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TRAVEL SUMMARY
First Class : Upgraded in 2006/7 to provide new flat bed seats on 747-400 aircraft, arranged as a mixture of single
and double seat configurations. These seats are comfortable, and offer a reasonable sleeping and seated comfort - not the
widest or softest when in the sleep position, but nevertheless providing a good level of sleep comfort. The onboard product
is to a good standard, with a well ranked standard of catering (not dine on demand), IFE standards offering a large PTV screen
and wide selection of audio and video programming (on-demand). Pyjamas, comfortable duvet/blanket and pillow are all to a good
standard. Cabin staff service is typical Thai quality, being attentive and friendly. On the ground, the new Bangkok airport facilities
for First Class are at Best Practice level for passengers - met and escorted from check in, thru lounges and onto the aircraft, and
a similar pattern for flight arrivals into Bangkok. The First class lounge offers comfortable areas, high quality washrooms and the
Thai Massage facilities that are simply superb.
Business Class : the long haul seat product is somewhat mixed still, with some aircraft providing the newer angled lie-flat seats
that offer reasonable seated and sleep comfort, and smaller, traditional style seats that fall below today's business class quality
expectations. Similarly, these discrepancies apply to regional aircraft in Business class, and you run the risk of flying an older
product that is barely at a 3 Star level. Onboard service is to a high standard across long and medium haul flights, and the catering
quality levels are at a mid-ranked performance - quite adequate, but not at the highest end for Business Class. On the ground, the
check in processes and facilities in Bangkok are excellent, and several lounges are available airside - the main, largest lounge
does become congested at busier periods, and it is well worth looking for one of the smaller Thai lounges to use - also, the smaller
lounges tending to have the best facilities for showers etc.
Premium Economy : a good quality product that is primarily offered on A340-600 aircraft to New York. Wider seats, an enhanced seat pitch and
slightly upgraded cabin services makes this definitely a quality peg above the ordinary Economy class service.
Economy Class : Thai provides a good seat pitch of 34 inches in Economy class on long haul, but this has to be tempered by the fact that on
many aircraft the seats are quite old, and no PTV inflight entertainment is available (particularly B747-400's). Main screen programming is
not acceptable for todays long haul Economy class. Cabin products in terms of catering and other comfort amenities are to a good standard, and this
is set off by generally good standards of staff service - attentive and friendly.
Inflight Entertainment : On newer aircraft, this is on-demand entertainment options. Offering a reasonable choice of audio and video programming,
the standards do not match airlines such as Emirates or Singapore Airlines, but should offer something to suit most tastes. The downsides are the
lack of personal entertainment options across many Thai aircraft.
Staff Service : this remains a strong point for Thai Airways and is where airline scores very highly against some of the best airlines in
the world. Staff service is generally efficient and friendly in a rather unique, Thai way.
BE AWARE : Older aircraft offering poorer standards of seating and inflight entertainment choices.
VERDICT : a high quality airline that is moving towards the 5 Star rating level, if only the airline is able to offer a more consistent
product quality, and also requiring the more substantial element of aircraft replacement for some of the oldest models in the airline's fleet.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Very poor
