Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Frozen food served in the TG F lounge at BKK

I just got settled into the F lounge at BKK and ordered Pad Thai with chicken.

The hostess told me it only comes with shrimp. I explained that I always have them switch the shrimp for chicken. She apologized and said that TG canceled the contract with their kitchen staff and all the food was frozen - for at least the next month - maybe longer...

I tried a few dishes and they were OK, but not great. Definitely a downgrade from many past visits.

I hope this is not a permanent cost-cutting measure by TG.

:eek::td:

Was in C lounge earlier and in E now. Whereas 2 weeks ago there was at least lettuce/cucumber etc to eat (salad), aside from the sandos and pasty food stuffs, there is nothing - nada.

The bottles of water are 1.5 L which they are now figuring you'll pour a glass from rather than grab a bottle.

It's getting interesting.

Might head down to the D lounge and see if anything is on offer there. However my flight is at E2 so not sure I'll actually feel the urge to explore too much.

I was in the F lounge a couple of weeks ago, and thought all the food there was great. It was my first visit, so perhaps I have nothing to compare it against.

I was in the F lounge a couple of weeks ago, and thought all the food there was great. It was my first visit, so perhaps I have nothing to compare it against.

Today (Oct 1) is the first day of TG's "enhanced" food offerings.

OK, made it down to D lounge:

The bar is now concentrated at the steps leading down from Thai C/F immigration. So, if you're sitting near the D1 gate entrance you've got a long walk.

Food offerings are measly. I'll up the offerings mentioned earlier to include fruit, ramen and dimsum.

I'd rather be in C or E. At least the bar is more accessible.

Also, has anyone noticed the numbered stickers on all the booze bottles?

On the subject of "enhancements" is the domestic lounge still dry?

Just head over to the SQ lounge for food ;)

Just head over to the SQ lounge for food ;)

Very clever, fumitani, now, why didn't I think of that the othernight, when I was complaining to myself about the quality of the food that was on show, next time I will know better, regards bkkrop

On the subject of "enhancements" is the domestic lounge still dry?

I bet it is :td:

Frozen food in F, nice one Thai.

The food in F was excellent, was looking forward to my next flight. Short sighted cost cutting, imagine the inefficient processes these guys are running, that's where you make real savings, not by cutting basic services to your most profitable and fickle passengers...

Wonder if you can hear the microwave 'ding' when it's done?

I am not overly fussed about the food in the TG C Lounges; I tend to just enjoy the whiskey and then eat onboard...!

Now, if I am at the SQ Lounge in Changi-T3, that's another question... I graze for hours... ^

Cheers,

AG. :-:

Speaking of frozen food, on my flight outbound from BKK yesterday, in Y, I had real frozen food. I noticed a bit of water dripping from some of the dishes, onto the paper mat, and upon lifting the tops noticed the salad was ice, literally 50% of it was still frozen and the remaining 50% was very cold and icy. The desert was the same. This was the first time I had to send my food back on an airline for being literally frozen.

Just head over to the SQ lounge for food ;)

I love their sandwiches^ I think it's the same people from Don Muang airport making them the same way, the same delicious taste.

Did the food menu change too ?

... I hope I can still get my favourite Spaghetti Bolognese ... ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by oranjemakker
On the subject of "enhancements" is the domestic lounge still dry?
I bet it is I bet it is :td:

I think this is by government regulation, and not a policy of THAI.

I think this is by government regulation, and not a policy of THAI.

IIRC Prior to the financial crisis of 1997 you got beer and cheap wine in the lounges and onboard, but THAI stopped doing that to save money. So I think it is TG not the government this time.

IIRC Prior to the financial crisis of 1997 you got beer and cheap wine in the lounges and onboard, but THAI stopped doing that to save money. So I think it is TG not the government this time.
I had a seafood restaurant in North Queensland where the temperature hovers around 30 degrees, nothing compared to the 38-40s that is experienced in Bangkok. Every single piece of product was delivered to us frozen, had to be, we would have killed half the population if it wasn't. The barramundi was caught locally, then deep frozen the moment it was on board. Customers would continually ask, "Is it fresh?" and we would reply, "just off the boats!" We never lied.

Anyone who thinks that product is delivered fresh in 38 degrees in Thailand, needs their heads read, no disrespect tpo you johnaalex;) regards bkkrop

I sincerely hope any decline in standards of the food in the F lounge is temporary, as I have thoroughly enjoyed eating there for the last few years. It's the best thing about the place.

Did the food menu change too ?

... I hope I can still get my favourite Spaghetti Bolognese ... ?

Yes, the menu did change.

The spaghetti now has a chicken sauce, and it's horrible. :td:

Was in the TG F lounge @ BKK Monday night and enquired about the food and whether it was indeed frozen ready meal style product. Staff member confirmed that it was and that they were unhappy and embarressed about the changes. Sheer cost cutting, they said. I saw nobody eat in the lounge. On the plus side, the food onboard was indeed good and the service excellent.

Was in the TG F lounge @ BKK Monday night and enquired about the food and whether it was indeed frozen ready meal style product. Staff member confirmed that it was and that they were unhappy and embarressed about the changes. Sheer cost cutting, they said. I saw nobody eat in the lounge. On the plus side, the food onboard was indeed good and the service excellent.

What next... massage chairs to replace the spa? :eek:

I think we all should email Thai & state our displeasure.:td:

What next... massage chairs to replace the spa? :eek:

It wouldn't surprise me :eek:

What next... massage chairs to replace the spa? :eek:

LOL... BYO towels...

