Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Are Children Allowed in a Frst Suite?

I've just reedemed a shed load of BMI Diamond Club points for a flight from CDG-USM for myself and my lovely wife. I realise that we are incredibly fortunate as we are of relative modest means.

The kids (8 & 11) are also very much with us on our once in a life-time summer holiday, but the only remaining availability was in Y, so that's were they are:o.

Bumping the parents to Y, and the kids to F is never going to happen:D.

Whereas the odd hour or two would be nice without the kids, we want to enjoy the journey to USM as a family.

Our kids are well behaved (at least we think so). What's the chance they are allowed in the suite for extended periods, for a cuddle and to watch a movie?

I can understand thats some folk pay the equivalent of the national wage to be in a suite, so may expect this to be a difficult sell.

Anyway, let me know what you seasoned Thai travellers think.

Ta in advance.

Bumping the parents to Y, and the kids to F is never going to happen:D.


TG and Thais in general are very kid friendly.

However your two children being already 8 & 11 (toddlers/lap children would be another story) I can not see how they could be accomodated in a (full?) cabin with only 8 seats. Even sitting on the ottoman during meals is not an option as the FA would have to provide food for 10 people.

Even if the FA would not object, I think they could run into trouble wih other guests and it is probably also against the procedures.

I think the only option is that during take off and landing one parent is with one child in Y, the parents have then the main meal together in F and for the rest of the flight it is again one parent with one child in Y.

The kids will also be treated as Unaccompanied Minors due to their ages and you may have to sign a number of forms. See here: http://www.thaiairways.co.uk/flying-with-thai/infants-children/

There are also limitations on visiting respective cabins as behuman notes, and it is against most airline policy to 'visit forward'.

I have done this, but the circumstances were slightly different with my two lads:

They were older than 11 (13 and 15)
They were in the first row of C, I was in the rearward-most F (Mrs not travelling)
I can speak Thai and explained to the Pursor what was happening
I visited the C cabin and never vv


As a variation of behuman's advice, you might consider 1 adult and 1 child in F, the other pairing in Y; and reverse for the return. Just a thought. Or try for all of you in C.

If you want to travel as a family then you should have booked everyone in the same cabin, even if that cabin is Y.

As someone who travels in F on a regular basis I value the privacy, I don't want people coming and going in and out of the cabin. Especially people who shouldn't be there in the first place.

Don't want to sound mean but that's the truth.

I agree with previous posters, it wouldn't be fair on other pax and on the staff -- Thai culture generally is one where people don't want to say "no" (even if it is the right thing to do).

To be fair to the staff and your fellow pax, I would advise following Thai-Kiwi's policy --> inform the cabin crew that your children are in Y and that you'll visit them and not vice versa. It isn't fair to put the decision on them or your fellow pax.

Enjoy your trip in F with your wife, focus on the whole holiday for the kids (I am sure the are very excited about visiting Thailand !!!)

Contrary to other peoples opinions, I'd say just ask, there is no loss in asking. I have had a flight actually on CX (slightly more open in saying no) where it seemed one passenger was in business class, and his wife/kid was in economy class, but his kid came up to business class and sat with him for the entire journey down (on his lap, it was the 1-1-1 old flat bed seats). I found it nice of the crew to allow the child to do that, and wouldn't mind if that is in first even

Contrary to other peoples opinions, I'd say just ask, there is no loss in asking.

The crew might feel obligated to say yes, but the right thing here is for the parents to visit their children in Y not the other way around.

I would not hesitate to bring the matter up with the flight crew if I felt impacted by people coming and going in and out of the cabin especially if they shouldn't be there in the first place. If I'm paying over $10K for my flight you best believe I don't want any non-sense of this sort.

Contrary to other peoples opinions, I'd say just ask, there is no loss in asking.

Don't forget to ask other pax in F to...

While I feel for the OP, being it's a trip of a lifetime, I also can't help but feel that someone who would attempt to bring someone into the F cabin, who isn't entitled to be there, is being very selfish and ill-mannered. And certainly you will run the risk of crossing paths with a fellow passenger who will take exception to your actions, and the result may make your trip much more unpleasant than if you'd just kept your children where they belong, or use one of the other options presented.

