Bangkok Airways Review - Bangkok to Siem Reap

Route: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport → CM Rep (Siem Reap) Angkor Airport Flight: Bangkok Airways, ATR-72 rebooked to Airbus A319 Claim being tested: "Asia's boutique airline"

Pre-Flight Perks

• Free lounge access for all passengers — even on a basic economy fare (didn't get footage since he found out after the flight)
  • Standard "Boutique Lounge" reportedly basic but still a perk
  • Premium pay-to-use "Blue Ribbon" lounge also available, included for business class
• Free checked bag and large carry-on included as standard, even on basic fares — unusual generosity for a regional airline
• Reviewer arrived via a connecting EVA Air flight from London (12-hour long-haul), so didn't experience Bangkok Airways check-in directly

Boarding

• Airline almost exclusively uses bus gates to reach aircraft
• Booking was for a group of four with adjacent seat selection (free to select)
• A few days before departure, aircraft was swapped from an ATR-72 to a larger Airbus A319, which split the group's seating (two at front, two at back) — only noticed at check-in once all other seats were booked
• Noted as a potential problem for families in similar situations

Flight Stats

• Distance: just under 400km to Siem Reap, Cambodia's second-largest city
• Listed flight time: 1 hour 7 minutes
• Actual airborne time: only 42 minutes (long taxi time accounted for the difference)

Aircraft & Cabin

• Livery and "Asia's boutique airline" branding prominently displayed
• Preferred front-row seats available for $9 extra — no extra legroom noted
• Standard seat pitch: 30–31 inches
  • Comparison: Bangkok Airways fits 144 seats on the A319, vs. EasyJet's 156 seats on the same aircraft type
• Seats generously padded and comfortable, though the aircraft itself is ~20 years old and feels dated
• Complaint: wobbly seatback that reclined on its own

Fleet & Route Network

• Bangkok Airways fleet: 13 Airbus A320-family aircraft, 10 ATR-72-600s
• Serves ~17 destinations, mostly across Southeast Asia
• Notable spot: a rare Bhutan Airlines aircraft parked nearby (Bhutan Airlines operates only 2 planes total)

In-Flight Amenities

• Seat-back reading: in-flight shopping magazine and a general travel magazine
• First magazine page featured a "Long Live the Queen" tribute (British-relevant nostalgia note from the reviewer)

Meal Service

• Started ~10 minutes after takeoff, described as very efficient
• Menu: warm chicken curry, a creamy cake-style dessert, water bottle, hot tea or coffee (only option offered, understandable given the short flight)
• Included metal cutlery and a wet wipe, followed by a tea/coffee refill offer
• Crew described as friendly and smiling throughout

Landing

• Flight timed almost perfectly with sunset — called out as scenic
• Landed at Siem Reap's newer, larger airport

Final Verdict

• Confirmed take: Bangkok Airways lives up to the "Asia's boutique airline" claim
• Called possibly the most generous airline in the world for economy passengers, citing:
  • Free lounge access for all
  • Free checked and carry-on luggage for all
  • Free seat selection for all
  • Full hot meal service even on very short flights (42 minutes airborne)
  • Friendly crew
• Rating: 8/10 on the reviewer's airline tier list
• Main criticism: can be expensive on certain routes — this flight would have cost ~£90 one-way standalone, though it was still the cheapest option available on the route