Bangkok Airways: Island Hopper to City Hopper - A Phuket-Samui-Bangkok Flight Review

Rediscovering Thailand: A February 2022 Adventure with Bangkok Airways

Even with the complexities of international travel in early 2022, our trip to Thailand in February turned out to be an unforgettable experience. We decided to navigate the testing requirements and paperwork to revisit the beautiful island of Koh Samui. Our journey involved flying with Bangkok Airways, an airline I've used many times before.

One aspect of Bangkok Airways that I've always appreciated is their lounge access. While many travelers may not be aware, all passengers have access to the Boutique Lounge. At Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), they also offer the more exclusive Blue Ribbon Lounge. During our travels, we noticed that agents were presenting menus to some passengers, highlighting the options available in these lounges.

On this trip, we flew from USM to BKK. During online check-in, I was offered lounge access for 950 Baht. The lounge at USM was small, offering a selection of beverages like juice, chocolate milk, coffee, and tea, along with pre-packaged muffins and pastries. The HKT lounge was similar, a sectioned-off area with complimentary refreshments and snacks.

Bangkok Airways currently operates flights to ten cities within Thailand, including popular destinations like Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Krabi, as well as lesser-known gems like Lampang, Sukhothai, and Trat. They primarily use the Airbus A319 on routes between USM and BKK, with some flights operated by the ATR 72. The ATR 72 also serves the HKT to Samui route, with three non-stop flights daily.

Note: As of April 2022, the negative test requirement for entering Thailand was eliminated, making travel even easier.