Cheers,

AG. :-:

What next... massage chairs to replace the spa? :eek:

Careful now, don't give TG any new ideas...

Anyone who thinks that product is delivered fresh in 38 degrees in Thailand, needs their heads read, no disrespect tpo you johnaalex;) regards bkkrop

BKKROP I was not commenting on the freshness, or otherwise, of the food - just the lack of beer and wine in the domestic lounges and on domestic flights.

Of course that does not mean I do not need my head read.:D

Been through a couple of times in a week and sad to see the food choices have been cut. There is also noticably far less staff than before, although in fairness it maybe was a little over-staffed previously. They seem to have gone too far the other way now.

They have also closed the entrance near to the D pier J lounge opposite the Spa Lounge, so the only entrance at the moment is at the top end towards the C pier.

Been through a couple of times in a week and sad to see the food choices have been cut. There is also noticably far less staff than before, although in fairness it maybe was a little over-staffed previously. They seem to have gone too far the other way now.

They have also closed the entrance near to the D pier J lounge opposite the Spa Lounge, so the only entrance at the moment is at the top end towards the C pier.

TG had the first F entrance closed when I was there a month ago, but they said it was because the sliding doors were broken. They had several large planters in front of the doors and it looked rather permanent to me. Apparently, this is another permanent "enhancement."

It's already a pretty long walk to the first F entrance, and this creates an inconvenient double-back.

Sad to say that the TG F lounge has really gone downhill lately.

TG had the first F entrance closed when I was there a month ago, but they said it was because the sliding doors were broken. They had several large planters in front of the doors and it looked rather permanent to me. Apparently, this is another permanent "enhancement."


I saw that also about a month ago but didn't mention it in my list of October 1 enhancements because I wasn't sure if it was really permanent or if they were just doing some construction at the time. As per usual, TG cannot simply tell it's customers the real reason but have to lie with some silly excuse. Why can't they simply be honest?

As per usual, TG cannot simply tell it's customers the real reason but have to lie with some silly excuse. Why can't they simply be honest?

When I asked the girl standing at the podium next to the closed F entrance why the doors were closed, she joked that they didn't have enough staff.

I asked "really?"

She chuckled and said "it was because the doors were broken."

Seems that she did in fact tell me the truth, and then covered it up.

I'm sure the staff are quite embarrassed by all the cost cutting measures and are just trying to save face.

Yes, the menu did change.

The spaghetti now has a chicken sauce, and it's horrible. :td:

I can no confirm and concurr ! :o

When I asked the girl standing at the podium next to the closed F entrance why the doors were closed, she joked that they didn't have enough staff.

I asked "really?"

She chuckled and said "it was because the doors were broken."

Seems that she did in fact tell me the truth, and then covered it up.

I'm sure the staff are quite embarrassed by all the cost cutting measures and are just trying to save face.

haha, I was also told that the "doors were broken". I enquired how difficult it would be to fix them ?

I later asked another PA and her answer was "to keep out the business class guests". Even funnier reply IMHO !

They never mentioned the doors being broken to me when I mentioned it. With the plants and other things in the way it looks more than a temporary measure. They have even moved the Skytrax Best Lounge certificate from near that entrance. :D

It does make for a slightly bizarre journey on the buggy from F checkin though now, as you go down that alley past the J lounge as normal, then when you get to the old entrance you loop left around the aircon unit in front of the desk at the old entrance, then slowly wait for the doors to open before going outside past the Spa and in the far entrance.

The reduction in staff numbers is very telling now. Whereas before if you went anywhere near the food area you were pounced on, last Saturday I walked down from my side room, and then had to walk back up to the bar to order my food as there was not one staff member around.

Are TG in such dire financial difficulties to warrant such a reduction around premium services...? Really...?

Cheers,

AG. :-:

Are TG in such dire financial difficulties to warrant such a reduction around premium services...? Really...?

Cheers,

AG. :-:

The new TG president did confirm that TG will loose money in 2009 ( how much is unknown) and that TG will raise 20 Billion THB( 400 million Euros) to reduce its debt ratio...
He also announced some more cost cutting moves, but remained very vague.
Knowing that he is a political crony without any airline management experience , it is obvious that he will cut where it doesn't hurt his friends ( free tickets, magic F upgrades...) , but where it will hurt full fare paying frequent premium travellers like us.
The worst is still to come, IMHO...
I am hitting the F lounge tonight . I will report if any further "enhancements" have been implemented...

I really have not noticed significant enough reduction in service levels in the main F lounge area to comment on. Yes, there are less staff but it was over-staffed anyway IMO. Food and drink has been easily forthcoming. This is based on two visits this month, the last being one week ago. Strangely though, the shower room I was allocated had not been serviced properly (usual attendant on duty so no obvious staff cuts there) There were no clean towels or amenity kit and yes, it was after my shower that I noticed these omissions! Overall a very nice lounge experience when combined with the spa. Better than anywhere else except the VS clubhouse at LHR IMHO.

There were no clean towels or amenity kit and yes, it was after my shower that I noticed these omissions!

I've noticed that the shower rooms closest to the entrance do not have amenity kits, while the shower rooms on each end of the hallways are always fully stocked.

I've noticed that the shower rooms closest to the entrance do not have amenity kits, while the shower rooms on each end of the hallways are always fully stocked.

Just curious...what brand shower products do they have? :D

Just curious...what brand shower products do they have? :D

They have L'occitane amenity kits for shower products.