After visiting the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong lounges (The Pier, The Deck and The Wing) multiple times already this year, I was excited to see how the Cathay Pacific Bangkok Lounge compares.
This airport lounge visit was before my Cathay flight to Hong Kong, to finally stopover for my first time in this vibrant city. I also checked out the fantastic Bangkok Qatar Lounge, so check out my review of that airport lounge here.
Where is the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge?
The Cathay Pacific Lounge is located in Concourse G, on Level 3. There are internal walkways linking the various concourses, so after you pass through departures security, follow signs for Concourse G. You then need to go down the escalator towards the G Gates, towards the Miracle Lounge on your right, and the Cathay Pacific Lounge will be behind you, underneath the escalator.
Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge Opening Hours
Currently, the Cathay Pacific Lounge is open from 5:10am until 6:30pm, 7 days a week.
The first Cathay Pacific flight departing from Bangkok to Hong Kong leaves at 8:20am, hence the Cathay Lounge opening 3 hours prior to departure (when check in opens).
The last Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong departs at 7:15pm, so the Cathay lounge closes when that flight starts to board.
Check In and Entrance
Upon entering the double doors, you are greeted by the friendly staff who check you in and welcome you to the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge.
Once inside, the small buffet area is in front of you. To your right is the Noodle Bar, bar and another large seating area at the end of the elongated lounge.
Seating Options
The Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge has a range of seating options for all types of business and leisure travellers, whether you are travelling solo or with your family or a group of colleagues.
The Buffet Area features small tables with booth seating. The Noodle Bar features Cathay’s signature Noodle Bar booths, perfect for up to four people, as well as two person table settings and bar seating too. Cozy and intimate, perfect for enjoying a hot bowl of noodles or some dimsum ahead of your flight.
Further along the corridor in the bar area and the extended seating area is a mixture of seating options in Cathay’s signature “residential luxury” style. There is a selection of low armchairs to relax in, reclined armed chairs with footrests and stunning apron views (perfect for planespotters) as well as low couches to sink into.
There is also a workspace area with iMac’s and printing facilities at the very end of the lounge around the corner, in case you need to get any work or printing done ahead of your flight. This workspace area, as it is right down the end of the lounge, is super quiet and a great spot to focus with minimal background noise.
In all, a mixture of seating options are available to suit everybody, whether you are travelling for work or leisure, solo or in a group.
Buffet Food Area
The Buffet Area is located as soon as you step into the Cathay Pacific Lounge in Bangkok. As I was visiting first thing in the morning, a small continental breakfast buffet was on offer. I assumed this is because most visitors to this lounge head to the Noodle Bar for á la carté dining instead.
Today’s continental breakfast buffet consisted of:
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Mixed Green Salad
- Cheddar Cheese
- Pork Salami
- Beef Pastrami
- Selection of Cereals
- Selection of Pastries
- Bircher Muesli
- Yoghurt
A fairly underwhelming buffet, that was noticeably empty during my visit to this lounge. There are also not many vegan or dairy free options, besides a green salad. Not my ideal breakfast. But otherwise, this continental breakfast buffet is fine for most travellers. There were also no alternative milks available in the buffet area for dairy free passengers – just normal milk.
Noodle Bar
Cathay Pacific’s signature Noodle Bar offers a selection of á la carté made-to-order mainly Cantonese dishes including amazing dim sum and noodle dishes, that change throughout the day. Everything is made fresh, however I have found that staff are reluctant to customise dishes based on dietary restrictions at the various Cathay Lounges around the world. For example, switching egg noodles for rice noodles, withholding meat from dishes or cooking fried rice without egg. The Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge Noodle Bar had a small selection of just seven dishes on my visit today.
Here is the Noodle Bar menu on today’s visit to the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge at breakfast time:
- Wonton Noodle in Soup
- Vegetable Fried Rice with Eggs
- American Breakfast with Scrambed Eggs (western option)
- Pork Congee
- Barbeque Pork Bun
- Pork Siu Mai
- Soup of the Day
I love the Noodle Bar at Cathay Lounges worldwide, but I do wish that staff were more knowledgeable about ingredients in dishes, and more willing to switch or remove ingredients for vegetarian, vegan, dairy free and gluten free passengers.
