Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Some unusual happenings in F lately?

Hello,

I have made an observation on my last several trips with TG in F out of Europe to Bangkok.
After the flight departs, the FAs come through the cabin and whilst one is taking the orders for lunch, another is going through and closing all the window shades, even though it is just after noon (around 1 PM).
I really don't understand the rationale of why they think passengers want to eat lunch in the dark.
I have gotten into the habit now of telling them not to do this (at least to my own 4 windows), but there is a bit of hesitation from them (they have always given in to my request, though).
My wife and I were the only 2 in F on a flight from Frankfurt a few months ago and sure enough, as soon as we took off an FA came round and started closing every shade. I told her we wanted all of the shades open in the cabin (since it was just the two of us), and they allowed it.
Why do they do this?

I also noticed on the last flight out of Zurich that when they took lunch orders they also wanted to get our breakfast orders, then after lunch was over the menus were collected. This meant that the wine/drinks list was also taken. This makes no sense to me - why?

On the Frankfurt flight (where we were the only two), they came round with the caviar service and my wife passed but I like it so I accepted. They gave me a smallish portion (again, I am the only one taking it), from a tin that contained at least 5 more of the portion I'd been given. I asked for more caviar after I had finished my main and the FA told me "There is none left". Where did it go?

The same thing happened with the bottles of Evian in the "bar" area in front of 2E,F. There were 4 placed there after we were each given a bottle. Then one by one they disappeared (not taken by us). When I asked for another, they actually took my bottle from me and "refilled" it in the galley.
Strange.

Thanks for any insight! We have several future flights with them out of Europe and back in the next year and I am wondering if anyone else has had similar things happen.

I think in this case they can't please everyone. Some people like to "live" the destination time zone so at 2pm in London it is already 9pm in Thailand. So these people will like the way they darken the cabin as you mentioned. If they try to please you then those people will piss off. I think the airline must choose how they want to do the service and let the passengers choose whether to fly with them.

As for taking breakfast order at the beginning of the flight, some crew will domthatbso they can prepare the meal and wake you up as late as possible instead of waking you up, ask for your choice and then go back to the galley to prepare the breakfast while you wait sleepily in your seat.

As for taking breakfast order at the beginning of the flight, some crew will domthatbso they can prepare the meal and wake you up as late as possible instead of waking you up, ask for your choice and then go back to the galley to prepare the breakfast while you wait sleepily in your seat.

I understand that, but why do they take the menu away at 3 hours into the flight? Then you do not have the drinks menu from which to order. Seems they should leave the menu with you until breakfast.
This is a minor thing that stands out when comparing them to another airline.

I flew TG F on the 77W last August, CDG-BKK-CDG. My impression is that they follow the service manual to the letter. Thus, regardless of what the pax want(s), they have a hard time deviating from the standard and using their own judgment. When you are the only pax, no problem. But otherwise, I believe that they adhere strictly to the service standard. Of course, that leaves unanswered questions like why the shades must be lowered, or why you cannot have more caviar when you are the only pax eating it and there clearly is more. Those questions, however, seem better addressed to the author(s) of the service manual.

This is what makes THAI so much a lower quality airline than top tier Asian airlines like OZ CX SQ and MH

Those questions, however, seem better addressed to the author(s) of the service manual.

You're kidding, right?

If I thought I could get those answers from Thai directly, I would ask them.

I'm asking other Flyertalkers if they have had similar experiences and if there are hypotheses about the reasons.

Of course, that leaves unanswered questions like why the shades must be lowered, or why you cannot have more caviar when you are the only pax eating it and there clearly is more.

Indeed they lower the shades, but certainly not near the window seat I am in and if they do so while I am in the washroom the shade will be up the moment I return to the seat. I don't see the problem and never flew with shades down (as I never sleep with closed curtains).

Regarding caviar and water I would confront them and speak at least with the IFM.

What is so difficult about telling them you want to keep your menu with you throughout the flight... I really doubt any cabin crew would force you to return it!

I don't sit in F but they do it in C. Very annoying.
I think it 'pacifies' the cabin. People are more likely so catch up on sleep or sit and watch a movie rather than ask for service from the cabin crew.
Annoys the hell out of me as I like to look outside.

I don't sit in F but they do it in C. Very annoying.
I think it 'pacifies' the cabin. People are more likely so catch up on sleep or sit and watch a movie rather than ask for service from the cabin crew.
Annoys the hell out of me as I like to look outside.

I agree that it's likely to pacify the cabin. I've had it happen on a 7AM UA flight SIN-NRT. That had nothing to do with acclimating pax to the arrival time.

I usually firmly but nicely alert the FA that I chose a window to look out said window. I also prefer the natural light for reading. And I will re-open a shade that's been lowered while I'm in the bathroom.

On the flip side, on TPACs i will lower the shade for a good portion of the flight. Especially on a westbound run.