I had a recent trip from LAX to BKK in paid C. Economy was full, and some passengers were upgraded to C, included a young Thai lady who was seated next to me. Her male friend (I'm guessing boyfriend) came up from Y and spent well over an hour crouched next/in front of her, talking with her and disrupting me while I was trying to sleep. Finally I got up to use the restroom, and on exiting approached an FA there, informing him of the situation. He told me that he already told the passenger to return to his seat while I was in the restroom, and agreed they were being extremely rude/inconsiderate by their action. I was happy to see that the FA took the initiative without me asking, though would have preferred if they'd done so much earlier. Regardless whether it's a child or adult, I have the same opinion - never ever attempt to bring someone up from a lower cabin. If you're upgraded before boarding, that's a different story, but after boarding, stick with your same cabin, or go down to a lower cabin.

Another point that hasn't come up yet is the fact that there is a C cabin between F and Y.

C cabin (!) not a hall way.

I would echo the posts of the other pax. There are still another 12 days until BD leaves *A so keep checking every day to see if any extra C/F availability becomes available. Assuming you can change existing bookings after 20APR then there is a good chance that you can change to CDG-LHR-BKK on BA F and it is very common for multiple (sometimes up to 10) F seats to become available for award.

I would echo the posts of the other pax. There are still another 12 days until BD leaves *A so keep checking every day to see if any extra C/F availability becomes available. Assuming you can change existing bookings after 20APR then there is a good chance that you can change to CDG-LHR-BKK on BA F and it is very common for multiple (sometimes up to 10) F seats to become available for award.

J for redemption on BA, LHR -BKK is either available:

Within 7 days before departure

OR ~300 days before.

Tends to be the two extremes. Securing 4x J at short notice is doable.

I've just checked randomly for Friday this week and 4xJ are showing for BA009 LHR - BKK.

Thanks for your feedback.

I rang Thai and I've managed to secure front row 26 for the kids, and row 2 for us. That's as close as we can be. No luck on additional F seats, but I've burned all of my miles anyway, so could only change from 2F+2Y to 4J seats (or 4Y - not sure I could give up the 2F seats for this) by buying a few miles, if the availability did come up.

I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience. I can understand the concern, but the even if they did manage a visit, I'd be ruthless to ensure they are as quiet as a church mouse.

Don't worry too much, they don't drink Dom (yet), so the supplies are safe:p.

TBH, with AVOD available in Y, I think they're going to be happy for 12 hours anyway.

I can't believe that when BA takeover BMI I'll get a call to swap my flights to BA metal. Also, I don't think there's a OW alliance partner flying to USM or HKT.

Thanks for your feedback.

...

I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience. I can understand the concern, but the even if they did manage a visit, I'd be ruthless to ensure they are as quiet as a church mouse.

Don't worry too much, they don't drink Dom (yet), so the supplies are safe:p.

.

a First class cabin is for first class passengers... that's just the way it goes unfortunately. doesn't really matter how quiet the children are... if they request a single drink, or want to use the bathroom, that is using services to which they are not entitled, and affects the service for the rest of the cabin. I don't mind waiting for a WC is it's another F passenger or crew member, but why should I wait for an economy passenger? or are the passengers going to walk through the business class cabin (and disturb their privacy) to use the WCs?

I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience. I can understand the concern, but the even if they did manage a visit, I'd be ruthless to ensure they are as quiet as a church mouse.


It's not paranoia. It's the fact that having kids on board the plane in another ticketed cabin doesn't entitle one to extra privileges in the F cabin (such as guests). People who pay for F are paying for an exclusive cabin. It doesn't have to do with how your kids behave, it has to do that the only people who get to be in an F cabin are the people who pay for the privilege, and the airline staff.

I sympathize because I have a child as well- but there's ever a case where I'm in F and she's in C/Y, she's going to stay in her ticketed cabin, because that's the way it works.

I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience. I can understand the concern, but the even if they did manage a visit, I'd be ruthless to ensure they are as quiet as a church mouse.The point of most responses is no visitor from coach to first class cabin, period. Doesn't matter the visitors are kids, full grown adults, spouses, co-workers....
If you want to see your kids during the flight, visit them in the coach cabin.

I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience.

No paranoia here. It's simple... If you are NOT ticketed in F then you have NO business being in the F cabin. Same logic applies to J cabin.