Cathay Pacific Bangkok Lounge Bar
Cathay Pacific Airport Lounges always have a fantastic bar selection, including beer, wine, spirits, mocktails and cocktails, and the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge is no exception. In addition, barista made coffee and a variety of teas is also very welcomed at this early hour.
Here was the bar selection at the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge on my visit:
Champagne/Sparkling Wine
- Charles De Cazanove Brut N.V. Champagne
- Rothbury Estate Sparkling Cuvée
White Wine
- George Wyndham BIN 222 Chardonnay, Australia 2018
- Buronga Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Australia 2018
Red Wine
- Wyndham Shiraz BIN 555, Australia 2021
- Buronga Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia 2018
Spirits
- Bombay Sapphire Gin
- Tanqueray Gin
- Absolut Vodka
- Captain Morgan Rum
- Havana Club Rum
- Sierra Tequila
- Chivas Regal 12 years Whisky
- Jack Daniel’s Whisky
- Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky
Beer
- Singha
- Heineken
Cocktails
- Bangkok Bellini
- Bangkok Twilight
- Margarita
- Mojito
Mocktails
- Cathay Delight (a Cathay Pacific signature)
- Tropical Fruit Punch
- Virgin Mojito
Additional Non-Alcoholic Options
- Fruit Juices
- Soft Drinks
- Hot / Iced Chocolate
- Hot / Iced Thai Tea
Great to see some interesting cocktails and mocktails on the menu, and lots of non-alcoholic options too. It’s also great to see Cathay Pacific serving Champagne in their Business Class / oneworld Sapphire lounges, when so many airlines do not. Another highlight is Cathay’s signature mocktail, the Cathay Delight, with kiwi, coconut milk and mint, served in the Bangkok Cathay Pacific lounge.
A very good and extensive airport lounge bar selection indeed, with something to cater for all tastes.
Lounge Views
The elongated Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge takes full advantage of it’s apron-side location with floor-to-ceiling windows stretching the length of the lounge. This airport lounge is prime planespotting territory for AvGeeks, overlooking both the F and G Gates.
In addition, the extended seating area down the end of the lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows too, so that quiet seating area also has a great internal view over the G Concourse.
All these windows mean the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge gets plenty of natural light throughout the day.
Bathrooms and Showers
The Bathrooms at the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge are decked out in the Cathay signature marble and gold tapware found in other Cathay Pacific airport lounges around the world. Luxurious and timeless, Cathay is consistent with their colour scheme and materials. These bathrooms also feature luxurious Bamford hand wash and body lotion, also found onboard in Cathay Pacific Business Class and First Class.
Unfortunately, the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge doesn’t have showers. If you would like a shower before your flight or on your layover, you will need to visit fellow oneworld airline partner, JAL, at their lounge next door. If you are flying oneworld Business Class or First Class, you may also have access to the fantastic Qatar Lounge with their rain and body showers and THANN toiletries, just further down towards the D concourse. Roughly, a 5 minute walk from the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge.
How to Access the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge
Access to the Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge is based on the following eligibility criteria:
- Passengers flying Cathay Pacific Business Class (no guests)
- Passengers flying Cathay Pacific First Class (if and when this resumes post-pandemic)
- Passengers flying oneworld Business Class (no guests)
- Passengers flying oneworld First Class (+1 guest)
- oneworld Sapphire elite status holders (+1 guest)
- oneworld Emerald elite status holders (+1 guest)
- Cathay Pacific Silver status holders (no guests)
- Cathay Pacific Gold status holders (+ 1 guest)
- Cathay Pacific Diamond status holders (+2 guests)
- Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge Pass
A fairly comprehensive list of eligible passengers, in line with other oneworld Sapphire airport lounges around the world.
Conclusion
The Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge is a great airport lounge, with something for all types of traveller. A luxurious space, in Cathay’s signature design aesthetic, that provides a familiar home for Cathay frequent fliers. Whilst the space feels small, it was never busy on my visit. Great á la carté food, an extensive bar, barista coffee and panoramic apron views make this a great spot to relax ahead of your flight.
I do think the Qatar Lounge is the best oneworld airport lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, however they have a much stricter eligibility criteria, and exclude access to oneworld frequent fliers. The Bangkok Cathay Pacific Lounge is still a fantastic lounge, worthy of a visit on your next departure from Bangkok. The Bangkok JAL lounge is located right next door, which is a perfect excuse for a lounge hop for oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elite status holders.