Trip Report: BKK-USM-BKK-CNX

Trip Report: BKK-USM-BKK-CNX

Flying Bangkok Airways was a bit of an unintended pleasure. Usually I like to stick with Star Alliance carriers like Thai Air for the frequent flyer benefits, but for some reason I didn't realize that Thai now flies to Koh Samui (USM). For a while, Bangkok Airways was the only airline that flew there, building and operating their own private airport.  But I guess now it's opened up to other airlines.

But what an experience! Even on domestic flights, for economy class passengers, Bangkok Airways, "Asia's Boutique Airline" has a "Boutique Lounge" on offer in Bangkok (BKK). It's even nicer than a lot of US airlines' domestic lounges, with free computer terminals to access the internet, and free wifi to use your own laptop.

Plus they offer a small but nice selection of food. Tea sandwiches, cookies, brownies, popcorn, and a very nice regional treat, sticky rice with red bean and banana, steamed in a banana leaf.

Their lounge in USM is actually the boarding gate itself, since I guess when you build your own private airport you can make the gates as nice as you want! There was a nice array of furniture, a little snack station with pastries and beverages, and newspapers. The ground staff checked our IDs and boarding passes while we were still seated; very civilized.

On board, on the 50 minute flight between BKK and USM they serve a sandwich, and on the 55 minute BKK to Chiang Mai (CNX) sector they add in a cookie. The sandwiches were not bad: I got the chicken burger twice, and the rice-patty/fish(?) burger once. While the former was tasty, the latter was a bit bland and bitter. I'm wondering if my other two segments on Bangkok Airways will have an expanded repertoire of food, or if I'll encounter the same burgers again!

Bangkok Airways: "Asia's Font-happy Airline"

Bangkok Airways: "Asia's Font-happy Airline"

Koh Samui

Koh Samui