No one is questioning the behaviour of your children, that's not the issue here.
Have some respect and courtesy for your other fellow F pax and don't let your "personal family issue" hinder their First Class experience.

why stop at having your children in the suite with you? Why not your parents and friends? They would be very quiet too!

a First class cabin is for first class passengers... that's just the way it goes unfortunately. doesn't really matter how quiet the children are... if they request a single drink, or want to use the bathroom, that is using services to which they are not entitled, and affects the service for the rest of the cabin. I don't mind waiting for a WC is it's another F passenger or crew member, but why should I wait for an economy passenger? or are the passengers going to walk through the business class cabin (and disturb their privacy) to use the WCs?
I agree totally....and when I've been in IFC TATL and someone's kid or companion tries to visit FC, I have complained to the purser until the violator is told in no uncertain terms that this is not acceptable. Airlines understand that as soon as this is allowed, they will not be able to collect as much of a premium for the FC fare. When some passengers have paid $10,000-$20,000 RT, why should the airline permit some kid with a $1000 ticket to disturb their flight experience? It doesn't make business sense.

why stop at having your children in the suite with you? Why not your parents and friends? They would be very quiet too!
In fact, why not the entire coach cabin if they promise to be quiet? If I don't travel with any kids, shouldn't I also be able to invite the same number of people to visit me in FC, in this case perhaps I could pick the loudest, rudest, smelliest, most obnoxious people I find in the gate area just to annoy you according to the rules that you think should apply to you and your family? Traveling with your kids (who were presumably a choice) does not give you the right to annoy other passengers, especially those who have paid a lot for their FC seats.

Thanks for your feedback.
I do sense a slight paranoia about kids in an F cabin, with the automatic assumption that they're going to upset the ambience.

I'm not sensing that having them in the cabin per se is the problem, it's having people who are not ticketed in F being in the F cabin, which they should not.

I did a flight 2 months ago from FRA-BKK-FRA and on the FRA-BKK sector was a family of parents and 5 year old child. All three had actual "suites", all in centre seats with Dad in row 1 and Mum and child in row 2, but the child stayed with Mum in her suite (next to me) for the entire flight - and they slept from take-off to landing!

And this was a 5 year old whose seat was actually purchased, not children 8 and 11 ticketed in Y.

As the protestations have increased, I did a bit of digging around the intersperse.

Nothing for Thai, but for example British Airways do allow visitors from other cabins to visit the First cabin as a guest, apparently as long as they are quiet and do not consume anything, and it's written in the crew manual.

I will allow them to visit as a guest. If they upset the ambience then I will be incredibly strict with them, and they will be out of the cabin in a flash.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

As the protestations have increased, I did a bit of digging around the intersperse.

Nothing for Thai, but for example British Airways do allow visitors from other cabins to visit the First cabin as a guest, apparently as long as they are quiet and do not consume anything, and it's written in the crew manual.

I will allow them to visit as a guest. If they upset the ambience then I will be incredibly strict with them, and they will be out of the cabin in a flash.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

this is partly correct :) BA do allow passengers to visit the first cabin, for a drink (so they are allowed to consume things). but they are not allowed to visit during meal times, or sleeping times, or if for any other reason service will be impacted.

the visit on BA is only a short visit... for a drink. the OP here was suggesting cuddling up and watching a movie.

whatever BA allows, it is certainly not classy to bring someone up to see you... it's pretentious and just showing off (or alternatively showing how cheap you are by not being able to afford the correct number of seats in the F cabin).

I will allow them to visit as a guest.

No, YOU won't - if anyone does the allowing then it will be the cabin crew.

I will allow them to visit as a guest. If they upset the ambience then I will be incredibly strict with them, and they will be out of the cabin in a flash.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.


We have been all extremely nice with you in this thread including my first answer to you. Perhaps we have been too nice :rolleyes: .

Now you choose, in a very arrogant way to take things in your hands and I can assure you that you will run into trouble:

a) on this board
b) on the plane

I will make a start:

How can you claim the right to allow something on a plane? Are you above the crew? What kind of authority do you claim to have?

Possibly you don't have the funds to actually PAY for additional tickets in the F cabin (as you describe in your OP being of "modest means"), so why you claim such entitlements?

