Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - TG A330's

So I have booked SYD-BKK-KIX on TG 747 All Series (refurbished) and 777-300 in Business Class. I now also have an award on hold CTS-BKK (A330) stopover BKK-MEL (777-200ER) all on TG. My big question is how many of Thai's A330's have the 'new' business class product rather than old style recliners? As I also have the option of doing CTS-NRT-BKK on NH and a UA 747 with their newer seats. Which would you take? The flight times are all pretty comparable. I would have to get up a bit earlier to get from Niseko to CTS for the Thai flight which leaves at 10:45am as opposed to the CTS-NRT-BKK (NH and UA) option which departs CTS at 2:00pm.

Interestingly the CTS-BKK flights aren't actually loaded booking wise on any search engines (including Thai's website) but I have been able to put award seats on hold (through BMI), they are starting this route in October.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I think CTS is scheduled to use the 333 - this has the old recliners.

The A330 with the newer business seats is listed as 330 on the schedule.

Thai are pretty consistent on Japan routes using the newer a330's these days. I would be surprised if it is old config actually.

Any speculation on why I have been able to book it when it isn't in the GDS yet?

The thing is I have it departing at 1045am which is later than the 9am I have heard.

I would be careful about TG flight routes announced for late 2012. Plans can change extensively. It has been announced on a 333 (old seats), is mentioned in GDSs but not open for booking. it is a long flight if you get the old "regional" seats.
The NH-UA alternative is a bit safer. But UA is hubbing in NRT, so there can be delays.
Another parameter is that you need to decide fairly fast given BMI state.

Thanks for the advice Bruno, I actually went to change it but now no availability from CTS-NRT which was there a day ago. Very annoying should have stuck to what I wanted first time round and ignore when they offered te direct flight.

I would be careful about TG flight routes announced for late 2012. Plans can change extensively.
[...]
Another parameter is that you need to decide fairly fast given BMI state.

Also, bear in mind that if there are any major changes to the flight after 31st May, then you may end up stuck. There is no guarantee that you'll be able to change/rebook, or indeed get any more than a refund on your miles and taxes, once BD withdraw fully from *A.

What about NH/TG via KIX?

I personally dislike the C seats on all TG A330's I've been on. On most, if not all of the new A330's, the recline is very limited. I think there may be two different versions of the new seats, with one of them reclining more than the other. But I'm not 100% certain of that, and even when I was on a newly built A330, I wasn't impressed with the recline. I would definitely choose a different airline if an A330 was likely, being for me the seat recline is quite important. If you don't care about that though, then disregard my comments.

Thanks for all of the information. I have actually changed my booking (availability reappeared) to CTS-NRT (ANA economy) NRT-BKK (UA Business), the times actually suit me a bit better even with the longer travel time as I will be coming from Niseko in the morning.

I personally dislike the C seats on all TG A330's I've been on. On most, if not all of the new A330's, the recline is very limited. I think there may be two different versions of the new seats, with one of them reclining more than the other. But I'm not 100% certain of that, and even when I was on a newly built A330, I wasn't impressed with the recline. I would definitely choose a different airline if an A330 was likely, being for me the seat recline is quite important. If you don't care about that though, then disregard my comments.

I had a couple of flights too and the angle of recline of the feet cushion and back cushion are definetely not as good as on longhaul products. The seat pitch must be less too. I would hate to have this seat for a 12hr overnight.

But it is MUCH MUCH better than the regional product and has AVOD; and with a couple of pillows over the seat cushion, I could get a decent nap.l

Thanks for all of the information. I have actually changed my booking (availability reappeared) to CTS-NRT (ANA economy) NRT-BKK (UA Business), the times actually suit me a bit better even with the longer travel time as I will be coming from Niseko in the morning.

Good. As raikje said, booking a BMI award on an "uncertain" flight could be painful. if In september, TG decides not to introduce the route you will have to go through a painful process of trying to recredit the miles. DC will have folded in BAEC and the best you can hope for is that they will recredit the money and Avios.

My big question is how many of Thai's A330's have the 'new' business class product rather than old style recliners?

I'll try to answer this one as accurately as possible. If there's any mistake, please correct me.

Old config Airbus 330 - 300 internal code: 333
Total 12 birds. C 42 Y 263 for a total of 305 seats
Registrations: HS-TEA/ B/ C/ D/ E/ F/ G/ H/ J/ K/ L/ M
These birds have the old recliners in biz. Not too bad for a 2-3 hours flight, but more than that, I would also try to avoid.

Newer Airbus 330 - 300 Internal code: 330
Total 8 birds. C 36 Y 263 for a total of 299 seats
Registrations: HS-TEN/ O/ P/ Q/ R/ S/ T/ U
I believe the first 2 (TEN and TEO) had recline problems in biz - it might (should) be fixed by now.

Newest Airbus 330 - 300 Internal code: 33H
Total 3 birds. C 36 Y 263 for a total of 299 seats
HS-TBA/ B/ C

These are the newest lot with better IFE systems. 4 more of these birds are expected to be delivered soon.

Credit: Information from the Thai Hflight forum.

Will be on a A330 to Dubai and return very soon, try to find out which version of A330 the flight is but with no avail, any one knows? It just so difficult trying to get info from Thai website.

The daily to MNL (TG620 / TG621) are the old config. Short enough flight where it's not a huge deal, but I do try to get on the night flight whenever I can as whatever 777 product they typically deploy is invariably better than the old 330.

Will be on a A330 to Dubai and return very soon, try to find out which version of A330 the flight is but with no avail, any one knows? It just so difficult trying to get info from Thai website.

Try booking a dummy reservation online and select seats. But remember, last minute swap can always happen!

Well, I got my answer direct from Thai, wrote to them via the Facebook app, Talk with Thai which can be found in Thai's FB page.....

Well, I got my answer direct from Thai, wrote to them via the Facebook app, Talk with Thai which can be found in Thai's FB page.....

And that answer was?

(I'm trying to figure out the same thing for a possible BKK-DXB flight on 6/14)

And that answer was?

(I'm trying to figure out the same thing for a possible BKK-DXB flight on 6/14)

The seats on the A330 flying to Dubai are the new type...... confirmed when I was onboard last week...... but try not to be on the row 11 if you wish a little more silence..... row11 is near the galley and you will hear all the FAs are saying....

The seats on the A330 flying to Dubai are the new type...... confirmed when I was onboard last week...... but try not to be on the row 11 if you wish a little more silence..... row11 is near the galley and you will hear all the FAs are saying....

Indeed. More space but very noisy.