Review: Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D, Bangkok Airport (BKK)

Our time at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport started at 1:30 PM, when we pulled up to the departures hall of the airport.

Departures Area Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Thai Airways has a separate entrance for all premium passengers, including their First Class and Royal Silk passengers. This was located at one end of the check-in hall.

Departures Area Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The entrance let in at around aisle C of the check-in hall, though Thai Airways international business class check-in was at aisle A.

Departures Hall Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

I was quite happy to see padded stools lined up in front of every check-in desk. While not a big deal, it’s a classy touch that shows that Thai Airways is committed to ground service. At least they are in theory, as the lady checking our bags was incredibly monotonous.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Check-in Bangkok Airport

I was most thrilled to see a fast-track immigration area, eligible for premium passengers on a number of airlines. The fast-track immigration lane was located at the end of check-in aisle A, so it was merely a matter of seconds before we were through immigration as well.

Fast Track Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

There was literally no one waiting at immigration, and by 1:55 PM we were through, with plenty of time to spare before our 3:20 PM boarding time. Immediately after the security area let out into the airside departures hall I spotted the Thai Airways Concourse D Royal Silk lounge entrance, which consisted of escalators leading to the lounge which is located down a level from the main concourse.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Exterior

To the right of the escalator was a bar area. I love a bar in an airline lounge with a good bartender, though this seemed to be one of the most basic bars I’ve seen in an airport lounge in a while.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Bar

I was admitted by a couple of cheery lounge attendants into the lounge, who proceeded to inform me that showers would only be located at Thai Airways’ Concourse C lounges. This is a Star Alliance Gold lounge, which means that those with Star Gold status can access the lounge, as well as those flying business class on a Star Alliance airline.

With that in mind, I turned left towards the myriad armchairs that this lounge houses.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

The lounge was basically a large and incredibly long rectangular room, though it was broken up into a few sections to seem more private. The bulk of these rooms were filled up with comfortable light and dark brown armchairs facing one another – while I would’ve preferred more variety, at least these were comfortable to sit in.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

There were a few drinks spreads dispersed throughout the lounge. They offered soft drinks, a few types of juices, a coffee machine, as well as a cold snack spread with salad and packaged snacks.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Drinks Spread

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Food Spread

There was a “main” food spread located somewhere in the middle of the lounge, and it featured a more extensive food spread, including local Thai options, as well as a couple of hot dishes. I’d just had lunch at the time, and nothing really looked appealing at all, so I decided to skip on the food at this lounge.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Food Spread

Past the food spread was more seating.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

A copious amount of seating, in fact.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

Some of this seating was positioned in a more private area, though featured the same brown armchairs.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

While the partitions did a good job with making each area seem a little more private and blocking out the foot traffic from the corridor that connected the multiple parts of the lounge, each section was still too big for my liking, in my opinion.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

They must’ve come across a clearance sale on comfortable leather armchairs, or something.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

Apart from the copious amount of seating situated in this lounge, WiFi was featured using an entry code, and was moderately fast. There was an individual WiFi code for every person, and it could be used at any lounge that Thai Airways operates at the airport.

There was also a workroom with a set of workstations, which I appreciated. Sometimes I find myself with a lot of work to finish before a flight, and this room would’ve provided ample privacy for getting it done.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Work Area

All of the stations seemed to be equipped with a computer, though those bringing their own laptop will find a handy space on a side table also featuring a printer.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Work Cubicle

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Work Area

In addition to that, I also found an unused playroom with wooden structures of what seemed to be some of Bangkok’s most famous structures.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Play Area

There was also a useful phone booth, though I’d imagine it could double as a workspace if the lounge ever ended up being crowded.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Telephone Booth

Past these rooms was a last seating area, which was probably the largest seating area of them all. The vastness of the area was only enhanced by the fact that it was completely empty. I’d have appreciated if Thai Airways thought of a more useful way to utilise the space in their biggest lounge, such as shower rooms, a noodle bar, a smoothie area/coconut stand, etc..

At the very end of the lounge was another entrance, which led out into the D gates, the spa, and the Royal Orchid First lounge (while first class passengers are usually driven through the lounge by golf cart, I didn’t see that happening at any point during my stay).

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Seating

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Drinks Spread

The abundance of seating made this lounge seem like Thai Airways’ “dumping ground” for premium travelers that didn’t have much to do – it was certainly more of a waiting area than it was a relax area. A handful of the passengers I saw at this lounge ended up being on my flight, and I also saw a greater proportion of families at this lounge than I did at any of the others. This lounge is by far Thai Airways’ biggest lounge at Bangkok Airport, so I’m sad to see it go mostly towards dull, monotonous seating, as there’s so much the airline could have done with the space. I’m also rather surprised that Thai Airways’ biggest lounge doesn’t have showers, especially since all of their smaller lounges do.

The one special thing that Thai Airways offers to their passengers is that all first and business class passengers are offered a complimentary massage at the Royal Orchid Spa:

First class passengers get a full body oil massage or a full body massage for 60 minutes
Business class passengers get a foot massage or a neck and shoulder massage for 30 minutes

I opted out of the experience myself so I could check out some of the other lounges at the airport, but my mother had a neck and shoulder massage, which she enjoyed – she reported that the lady massaging her had magic hands. The massage service is first come, first serve (I tried to make an appointment for my mother’s massage at 2:30 PM upon her request, though failed), though it’s really nice of Thai Airways to offer complimentary treatments in a separate spa area to first and business class passengers. Unfortunately you’re out of luck if you’re traveling on another Star Alliance airline and just using the lounge, since this service is offered for Thai Airways premium passengers only.

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Spa Area

The lounge itself also featured a (deserted) spa area where you can apparently order herbal drinks, though I didn’t take advantage of that. The spa attendant was rather hostile (I can’t blame her when she’s manning an empty lounge only to see a guy come in with a large camera asking if he can just snap a few quick pictures), and kept my boarding pass during my short visit (as well as prohibiting me from entering certain areas of the spa).

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Concourse D Spa Area

Bottom Line: Thai Airways’ Concourse D Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok

Thai Airways’ Concourse D lounge is big. It certainly won’t be crowded before your flight. It’s centrally located. Oh, and if your foot, neck or shoulders are aching and you’re traveling on Thai Airways metal, you get a complimentary spa treatment, which I genuinely believe is rather special.

However, I can’t help but mourn over the wasted space that I believe the lounge has. I can’t imagine the lounge ever being crowded, especially since it isn’t the only lounge at Bangkok Airport, and there’s nothing special – the decor itself is rather bland, there are no shower rooms, food options are limited, etc.. The lounge is fine, and I certainly would come for a treatment if I had the time – though otherwise I wouldn’t arrive early to visit Thai Airways’ Concourse D lounge in Bangkok.

It’s worth noting that Thai Airways has five other lounge options in Bangkok though, each with their own assets and limitations. However, on the whole, Thai Airways’ lounge situation at Bangkok is pretty sad – stay tuned.