tvl4free
Apr 4, 03, 11:58 pm
TG 122 Y
BKK-CNX
04 APR 03
AB333
Check out on the Executive Floor from the BKK Conrad was almost accomplished 'per normal routine,' until such time as I noticed a minor restaurant charge on my portfolio bill - which clearly wasn't mine. 'My goodness, there's an CHARGE on my bill,' I asked...? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Well, Julie, the Exectutive Floor Mgr. pressed a few buttons.... and so the taxi pulled away from the hotel... with me having accomplished at GLON 6 day stay totally4free. As the maniacle driver sped toward the airport, I briefly thought about friend of mine who had just returned to ABQ from a quick 6 day trip to LON - a trip in which he had spent almost $3K. I momentarily thought about his trip - and then compared it with my financial outlay on this trip - and I, of course, smiled, 'per normal routine.' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
The taxi ride from the hotel to Don Muang Airport cost precisely 300 baht... an amount which usually does not include the hiway expressway fees, I'm told... so I'm thinking that, perhaps, I got those tolls4free too...??? So now, perhaps even the Gov't of Thailand is allowing me to tvl4free..??? More likely, the taxi dude was just giving me a break... but my original story sounded a bit better.. doncha think? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Anyway, the day before my flight, I had visited the TG CTO to make a J booking from BKK to CNX and this was very easily done with the efficient, but not particularly friendly, TG folks who banged on their computer keyboards thru heavy plastic gloves and who spoke to me with their eyes... since their smiles were hidden behind typical MASH green surgical masks.
I think that I arrived in BKK just in the nick of time to notice that there is a new fashion trend developing here... it's the fashionable trend of wearing designer masks. I noticed many different styles and colors of these masks at Don Muang Airport. There were even very elaborate ones being worn, with like buttons and dials on them... but don't ask me how these buttons are used. The one I liked best was being show cased by an American Beverly Hills 'trend setter type' - perfectly sun tanned from head to toe. She was all decked out in a PINK pants suit... with a perfectly matching pink mask. Quite stylish was my thought, after thinking about it for just a moment or two.
So far on this trip to Asia, all segments to date had been accomplished in F. SuddenIy and completely out of the blue, I began to have this urge to experience some local culture with 'the masses' once again... and so purely on a whim, I stopped by the counter where J was rapidly changed to Y... twenty yankie bucks was saved... and 32 G was assigned, as I recall.
As I moved thru the various obligatory check points at the airport, I noticed that all public contact people AT THAI were hidding behind those green surgical masks.... I think that they should at least acquire purple ones to match the light purple uniforms. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
After check-in, I moved on over to the TG Lounge - with admission granted without even a check of the appropriate cards that I carry - a not particulary impressive kind of place... but warm 'Puff Pastries' were being served. Yum.
Boarding from Gate 8 was to begin at 12:45P and was called pretty much on time. But this is a shuttle gate... and when all were boarded, all Y seats were taken and J was about half full. As I boarded the aircraft, I noticed that all in-flight service crew members wore masks on board. I almost got the feeling that their action of 'mask wearing' was kind of rude, but I dispelled these thoughts after a momentary reflection.
We pushed roughtly 10 minutes late... and one should know that I always discount an airlines 'trip rating' heavily due to that. The interior was quite pleasing on this a relatively new and spotlessly clean A-333. I've always liked TG's outside livery, but the white exteriors just always look dirty: they are very 'exaust ladden looking' to me. Perhaps, an impressive, but soft dirty grey would better serve this carrier - rather than that white exterior color that they have chosen.
As I took my seat, I noticed that the change from J to Y was a BIG MISTAKE. I was surrounded amongst a sea of screaming babies... and they were everywhere! To my left, to my right, in front of me and in back. And they cried and they cried, and they cried. And they screamed and they yelled... and they got louder and louder and louder. And they coughed, and they slobbered, and they blew out snot like you wouldn't believe! In fact, there was a lot of coughing on this flight, something which I have never noticed before. This was like a snot factory flight! Kleenex would have been very, very proud.
Anyway, these children did not help to make me a happy camper! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif And so now I believe that all children under 7 or so should be sedated... and sent via Federal Express! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Finally, we pushed about 10 minutes late... and taxied forever... and the kids screamed and they screamed and they bawled: I thought I was gonna die! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif
Then suddenly we were airborne, and in complete unison, everyone of those little snots must have been placed in the 'off position.' I never heard another word from them again.
