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This review is a continuation of my huge US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Swiss Business Class: Boston to Zurich and Thai First Class: Paris to Bangkok on an A380 already.

This post focuses on Thai’s famous Royal Orchid Spa for First Class passengers, and the incredible complimentary massage I received!

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Our hulking A380 pulled up to the gate at 6:00 AM Bangkok time, with my internal clock completely out of sorts. After experiencing a great flight (and some much needed sleep), it was time to hit the spa.

The Thai Royal Orchid Spa rivals the Lufthansa First Class Terminal as the nicest First Class lounge in the world. “Anticipation” is a mild word when describing my state as I walked through the doors of the spa. I was downright giddy!

Below are details on the Thai Royal Orchid Spa, pulled directly from Thai’s website.

Spa Details
Spa Details
Treatment Menu
Treatment Menu from thaiair.com

Along with their famous spa treatments, Thai is equally renowned for their ground services in Bangkok, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Upon deplaning I was met by a team of agents, all with signs for specific passengers. I located my representative and was escorted to a comfy golf cart.

We sped through the nearly empty terminal and breezed through immigration. After clearing, the agent led our group up to the Royal Orchid Lounge. I immediately asked for a shower room and to book my spa appointment. Thai does allow you to prebook certain treatments in advance, but I figured there would be no issues given my arrival right as the spa opened.

The agent was professional and friendly.  He confirmed me for an hour long “Thai Massage of Relaxation” and promised someone would escort me on to my flight to Hong Kong after I wrapped up my treatment.

Desperately wanting a freshen up after such a long flight, I headed immediately to the shower rooms down the hallway. They were spacious and had plenty of room for repacking luggage and changing.

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After taking a steaming hot shower, I changed and headed back to the main desk. Before doing so, I snapped a photo of a day lounge, which would be perfect for resting after a long flight.

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The same agent who checked me in to the lounge escorted me across the hall to the Royal Orchid Spa.

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My escort and the spa lounge check-in agent conferred and informed me my room would be ready momentarily. They led me to the small waiting area directly beside the check-in desk. I was provided some chilled juice and a cold towel, both perfect after my sauna-like shower.

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After a few minutes, I was escorted to my spa room where I changed into the pajamas provided. My masseuse entered and asked if I ready for the Touch of Silk body oil massage. Being covered head to toe in oil seemed intensely unappealing after just showering, so I informed her that I had booked the more standard Relaxation massage.

She was initially confused, and left for a brief moment to confirm with the check-in desk. When the masseuse returned, she assured me that everything was fine and we began the treatment.

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The massage was….interesting to say the least. It was mostly relaxing, but there were several quasi-painful moments sprinkled in between. At one point, the masseuse climbed up on the table and put both knees into my hamstrings while using her elbows on my back. That’s a new one to me!

The sixty minutes flew by, and the masseuse left me to change back into my street clothes. The shower portion of the room was enormous, but I had no need after doing so in the lounge.

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Spa

I departed the spa and returned to the lounge where an agent confirmed my onward itinerary to Hong Kong in First Class (also on an A380). The agent quickly found an escort, and I was whisked away on another golf cart to my gate.

Recap

The Thai Royal Orchid Spa is a great feature for Thai First Class passengers. The spa treatment was relaxing and certainly a boast-worthy experience to friends.

The massage and lounge are certainly nice, but the real benefit to flying Thai First Class is their extraordinary ground services. I was whisked from plane to lounge to plane, never having to worry about missing a connection. The service, and not the spa, is the top reason why I would recommend transiting Bangkok on an Asian First Class itinerary.

Hopefully I can snap a few photos of the actual Royal Orchid Lounge on the next visit; my connection was simply too tight this time!

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