of travellers flying on Thai
Airways. Check-in for our flight had just opened when we arrived and there were
no queues for both Business Class and Economy Class check-in.
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| Singapore Airlines check-in BKK |
We were processed quickly by the check-in agent, who very kindly informed us of the new location of the SilverKris Lounge in Bangkok. The SilverKris in Bangkok featured the airline’s new ‘Home Away From Home’ concept, and formed the bulk of my excitement for the inbound journey home.
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| Singapore Airlines check-in BKK |
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| Singapore Airlines check-in BKK |
We were also issued Fast Track cards, which I appreciated greatly as we managed to bypass the snaking queues for immigration and customs checks.
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| BKK fast track check-in card |
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| BKK airside |
Airside, the area past security and immigration, was much less crowded than the
departure hall. Stepping out after immigration was a really useful sign
directing passengers to the numerous lounges in Bangkok.
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| BKK airside |
I counted
more than ten different lounges operated by various airlines, including EVA
Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways and even Air France.
I bade my
parents farewell and made my way to the EVA Air lounge, while they headed for
the SilverKris Lounge. The EVA Air lounge was located in concourse F, which was
a five minute journey by foot from immigration and security.
Level 4
is where the bulk of the airport’s duty-free shopping in located. King Power is
the dominant operator here, and they sold pretty much everything you would
expect from duty-free shops – from hard liquor, perfume, cosmetics, to even a
dedicated Leicester City Football Club merchandise shop. King of Duty Free is their slogan, and I honestly did not expect
anything less.
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| BKK airside |
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| BKK airside |
It was
not all King Power goods, thankfully.
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| BKK airside |
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| BKK airside |
All
lounges in Suvarnabhumi were located on level 3, which was a much quieter
level. It was also a quicker way to navigate through the airport if you’re not
a fan of duty-free shopping or crowds.
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| BKK airside |
I made a
slight detour to have a go at my own
Suvarnabhumi Shot.
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| BKK airside |
As
mentioned, the lounge was one level down.
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| BKK airside |
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| BKK airside |
EVA AIR LOUNGE BANGKOK
Name: EVA
Air Lounge Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Location:
Level 3, Concourse F
Access
for: EVA Air Business Class passengers, Star Alliance First
Class, Business Class passengers, Star Alliance Gold passengers on Star
Alliance flights, EVA Air-American Express co-brand credit card
holders on EVA Air flights
Alliances
served: Star Alliance
Opening
Hours: 6am - 3am
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
I was
greeted by one of the lounge attendants as I walked past the psychedelically-furnished
entrance, who were clad in the standard EVA Air pine green shade. My boarding
pass was processed and I was directed to the lounge on the right.
The path
from the front desk would require one to walk through a backlight path – a
runway of sorts.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
The décor
and furnishing, in particular the use of bright, neon colours, resembled the
airline’s own flagship lounge in Taipei – The Infinity Lounge.
The
lounge was smallish. I figured it had
a capacity of around a hundred passengers, though it would not be a big issue
considering the well-staggered schedule of EVA Air’s flights and how each
flight carried no more than 30-40 passengers in their business class cabins.
The seating
area was divided into three general sections, along with a small business
centre and a buffet section.
It was
not dinnertime when I visited, and the lounge did not look too packed despite
an EVA Air flight leaving for Taipei in the next hour. Still, the buffet
boasted a good selection of Thai dishes such as tom yam soup and green curry.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK buffet |
There was
also a healthy selection of pastries.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK buffet |
Towards
the end of the buffet line was a coffee machine and a small selection of
alcohol.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK drinks |
I made
myself a cup of latte and settled down at one of the armchairs in the corner of
the lounge further away from the windows.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK seating |
The
armchairs overlooked the main seating sections, so I indulged in a bit of
people-watching while I worked.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK seating |
Wi-Fi
access was provided in this lounge. I thought that the speed was generally
stable and quick. I had a problem connecting to the Wi-Fi through my laptop,
however, so I worked offline for a bit.
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| EVA Air Lounge seating |
I must
confess that I have grown so dependent on the internet that I became annoyed
with the lack of internet connection after a few minutes.
I decided
to pack up and head to the SilverKris Lounge, but before that, I explored the
other seating areas.
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
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| EVA Air Lounge BKK |
CONCLUSION
I did not
carry high expectations of the EVA Air lounge in BKK, as it was neither the hub
nor focus city of the airline. I thought that the lounge was functional despite
its relative size when compared with other airline-operated lounges in BKK
(less Thai Airways’).
The
lounge impressed me as it had a good enough, though limited, selection of hot
buffet choices and beverages. The coffee was bearable, though not fantastic.
Power
ports are only found in the working area of the lounge, and I must add that there
were no USB ports available. One might require the use of an adaptor should you
wish to charge your devices while working in the lounge.
The Wi-Fi
in the lounge was quick too, though I’ve read other trip reports suggesting otherwise.
All
things considered, the EVA Air Lounge in BKK could be a good alternative to the
other Star Alliance lounges which are more prone to overcrowding during peak
hours.
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