Background
Cathay Pacific opened its new first and business class lounge at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport in June 2015.
The 679 sqm lounge can seat around 140 people and incorporates the new residential design template created by London-based Studioilse, as seen in the likes of Tokyo Haneda Airport, London Heathrow, Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei and Vancouver.
The aim is to “create an environment that helps passengers feel relaxed, engaging the senses and focusing on wellbeing as a core principle”.
Where is it?
Located on Level 3 in Concourse G of the departure hall.
What's it like?
The lounge is very large, though broken up into different sections, which adds a more private, intimate feel – though it should be noted there is not a separate area for first class passengers.
One entire side is left open, with views through the airport windows to the tarmac allowing ample opportunity for avid plane-spotters as well as plenty of natural light into the space.
I arrived at around 9.30am (ahead of an 1105 flight to Hong Kong). It was busy during my visit but didn’t feel crowded, and I was able to find a seat easily.
The distinctive “residential” aesthetic is immediately obvious, with lots of warm, earthy materials such as cherry wood panelling on the walls and limestone flooring.
There was a wide selection of seating, ranging from leather sofas and designer chairs arranged in a group setting around tables, to cafe booths in the restaurant area and private armchairs overlooking the apron.
Lots of plants and large abstract artworks added splashes of colour to an otherwise fairly neutral scheme, while a range of attractive lamps and lighting options also helped to add the feeling of a “living room” rather than a “lounge”.
Food and drink
In keeping with the new design there are a number of dining area options:
A free-standing section (with bar tables and no stools to encourage socialisation between guests) offered some light breakfast options including cereal, yoghurt, cold cuts and fruit salad, though this particular spread was a little disappointing.
The signature noodle bar, backed by dark green tiles, had a much more appealing a la carte selection. The menu included: wonton noddles in soup, egg fried rice, fried egg with bacon, rice porridge with sliced fish plus a selection of dim sum.
I ordered the egg fried rice and was given a buzzer to alert me when my food was ready, which took around 5-10 minutes and was absolutely delicious. One of the staff members promptly came and cleared my tray soon after I had finished.
Drink options were extensive, from the help-yourself fridges to cappuccino/latte machines and a fully staffed bar offering everything from Champagne to fruit juice, though it being the morning I didn’t explore this too extensively!
Other facilities
Plenty of power points were available (roughly one socket for every seat), discreetly hidden in side tables, and the complimentary wifi was fast and easy to connect to.
There was also a computer terminal, “The Bureau”, with three Macs and printer facilities.
Numerous magazine racks offered plenty of choices, while a number of screens meant most lounge guests could easily keep up to date with flight information.
A clear boarding announcement was made for my flight at 10.25am, complete with gate number and walking time.
No shower facilities are available.
Who can access?
Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon first and business class passengers; Oneworld first and business class passengers, as well as Emerald and Sapphire members; Marco Polo Club Silver, Gold and Diamond members (also Green members by redeeming Asia Miles for lounge access).
Verdict
A lovely, relaxing lounge. The design is great: sophisticated and welcoming with enough details to make it distinctive. The food and beverage options were good overall and of a high quality – though the range of options could have been more extensive. The noodle bar is a definite highlight.
OPENING HOURS
04:00 – 18:20 daily
CONTACT