The seat belt sign went off... and service began immediately. I was impressed with Y snack service... everything comes to you in a box... but unlike UA 'boxie service,' this one I kinda liked! First of all, the box actually looks nice... not the typical KFC kind of thing. It's bigger, longer, more colorful, and flatter than Uniteds. So it looks like ur actually getting more... presentation is very important in my book. The muted purple colors on the outsite are nice. There's no need for a drink cart with TG... cause everything's included inside the box.
Water and OJ were right there in the box... and so was a sampling of TG's 'Puffed Pastry service.' My flight had a chicken Puffed Pastry with veggies... nice and flaky too. But the onboard selection tasted even better than that served in the TG Lounge. Yummy, believe it or not, pretty good - was my review. A side of some kind of chicken salad was included too. Also, there was some kind of stuffed 'pear thingie.' I found it to be an interesting dessert diversion. I liked it too. Not too sweet, just right.
The F/A's wore plastic gloves and masks at all times while dealing with the psgrs. So the boxes, coffee, and tea were all served from gloved, masked attendants.
In general, F/A's tend to be attracked to me, and so the pursor and I had an interesting conversation regarding the masks.. and the new Asian scare: SARS. Seems alot of TG F/A wanted to call in sick if not allowed to use them... As I understand it, SQ does not yet allow their F/A's to wear them. Anyway, the newspaper here the other day reported that there have only been 5 cases of SARS in Thailand - and no deaths have been reported. All TG flights worldwide are being sprayed after each trip, the pursor told me.
Returning to my story, the 50 minute flight arrived on time into CNX. But to be perfectly honest, I felt like I was being served by nurses... or about to undergo some nasty medical procedure that is best left undiscussed.
I understand the concepts.... but the experience left me feeling just a little too impersonal... too sterile for my liking. We arrived on time and my wheelie was amongst the last to hit the circling belt... per normal routine. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
I've been traveling now for about 9 days - so I guess it must be time to change my second hundred into local currency... get it?
tvl4free is my name.
TG Rating: A scale - 9.0 (minus)
On second thought, I'll give TG a 10.0 plus - just cos TG mgmt thought well enough of it's employees to allow them to even wear the gloves and masks ONBOARD AT ALL!. Good job Thai!
Toodles.
[This message has been edited by tvl4free (edited 04-05-2003).]
BKK-CNX
04 APR 03
AB333
Check out on the Executive Floor from the BKK Conrad was almost accomplished 'per normal routine,' until such time as I noticed a minor restaurant charge on my portfolio bill - which clearly wasn't mine. 'My goodness, there's an CHARGE on my bill,' I asked...? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Well, Julie, the Exectutive Floor Mgr. pressed a few buttons.... and so the taxi pulled away from the hotel... with me having accomplished at GLON 6 day stay totally4free. As the maniacle driver sped toward the airport, I briefly thought about friend of mine who had just returned to ABQ from a quick 6 day trip to LON - a trip in which he had spent almost $3K. I momentarily thought about his trip - and then compared it with my financial outlay on this trip - and I, of course, smiled, 'per normal routine.' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
The taxi ride from the hotel to Don Muang Airport cost precisely 300 baht... an amount which usually does not include the hiway expressway fees, I'm told... so I'm thinking that, perhaps, I got those tolls4free too...??? So now, perhaps even the Gov't of Thailand is allowing me to tvl4free..??? More likely, the taxi dude was just giving me a break... but my original story sounded a bit better.. doncha think? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Anyway, the day before my flight, I had visited the TG CTO to make a J booking from BKK to CNX and this was very easily done with the efficient, but not particularly friendly, TG folks who banged on their computer keyboards thru heavy plastic gloves and who spoke to me with their eyes... since their smiles were hidden behind typical MASH green surgical masks.
I think that I arrived in BKK just in the nick of time to notice that there is a new fashion trend developing here... it's the fashionable trend of wearing designer masks. I noticed many different styles and colors of these masks at Don Muang Airport. There were even very elaborate ones being worn, with like buttons and dials on them... but don't ask me how these buttons are used. The one I liked best was being show cased by an American Beverly Hills 'trend setter type' - perfectly sun tanned from head to toe. She was all decked out in a PINK pants suit... with a perfectly matching pink mask. Quite stylish was my thought, after thinking about it for just a moment or two.
So far on this trip to Asia, all segments to date had been accomplished in F. SuddenIy and completely out of the blue, I began to have this urge to experience some local culture with 'the masses' once again... and so purely on a whim, I stopped by the counter where J was rapidly changed to Y... twenty yankie bucks was saved... and 32 G was assigned, as I recall.