How dare you to call other passengers "small minded" if they object to your tribe being freeloaded?

Happy not flying with you on the same plane. You are claiming to look for a peaceful holiday , but risk a conflict in hell.

I didn't realise Oli-Man was also the OP. That changes things as Thai doesn't have the same written policy (that anyone has actually reported over the last 11 or so years I have been on FT) of allowing passengers to invite guests into First. A print out from the BA site won't help on Thai.

Anyone who is going to get aggressive with another passenger merely proves their only entitlement to be on the plane in ANY class is through money alone, and not behaving in a socially acceptable manner.

Obviously the OP values First class over economy as they have chosen to book it. Those benefits revolve around the service and amenities. Those same amenities are compromised by having other passengers in there who are not entitled. Somehow the original question and subsequent replies by the OP don't make sense as they are mutually exclusive.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

Your logic is odd.

You're the one in the wrong (as in - your children with Y tickets do not belong in the F cabin), you have been made aware of that by multiple people on this thread, and yet you'll be giving another F passenger (who does belong there) a piece of YOUR mind? I don't quite understand this logic.

And, if you kids are there without paying, I think that actually would mean they are indeed "freeloading".

As the protestations have increased, I did a bit of digging around the intersperse.

Nothing for Thai, but for example British Airways do allow visitors from other cabins to visit the First cabin as a guest, apparently as long as they are quiet and do not consume anything, and it's written in the crew manual.

I will allow them to visit as a guest. If they upset the ambience then I will be incredibly strict with them, and they will be out of the cabin in a flash.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

So, you start off the thread asking what people thought, and have decided, after full and measured reflection of the opinions you solicited, that regardless how obnoxious it seems to others that you would use your small children as an excuse to put extra members of your family into the cabin without paying for the privilege, you'll do as you please, and it's those who somehow think that F cabins are reserved for those who pay for them are in the wrong.

I suppose we're done here, then.

I think passengers not allow to go to a different cabin for security reasons.

As the protestations have increased, I did a bit of digging around the intersperse.

Nothing for Thai, but for example British Airways do allow visitors from other cabins to visit the First cabin as a guest, apparently as long as they are quiet and do not consume anything, and it's written in the crew manual.

I will allow them to visit as a guest. If they upset the ambience then I will be incredibly strict with them, and they will be out of the cabin in a flash.

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

Make sure you have enough mind to go around, as the passengers in the J cabin will likely need a piece as well, once they begin making objections about your kids marching back and forth through their cabin.

You are trying to have your cake and eat it too, at the expense of other passengers and airline policy. If your experience in F is more important, then leave the kids in Y (or at home) and stop making noises about "wanting to make the journey a family experience." If you really wanted the latter, you'd be sitting together with them in Y or perhaps J, rather than prioritizing your own personal pampering and feelings of superiority over anybody not a member of your family.

So, you start off the thread asking what people thought, and have decided, after full and measured reflection of the opinions you solicited, that regardless how obnoxious it seems to others that you would use your small children as an excuse to put extra members of your family into the cabin without paying for the privilege, you'll do as you please, and it's those who somehow think that F cabins are reserved for those who pay for them are in the wrong.

I suppose we're done here, then.

Word.

We have a sector in late June where due to a lack of F award seats we had to book me + 6yo in F and wife + 4yo in J (funny how it turned out that way ;) ).

If we want to get together we'll do it at their seats in the J cabin. We might also ask the purser if it's OK for my wife and I to swop seats once during the trip so that we spend half of the trip each in F and J. I understand this is possible.

We have a sector in late June where due to a lack of F award seats we had to book me + 6yo in F and wife + 4yo in J (funny how it turned out that way ;) ).

If we want to get together we'll do it at their seats in the J cabin. We might also ask the purser if it's OK for my wife and I to swop seats once during the trip so that we spend half of the trip each in F and J. I understand this is possible.


How nice to have posters with common sense and consideration towards others ^ . The option with the parents being separated each keeping one child was suggested by myself in post # 2, including the swapping. I am sure the crew will be happy to send one glass or two of Dom Perignon back to J as I suppose the 4 years old doesn't drink Champagne ;) (yet !!) .

But if some other FC passenger complains out of some sort of small minded notion that my kids are somehow freeloading, then I'll not hesitate to give them a piece of my mind.

