Singapore Airlines reopens Bangkok SilverKris Lounge

Update: 20th September 2022
From 21st September 2022, the Bangkok SKL lounge will be open from 6.30am to 11pm, covering all five daily SIA departures.

Singapore Airlines is pressing forward with a gradual reopening of its overseas SilverKris lounge network, confirming that the carrier’s dedicated facility at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has become the latest to rejoin the fold from tomorrow.

This is the seventh out of 10 SilverKris lounges outside the airline’s home base to reopen, but an additional three were also permanently shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bangkok SilverKris lounge features the ‘home away from home’ design concept by Ong&Ong, and is now available once again for those departing on three of the SIA’s five daily services linking the Thai capital with Singapore.

The current Bangkok SKL first opened in May 2017, with the airline taking the opportunity to refresh the decor as part of a relocation from the ‘A’ concourse to the ‘D’ concourse at the airport.

Bangkok SKL has reopened

The SilverKris lounge in Bangkok reopens its doors tomorrow (14th September 2022), with an opening window designed to time with the airline’s afternoon and evening flight departures to Singapore.

• 12.30pm – 9.00pm

This primarily provides access for Business Class and eligible status holders departing on the following SIA flights from the Thai capital:

• SQ709 at 15:30 (A350 LH)
• SQ711 at 18:30 (A350 MH)
• SQ713 at 20:10 (A350 MH)

Prior to the reopening, SIA Business Class passengers, PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members departing from Bangkok were mainly reliant on the Thai Airways lounges at Concourse D or Concourse E.

This will continue to be the case for eligible passengers departing on the airline’s two morning flights from Suvarnabhumi to Singapore, affecting those travelling on:

• SQ705 at 09:40 (787-10)
• SQ707 at 12:15 (A350 LH)

At a later date, we expect a full-day opening of this SilverKris lounge will take effect, also accommodating morning SIA passengers.

Update: Thanks to reader Aaron, who confirmed during a visit to the lounge that the operating hours are being extended from 21st September 2022 to:

• 6.30am – 11.00pm

Singapore Airlines has also updated the lounge’s opening hours on its website.

This will allow passengers on both morning flights (SQ705 and SQ707) to use the lounge, and also with the longer evening opening will provide another (potentially quieter) Star Alliance alternative for a few hours, even after all SIA flights have departed.

The Bangkok SKL continues to have no shower facilities, so plan to freshen up at home or in your hotel before heading to the airport. The first opportunity for SIA transit passengers originating in Bangkok to take a shower will be at the SilverKris lounges in Changi Airport T3 or T2.

Access

The following passengers are able to access SIA’s SilverKris lounge in Bangkok, when departing on a Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance member operated flight:

• in Suites Class or First Class (+1 guest)
• in Business Class (passenger only)
• in Business Class, Premium Economy or Economy class and holding KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS or PPS Solitaire status (+1 guest)
• in Premium Economy or Economy class and holding Star Alliance Gold status (+1 guest)

In all cases your guest (where permitted) must be departing on the same flight as you.

Additionally, only when flying on a Singapore Airlines flight:

• Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum and Gold status members, in any cabin class (+1 guest)
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold status members, in any cabin class (passenger only)

Again your guest (where permitted) must be travelling on the same Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance member operated flight as you.

Bangkok – Singapore flight schedule

Singapore Airlines is operating its Boeing 787-10, Airbus A350 Medium Haul (Regional) and Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft on its five daily Bangkok flights during the northern summer season between now and the end of October 2022.

SIA Bangkok – Singapore Schedule
Now – 29 Oct 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ705 787-10
BKK 09:40		SIN 13:05
	SQ707 A350 Long Haul
BKK 12:15		SIN 15:40
	SQ709 A350 Long Haul
BKK 15:30		SIN 18:55
	SQ711 A350 Medium Haul
BKK 18:30		SIN 21:55
	SQ713 A350 Medium Haul
BKK 20:10		SIN 23:30

The Boeing 787-10s and Airbus A350 Medium Haul jets feature the latest wide-body Regional Business Class seats first introduced in 2018, providing direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Many of our readers prefer the older but wider and perhaps more comfortable 2013 Business Class seat, and the good news for the Bangkok route is that two daily flights benefit from this configuration on the Airbus A350 Long Haul.

Remember you can check our continually updated reference of Business Class seat types by route and First Class seat types by route across the SIA network for the latest information on what seats to expect when you next travel in these cabins.

Don’t forget, on A350 Long Haul flights to and from Bangkok you can also snag a seat in the Premium Economy cabin for an additional fee when travelling on an Economy ticket, or try your luck at online check-in and sit there for no extra charge.

Bangkok redemption rates

These are the KrisFlyer miles needed for the Singapore – Bangkok route, based on the latest award rates since the 2022 devaluation became effective from 5th July 2022.

KrisFlyer Redemption (one-way) Singapore ⇄ Bangkok
	Saver	Advantage
Economy	13,500	25,000
Business	24,000	40,000

Which overseas SKLs have reopened?

The Bangkok SilverKris lounge is the seventh SKL outside Singapore to reopen its doors since the pandemic, with six other reopenings in recent months:

• London (September 2021, having briefly reopened in late 2020)
• Sydney (October 2021)
• Melbourne (October 2021)
• Brisbane (March 2022)
• Perth (April 2022)
• Manila (May 2022)

Which overseas SKLs are still closed?

This reopening means only three SilverKris lounges outside Singapore are still waiting to reopen, in:

• Hong Kong
• Seoul
• Taipei

We asked Singapore Airlines whether there was any specific timeline for these reopenings, especially in view of border relaxations in South Korea, however no dates were provided with the spokesperson confirming to us that these decisions would be taken “progressively”.

“Singapore Airlines (SIA) is closely monitoring the demand for lounge services overseas, and will reopen our lounges progressively as travel demand picks up.

“More details will be announced in due course.”

SIA spokesperson

This will probably see the return of SilverKris lounge in Seoul next, given that the city now has a good volume of Singapore Airlines flights once again, thanks to border relaxations.

Nonetheless, eligible passengers in these locations currently have the option of other lounges prior to departure.

Singapore lounges

Singapore Airlines reopened its SilverKris lounge complex at Changi Airport Terminal 3 post-renovation on 30th May 2022, including all-new Business Class and First Class sections plus The Private Room.

This followed a reopening of the KrisFlyer Gold lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 3 on 20th May, all of which has helped ease the crowds at the Business Class lounge, which was acting as the temporary facility for all lounge-eligible passengers during the SilverKris revamp project.

The upcoming reopening of Changi T2 will also mean all South East Asia flight departures (including to Bangkok) will shift across to that facility from next month, with the SilverKris Business Class and First Class sections reopening, but with their old design and layout.

Eligible travellers on 21 out of 35 weekly Singapore Airlines flights from Bangkok to Singapore will now benefit from access to the airline’s dedicated SilverKris lounge prior to departure, as will those departing on some Star Alliance carriers.

In the meantime, those travelling on SQ705 and SQ707 will continue to be directed to the Thai Airways facility, while the SilverKris lounge’s opening hours remain limited to afternoon and evening departures.

Update: From 21st September 2022, all 35 weekly SIA flights departing from Bangkok, including SQ705 and SQ707, will enjoy SKL access, thanks to 6.30am to 11pm opening hours.

This latest reopening means only three SKLs on the network remain closed, a situation that should progressively improve in the months ahead.

(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)