Beginning April 1, 2025, Precedence Go members will not be capable of entry any airline-operated lounges at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
This variation marks a big shift within the lounge panorama at one of many world’s busiest journey hubs.
If you happen to’ve transited by way of BKK lately, you’ll know that it’s been a haven for lounge-hoppers, particularly these holding a bank card with a Precedence Go profit. Sadly, that period is coming to a detailed.
All airline lounges at present accepting Precedence Go might be faraway from the community—together with some long-time favourites just like the Oman Air Lounge and the Turkish Airways Lounge.
As somebody who typically plans my layovers with these perks in thoughts, it is a noticeable downgrade to the Bangkok airport expertise.
Which Lounges Are Leaving the Community?
In response to a press release from Collinson (the corporate behind Precedence Go), the next lounges are exiting the community:
There was some preliminary confusion about whether or not the Turkish Airways Lounge would survive the cull—however a latest Precedence Go app replace confirmed it’s out too.
So What’s Left for Precedence Go Members?
Precedence Go holders will nonetheless have entry to an honest community of 17 lounges at BKK—however these are all operated by both Coral or Miracle.
And look, they’re not terrible. I’ve been to a couple Coral Lounges they usually’re completely fantastic in case you simply need a seat, a chunk to eat, energy shops, and typically even massages.
However let’s not fake they provide the identical expertise as a correct airline-operated lounge.
If you happen to’ve skilled the Oman Air Lounge with its elevated meals choice and, sure, precise champagne (a uncommon sight within the PP ecosystem), you’ll perceive the frustration.
Identical goes for Turkish Airways Lounge’s wonderful meals and hospitality—small perks that made longer layovers really pleasing.
If you happen to’re interested by what lounges are nonetheless out there and the best way to entry them—whether or not by way of a membership, airline standing, or day move—LoungeReview is a useful web site to bookmark. It provides you a transparent view of which lounges are in every terminal and the other ways you may get in.
Why Is This Occurring?
The phrase across the terminal is that this choice got here from the Airports of Thailand (AOT).
Apparently, new guidelines say that airline lounges can solely settle for their very own passengers, which successfully cuts off entry for third-party applications like Precedence Go.
That may clarify why native lounges like Coral and Miracle (which aren’t tied to anybody airline and are Thai-owned) are nonetheless a part of the Precedence Go ecosystem.
It’s probably extra about native enterprise politics than visitor expertise.
However truthfully, it’s not all that stunning. Lounge overcrowding has been a rising downside for years, and Bangkok is among the busiest airports in one of the visited cities on the earth.
Mix that with the truth that virtually each premium bank card now comes with lounge entry—whether or not through Precedence Go or the Visa Airport Companion Program—and it’s no marvel issues have been getting chaotic.
Let’s be actual: who doesn’t have some sort of lounge move today?
In Canada alone, you may get entry by way of a handful of bank cards, even without spending a dime when bundled together with your chequing account.
The exclusivity is lengthy gone.
And whereas lounge entry is simple for many people within the West due to our monetary merchandise, it’s a special story in Asia.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Thai frequent flyers and premium cabin passengers have been beginning to get fed up with the overcrowded lounges
(that mentioned, Thai persons are genuinely among the kindest I’ve met, so it in all probability took lots for them to start out complaining.)
Nonetheless, it additionally raises a query: how sustainable are these airline lounges with out the foot site visitors from lounge membership applications?
Except they begin promoting day passes or kind new partnerships with airways, it wouldn’t be stunning to see working hours slashed—or worse, everlasting closures.
DragonPass Was First to Go
Curiously, the Visa Airport Companion Program—powered by DragonPass—already misplaced entry to those airline lounges earlier than Precedence Go adopted swimsuit.
And let’s be trustworthy, Visa’s lounge profit is extensively out there with little to no value. Many Canadians have entry to it by way of bank cards with an inexpensive charge, and even free through sure chequing accounts.
Credit score Playing cards with Visa Airport Companion Program Entry
In the meantime, premium playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and the Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical are among the final ones providing full Precedence Go membership.
However even that’s been trending downhill these days. We’ve seen Precedence Go drop entry to airport eating places, introduce pre-booking necessities (typically with further charges), and let’s not overlook the ever-climbing annual charges.
It’s beginning to really feel just like the lounge profit alone won’t be sufficient to justify retaining the cardboard.
What It Means for Your Subsequent Journey
This variation is a blow for people like me who’ve constructed whole airport routines round lounge entry.
If you happen to’re used to leveraging your bank card’s Precedence Go perk on layovers, you’ll need to mood expectations subsequent time you move by way of BKK.
In fact, Coral and Miracle lounges will nonetheless be out there—however it’s possible you’ll need to handle your expectations. No extra sneaky visits to the Turkish or Oman Air lounges except you’re flying enterprise class with them straight.
Conclusion
As of April 1, 2025, Precedence Go will not embody any airline-operated lounges at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport—a big downgrade in lounge high quality and selection for travellers.
With solely Coral and Miracle lounges remaining, count on a extra fundamental expertise except you’ve received elite standing or are flying premium with a companion airline.
Whether or not it is a momentary shake-up or a brand new regular stays to be seen, however for now, Bangkok simply turned lots much less lounge-friendly for informal Precedence Go holders.