WOW you just don't get it, do you... :rolleyes:

It's not about freeloading. It's about having respect for pax who have paid for the right to be in their respective cabin. Without you and your kids trampling in and about each cabin disrupting the comfort of others.

All I can say is you are SOOOOO LUCKY I won't be on that flight because I'd LOVE for you to try and give me a piece of your mind.

We have a sector in late June where due to a lack of F award seats we had to book me + 6yo in F and wife + 4yo in J (funny how it turned out that way ;) ).

If we want to get together we'll do it at their seats in the J cabin. We might also ask the purser if it's OK for my wife and I to swop seats once during the trip so that we spend half of the trip each in F and J. I understand this is possible.


we did 1 x F, and 3 x j. I took F outbound, wife inbound. needless to say, neither the kids, myself, nor my wife visited the F cabin when our seats were in J.

We were fortunate enough to get 4 x F seats on the other three sectors. If we can swop halfway through the mixed sector domestic peace will be maintained.

As the OP, I thought I'd come full circle on this.

My wife and I recently took the flight from CDG to BKK in the F suites. My kids (11 and 8) were in the first row of economy (row 26). We popped back every hour or so, but never felt like we needed to. They were just so well looked after by the crew and they were glued to the AVOD for the whole journey. We were just a distraction during our visits.

After 8 hours into the flight I asked the CSD if they could visit, and this was agreed.

All the door to every suite were closed and my silently kids crept in. We shut our doors and the kids put on the headphones and watched TV for about an hour. We communicated by typing on the iPad. Not a single word was uttered by our kids for the whole hour, and I as far as the other F class passengers were concerned they will not have even known anyone had visited.

A nice touch was the smiles from the first class cabin crew who could see us all cuddled up over the top of the suite doors as they walked past, tending to the other passengers needs.

We took a couple of photos of our kids visiting, and it will be a lovely lasting memory.

I got my ticket would be cancelled if I left my kids in business class on the bkk CDG leg I was mis-informed

If you want to travel as a family then you should have booked everyone in the same cabin, even if that cabin is Y.

As someone who travels in F on a regular basis I value the privacy, I don't want people coming and going in and out of the cabin. Especially people who shouldn't be there in the first place.

Don't want to sound mean but that's the truth.

+1

I got my ticket would be cancelled if I left my kids in business class on the bkk CDG leg I was mis-informed

In what way were you misinformed?

I got my ticket would be cancelled if I left my kids in business class on the bkk CDG leg I was mis-informed

Would you please elaborate.

Would you please elaborate.

shanyee2233 was booked to fly BKK-CDG - one adult and one child in first class, one adult and one child in business class. About a day before departure, shanyee contacted TG to check his booking and was told that young children cannot be accommodated in business class on the 77W (herringbone seating).

We since managed to confirm that this is the case. US (who issued his award ticket) didn't notify shanyee, so he only found out from TG, who told him they would refuse uplift from BKK.

Shanyee did however find 4x business class award seats on MS BKK-CAI-CDG, arriving a few hours later than planned. All the family got to travel together.

I think Shanyee is concerned now that he was wrongly told he couldn't travel on the 77W, however there are differences between his case and the most recent report. In Shanyee's case he wanted a young child in J, whereas above they had an 8 and 12 year old in Y, and those ages are old enough I belive to travel 'unaccompanied' on TG

I think Shanyee is concerned now that he was wrongly told he couldn't travel on the 77W, however there are differences between his case and the most recent report. In Shanyee's case he wanted a young child in J, whereas above they had an 8 and 12 year old in Y, and those ages are old enough I belive to travel 'unaccompanied' on TG

This is exactly what I was hoping to get (but from the source). ;) My recollections are exactly as you stated, specifically the Y seats vs C seats.

Now shanye2233 is riled up and thinking he's been wronged when the situations at hand are dissimilar.

Also, you might want to edit:

shanyee2233 was booked to fly BKK-CDG - one adult and one child in business class, one adult and one child in business class.

We both know you meant one of those 'business class' to read 'first class'.

We both know you meant one of those 'business class' to read 'first class'.

thanks :) I have edited my post accordingly now

Now shanye2233 is riled up and thinking he's been wronged when the situations at hand are dissimilar.


