Bangkok airways is described as “Asia’s boutique airline”. As an independent carrier that’s not attached to any international airline alliance, we would get our opportunity to fly them for the first time on our flights to and from Ko Samui, Thailand. Bangkok Airways operates a business lounge network called the Blue Ribbon Lounge. Our experience would allow us to test out the Blue Ribbon lounge courtesy of Priority Pass at their departing international terminal at Ko Samui International Airport. We’d find a nicely equipped clean lounge that offered everything you might expect on a small format basis.

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This post is one chapter on a trip with my 82 yr old mom from Canada to Singapore. For informaton on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Air Canada Aeroplan and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge, Ko Samui International Airport, Thailand

On today’s departing flight, we were departing on Bangkok Airways Ko Samui – Singapore from Ko Samui’s International Airport.

Locating the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge Ko Samui International Airport:

Bangkok Airways happens to own the whole Ko Samui International airport. As a result, there are no competitor lounges in this particular airport aside from this Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge.

After checking into Bangkok Airways Ko Samui – Singapore, we followed the long walkway over towards the international terminal through a variety of retail stores cafés and restaurants. All the hallways are outdoors, making for a very tropical departure.

After proceeding through security check and international passport exit control, we found ourselves on the secure side of the Ko Samui International Airport terminal. The Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge is located immediately to the left of the first Concourse.

You won’t have any challenges locating the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge. The lounge is very easy to locate, given that the airport is so small.

Accessing The Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge:

There are several ways to access the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge.

The easiest way to get access to the Blue Ribbon Lounge is through the purchase of a business class ticket on Bangkok Airways. If you’re travelling in Bangkok Airways Business Class, you will be afforded access.

The Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon lounge has partnered with a almost every single credit card company that has a lounge membership affiliation. At the time of our visit, the lounge had the following partnerships.

• Priority Pass
• Dragon Pass
• Dream Folks
• Lounge Key
• Lounge Buddy
• Lounge Me
• On Pass

Lastly, Bangkok Airways also offered Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Premier Plus and Premier level members and their frequent flyer program complimentary access.

I gained access to the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge through Priority Pass Select as a result of my American Express Platinum Card as part of the American Express Global Lounge membership.

After my digital membership card and boarding pass was validated, I was invited into the lounge without any additional wait.

Inside The Blue Ribbon Lounge:

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from a Bangkok Airways Business Lounge that served international travellers. Usually international business lounges occupy large terminals. However, the Bangkok Airways Ko Samui airport only has a few international flights per day, making their operation at Ko Samui International Airport quite small.

Immediately upon entering the Blue Ribbon Lounge, we left the muggy humid outdoor concourse airspace and entered into air conditioned comfort. Aside from one other traveler, the entire lounge was empty, despite having seating for about fifty travellers.

The Bangkok Airways Lounge was configured set up in a large room with multi level seating. Immediately in front of us we had couch and table seating for 2 to 4 persons. The lounge colour scheme offered a bright and tropical looking lounge space with lighter colours.

The lounge seating varied between rattan lounge chairs and dining tables and chairs that you might find in any restaurant. We didn’t have any challenges locating a place to sit, given that there were only three of us in the lounge.

The lounge offered a sunken lower seating area that was closest to the windows. The lounge lower seating offered another seating zone. There was also a somewhat tired looking massage chair located at the end of this seating zone which looked like it had seen better days.

The upper and main level of the lounge offered laminate hard wood flooring against cool air conditioners. The upper level was also located conveniently close to the food and beverage area.

Overall, the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge Ko Samui offered a quiet seating area with ample space. Since there are never usually large jets that leave here and with few international departures, you’re almost guaranteed to have a quiet experience at this particular Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon lounge.

Food and Beverage:

With a smaller lounge, you never know what to expect when it comes to food an beverage. I’m happy to report that the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge shone when it came to food in this smaller format lounge.

Our flight was later in the afternoon between actual meal times. I was expecting a lighter lounge snack fare during this period. Instead, we found a reasonable range of snack food.

There were individually wrapped cold sandwiches, salty snacks, fruit juices and wrapped baked goods.

In particular treats, there was also a dim sum steamer. While they weren’t quite the bamboo steamers found in a Din Tai Fung restaurant, it was a particular treat to enjoy dim sum in an airport lounge.

In terms of beverages, the lounge offered the standard coffee makers. The lounge offered both red and white wine on request.

I was able to put together many snacks to replace that period of time between the hotel breakfast and the meal we would have on board our Bangkok Airways flight. Overall, the food within the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge wasn’t enough for a meal replacement, but it was certainly more than I was expecting for a small format lonuge.

I would end up departing on Bangkok Airways Ko Samui – Singapore shortly after my visit.

My Thoughts on the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge:

I was impressed with the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon lounge.

While I didn’t know what to expect for a small format international business lounge, I ended up being impressed with the space. The Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge offered clean surroundings, fresh tasting wrapped food, and some limited wine. The space was nice and cool and made for a great break from the otherwise open air humid concourse.

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If you’ve passed through Ko Samui International Airport, did you manage to get an opportunity to visit the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge?

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