What is so difficult about telling them you want to keep your menu with you throughout the flight... I really doubt any cabin crew would force you to return it!

It's difficult to tell them when you're in the toilet and they're at your seat taking the menu.

I usually firmly but nicely alert the FA that I chose a window to look out said window. I also prefer the natural light for reading. And I will re-open a shade that's been lowered while I'm in the bathroom.



This is exactly what I do.

could the window shade thing also have to do with glare on the LCD screens?

This is one of those things where they're damned if they do, and damned if they don't. If they leave the shades up some will complain that they want to sleep or there's too much glare. If they put them all down some one else will complain about that.

There's not a whole lot to see out the window at 36000 feet anyway is there? Especially if you're flying over the ocean. But I do get that some people like having natural light to read by.

could the window shade thing also have to do with glare on the LCD screens?

This is one of those things where they're damned if they do, and damned if they don't. If they leave the shades up some will complain that they want to sleep or there's too much glare. If they put them all down some one else will complain about that.

There's not a whole lot to see out the window at 36000 feet anyway is there? Especially if you're flying over the ocean. But I do get that some people like having natural light to read by.

I like the natural light. I also find it depressing to start a 12 hour journey (and have the remainder of it be) in the dark.

They do this also on ex-BKK flights to FRA and MUC, which leave around noon and get into Germany after sundown. So you'd be in the dark, so to speak, for over 24 hours (as you land at night). No fun.

Ideally, one would keep the shades open for the flight in this case, if one wants to adjust to the local time at the destination city (as far as other people have argued), no?

Shades did go down right away, but it was a night flight so I was OK. Caviar service was fine but announcing over the entire planes PA system that we are 90 mins out from landing, I thought was not good. Let me sleep.

- Lowering shades: It is common procedure on most airlines, not only TG, to lower shades in cabins on longhaul flights 1) to improve viewing of video and 2) coz many pax likes to sleep. Of course, you can keep your own shades open (eventhough it might disturb other pax). And in the unlikely event where you are the only pax,.... But it is the usual procdure to lower them.
- TG apparently remove the menus ASAP because some pax like to keep them as souvenir while they can be reused on other flights. Simple cost-cutting stupdily applied.
- Caviar and other goodies tend to disappear because TG crew likes it. Have you ever gone up after meal service to see what the FAs (and probably cockpit crew) eat? Like you I saw an almost untouched opened tin "disappear". They also have instruction to use a minimal number of caviar tins and wine/champagne bottles. These are some of the things that make TG an inferior airline in F.
- TG likes to wake you up early (even in F, even if you requested to sleep late). Their manual states that breakfast service should start 2 hours before arrival and they do it. No personalized service as on other airlines. Plus they are instructed to clean the cabin before arrival (especially in BKK where the plane is immediately sent to another destination). So they want to have time to pick up blankets and the like. I once went to the loo a couple of hours before landing and my pillow and blanket had already disapeared.

- Lowering shades: It is common procedure on most airlines, not only TG, to lower shades in cabins on longhaul flights 1) to improve viewing of video and 2) coz many pax likes to sleep. Of course, you can keep your own shades open (eventhough it might disturb other pax). And in the unlikely event where you are the only pax,.... But it is the usual procdure to lower them.
- TG apparently remove the menus ASAP because some pax like to keep them as souvenir while they can be reused on other flights. Simple cost-cutting stupdily applied.
- Caviar and other goodies tend to disappear because TG crew likes it. Have you ever gone up after meal service to see what the FAs (and probably cockpit crew) eat? Like you I saw an almost untouched opened tin "disappear". They also have instruction to use a minimal number of caviar tins and wine/champagne bottles. These are some of the things that make TG an inferior airline in F.
- TG likes to wake you up early (even in F, even if you requested to sleep late). Their manual states that breakfast service should start 2 hours before arrival and they do it. No personalized service as on other airlines. Plus they are instructed to clean the cabin before arrival (especially in BKK where the plane is immediately sent to another destination). So they want to have time to pick up blankets and the like. I once went to the loo a couple of hours before landing and my pillow and blanket had already disapeared.

That explains quite well why THAI is one of the poorest Asian airlines... Ive often wondered what the problem is and why they cant match CX SQ OZ or even MH standards

Their manual states that breakfast service should start 2 hours before arrival and they do it. No personalized service as on other airlines. Plus they are instructed to clean the cabin before arrival (especially in BKK where the plane is immediately sent to another destination). So they want to have time to pick up blankets and the like. I once went to the loo a couple of hours before landing and my pillow and blanket had already disapeared.

Exactly my experience last August on my first TG flights ever, CDG-BKK-CDG in F. Very much by-the-book service, and obviously so. I found it quite surprising given the type of service one receives at so many hotels in BKK. Any chance that the F service standards manual is online somewhere? I'm very curious.

Yes, so am I!