Introduction

Paying extra for priority boarding that saves you 30 seconds?

Most airline upgrades are pointless, but Nok Air’s $30 MAX fare includes lounge access that normally costs $13 alone – plus priority boarding, front section seating, and included food.

The maths actually work for once.

Airplane cabin with empty brown and gray seats, an overhead storage compartment, and three windows visible. The headrests display the logo and name of the airline.

Most low-cost carriers hit you with surprise fees at every turn. Nok Air actually makes it simple with three clear options:

Nok Lite – Just the flight plus 7kg carry-on

Nok X-TRA – Adds checked bags and proper seat selection

Nok MAX – Everything plus hot meals, priority boarding, and lounge access

The MAX upgrade costs about $30 more than basic fare, and here’s why it’s worth it: you get lounge access that normally costs $13 on its own, plus priority boarding, front section seating, and included food.

A spacious airport check-in area with several people standing in line. Yellow and blue signage directs the priority lane, and counters in the background display various airline logos.

Lounge Experience

The Nok Air Lounge sits between gates 41-46 in Terminal 2, open 4:30 AM to 8:30 PM daily.

Walking in, the yellow tiles match their cheerful branding without going overboard on the bird theme.

A breakfast buffet on a yellow-tiled counter with covered baskets of pastries and kitchenware, a coffee urn, and plates and bowls on shelves in the background.

During my visit, it was properly quiet – none of that airport chaos.

Plenty of seating options from work desks to comfortable sofas, so you can either get stuff done or just chill.

A waiting area with brown leather chairs and round marble tables on a green-tiled floor. A yellow wall is in the background with people seated at a table.
Two grey cushioned chairs with pillows face a wall-mounted desk holding two iMacs and a walkie-talkie, set against a yellow wall. A checkered backpack rests on one of the chairs.
A modern lounge area features beige armchairs with patterned cushions, positioned near a decorative wall with a diamond pattern. The setting includes a green tiled floor and an open ceiling design.
A modern lounge area features multiple brown leather chairs, small round tables, a yellow accent wall, and overhead lights. Several people sit in the background on white sofas.
A modern workspace with a long gray table featuring computers and chairs, against a bright yellow background. A "No Smoking" sign is visible on the table.

The food setup is honest about what it is.

A stainless steel warming tray filled with fried rice is on display, surrounded by stacks of white plates in a buffet setting.
A breakfast buffet setup features pitchers of water and orange juice, a glass of orange juice, and a covered tray of fruit. A Pepsi machine is visible in the background on a yellow tiled counter.
A self-service breakfast buffet featuring plates, cereals, a drink dispenser, a refrigerator stocked with water bottles, and various covered food items on a yellow-tiled counter.
A buffet setup with a large silver chafing dish containing vegetable fried rice, a plate of food beside it, and a serving spoon in a white utensil holder. Chairs and tables are visible in the background.
A brightly lit breakfast buffet area with a yellow tiled counter, water dispensers, orange juice, and various food items. A stainless steel refrigerator is in the background.
A display of instant noodle cups is arranged next to a hot water dispenser on a yellow counter, with a stack of white plates and a silver bowl nearby.

Hot fried rice that actually tasted good, decent sandwiches, pastries, and soup.

The breakfast buffet had standard continental stuff – pastries in covered baskets and the usual suspects.

Nothing fancy, but everything you need for a domestic flight stopover.

Drinks covered the basics: bottled water, working Pepsi machine, and coffee/tea service that actually functioned.

Look, this isn’t competing with premium airline lounges – it’s clean, quiet, reasonably priced, and does the job.

Inflight Experience

MAX passengers get seated up front (rows 1-6) with distinctive yellow headrest covers.

Interior of an airplane showing rows of seats with yellow headrests labeled "viu x Nok Air" and grey seat covers. Passengers' overhead compartments are visible, with some people in the background.

After takeoff, my snack box arrived with marble cake, raisin snail roll, and water. You can buy this separately for $5 on other fares.

A closed white and green snack box labeled "Gourmet Primo Catering" and "Snack Box" rests on an airplane tray table.

Truth be told, the marble cake was disappointingly dry – the kind that makes you immediately reach for water.

A snack box containing a pastry and a dessert slice, alongside a bottle of Nestlรฉ Pure Life water and a napkin, is placed on an airplane tray table.

The raisin snail roll was better, decent sweetness and soft bread, though nothing you’d hunt down outside the plane.

This snack box is fuel for domestic flights rather than culinary excitement. It does the job.

Onboard Menu

Hot meals start from $4.50 if you pre-order, with rotating options like Pad Thai and Chicken Tikka Masala.

Skip the pre-order, and onboard prices start at 200 THB (around $5.50).

The menu variety impressed – hot meals, snack boxes, drink packs, plus standard stuff like Pringles and nuts.

A Nok Air in-flight menu resting on a tray table, displaying images of various meal options.
An in-flight menu featuring food and beverage options, including dried mango, fruit salad, yogurt, Pringles, cashew nuts, almonds, and popcorn. Items are priced in Thai Baht.
Meal options displayed on a tray table in an airplane, showcasing dishes like Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken Basmati, and Dal Palak with Basmati Pea Pulao, each priced at 230 THB.
A menu page showing two Thai meal options: "Stir-Fried Chicken Basil with Rice / Fried Egg" and "Mixed Mushroom with Rice", each priced at 170 THB and labeled "Pre-Book Only".
Menu displaying various beverage options including sodas, water, juices, energy drinks, and Starbucks coffee, with prices listed in Thai Baht.

Some meals are only available on international routes, so fussy eaters should pre-order to guarantee what they want.

Pricing stays competitive compared to European budget carriers, which makes sense given Southeast Asian market advantages.

An airplane with a colorful livery is parked at a gate with ground service vehicles nearby at an airport. Other planes and terminal buildings are in the background under a clear sky.

Conclusion

The $30 jump to the MAX fare delivers solid value.

Priority boarding saves hassle, front seating gives you more space, lounge access provides airport refuge, and included snacks mean no surprise hunger pangs.

When the lounge alone costs $13 as a walk-in, the remaining $17 covers priority services and guaranteed food – a reasonable deal for the convenience.

Nok Air’s MAX hits the sweet spot between bare-bones budget and expensive full-service.

The food is honest about its limitations – adequate snack boxes and basic lounge fare that satisfies without excitement.

If you’re flying Nok Air domestically and can swing the $30 upgrade, it’s worth it for the convenience factor alone.

Just don’t expect luxury – appreciate it as budget airline premium service that actually delivers what it promises.

About Nok Air

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