Thai Lion Air (SL) is a low-cost carrier operating from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, Thailand. As a member of the Lion Group (which includes Indonesia’s Lion Air JT), the airline runs both domestic routes throughout Thailand and short-haul international flights across Asia from its hub.
If I’m honest, Thai Lion Air was rarely my airline of choice when I lived in Bangkok. But there are specific situations where it’s the best option, and I’ll share those insights below.
Thai Lion Air vs Thai AirAsia (and others)
Thai Lion Air wasn’t my go-to airline when I lived in Bangkok, and I still only choose it occasionally on return trips. Domestically, I tend to fly Thai AirAsia when I need a low-cost carrier. For international flights outside Thailand, I’m willing to pay extra for Thai Airways.
First, when buying a very last-minute ticket for domestic travel. In my experience, Thai Lion Air flights are almost never full, even during busy periods like the Loy Krathong and Songkran Festivals. I’ve also found prices tend to remain reasonable, even for same-day travel.
Internationally, Thai Lion Air has offered nonstop flights to a wide range of secondary Chinese cities, including Jinan, Ningbo and Zhengzhou. While some of these places enjoy service on AirAsia or Thai Airways, they’re short enough that I’m willing to fly low-cost to save money. In my experience, Thai Lion Air tends to be cheaper than other Thai airlines on these routes.
Thai Lion Air fleet
In the past, Thai Lion Air operated a diverse fleet, which included widebody Airbus A330neo aircraft and a Premium Economy class offering that was similar to what Thai AirAsia brands as business class.
Now, however, the airline only operates two aircraft types: the Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER. Neither of these aircraft feature any premium seating classes.
I mention this because even on the Thai Lion Air official website, outdated pages with information about its former fleet are still published. In other words, I’m setting the record straight about what you should and shouldn’t expect when flying Thai Lion Air.
Cabin class, seats and legroom
Thai Lion Air operates an all-economy configuration, unlike other Southeast Asian low-cost carriers that have experimented with premium seating. The airline does offer two upgraded economy options: Lion Comfort Seat and Lion Seat.
Lion Comfort Seat
Thai Lion Air sells the first two rows as Lion Comfort Seat, offering significant extra legroom and quick deplaning from the front of the aircraft. This matters especially on international arrivals at DMK, where getting off a few minutes early could save you half an hour at notoriously long immigration lines.
For seat selection, consider that Row 1 is the bulkhead with extra legroom, while Row 2 still offers good legroom with easier access to your belongings.
Lion Seat
If the Lion Comfort Seat is fully booked when you’re buying your ticket, snag an extra legroom Lion Seat in rows 3 through 6. If you can, choose a seat in Row 3 so that you’re still able to get off the plane very quickly.
In practice, I consider Row 3 seats to be the same as Lion Comfort Seats, even though they have slightly less legroom.
Exit rows
The exit rows (or rows on the 737-900ER) typically have extra legroom. Thai Lion Air charges for pre-reserved seats including Lion Comfort, Lion Seat, and Normal Seat selections, though exit row pricing isn’t separately identified.
If you don’t purchase a Lion Comfort Seat or Lion Seat, ask airline staff at the airport if you can sit in the exit row. Note that unlike US airlines, Thai Lion Air is very strict about prohibiting under seat stowage of luggage if you’re seated in the exit row.
If you do go this route, plan on getting to the airport earlier than usual. You can always relax in the lounge (more on how to do that in a moment) once you’ve secured your roomy exit row seat.
Pre-flight experience
Baggage policy and fees
Your baggage allowance on Thai Lion Air depends on the fare type you purchase. Cheaper “Lion Promo” fares exclude all checked luggage, while “Lion Economy” tickets include 10 kg for domestic flights and 20 kg for international flights.
Like most low-cost airlines, Thai Lion Air has an aggressive public posture about carry-on bags. Officially, your bag is supposed to fit within a bag sizer and be below 7 kg or 15 lbs in weight.
In practice, however, I’ve carried on both a medium-sized backpack and a small personal item and been fine, though your mileage may vary.
Thankfully, fees for last-minute bag checking on Thai Lion Air are pretty reasonable. So if you’re unsuccessful in your carry-on attempt, it’s unlikely to ruin your trip, as it might on scammier low-cost airlines in Europe and North America.
Check-in
Thai Lion Air promotes online check-in, but in my experience the website can sometimes be temperamental, particularly on international flights to visa-required destinations like China. I’ve had instances where boarding passes failed to display properly, requiring multiple attempts.
If online check-in fails, budget extra time at Don Mueang Airport for airport check-in lines, which can be long even for self-service kiosks. Many passengers face the same issues, so sympathy won’t get you to the front of the line.
Onboard experience
Wi-Fi and entertainment
Thai Lion Air doesn’t offer Wi-Fi service or entertainment of any kind on any of its current fleet. That’s the bad news.
The good news? Most Thai Lion Air flights are relatively short, with domestic flights in Thailand typically under two hours. Even the airline’s longer international flights are generally 4-5 hours in length, which means the lack of entertainment isn’t dire.
If I’m going to be flying Thai Lion Air, I’ll usually cache any streaming movies or shows I want to watch on my device. Or, if I plan to work, I’ll load documents within my browser so that I can write and edit without needing an internet connection.
Amenities
Thai Lion Air offers pre-order meals on select routes (particularly to Japan), though you won’t find the full range of amenities common on full-service carriers. Unlike many of its low-cost competitors, it doesn’t sell blankets or pillows onboard. If you’re flying on a longer flight and think you might need something, I recommend visiting a Bangkok shopping mall like CentralWorld or MBK Center to purchase these before heading to the airport.
Lounges
As an all-economy airline, Thai Lion Air doesn’t operate any of its own lounges. However, you can enjoy lounge access before your flight under the right circumstances.
Specifically, if you hold a Priority Pass credential, you can access either the Miracle Lounge or Coral Executive Lounge at Don Mueang Airport. You’ll find each lounge in both the domestic (Terminal 2) and international (Terminal 1) terminals.
If you don’t have Priority Pass, you can buy access to these lounges for a reasonable fee (around $30 for domestic and $36 for international terminals). Since all these lounges have free alcohol and buffet-style Thai food, I consider it worth the expense.
Lounges are also available at certain outstations, such as at Phuket (HKT) and Hat Yai (HDY) airports within Thailand. When in doubt, I find that the Priority Pass website is an accurate source of information about available lounges, even if you won’t be using a card to access them.
Loyalty programs, miles and credit cards
Thai Lion Air doesn’t operate its own loyalty program. If you’re a member of the Passport Club operated by Lion Air in Indonesia, you may be able to credit Thai Lion Air flights to your account, though it’s worth confirming partnership terms.
Thai Lion Air also doesn’t offer any credit cards. However, you can still earn rewards for your Thai Lion Air purchases by booking flights with a travel rewards credit card that offers bonus points on airline purchases.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
