Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - BKK-NRT F award questions

Hi there, as part of one of my awards to Japan in summer 2010 I will be flying from BKK-NRT (booked with US miles). At the moment TG's schedule is showing 747 on all afternoon flights and alternating 747 and 744 on the morning flight.
I have flown both aircraft in F before although I have only flown the 747 between BKK and HKG. I find it ok for such a short journey but wouldn't really like it for a 6 hour flight!

Anyway my dilemma is that I need 2 F seats and currently I can find 2 F seats on the morning flight operated by 747 but only one on the morning flight operated by 744. So a few questions:

1) Is it likely that TG will actually still have the same schedule by August 2010? i.e it won't matter which aircraft I book on because both have equal possibility of being 747/744?
2) Does TG ever release award seats instantly after one has been taken? i.e if I booked 1 F on 744 is it likely that another F seat instantly appears on same flight?
3) If I snap the one F seat on 744 and put the second person in C. How likely is it that another F seat is released between now and July?

What would you do in my situation?

Thanks ^

*Will be the first time my girlfriend has flown in F and I want to make sure she has the best possible experience :)

Hi there, as part of one of my awards to Japan in summer 2010 I will be flying from BKK-NRT (booked with US miles). At the moment TG's schedule is showing 747 on all afternoon flights and alternating 747 and 744 on the morning flight.
I have flown both aircraft in F before although I have only flown the 747 between BKK and HKG. I find it ok for such a short journey but wouldn't really like it for a 6 hour flight!

Anyway my dilemma is that I need 2 F seats and currently I can find 2 F seats on the morning flight operated by 747 but only one on the morning flight operated by 744. So a few questions:

1) Is it likely that TG will actually still have the same schedule by August 2010?
2) Does TG ever release award seats instantly after one has been taken? i.e if I booked 1 F on 744 is it likely that another F seat instantly appears on same flight?
3) If I snap the one F seat on 744 and put the second person in C. How likely is it that another F seat is released between now and July?

What would you do in my situation?

Thanks ^

I can't answer your questions above, but I'll share this with you:

I would book whatever you can get availability on/whatever schedule works best - this route is (at least for me) notorious for aircraft substitutions, and I've gotten burned every time I've booked it as a 744 route - it has always subbed to the 747.

It's not that long of a flight, and the service generally makes up for the seat.

I would book whatever you can get availability on/whatever schedule works best - this route is (at least for me) notorious for aircraft substitutions, and I've gotten burned every time I've booked it as a 744 route - it has always subbed to the 747.


+1

The old 747 is fine, even overnight, for BKK-NRT. Besides, what exactly is better on this route? And after a massage in the F spa, you won't care whether it's old config or new. ;)

TG doesn't seem to do the instant release thing (as some have reported with SQ).

But TG certainly manages award inventory actively, and may well release additional seats as the schedule nears. Just keep checking!

+1

+ 2

...I've gotten burned every time I've booked it as a 744 route - it has always subbed to the 747.

My flight is in January and it's currently showing a 747 - does the swap happens the other way around too - i.e. upgraded to 744 or is it already too close to the departure dates for swapping? :)

I read from Thai's website that amenity kits / PJs are given on 6+ hours routes and this is only 5h 40m (BKK-NRT) - are there any exception to this (e.g. SQ 12 on SIN-NRT get amenity kit and PJs too)?

Also, is there anything else I can pre-order to maximize my utility on TG's F (right now, I see BTC ex-BKK and the spa at BKK)?

Thank you in advance! :)

My flight is in January and it's currently showing a 747 - does the swap happens the other way around too - i.e. upgraded to 744 or is it already too close to the departure dates for swapping? :)

I read from Thai's website that amenity kits / PJs are given on 6+ hours routes and this is only 5h 40m (BKK-NRT) - are there any exception to this (e.g. SQ 12 on SIN-NRT get amenity kit and PJs too)?

Also, is there anything else I can pre-order to maximize my utility on TG's F (right now, I see BTC ex-BKK and the spa at BKK)?

Thank you in advance! :)

I'm sure the swap can happen in the other direction. Just don't book the same flight as me - you'll be guaranteed an old a/c. :)

I replied to your amenity/pj question in the other thread - short answer, possibly, but don't count on it and you won't be disappointed. I think they typically give out amenity kits but not PJs. gleff and macabus should have plenty of experience with this route as well, so perhaps they can say for sure.

As far as pre-ordering, other than meal, I'm not sure. If you have some time in NRT, you can snag some other free things:

1. Go to United RCC - First Class section (upstairs from main level). Ask to take a shower. Take shower kit and leave (no shower necessary although they've got great water pressure and temperature)
2. Go to United RCC - Business Class section (downstairs/main level). Ask to take a shower. Repeat removal of shower kit and leave.
3. Go to ANA F Lounge (upstairs from main level). Ask to take a shower. Take L'Occitane shower kit and leave (actually not quite as nice/comprehensive as UA kit).
4. If you really have time, repeat the ANA F lounge at the other end of the terminal where they have another lounge.

Enjoy!

In my experience the route is supposed to have amenity kit but not PJs. But there may be PJs on the aircraft, ask and the FA will look in the closet and give a set to you..

In my experience the route is supposed to have amenity kit but not PJs. But there may be PJs on the aircraft, ask and the FA will look in the closet and give a set to you..

Thank you! :)

In my experience the route is supposed to have amenity kit but not PJs. But there may be PJs on the aircraft, ask and the FA will look in the closet and give a set to you..

Yes--amenity kits are routinely handed out, but not PJs.