Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Business class LHR-BKK

Hi,

I'm flying in C next April from LHR - DPS via BKK. As far as I am aware, the route to Bangkok is served by the rather old 747 fleet. Does anyone know if there are any plans to upgrade the cabin ahead of April next year or are they awaiting the delivery of a new fleet?

Also, if anyone has any idea what the BKK - DPS flight would be like in C I'd appreciate some views.

Thanks

Jon

Not sure how old the planes are, but LHR-BKK usually has the new seats in F and J.

The age of the planes is irrelevant, LHR-BKK is usually served with the new F/J seats so you will be more than comfortable.

Hi,

I'm flying in C next April from LHR - DPS via BKK. As far as I am aware, the route to Bangkok is served by the rather old 747 fleet. Does anyone know if there are any plans to upgrade the cabin ahead of April next year or are they awaiting the delivery of a new fleet?

Also, if anyone has any idea what the BKK - DPS flight would be like in C I'd appreciate some views.

Thanks

Jon

Hi Jon, The airlines with the newer aircraft such as the A380 are predominately Singapore, Qantas and Emirates. I agree the 744 are getting a little old, but I believe they have many good years ahead of them. The Thai cabin is exceptional, and in C, you would have to be very finical not to be impressed with the comfort and the service offered on this long flight. As I understand it, TG have deferred delivery of their A380 for 2 years, whilst they recover from this last Asian slump. The three airlines I mentioned are offering great fares for 2010 on a pre purchase plan, it's a matter of finding which country is promoting the discounts at any given time:(. The flight from BKK-DPS is a quick three and a bit hours, leaves BKK around eight in the morning arrives Bali @ 2pm local time, the return to BKK leaves@ 4pm. This is a comfortable regional flight with a meal service. Early morning in BKK airport is chaos, flights coming and going everywhere, so you need to have everything planned. The TG business lounges are well located thriughout the vast terminal, so you will have a haven of peace to retreat to. TG arrives in DPS @ the same time as a 747 from HKG and the 333's from Australia, so it takes some time to get through the immigration and VOA. This is a nice part of the world, you will enjoy Thailand and Indonesia, regards bkkrop

Hi,

I'm flying in C next April from LHR - DPS via BKK. As far as I am aware, the route to Bangkok is served by the rather old 747 fleet. Does anyone know if there are any plans to upgrade the cabin ahead of April next year or are they awaiting the delivery of a new fleet?

Also, if anyone has any idea what the BKK - DPS flight would be like in C I'd appreciate some views.

Thanks

Jon

The 747 fleet operating the LHR flights most of the time is no older than most other airlines 747's. I don't know if you may be referring to the small number of 747's that TG still operate that have a horrible old interior ?. These are not nice but they are scheduled for the Scandanavian routes, although they do pop up in the wrong place every now and again, much to the annoyance of many pax. I haven't seen one of those beasts on my last dozen or so flights to or from LHR, so you should be ok.

BKK-DPS occassionally suffers from equipment swaps. My last flight went from 777 to 330 to the dreaded AB6. However, it's only 3 hours or so, so even if you get one of those, you'll just about survive it. ;)

I don't know if you may be referring to the small number of 747's that TG still operate that have a horrible old interior ?. These are not nice but they are scheduled for the Scandanavian routes,

I would consider the horible TG 747-all series to be of excellent comfort and value to/from Scandinavia when in Y+ or C... For all other stations I agree

The service on TG biz class has gone dramatically down the last year! Why dont you consider flying SAS via CPH. They have good prices in C to BKK. About 1700 GBP.

Another good product is Swiss via ZRH.

BFN;)

LHR-BKK will be in this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s03kc1pwBc&feature=rec-HM-fresh+div) seat.

Not the greatest, but not a bed of nails either.

The service on TG biz class has gone dramatically down the last year! Why dont you consider flying SAS via CPH. They have good prices in C to BKK. About 1700 GBP.

Another good product is Swiss via ZRH.

BFN;)

Also now they use the old 747 on flight TG948 BKK-MAD. It used to be a 744 but on saturdays and tuesdays fights they change the plane to a 747. I made this flight last saturday on J class and is the worst business seat I have ever found. I did not noticed any changed from last year in business class service but if you found this old plane you are lost.

BKK-DPS has been mostly 773 recently, and all (or maybe all but one?) of the 773s have been refurbed with new business seats and AVOD throughout

Why dont you consider flying SAS via CPH. They have good prices in C to BKK. About 1700 GBP.

Another good product is Swiss via ZRH.


Errr, maybe because the OP is flying to DPS, and SAS and LX don't fly there? You should be able to get TG LHR-BKK for under GBP1500 if you look in the right place...

Got to say, having flown TG on the LHR-BKK route 3 times in the last couple of years, their FA service makes up for pretty much anything! They genuinely seem pleased to serve you, which is more than most others! They did fly the A340 on the route, but it's now all 747's and although the seats aren't all horizontal lie-flat, I find them more comfortable than the BA ones and easier to sleep in. My only complaint is their in-flight entertainment's not the best!

Thanks for all the tips and advice. I have flown TG before (about 3 years ago) and it does appear they have upgraded the seating since then which is good. I note that it is sloping like the Lufthansa seats (which I personally find better in a relaxed seat position rather than flat which is prone to slipping!) and not as nice as the Emirates C or VS C I've experienced recently.

However, it's a leisure trip and from previous experience I think the FA and food will make up for any issues with the seat. I rather have a direct flight over one via Scandinavia but thanks for the tips.

Jon :)

I'll be flying BKK-CDG and LHR-BKK soon. Good to know LHR-BKK will use the angle-flat seat.

The CDG bound C seat is the same angle-flat seat, right? Not the super old one used in the BKK-MAD route.

I'll be flying BKK-CDG and LHR-BKK soon. Good to know LHR-BKK will use the angle-flat seat.

The CDG bound C seat is the same angle-flat seat, right? Not the super old one used in the BKK-MAD route.

I will be flying in on LHR-BKK but out on BKK-MAD :( .
What exactly is the "super old" seat that it looks like I'll be stuck with?

I will be flying in on LHR-BKK but out on BKK-MAD :( .
What exactly is the "super old" seat that it looks like I'll be stuck with?

I did JFK-BKK on the A340-500 and BKK-MAD on the 744 and it was the same seat... the stanard BIZ class seat... it was the same on the new A340 and the older 744. Its a good seat not great, but the service makes up for it. I did get a bit tired of being in it on the 16hr flight from JFK though :)