Last week Singapore Airlines reopened its SilverKris Lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, and this week there’s similarly good news for oneworld travellers departing from the Thai capital, with the shutters raised on the excellent Qatar Airways facility, located just along the same concourse.
The Qatar Airways Premium Lounge is now operating again during afternoon and evening hours to cater not only for the airline’s First and Business Class passengers, but also those departing with oneworld carriers including Japan Airlines, Qantas and Finnair.
Unlike other oneworld lounges, however, this one is exclusive to those actually flying in First Class or Business Class, with top-tier status holders unfortunately directed to the third-party Miracle Lounge.
Qatar Airways also reopened its fantastic Singapore Premium Lounge back in June this year, which has the same strict access policy.
Opening hours
Just like its pre-pandemic operation, the Qatar Bangkok Premium Lounge opens four hours before the scheduled departure time of the first of the airline’s flights to Doha each day, through to the final departure.
Here’s how that looks between now and the end of October.
| Qatar Airways Bangkok Premium Lounge 2022 Opening Hours  |
|
| Opening | |
| 19 Sep – 30 Oct | 15:30 – 02:30 (Daily) |
From the start of the northern winter season in late October, Qatar Airways adjusts its Bangkok flight schedule to include a morning departure on most days, which will likely lead to different operating hours for this lounge.
Check the Qatar Airways Lounge page for the latest details.
Lounge access
The Qatar Airways Bangkok Premium Lounge lounge is available to passengers flying on a Qatar Airways or any oneworld member operated flight:
- in First Class or in Business Class*.
- in any class of travel provided they are connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, having arrived in First Class or Business Class with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours (e.g. Qantas Business Class SYD-BKK followed by SriLankan Economy Class BKK-CMB, access is permitted). You are required to retain your boarding card from the arriving long-haul flight for lounge access in this case.
* Except for Qatar Airways’ Business Class Lite Fare (Booking Class ‘P’), which does not benefit from lounge access
Note that Qatar Airways does not include lounge access to those upgrading their Economy tickets to Business Class using Avios. The policy also applies to this lounge in Bangkok.
However, full award redemptions in Business Class using Avios points, or via other frequent flyer programmes like Asia Miles, are eligible.
Guest policy
Passengers travelling in oneworld First Class may invite one guest into the lounge with them.
The guest must be travelling on a oneworld operated flight in this case, though it does not need to be the same flight as the lead passenger (for example, your guest can be flying Malaysia Airlines Economy Class to Kuala Lumpur).
Those accessing this lounge based on travel in Business Class are not permitted to bring any guests into the lounge with them.
Lounge amenities
Last time we visited the Qatar lounge in Bangkok the Brasserie section was not serving à la carte food, but this option is now available in the reopened lounge, in addition to a buffet selection, according to the airline.
Unfortunately we don’t have a copy of the menu, but Qatar Airways says it features a choice of Arabic and international dishes.
As with most Qatar lounges, there’s a Martini Bar, which also pours Bollinger Champagne.
Well-finished shower suites are also available, including toiletries by Rituals.
Location
The Qatar Airways Bangkok Premium Lounge is located on Level 3 of Suvarnabhumi Airport’s international transit area, along the D concourse close to gate D8 and just along from the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge.
This is one level below immigration control and the main departure shopping concourse.
If your flight is departing from the D, E, F or G gates the lounge is well located with all those gates less than 10 minutes walk, but do factor in some additional time if you are leaving from the A, B or C gates (up to 15 minutes walk).
What about status holders?
If you hold Qatar Airways Privilege Club Silver, Gold or Platinum status, or are a oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member flying in Economy Class on Qatar Airways, you will instead be directed to the Miracle First Class Lounge at the D concourse.
That’s a rather average facility, so you may wish to pop over to the Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge during its opening windows, as an alternative.
Unfortunately the excellent Cathay Pacific Lounge in Bangkok remains closed at the time of writing, leaving no other oneworld options for the time being.
Summary
The Qatar Airways Bangkok Premium Lounge is one of the best Business Class lounges at the airport, with Champagne and premium wines and spirits at its martini bar, newly-added à la carte dining, spacious surroundings and an excellent selection of self-serve buffet food.
The return of this facility is great news for those departing from Bangkok in First or Business Class with Qatar Airways, or with a oneworld airline, provided the opening times for the lounge fit with your departure.
If you’re departing Bangkok soon with the likes of Finnair, JAL or Qantas, our advice is to make a beeline for this lounge rather than the usual one your airline directs you to.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)
Wow! Best airport business class lounge ever!! Outstanding facilities, service and food variety.
Shame there is no slumber/nap area then it would have been perfect.
We recently flew Chicago – Doha- Bali, then Bangkok – Doha – Chicago – business class both directions. We enjoyed your lounges along the way – EXCEPT in Bangkok on our return. We were disappointed and shocked when we tried to check into your lounge there and were told we could not come in even though we showed them our business class boarding passes and our premier Qatar club membership number. We were told we were ineligible because we were new. That doesn’t seem like 7 star service or attitude. As a result, we will probably choose another airline next time and let our friends know. So sorry.