As I moved thru the various obligatory check points at the airport, I noticed that all public contact people AT THAI were hidding behind those green surgical masks.... I think that they should at least acquire purple ones to match the light purple uniforms. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
After check-in, I moved on over to the TG Lounge - with admission granted without even a check of the appropriate cards that I carry - a not particulary impressive kind of place... but warm 'Puff Pastries' were being served. Yum.
Boarding from Gate 8 was to begin at 12:45P and was called pretty much on time. But this is a shuttle gate... and when all were boarded, all Y seats were taken and J was about half full. As I boarded the aircraft, I noticed that all in-flight service crew members wore masks on board. I almost got the feeling that their action of 'mask wearing' was kind of rude, but I dispelled these thoughts after a momentary reflection.
We pushed roughtly 10 minutes late... and one should know that I always discount an airlines 'trip rating' heavily due to that. The interior was quite pleasing on this a relatively new and spotlessly clean A-333. I've always liked TG's outside livery, but the white exteriors just always look dirty: they are very 'exaust ladden looking' to me. Perhaps, an impressive, but soft dirty grey would better serve this carrier - rather than that white exterior color that they have chosen.
As I took my seat, I noticed that the change from J to Y was a BIG MISTAKE. I was surrounded amongst a sea of screaming babies... and they were everywhere! To my left, to my right, in front of me and in back. And they cried and they cried, and they cried. And they screamed and they yelled... and they got louder and louder and louder. And they coughed, and they slobbered, and they blew out snot like you wouldn't believe! In fact, there was a lot of coughing on this flight, something which I have never noticed before. This was like a snot factory flight! Kleenex would have been very, very proud.
Anyway, these children did not help to make me a happy camper! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif And so now I believe that all children under 7 or so should be sedated... and sent via Federal Express! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
Finally, we pushed about 10 minutes late... and taxied forever... and the kids screamed and they screamed and they bawled: I thought I was gonna die! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif
Then suddenly we were airborne, and in complete unison, everyone of those little snots must have been placed in the 'off position.' I never heard another word from them again.
The seat belt sign went off... and service began immediately. I was impressed with Y snack service... everything comes to you in a box... but unlike UA 'boxie service,' this one I kinda liked! First of all, the box actually looks nice... not the typical KFC kind of thing. It's bigger, longer, more colorful, and flatter than Uniteds. So it looks like ur actually getting more... presentation is very important in my book. The muted purple colors on the outsite are nice. There's no need for a drink cart with TG... cause everything's included inside the box.
Water and OJ were right there in the box... and so was a sampling of TG's 'Puffed Pastry service.' My flight had a chicken Puffed Pastry with veggies... nice and flaky too. But the onboard selection tasted even better than that served in the TG Lounge. Yummy, believe it or not, pretty good - was my review. A side of some kind of chicken salad was included too. Also, there was some kind of stuffed 'pear thingie.' I found it to be an interesting dessert diversion. I liked it too. Not too sweet, just right.
The F/A's wore plastic gloves and masks at all times while dealing with the psgrs. So the boxes, coffee, and tea were all served from gloved, masked attendants.
In general, F/A's tend to be attracked to me, and so the pursor and I had an interesting conversation regarding the masks.. and the new Asian scare: SARS. Seems alot of TG F/A wanted to call in sick if not allowed to use them... As I understand it, SQ does not yet allow their F/A's to wear them. Anyway, the newspaper here the other day reported that there have only been 5 cases of SARS in Thailand - and no deaths have been reported. All TG flights worldwide are being sprayed after each trip, the pursor told me.
Returning to my story, the 50 minute flight arrived on time into CNX. But to be perfectly honest, I felt like I was being served by nurses... or about to undergo some nasty medical procedure that is best left undiscussed.
I understand the concepts.... but the experience left me feeling just a little too impersonal... too sterile for my liking. We arrived on time and my wheelie was amongst the last to hit the circling belt... per normal routine. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
I've been traveling now for about 9 days - so I guess it must be time to change my second hundred into local currency... get it?
tvl4free is my name.
TG Rating: A scale - 9.0 (minus)
On second thought, I'll give TG a 10.0 plus - just cos TG mgmt thought well enough of it's employees to allow them to even wear the gloves and masks ONBOARD AT ALL!. Good job Thai!
Toodles.
[This message has been edited by tvl4free (edited 04-05-2003).]