Hello,

I booked a flight to Siem Reap (Cambodia) with Turkish Airlines and I am an holder of the United Club Card (Membership to enter all Star Alliance member Lounges). So far so good. There is just a matter, I'm flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap with Bangkok Airlines which is NOT a member of Star Alliance and the lounge policy of Star Alliance says:

On an sub-page of Star Alliance, I found Bangkok Airways listed under Thai Airways, which is a member of Star Alliance.

My question is now if I am allowed to visit the Lounge in Bangkok or not? Is Bangkok Airways a kind of sub-member of Star Alliance through Thai Airways or has ist nothing to do with?

Thanks,

James

 

Bangkok Airlines has their own lounge(s) in BKK and all customers get access to their lounge. Everybody is allowed in with a PG boarding pass. PG will serve a small but above-par meal on the flight as well.
Somebody else may give an answer on whether you'd be allowed into the TG lounge.

 

The PG lounge, yes. The TG lounges, no.

No. That list is codeshare partners; it does not confer lounge access for anything.

 

If you were *A lounge eligible at BKK (and you're not), the only lounge available would be the TG domestic lounge, and it sucks. As already noted, you'll have access to the PG lounge instead, which is fine. If flying business class on PG, you have access to the Blue Ribbon lounge, which is quite nice.

 

I suppose the PG Lounge isn't very exclusive if everybody with a PG Boarding Pass has Access to this Lounge, or do I have access because of my United Club Card?

Thanks for your answers.

James

 

 

lol, as if "exclusive" and "United Club" even belong in the same sentence together.

Do you want to go to a lounge or not?

 

Could you explain what do you mean by that statement? I always had good experiences with the Club card. Or do you know a better one?

 

I think the previous posters are trying to answer your question, but you aren't quite catching it. Bangkok Air has its own lounge in BKK for all economy passengers. The *A lounges are not accessible with the UA Club membership if you are not departing on a *A flight (a bit different than the using the UA Club card in the US). Bangkok Air is not affiliated with *A. (I have been inside the economy Bangkok Air lounge at BKK - don't waste your time.)

If you are departing from BKK in Bangkok Air business class or premium economy, you have access to the Blue Ribbon lounge, with showers, etc.

 

One extra point for the OP: many Star Alliance airlines have individual relationships with airlines that aren't Star Alliance members. Bangkok Airways has codeshares with two Star Alliance carriers - Thai and EVA - but they have relationships with a bunch of other airlines that are members of SkyTeam or OneWorld or are unaffiliated. You only get bennies with Star Alliance carriers, and more frequently on the mainline carrier and not affiliates. Thus, if you were flying Thai, you could use their lounges as a paid United Club member. But, if you were on their subsiderary, Thai Smile, you would not, as the affiliate is considered a separate carrier and is not affiliated with Star Alliance.

It's confusing for US and Canadian flyers. Yeah, United has had things like Ted and United Shuttle before, the "airline within an airline" setup, but as far as FF programs, there was no difference between a Ted and United flight. With the international carriers, that is not always the case.

 

You do not need any sort of card to enter the PG lounge. Is that clear enough?

 

It's really not confusing at all.

 

It's not confusing to most flyers that you get benefits with Thai but not Thai Smile, which is the example I'm referring to?

 

Overall, no, I don't find the limitation of *A benefits to flights operated by *A carriers to be confusing. The only place where I think it gets messy is where a carrier changes the rules based on specific flight numbers or does not apply the rules consistently (e.g., LX with Edelweiss or LH with Eurowings). With TG vs. WE, the rules are clear. Same with SQ vs. MI. If you fly one, you get benes; if you fly the other, you don't.

 

It's time to clean the inside of those Airbus or to refurbish them (BC & EC). Some parts are so dirty, that it is embarrassing.

When they announce that the phones should be turned off, the policy should be enforced by the FAs. I was seating in BC next the family of 3 and all were on their phone for take-off and landing. The mother, that was seating next to me. even called someone and spoke quite loudly on the phone as soon as we landed, so I could not hear the announcements.
Those of us that respect the requirements appear like fools when others are disregarding them without FAs intervening.