Review: Coral Executive Lounge in Don Mueang Airport Bangkok (DMK)

It used to be the case that Bangkok’s alternative international airport, Don Mueang (DMK) offered not a single lounge for passengers. As the airport served as the base of mainly budget carriers such as AirAsia, there was little in the way of premium offerings in the international terminal. This changed recently with the opening of the Coral Executive Lounge in Don Mueang Airport. The lounge provider – The Coral – is not new to providing airport lounge services. Aside from the one in Don Mueang, they also have lounges in Phuket, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai, among others.

For clarification, there are two Coral Executive lounges in Don Mueang Airport. One is in Terminal 1, the international terminal and the other is in Terminal 2, the domestic terminal. For the purpose of this review, I am talking about the one in Terminal 1.

The Coral Executive Lounge is open to Priority Pass members. Otherwise, other passengers can also use the lounge for a fee. The lounge is located just in front of the security check and right next to the VAT refund counter. There is an escalator that takes you one floor down to the lounge.

Those who have transited in Don Mueang Airport would know that it’s not a particularly attractive terminal. The lounge however, is a breath of fresh air. The interiors are decidedly western with a Thai flair. The general color scheme is quite bright with a mixture of cream and grey.

It wasn’t crowded at all when I made my way to the lounge. At the time of my visit, it was roughly 10 to 15% occupied which was surprising. It’s not very often that passengers get a feeling of exclusivity in a Priority Pass lounge. There are a number of seating spaces available, from lounge chairs to communal seating,  barstools as well as informal dining setups.

Power outlets are plentiful. If you are sitting in one of the informal dining tables, you can access the power outlets on the floor.

Food-wise, the offerings at the Coral Executive Lounge in Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport is sufficient. At the time of my visit, I spotted sandwiches, canapes and around 3 hot dishes. The canapes are nicely arranged in tiered high tea seats although most are sealed in plastic for protection against the elements.

The food is generally varied enough for a meal. You can also grab salads here and desserts are available – I spotted cakes – in the fridge.

Drinks-wise, there are a number of options available. While I find the chilled juices too sweet, the lounge offers tea from Twinings. Alternatively, you can also try the butterfly pea drink.

Alcohol is available and is part of the lounge access. There is a small counter that is manned by a bartender. You can order some of the signature cocktails of the house or just whip up your own drink.

There are no showers at the Coral Executive Lounge which is alright since most flights departing out of Don Mueang Airport are short-haul flights.

Verdict

All in all, I was quite happy with the Coral Executive Lounge. The overall offerings are just right for passengers on short-haul flights. It is worth noting that Don Mueang Airport’s Terminal 1 has another lounge that is open to Priority Pass members, the Miracle Lounge. If ambiance is important to you, I would suggest going for the Coral Executive Lounge.

Opening Hours: 24 hours daily