Bangkok Airport – Early Morning Flight

Well, here I am again at the airport.  This time going to Singapore.  For once, I’ve gotten here early enough to use the Thai Airways Business Class Lounge.  I do not use the main lounge near the D gates which can be very busy.  I use one of the satellite lounges that are located near all the security checkpoints, lower level.  I don’t know the number but there must be at least six lounges.  Also the food is quite good. Basic but good.

Follow me as I walk through the airport.

After clearing immigration

Walking to the lounge

Business class lounge near E gates

Official Airport Websites

I’ve added the websites for Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore Airports to the left sidebar.  I will add others in the coming weeks.

Hong Kong International Airport

Sitting here at Starbucks on Ekamai having my espresso doppio and sorting through my HK photos.  Most are not very good, but as the saying goes, the more you practice, the better you become.  Except for golf.  But that’s another story.

I am fascinated by airport design and as most of us in Asia know, some of the best and newest airports are in Asia.  You can run through a laundry list of top-end airports.  Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur,  and of course some of the new airports in China, including Beijing.  In my travels, I will post lots of photos of airports.  This week, it’s Hong Kong’s turn.

Note that one of the photos is b/w, however, due to the minimalist approach to design color, it’s hard to tell.  Compare the b/w to the color photo.  Looks “about” the the same.  Pay attention to the use of color to balance the ambience, that is, to create warmth in an otherwise cold (but elegant) environment.  Different approach from the Bangkok Airport.

Hong Kong Airport geodesic panels in b/w.

Color "stripe" to connect with the eye

View of the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

There are many new glittering airports in Asia.  The one I find most interesting is the new international airport in Bangkok.  It’s design is somewhat futuristic from the outside but what I find the most interesting is the interior space.  As you walk through the airport to your gate, you get the impression you are in a large spaceship.  There is that sense.   With a little imagination, that’s the lasting image.

The only problem I encountered is the immigration process.  Sometimes the lines, both arrival and departure, can the long and time-consuming.  Since there are two immigration areas for both arrival and departure, if one is congested, walk down to the other.  Today the departure lines for one immigration area was horrendous.  I simply walked about 150 meters to the other. There were no lines.  Good luck!

Another view of the airport near C corridor