Regardless, I'm sure you must agree that he's entitled to several hundred thousand ROP miles as compensation! ;)

On the return flight BKK to LHR (A340-600) we were all in J. My two kids were in 12A/B and Mum and Dad were in the row behind.

Just before take-off we were informed that it was Thai policy for an adult to sit with the child on take-off, so we duly obliged. However, this was never mentioned on the CDG-BKK and HKT-BKK flight when the kids sat together.

I never had much confidence that the Thai CC knew the finer details of the UM policy.

For example most airlines treat children (11or younger) in a separate cabin without adult supervision as UMs, and must pay the UM fee accordingly. BA is one airline that doesn't as long as the child is over 6.

What's Thai's official policy? Well after a lot of searching around the Thai website I couldn't find out. Thai is clear on the policy if a child is travelling alone, but mention nothing with respect to kids in a separate cabin to adults.

Maybe we were below the radar as BMI had erroneously booked my kids as adults, although I rang Thai to tell them that they were kids and had child's meals arranged.

I think Thai should clarify the situation on it's website the issue of children travelling in a separate cabin to adults.

On the return flight BKK to LHR (A340-600) we were all in J. My two kids were in 12A/B and Mum and Dad were in the row behind.

Just before take-off we were informed that it was Thai policy for an adult to sit with the child on take-off, so we duly obliged. However, this was never mentioned on the CDG-BKK and HKT-BKK flight when the kids sat together.

I never had much confidence that the Thai CC knew the finer details of the UM policy.

For example most airlines treat children (11or younger) in a separate cabin without adult supervision as UMs, and must pay the UM fee accordingly. BA is one airline that doesn't as long as the child is over 6.

What's Thai's official policy? Well after a lot of searching around the Thai website I couldn't find out. Thai is clear on the policy if a child is travelling alone, but mention nothing with respect to kids in a separate cabin to adults.

Maybe we were below the radar as BMI had erroneously booked my kids as adults, although I rang Thai to tell them that they were kids and had child's meals arranged.

I think Thai should clarify the situation on it's website the issue of children travelling in a separate cabin to adults.

i think there was some guidance that children under 11 or something couldn't travel in the J cabin of the 77W. So if one child was over that it seems like it got through.

In the end, who knows for certain if shanyee would have been denied uplift in BKK if he had just turned up for the flight. undoubtedly the more attention drawn to the booking the more opportunity they would have had to enforce the rule.

shanyee2233 was booked to fly BKK-CDG - one adult and one child in first class, one adult and one child in business class. About a day before departure, shanyee contacted TG to check his booking and was told that young children cannot be accommodated in business class on the 77W (herringbone seating).

We since managed to confirm that this is the case. US (who issued his award ticket) didn't notify shanyee, so he only found out from TG, who told him they would refuse uplift from BKK.

Shanyee did however find 4x business class award seats on MS BKK-CAI-CDG, arriving a few hours later than planned. All the family got to travel together.

I think Shanyee is concerned now that he was wrongly told he couldn't travel on the 77W, however there are differences between his case and the most recent report. In Shanyee's case he wanted a young child in J, whereas above they had an 8 and 12 year old in Y, and those ages are old enough I belive to travel 'unaccompanied' on TG
Thai website says this:
Due to safety reasons, Business Class traveler on TG676/677 BKKNRT VV, TG930/931/932/933 BKKCDG VV and other certain flights operate with 777-300ER , THAI is temporarily unable to accommodate infant(s) and children under 8 years olds who travel alone.

http://www.thaiairways.com/plan-your-trip/before-you-fly/en/travel-terms-and-conditions.htm

You state one adult and one child were travelling in business class. The website states it's only a problem if the child is travelling alone. Shanyee appears to have a case for compensation, and I be chasing this down.

Shanyee is certainly complying with the rules as posted on That's website.

Thai website says this:
Due to safety reasons, Business Class traveler on TG676/677 BKKNRT VV, TG930/931/932/933 BKKCDG VV and other certain flights operate with 777-300ER , THAI is temporarily unable to accommodate infant(s) and children under 8 years olds who travel alone.

http://www.thaiairways.com/plan-your-trip/before-you-fly/en/travel-terms-and-conditions.htm

You state one adult and one child were travelling in business class. The website states it's only a problem if the child is travelling alone. Shanyee appears to have a case for compensation, and I be chasing this down.

