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HKG-BKK Part I -Check in and lounge
Emirates, flight No. EK 385 [HKG-BKK]
Dep. 22:25, Arr. 00:05(+1)
Boeing 777-300
J Class, Seats 4J/K
This flight was to complete the outward part of our holiday journey, with the ultimate destination being Thailand. Our usual routing would be SQ Y from LHR-SIN-BKK and back, but obviously this year was rather different with our F redemptions. As I mentioned earlier on in the report, EK385 arrives at a relatively unsociable time into BKK (i.e. Suvarnabhumi) and is a multi-segment flight, heading onwards to Dubai. It was extremely competitively priced in J, at around half the price of TG, so we decided to go for it and forego the *A miles (we actually signed up for UA MP to collect miles on this flight, rather than see them go to waste, but doubt we'll end up using them!) As our onward flight to Khon Kaen was scheduled to depart from Don Muang (DMK) at 06:15 the next morning, we had rather an interesting accommodation solution planned, but more of that later -let's just say, this was to be the first of a few major class contrasts encountered during the trip!
Entering the check-in area at HKG
As the EK flight was so competitively priced, we expected it to be pretty full, and this certainly seemed the case (especially in Y). The queues for J check in were about 3 pax long (2 desks IIRC), but they moved pretty quickly as the F check-in desk was also processing J pax for this flight.
EK J Class check-in desks
Unseasoned premium class travellers that we are, this was the first time we'd ever received an official lounge invitation -little things please little minds!
EK BPs and Lounge invitation
We'd arrived in plenty of time (as per usual!), but this seemed to evaporate somewhat as we spent about half an hour looking around the shops in the check-in area and changing some HK$ into Baht. We then realised that we'd be better off relaxing in the lounge, so headed through security.
The location of the EK lounge was clearly marked on the reverse of the lounge invitation, and is located right next to the UA Red Carpet Club (in fact, you can see into the RCC from the EK lounge, will have to see if any of my photographs captured this).
EK lounge entrance
Immediately as you enter the lounge, there are the male and female bathrooms (more details later), then the reception desk lies straight ahead.
Lounge reception (dragon in hiding!)
First impressions were positive, an open balcony type design overlooking the tarmac (the view would've been far better during daylight hours of course), and plenty of seating. It transpired that plenty of seating was required, as the lounge filled up with pax pretty soon after we arrived, but not before we grabbed a couple seats overlooking the balcony.
Balcony and tarmac view -rest of lounge shown in reflection
View along the balcony towards the RCC, and path to gates below
When we had been admitted into the lounge, the lady on reception collected our lounge invitation -I asked if it would be possible to keep it as a souvenir and she said she'd check with her supervisor. She came over to us as we'd just sat down and gave us the invitation back (with a pen strike across it to prevent re-use), so I was very pleased. She asked if we'd be willing to complete a survey on the lounge facilities, which I agreed to since she'd accommodated my request to keep the invitation.
First things first, a quick visit to the buffet to grab a couple of glasses of champagne -once again, we were delighted to see that Veuve Clicquot was on offer (had read this on TOF).
Perfectly chilled Veuve Clicquot
Overview of beverage selection (soft drinks/beers in fridges below counter)
We then took it in turns to pop up to the buffet to grab a bite to eat before the flight. Obviously, I took the opportunity to take photographs, but it became increasingly difficult to get good shots as the lounge became really quite busy (to the level where there was a long queue for buffet food!)
Buffet selection I
Buffet selection II (soups)
Salad/cheese/dessert bar
The food offering was absolutely fine, nothing to shout from the rooftops, but certainly tasty enough to fill a gap. We were careful not to over-eat, as we knew we'd be getting an evening meal on the plane, but also we were conscious that it was getting late, so we didn't want to be full for trying to sleep. I'm glad, however, that we just beat the rush of pax into the lounge by about 15-20 minutes, as it became pretty hectic around the food service area.
