Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Another 'Boeing 747 All Series' Query for Nov/Dec 2012

I fly with Thai between Sydney and Rome a couple of times a year. In November 2011 when I arrived at FCO for the flight to BKK I was handed a letter at the Check-In desk apologising for the fact that the aircraft was a substitute aircraft (it was the old 'All Series' 747 with 14 seats in First), but assuring me that the Thai service experience would be unchanged!

I found it quite unacceptable that I pay full price for a First Class ticket and end up travelling in an aircraft that doesn't even have a lie-flat bed in First Class. I subsequently discovered that this was not an 'unexpected' aircraft substitution. Apparently, Thai was retro-fitting something in Economy Class on the 'usual' 10 seat First Class 744 which operates on the BKK to FCO route.

This year, when I flew from SYD to BKK I was pleased to see that Thai had decided to use the 10 seat 744 on the SYD to BKK route, too. However, when I checked to see what aircraft would be operating in November 2012 when I planned to return from FCO to SYD via BKK I noted that it showed 'Boeing 747 All Series'.

Does anyone here know how long Thai intends to operate the All Series 747 on the BKK to FCO route and exactly when Thai will reinstate the 'usual' Boeing 747 (that has 10 seats in First Class) on the BKK to FCO route? Is it likely to be before Christmas 2012?

Cheers

I fly with Thai between Sydney and Rome a couple of times a year. In November 2011 when I arrived at FCO for the flight to BKK I was handed a letter at the Check-In desk apologising for the fact that the aircraft was a substitute aircraft (it was the old 'All Series' 747 with 14 seats in First), but assuring me that the Thai service experience would be unchanged!

I found it quite unacceptable that I pay full price for a First Class ticket and end up travelling in an aircraft that doesn't even have a lie-flat bed in First Class. I subsequently discovered that this was not an 'unexpected' aircraft substitution. Apparently, Thai was retro-fitting something in Economy Class on the 'usual' 10 seat First Class 744 which operates on the BKK to FCO route.

This year, when I flew from SYD to BKK I was pleased to see that Thai had decided to use the 10 seat 744 on the SYD to BKK route, too. However, when I checked to see what aircraft would be operating in November 2012 when I planned to return from FCO to SYD via BKK I noted that it showed 'Boeing 747 All Series'.

Does anyone here know how long Thai intends to operate the All Series 747 on the BKK to FCO route and exactly when Thai will reinstate the 'usual' Boeing 747 (that has 10 seats in First Class) on the BKK to FCO route? Is it likely to be before Christmas 2012?

Cheers

If you do a dummy-booking in F you will probably see F with 9 seats= retrofitted 747 called 74N with brand new F.

But if you get it or not is another question... ;)