The Airport Lounge: Sometimes Awesome, But Always Appreciated

Four countries, seven airports and eight flights in three weeks was… not bad. In fact, it was pretty good. Making full use of lounges definitely takes the edge off the weariness of flying and sweetens the entire traveling experience.

For the most part, all the lounges that I visited on this trip (eight—we sometimes helped ourselves to multiple lounges in one airport) had similar amenities: free wifi, free food/drinks, lounge area, newspapers/magazines and showers. However, one stands out as being particularly great, and another stands out as substantially less than great. We visited both on the same day so the differences between these two lounges were made even more stark.

Let’s begin with the good, shall we?

Where?

Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Lounge (and how I got in)

Royal Orchid Lounge (Business class on Thai Airways. Also known as Royal Silk Class)

The Experience

The special treatment of being a business class traveler on Thai Airways begins at check-in:

The moment you tell them that you’re flying international business, you will be escorted to this special check-in area where you sit under beach umbrellas while they check you in, tag your bags and print your tickets.

Then you go through security screening that is entirely separate from the rest of the airport’s security. The escalator to the Royal Orchid Lounge entrance is practically just a few feet beyond the X-ray machine.

I flew Thai Airways for one specific reason: access to the Royal Orchid Lounge via first/business class travel grants you a free Thai massage at the Royal Orchid Spa. We originally booked first class to get the full 60-minute treatment. Unfortunately, the routes changed and I got downgraded to business class. This meant we could only get “half” the treatment—a choice between a 30-minute neck/shoulder massage or a 30-minute foot massage.

I’m sure some of you might think my reason to fly a particular airline just because they offered free massages is perhaps a bit… whimsical. You folks are probably right. Probably.

I opted for the neck/shoulder massage. I don’t know why I didn’t go with the foot massage. I’ve only received massages just a handful of times but I tend to enjoy foot massages more than the neck and shoulders. Perhaps because I was wearing a backpack and thought that it would be good for me.

Anyway, it only took a 110-pound, middle-aged Thai auntie to make me second-guess my decision. I don’t know if she was certified in therapeutic massages, but it certainly felt like she was gifted with 1,000 years of pressure-point mastery acquired after besting the most skilled muay boran masters deep in the Thai jungles.

She used her knuckles, elbows and knees to massage me. If I had any stress in my neck or shoulders, it was thoroughly crushed out of my muscles, joints and ligaments. Or perhaps she just obliterated my nerve endings. It hurt so good. To rehydrate, the post massage service included tea.

The semi-private massage stall. You don't see any
other passenger unless they're directly in front of you.

After the treatment, we went back to the Royal Orchid Lounge for a second breakfast. The Royal Orchid Lounges and Spa were awesome and was a great start to the end of our trip. does that sound better?

So refreshed!

Now for the lesser of the lounge experiences...

Where?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in Beijing, China

Lounge (and how I got in)
Air China Business Class Lounge (Business class on Air China)

Air China First Class Lounge (Priority Pass card, complimentary of Chase Ink Bold/Plus)

The Experience

I haven’t decided if it was Air China in particular or if it was the culture of Beijing that lowered the overall experience. Or maybe good customer service was just lost in translation—although sighing and eye-rolling while responding to minor inquiries or requests seemed pretty clear.

We had a five-hour layover in Beijing so a lounge was definitely in the works. The Beijing airport was routed a little oddly so passengers flying through Beijing was treated to another pass through security. Great.

Some lovely Beijing air. 3:50 PM local time.

Whatever tension that the Thai massage removed returned. Have you guys ever been to a popular dimsum restaurant at noon on the weekends? The lines was like that but times a billion Chinese people clamoring to get past security.

Oh God. The Smog found a way in!

Getting to Air China’s Business Class Lounge was pretty straight forward. It was nothing special and nothing really stood out. I had high hopes when I saw this:

It wasn’t as entertaining as the sign promised. It was just some recliners and a big screen TV:

Air China’s Business Class Lounge had wifi, but it was pretty spotty. (Strike one.) Also, I was in China so there was no Google, Facebook and a few other websites. (Strike two, three, four and more.)

The food was average. They did have special pre-made noodle soup bowls, but if one remained, it would kind of stay there by its lonesome self looking more and more sad.

Again, the service was somewhat lacking. One thing I noticed about international lounges was that most employees on the floor were warm and welcoming and knew multiple languages. Makes sense: you work at an international airport lounge that is frequented by foreigners. This wasn’t the case in Air China. There was one incident came up when a foreigner was trying to communicate with one of the cleaning staff. The staff member didn’t understand, but she also didn’t try to get someone who might be able to help. Instead, she just spoke faster and louder. I don’t think anything was solved in that exchange.

We saw enough of Air China’s Business Class Lounge. Since we also had the Priority Access Pass, we decided we should check out Air China’s First Class Lounge at the other end of the airport. It was closer to our gate anyway.

I didn’t get a picture of the Business Class Lounge. But you see the First Class Lounge entrance picture above? Just imagine a mirror image of that with a sign that says, "Air China Business Class Lounge," and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the Business Class Lounge entrance looks like. In fact, the ENTIRE First Class Lounge was a mirror image of the Business Class Lounge with the same stuff. Same food, same facilities and same non-internet. Just mirrored image.

It was a bit of a shame that the Air China lounges were the last lounges of our vacation, but I honestly shouldn’t be complaining too much. Having lounge access is great for any trip especially for layovers. At best, they create unforgettable experiences. At worst, they still provide a relaxing refuge to recharge.