Shanyee is certainly complying with the rules as posted on That's website.

there was an infant and a four year old I believe. I think it's just bad wording on the Thai site... the issue is supervision of the child in a herringbone configuration. a four year old may be hard to supervise at critical safety phases of the flight.

ultimately it is thai's call on a safety issue. no sure what compensation is due... other segments were in first class, so the mileage would have stayed the same. arrival time was only a few hours different. no additional expenses were incurred bu the pax in terms of accommodation or meals. the only thing they lost was the F lounge, and f service for one adult on one sector. the rlace,net flight was full flat beds.

there was an infant and a four year old I believe. I think it's just bad wording on the Thai site... the issue is supervision of the child in a herringbone configuration. a four year old may be hard to supervise at critical safety phases of the flight.

ultimately it is thai's call on a safety issue. no sure what compensation is due... other segments were in first class, so the mileage would have stayed the same. arrival time was only a few hours different. no additional expenses were incurred bu the pax in terms of accommodation or meals. the only thing they lost was the F lounge, and f service for one adult on one sector. the rlace,net flight was full flat beds.
There was a 2 and a 4 year old according to Shanyee's earlier post so no infant was travelling.

Thai posts the ticketing terms and conditions on the website, and Shanyee was compliant with these terms as part of the contract.

If it's still not safe then Thai should update their T&C's to state that NO children under 8 can travel in J class on a 77W. That's not Shanyee's problem.

Thai had no right to refuse him to travel and should have upgraded the child to F, or involuntarily downgraded him and the child to Y when the EURO compensation rules would apply.

As I said, I'd be on to US as the ticketing agent to push Thai for compensation. Thai can't make up the rules as they go along. If they do not want to follow there own published ticketing T&C's then that is not Shanyee's problem.

As a minimum there's compensation for distress and anguish caused

There was a 2 and a 4 year old according to Shanyee's earlier post so no infant was travelling.

Thai posts the ticketing terms and conditions on the website, and Shanyee was compliant with these terms as part of the contract.

If it's still not safe then Thai should update their T&C's to state that NO children under 8 can travel in J class on a 77W. That's not Shanyee's problem.

Thai had no right to refuse him to travel and should have upgraded the child to F, or involuntarily downgraded him and the child to Y when the EURO compensation rules would apply.

As I said, I'd be on to US as the ticketing agent to push Thai for compensation. Thai can't make up the rules as they go along. If they do not want to follow there own published ticketing T&C's then that is not Shanyee's problem.

As a minimum there's compensation for distress and anguish caused

Thai absolutely CAN make up the rules as they go along. they have the absolute right, as does the passenger, to breach their contract at any time and however they may choose. this is contract law, not the constitution! if a passenger doesn't like it then they can sue the airline. good luck in this case. the only 'loss' suffered was a first class lounge, some champagne and caviar. all the rest was provided on the alternative mode of transport, which arrived in a reasonable time (reasonable enough in fact that I don't think eu compensation would have been payable if looking at that part of it).

however badly the rule is expressed on the website, I think at the time the rule was clear that shanyee was ineligible to fly in the ticketed cabin.

:confused: I thought the issue wasn't the herringbone, but that the J cabin in those particular aircraft have an airbag configuration that operate with a force that would be dangerous to infants and small children if deployed in an emergency. Regardless of if they are traveling alone or with an adult, hence the prohibition of kids under 8 in J on those aircraft only. This airbag configuration doesn't exist in F or Y in those same aircraft, so kids are OK in those cabins.

:confused: I thought the issue wasn't the herringbone, but that the J cabin in those particular aircraft have an airbag configuration that operate with a force that would be dangerous to infants and small children if deployed in an emergency. Regardless of if they are traveling alone or with an adult, hence the prohibition of kids under 8 in J on those aircraft only. This airbag configuration doesn't exist in F or Y in those same aircraft, so kids are OK in those cabins.

ah yes that makes good sense - thanks jiejie :)

I know herringbone is also an issue for safety for young children, because it is hard for the adult to make sure the child has their seatbelt on (and stays on) during turbulance and take-off/landing etc.

I'm not sure if CX has the same prohibition and what ages apply for their seats with airbags?