Review by CHC
As a delegate part of a conference group enroute to BKK, I opted for a walk in upgrade on TG for S$185 to Business class from my Q category ticket so as to be able to review the TG lounge as well as the new A350-900 to BKK.
The Lounge is located in a quiet spot of Terminal One near the central immigration on level 3. There are a few lounges close by like the SATS (which is accessible via the Priority Pass card) and Qantas lounge.
The lounge is easily spotted upon coming up the escalator, and to my knowledge, generally quiet throughout the day. It keeps odd hours and based on the Thai Airways website is open between:
Opening Hours:
05:40 – 07:15 hrs Summer Schedule
06:15 – 07:45 hrs Winter Schedule
10.25 – 20.45 hrs daily
I popped by fairly early after an early check in and found the lounge deserted. Upon arrival, there were 2 lounge assistants who helped me with the paperwork for lounge access. A brief overview of the lounge was given and entry was then permitted.
The lounge was in the colours of Thai Airways, with purple predominating in an otherwise darkish background. Upon entry, one is greeted by a variety of seating arrangements. A buffet spread is laid out behind the entrance, and did not look appetising at all.
I did not spend much time within the lounge, but in the 10-15minutes there, there was only 1 other couple that were already inside when I stepped in, and no one else coming in.
Sample of the food spread:
Some tired looking sandwiches, hot pastries and drinks were available, but there was no cook to order station. No wine or champagne were available, but a few half drunk bottles of gin, whisky and vodka was available. A coffee machine was sitting in the corner, next to a tray of Dilmah teabags.
A main sore point was that the lounge did not have its own washrooms, and one has to step out of the lounge to use the shared lavatory facilities for Changi passengers.
Did not test out the WIFI, but WIFI is available free of charge. There did not appear to be any limitations to the WIFI in terms of usage.
As there was still a couple hours to kill before my flight, I decided to leave the lounge at this stage to spend the time in the Silverkris Lounge in Terminal 3, which premium passengers on all Star Alliance flights have access to.
Conclusion: Not a lounge I would want to spend time in unless desperate. If one does not wish to travel out of the Terminal and has a Priority Pass card, the Plaza Premium lounge on the same level offers a compelling case for its superior food and beverage options, as well as opportunities for plane spotting.
That Time Of The Year! 