Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris business class lounge, Bangkok Airport
By Chris C., July 20 2017
Country
Thailand
City
Bangkok
Airport
Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)
Alliance
Star Alliance
Airline
Singapore Airlines
Cabin-class
Business
Notes
The Good
- Staffed cocktail bar
- Extensive and fresh buffet
- Fast WiFi, ample power points
The Bad
- No Champagne, no showers
X-Factor
- You can use this lounge when flying with Thai Airways, instead of Thai's own facilities
Introduction
Singapore Airlines' new SilverKris business class lounge at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, which opened in May 2017, offers most of what we've come to expect from a modern high-end lounge, including lightning-fast Internet, extensive food and beverage options and various zones tailored to dining, working and relaxing.
You don't even need to be flying with Singapore Airlines to access this lounge – a business class or first class boarding pass on any Star Alliance airline will get you through the door, as will a Star Alliance Gold frequent flyer card if you're travelling with the same in any class of service, including economy.
That means if you're flying with Thai Airways from Bangkok to Australia (or elsewhere) at the pointy end or with a shiny frequent flyer card in your wallet, you could choose to visit this lounge instead of Thai Airways' own facilities: as we did to bring you this review.
Location & Impressions
After clearing security (and passport control if your journey begins in Bangkok), wander along level 3 on Concourse D and follow the SilverKris Lounge signs...
... or if you're more familiar with Bangkok Airport, make a beeline for gate D7, and the Singapore Airlines lounge is easily spotted opposite, with a signature screen on the outside mirroring that also seen in the airline's new Brisbane Airport lounge:
The lounge opens daily from 6:30am until 11pm, and once inside, there are a variety of different seats catering for solo travellers, duos and groups, whether relaxing or dining...
... with frames used in between each zone, making each feel a touch smaller and more intimate.
Closer to the entrance are two secluded spaces which resemble mini VIP rooms, but are open to all travellers rather than being closed off from the main lounge itself.
In fact, they're more like home living rooms, given the lounge's overall 'home away from home' design philosophy.
We appreciate that unlike many of the lounges at Bangkok Airport, the glass between SQ's lounge and the terminal concourse is opaque, so you don't feel 'on display' as passers-by peer inside.
Just allow plenty of time to reach your flight, particularly when jetting to Australia where extra liquid checks are performed at the boarding gate. We were departing from gate C9 at the opposite end of the terminal, which we measured as a 20-minute walk from the lounge.
Access
- Business class and first class passengers of Star Alliance carriers Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Air China, Air India, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, SWISS and Turkish Airlines
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold, PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club members prior to Star Alliance flights
- Other Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers departing on Star Alliance flights
- Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum cardholders prior to Singapore Airlines flights only
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold travellers prior to Singapore Airlines flights only
- Paid lounge members of Air Canada Maple Leaf Club (Worldwide plan only) and United Club, also before Star Alliance flights
As Virgin Australia isn't a member of Star Alliance, Velocity Gold and Platinum members have no access to this lounge when departing on an airline other than Singapore Airlines – so there's no access for Velocity Gold members booked to fly in Thai Airways economy, for example.
However, we were flying in Thai Airways business class and had no issues accessing the lounge on presentation of our boarding pass: particularly as the lounge stays open for two hours after the last Singapore Airlines flight departs.
Dining
Central to Bangkok's SilverKris lounge is a tended bar, located smack bang in the middle of the space.
The staff here can handle most requests, including both classic and on-the-menu cocktails, but note that the bottles on display above the bar aren't necessary the same as those being poured behind the counter.
For instance, we noticed several bottles of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne on the shelves above, yet the bar doesn't actually serve Champagne at all, let alone sparkling wine.
It's a relatively small but noticeable detractor from the overall lounge experience, given that most international business class lounges worth their salt offer at least some form of sparkling wine – so it's odd, and rather teasing, to place Champagne bottles on prominent display if there are none to crack open.
In its place, the staff quickly offered an alternative: a white rum, Martini and apple-based cocktail, which proved refreshing...
... and with a custom cocktail menu designed especially for the airline's Bangkok lounge, that progressed to a 'Cappuccino Martini': similar to a traditional Espresso Martini but with Baileys and frothed milk in place of Kahlua, which was delicious and just the caffeine hit we needed in the lead-up to our midnight flight:
Adventurous diners should also try the 'Thai Kitchen' – an elaborate concoction designed by the lounge's lead bartender Zero (below), which we can only describe as a drinkable, alcoholic curry. It's a heavy mix and certainly not a pre-dinner drink...
... but went well with our Pad Thai, which came fresh from the buffet and was incredibly tasty:
Other hot dishes on offer during our visit included fried cabbage in sesame sauce; fish à la meunière (dusted in flour and then sautéed in clarified butter) and sauerkraut soup...
