Qantas passengers now have four Bangkok lounges to choose from
By David Flynn, March 3 2017
Qantas closed its dedicated lounge at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport in late 2015 but with new lounges from Oneworld partners Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, along with Qantas' own global alliance partner Emirates, travellers have a surprising amount of choice before waving bye-bye to BKK.
Louis’ Tavern CIP Lounge
The first lounge on our list is one we suggest you skip, unless you're a Qantas Club member – in which case it's the only airport lounge at Bangkok that'll let you through the door.
The Louis’ Tavern CIP Lounge at Concourse G (near gate G2) is the lounge to which Qantas steers all eligible passengers ahead of flight QF24.
That includes business class passengers; Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers; Qantas Club members, and travellers holding Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status with any other Oneworld airline.
The Louis’ Tavern CIP Lounge is better than having no lounge access at all, but it's more about function than flair.
At least it has hot meals and showers, the latter of which can be very welcome after a day in Bangkok.
Cathay Pacific lounge
Also located in Concourse G is a superb little Cathay Pacific lounge. Opened in 2015, it shares the same Ilse Crawford design as Cathay's most recent lounges.
This is where we suggest that Qantas' business class travellers make tracks for, along with Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers – all of whom have access to the lounge under the terms of the Oneworld alliance to which both Qantas and Cathay Pacific belong.
Cathay Pacific's Bangkok lounge has a great set of dining options, starting with the airline's signature Noodle Bar and its selection of freshly-prepared Asian noodles including wonton noodle soup, Dan Dan noodles, dim sum and pad Thai (plus a separate vegetarian menu).
There's also a cafe-style area with lighter snacks, sandwiches, salads, yoghurt and desserts such as creme caramel and pandan cake.
Finally, the tended bar has a wide selection of cocktails and mocktails.
Japan Airlines lounge
From March 1st 2017 there's another Oneworld lounge available for the consideration of Qantas passengers – this is the revamped Sakura Lounge of Japan Airlines.
Located on the same floor as the other lounges, but down from the intersection of the E, F and G gates, JAL's upgraded lounge –like the Cathay Pacific one – boasts AC and USB power sockets by at every seat.
There's even a smoking area if you need a last pre-flight gasper.
The new menus provided by Japanese restaurant chain NIPPON-TEI include beef curry (below) and Japanese appetisers.
As Japan Airlines is a Oneworld member, the same lounge access rules apply as for Cathay Pacific: Qantas business class as well as Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers are all entitled to pop into the JAL lounge.
Emirates lounge
Head towards the D gates for the Emirates lounge, which is open to Qantas business class passengers and Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers as part of the Qantas/Emirates alliance.
(It's not widely known, but the Qantas/Emirates alliance includes frequent flyer access to Emirates lounges across Australia, Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, when you'e flying either Qantas or Emirates.)
It's a typically Emirates lounge: spacious, an upmarket 'international' design with a good selection of food and wine (including champagne) plus shower suites.
If you've flown to Bangkok and back with Qantas, which of these lounges have you tried and which gets your vote as the best bet for the business traveller?
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1268
Great lounge hopping opportunities.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 599
CX Lounge for me, though the noodle bar was a little bit uninspiring in terms of choice.
06 Mar 2017
Total posts 17
JAL count anybody 2 years and up as a guest like EK. QF and CX are the only OW partners in my experience who don't count kids as guests.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Jan 2017
Total posts 3
Travel to Bkk regularly, EK lounge is fine,quality food and Bev,my favourite for sure Is the CX lounge with a great noodle and cocktail bar. Will be going to test out the Sakura lounge next visit
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold
21 Mar 2016
Total posts 3
The Louis Tavern lounge was horrid. Terrible food, the air-con didn't work all that well and the whole place just felt very dated. The only reason you would enter the lounge is for the smoking area. I didn't try EK or JAL but the CX lounge didn't have a smoking area. So unless you feel the need for a pre flight smoke best to avoid this lounge.
The CX lounge I really enjoyed but during my visit it was very packed. Would love to try the other two options next time I'm out that way.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Dec 2014
Total posts 57
I travel to Bangkok frequently and typically use the EK lounge (although they aren't particularly welcoming if you are on QF24 instead of EK418 - including no announcement even though it is a codeshare flight with EK). I tried CX but didn't find the range of food particularly inspiring - sounds like I may have hit a bad day. Will definitely give JAL a try next time.