Emirates, flight No. EK 385 [HKG-BKK]
Dep. 22:25, Arr. 00:05(+1)
Boeing 777-300
J Class, Seats 4J/K
This flight was to complete the outward part of our holiday journey, with the ultimate destination being Thailand. Our usual routing would be SQ Y from LHR-SIN-BKK and back, but obviously this year was rather different with our F redemptions. As I mentioned earlier on in the report, EK385 arrives at a relatively unsociable time into BKK (i.e. Suvarnabhumi) and is a multi-segment flight, heading onwards to Dubai. It was extremely competitively priced in J, at around half the price of TG, so we decided to go for it and forego the *A miles (we actually signed up for UA MP to collect miles on this flight, rather than see them go to waste, but doubt we'll end up using them!) As our onward flight to Khon Kaen was scheduled to depart from Don Muang (DMK) at 06:15 the next morning, we had rather an interesting accommodation solution planned, but more of that later -let's just say, this was to be the first of a few major class contrasts encountered during the trip!
Entering the check-in area at HKG
As the EK flight was so competitively priced, we expected it to be pretty full, and this certainly seemed the case (especially in Y). The queues for J check in were about 3 pax long (2 desks IIRC), but they moved pretty quickly as the F check-in desk was also processing J pax for this flight.
EK J Class check-in desks
Unseasoned premium class travellers that we are, this was the first time we'd ever received an official lounge invitation -little things please little minds!
EK BPs and Lounge invitation
We'd arrived in plenty of time (as per usual!), but this seemed to evaporate somewhat as we spent about half an hour looking around the shops in the check-in area and changing some HK$ into Baht. We then realised that we'd be better off relaxing in the lounge, so headed through security.
The location of the EK lounge was clearly marked on the reverse of the lounge invitation, and is located right next to the UA Red Carpet Club (in fact, you can see into the RCC from the EK lounge, will have to see if any of my photographs captured this).
EK lounge entrance
Immediately as you enter the lounge, there are the male and female bathrooms (more details later), then the reception desk lies straight ahead.
Lounge reception (dragon in hiding!)
First impressions were positive, an open balcony type design overlooking the tarmac (the view would've been far better during daylight hours of course), and plenty of seating. It transpired that plenty of seating was required, as the lounge filled up with pax pretty soon after we arrived, but not before we grabbed a couple seats overlooking the balcony.
Balcony and tarmac view -rest of lounge shown in reflection
View along the balcony towards the RCC, and path to gates below
When we had been admitted into the lounge, the lady on reception collected our lounge invitation -I asked if it would be possible to keep it as a souvenir and she said she'd check with her supervisor. She came over to us as we'd just sat down and gave us the invitation back (with a pen strike across it to prevent re-use), so I was very pleased. She asked if we'd be willing to complete a survey on the lounge facilities, which I agreed to since she'd accommodated my request to keep the invitation.
First things first, a quick visit to the buffet to grab a couple of glasses of champagne -once again, we were delighted to see that Veuve Clicquot was on offer (had read this on TOF).
Perfectly chilled Veuve Clicquot
Overview of beverage selection (soft drinks/beers in fridges below counter)
We then took it in turns to pop up to the buffet to grab a bite to eat before the flight. Obviously, I took the opportunity to take photographs, but it became increasingly difficult to get good shots as the lounge became really quite busy (to the level where there was a long queue for buffet food!)
Buffet selection I
Buffet selection II (soups)
Salad/cheese/dessert bar
The food offering was absolutely fine, nothing to shout from the rooftops, but certainly tasty enough to fill a gap. We were careful not to over-eat, as we knew we'd be getting an evening meal on the plane, but also we were conscious that it was getting late, so we didn't want to be full for trying to sleep. I'm glad, however, that we just beat the rush of pax into the lounge by about 15-20 minutes, as it became pretty hectic around the food service area.
Yes, the can of Diet Coke that we'd taken from the lounge to drink later that evening once we reached BKK had obviously burst during the short (circa 5 minute) walk from the lounge to the aircraft! Queue frantic unpacking, isolation of the offending article, and use of the cold refreshing towels to clean up the interior of my bag. Luckily, nothing was damaged, which was a blessing because I had a laptop, camera etc. in there. The FAs were most helpful in giving me additional towels to clean the mess up, but the experience detracted from the general air of cool calm that I had possessed when we boarded. 
) Whilst I'd been frantically cleaning my bag, the FAs had distributed amenity kits, headphones and menus/wine lists:
) It's one of my favorite stomping grounds when I'm in Singapore. Fortunately, my brother is patient about this quirk of mine, and I have a friend who's living in Singapore and equally appreciative of what Muji offers. 
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