... plus braised duck; yam rice; duo rice (white and brown); chicken soup with potato, carrot, tomato and onion; and massaman chicken which was also scrumptious.
Less photogenic but fresh nonetheless, vegetable spring rolls, mushroom quiches, assorted pastries and chicken teriyaki skewers...
... plus a corner devoted to sandwiches, fruits, salads and sweets:
Non-alcoholic drinks are self-served from the fridges nearby, although if you're craving a 'real' coffee, the bar staff will happily hand-make your barista blend:
With a meal in-hand, you can pull up a perch at the long communal table to socialise with other flyers...
... or can dine at the tables (or benches) near by the bar...
... or over in the far corner which can be a little quieter:
If your phone, tablet or laptop need a quick recharge while you're eating, that far corner offers handy AC and USB power outlets underneath the booth seats...
... as do the bench seats along the bar, and most other chairs throughout the space.
Work
When your pre-flight time calls for productivity, swap that bar bench seat for one by the windows instead...
... where power points are again ubiquitous – including multi-country AC outlets which will accept your standard Australian plugs without using an international adaptor...
... or venture over to the line-up of working suites instead, offering a touch more privacy, along with an adjustable reading light overhead, a work surface, and – you guessed it – more power points:
Their design gives a nod to Singapore Airlines' on-board business class seat, but also allows you turn and face the lounge itself, using the side table as a cocktail bench.
Our tests of the lounge's WiFi showed it to be the fastest of any Star Alliance lounge we've visited at Bangkok Airport in terms of downloads, with speeds measuring between 28.81Mbps and a staggering 147.45Mbps throughout our two-hour stay, and uploads a reasonable 8.79-10.05Mbps.
At the top end of the spectrum, those download speeds proved faster than is possible in Australia on the highest-speed household NBN fibre plans, while uploads were still 8-10 times faster than you'd experience on a typical ADSL2+ connection at home.
Relax
There are plenty of places to relax here, whether you're travelling in a group...
... as a pair...
... or on your lonesome, with many of the seats offering easy access to power – and those few with power points under repair clearly signed as such, so that you can choose your place accordingly.
Newspapers and magazines are also available to help pass the time, including a number of English-language titles...
... although showers are absent, given that Singapore is less than 2.5 hours away by air and that the lounge primarily caters for Singapore-bound travellers, even though it's open to passengers on all Star Alliance airlines.
All things considered, this is a solid business class lounge whether you're jetting all the way to Australia or just across Asia, and could only be improved by the addition of Champagne to the bar menu – or at least, sparkling wine – plus showers for savvy Star Alliance flyers using this lounge instead of the usual Thai Airways facilities.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
20 Apr 2015
Total posts 33
What a huge improvement on SQ's previous lounge at BKK. Looked forward to checking it out soon.
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 440
Wow. And I thought SQ's old lounge in Concourse A was the best Star J Lounge in BKK. This blows it out of the water. Surely it going to get extremely crowded once word gets out that its far better than any of the trash Thai airways serves up as a J lounge?
12 Dec 2016
Total posts 5
Real shame SQ won't serve sparkling wine or champagne (same in Singapore) Yet their smaller HK lounge does! I still think the Eva Lounge is the best Star Alliance option in BKK.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
On my last trip to Singapore, SQ was serving Charles Heidsieck NV in the SilverKris business lounge and Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime '02 in SilverKris First Class. Not sure of the Champagne sitch in the KrisFlyer Gold lounge, however.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2016
Total posts 46
I've been in there a few times now, the food is always good, and that bartender pictured is amazing at his job he has served me both times I've been an remembered the last drink I ordered previous visit, He makes really good cocktails especially Bloody Mary, a very polished bartender that loves talking about his job. Is an excellent lounge all round a massive step up from Perths lounge.
30 Jun 2016
Total posts 51
Looks a huge improvement - look forward to passing through early next year. Lack of showers isn't the end of the world when you can easily call through one of the thai lounges on the way to grab one if needed.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
14 Nov 2013
Total posts 40
lol i made the same comment regarding the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne, why display it and not serve it. Grumpytravel you are correct about the bartender, he made me a great Negroni after which he served me a lovely Old fashion! I was very relaxed when i boarded.....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2016
Total posts 4
Great lounge will looking forward to use this on our trip in November with Thai Airways , as we will be travelling with our kids is there any kid area in this lounge like the one in Thai lounge
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
No kid zone here.
Singapore Airlines - PPS Club
14 Nov 2012
Total posts 15
Excellent review. However, on a recent trip a few days ago, it was impossible to connect to the SKL WIFI from my laptop. The very helpful staff tried and tried but no luck. In the end had to use the airport wifi.
10 Jul 2017
Total posts 32
no showers is pretty poor.
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