Etihad Platinum
01 May 2015
Total posts 16
I just used the EK lounge for EK418. Showers were tiny, only two of them servicing the entire lounge. Poor quality compared with others I've used
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Aug 2016
Total posts 26
Compared to qantas and Cathay I always find the food at emirates lounges pretty average.....even at the first lounges
11 Apr 2012
Total posts 57
A couple of things to bear in mind.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Feb 2015
Total posts 30
You're correct for QF24 evening departure.... JAL lounge isn't open until 1800, so CX or EK are the go. Luckily they're very close to each other.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Feb 2015
Total posts 30
Same for a Bangkok airways issued through boarding pass - was knocked back because of this. CX had no problem.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2012
Total posts 22
I would always go for the Emirates Lounge... but am tempted to give the Cathay lounge a go after reading this on my next trip in the next month...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jul 2013
Total posts 17
I have been to the CIP lounge. I think there are two of these. The one I went to didn't have shower and toilet. You need to get out of the lounge to the public area. The food was woeful, dry sandwiches and dim sum that sat in the baie Marie for a long time. Vowed never to go back into CIP lounge. Rather sit outside in a coffee shop. Have also tried Emirates lounge and it was fantastic. Next trip will be to the Cathay Lounge. Sad that Qantas doesn't have a BKK lounge considering it is a popular destination for Aussies.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 May 2015
Total posts 78
I just flew on QF24 from Bangkok to Sydney. I spent 60 minutes in the Cathay lounge and then went across to the Emirates lounge for 90 minutes.
Personally, the Emirates lounge is considerably better on every criterion.
I’ve used the Cathay Lounge three times, and once you scratch the surface there actually isn’t much going for it. The noodle bar is ok, but I had much tastier soup on the streets of Bangkok for 50THB. The buffet options are limited (particularly by Asian standards). The lounge also played really annoying musak. The seating is seriously uncomfortable (they have quite a few options but they are all designed for tall people and I couldn’t find a seat with good back support – in particular the booth seating they have in front of the noodle bar is shocking). The wifi was very slow (even though the lounge was empty)
In contrast the food in the Emirates lounge was really delicious (especially the seafood curry). The wines were better quality. Wifi was fast. There was no music or gratuitous noise. There were also much better seating options (both for dinning and relaxing). Both lounges have fantastic staff.
I’m not a fan of Emirates bling, but I think they have got this lounge just right.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
04 Mar 2018
Total posts 29
You guys are great. Went to CIP lounge at F but they have no showers. Sent to CIP at G2. Not good welcome. No smile. Went to shower both had been used. No attendant. Found cupboard outside and helped myself. Food and atmosphere like a bus station. Read this post. Went to cathay. Pleasant welcome. Much more professional. Bar service with smile and welcome attitude. Finger food fresh and nice
26 Mar 2016
Total posts 21
I am looking at booking a jetstar flight out of Bangkok to Singapore (which only has an economy cabin). I am qantas gold. Do I have any lounge options?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jun 2014
Total posts 17
If you are on QF8418, EK418, booked thru Qantas, what lounge can QC members access?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2584
They can't. When Qantas ran its own Bangkok lounge, you'd have used that, but now, there's no access unless you fly with Qantas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jun 2014
Total posts 17
So need to be on QF24 then... Hmm... A380 vs. 330....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2018
Total posts 9
Is that only if you have an EK flight number? On the Qantas website, entry for the CIP lounge states: Next onward flight that day must be a Qantas marketed flight. (QF flight number)^
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Jan 2017
Total posts 3
Just a heads up,Qatar airways have a lounge in bkk that’s available to QF business class. It looks lovely from the outside, I didn’t get further than the front door because i had shorts on (only long pants)
24 Aug 2016
Total posts 5
So can a Qantas P1 use the Cathay or JAL lounge when they are flying on QF8418 (ticketed as both QF and EK418 on boarding pass)? Just got told nope... is that right? really wanted to try the noodles!
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 599
That is correct. The flight needs to be operated by a OneWorld airline not just ticketed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2018
Total posts 9
Has anyone flown out of BKK to Southeast Asia on a QF codeshare with Bangkok Airlines, and had luck with accessing a lounge that isn’t the Louis Tavern?
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 599
Luck being the key word. As mentioned above on a code share where the operating airline is not a OneWorld airline OneWorld rules do not apply.
03 May 2013
Total posts 622
Do any of these lounges, CX, EK, QR have a nap/snooze area?
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 599
Just checked in for QF24 and the checkin person said to use either Emirates or Cathay lounge.
13 Dec 2017
Total posts 3
Currently using Cx lounge in Bkk after being directed here by staff at checkin for our Qf24 flight tonight Business class
20 Jun 2019
Total posts 1
Early for flight to Sydney, so hit Cathay and Emirates lounges up. Emirates far better, excellent food (Biryani, Satay, and lots more hot dishes) though the Cathay dim sum etc were pretty shoddy. Wine and spirits also far superior in Emirates, and more space too, although neither particularly rammed. Will try JAL next time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 12
Flying on the Code Share El Al flight to TLV - sat in the "miracle First Class CIP Lounge" - the new improved name I presume for the tavern.
Reading above, as El Al isn't OneWorld, this is the only lounge I have access to?
Its ok. Not the worst I've been in by far, but certainly not up to CX/EK/QF standard
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