deltanorge

TO BANGKOK VIA STOCKHOLM WITH

(+ Domestic: BKK-CNX-HKT-BKK with Thai in Biz)

Thought I`d share a recent trip to Thailand with my mom as travel companion, from Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) with Norwegian (DY) as a “Eco Feeder” to Stockholm Airport Arlanda (ARN), and Thai Airways Int`l in Premium Economy (PE) to BKK. There are not too many reports from this specific class I think, at least not with pictures and from Scandinavia, so I hope someone will find it interesting. As many of you now already, Thai`s only true PE concept, is to be found on their A345`s, operating normally on the BKK-LAX route. In Scandinavia though, (CPH & ARN) the last 7-8 year`s, they have used their old configured 3 class 747`s and branded the old First Class seat`s to Business Class and the old bizseat`s in to Premium Economy Class. All domestic flights with TG in Biz, and are included in this report. After some searching online, I found a good R/T offer on the above mentioned class on expedia.se. It ended up to around 8600,- NOK, which is about 1600 USD. The leg OSL-ARN-OSL came to about 1100,- NOK / 200 USD. Total about 1800 USD. The domestic fare ended up to approx. 17000,- THB.

My Mom were only to stay 1 week, I myself, had 2 weeks of vacation, and would spend some time both in Chiang Mai and Phuket after the week in Hua Hin with mom. NB! This is a long Photo TR, and contains a lot of pictures, not only from the flights, but also from some of the visited destinations. All clickable logos are registrated trademarks, and are credited the owner wit direct links. Welcome to my PHOTO TR from my recent vacation

Travel Itinerary looks about this on paper:


Int`l routemap:

Domestic routemap:


The trip started early Saturday morning on the 11 of june. My father were kind enough to drive us all the way to the airport this morning. Relatively quite this saturday at OSL, and checked easily in on DY`s self service kiosks inside the departure hall. Security was quick, and after a stroll through tax-free, we were ready to board our first flight of the day.

Some photos from OSL Dep. Hall

Quite inside OSL internasjonal terminal:


Then it was time to fly....

OSL -ARN

Date: 11 Juni 2011 ETD: 0800
Flight: DY 806 OSL-ARN
Aircraft: B738W
Reg: LN-DYO
Seat: 15A + 15B Economy
Load: 95%
Push: 0800
Takeoff: 0810
Seatmap: DY 738

It was LN-DYO which was taking us to ARN this morning. Here seen @ gate:


Boarding started on time, and were uneventful.



I had preseated us online the day before, and made sure to get the emergency row, and seat 15A + B. Nobody seated in C, so my mom moved there after boardind was completed.




No complaints on the space these seats provide....



This was my view out the vindow, and shows 2 competing airlines...


Emergency Exit B738:



WE pushed exactly at 0800, and made our way towards RWY 19L. Just a couple of SAS 737`s in front before us. Really crapy weather this morning, but this changed to the better as we neared ARN.

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Safety Demo in screen in this 737....


Safety card was read by me under taxi to RWY:



Construction work at OSL. I think this is due to expansion, and new terminalbuilding under way:


SAS in front, we were to take off after this one:



As we approached the RWY, the captain came on air, and gave a route announcement for the flight. He estimated the flight time to be around 45 minutes.



End/start of RWY, and we were ready for take off. WE were airborne shortly after.




In the air, and it felt good....




Through the skies....



Cruise level, bought a coffee, and enjoyed the view:


Tested out the free WIFI on board, and it worked perfectly....



Decending in to ARN. Left turn for aproach:

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Touchdown...!



ARN tarmac and ATC-Tower (Thai 747 in the background @ gate):



Norwegian uses ARN terminal 2, which means a little walk over to terminal 5. We had plenty of time, so this did not matter.


@ gate ARN terminal 2:


We waited until most people had disembarked before leaving the AC....


Norwegian delivered good this morning, with a smiling and attentive crew!


Here is a map over ARN, which shows aprox. distances etc.

We had to wait an hour to check in with Thai, so we found a nice restaurant with good view over parts of the airport, and had a good breakfast here. Here are some photos taken from this place.


Ethiopian 757 taxi to gate:


Air France on the way into gate @ ARN:



LN-RRK pushet from gate:


Delta 757 landing @ ARN, and seen taxing to gate:



Model of SAS 747 on display.


After checking in with Thai at a dedicated PE Check In, we went of to SAS Business Lounge. Here we had some time before departure, and enjoyed some champagne and beer with some snacks from the food counter. Quite at the lounge this morning....

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Then, finaly time for Thai 747, and Premium Economy.

ARN – BKK

Date: 11 Juni 2011 ETD: 1430
Flight: TG 961 ARN-BKK
Aircraft: B747 All Series (Old config)
Reg: HS-TGG - Delivered Thai 26.10.2003
Seat: 19A + 19B Premium Economy
Load: ca. 90%
Push: 1425
Takeoff: 1433
Seatmap: TG 747 All Series




Thai 747 – HS-TGG @ Gate, standing by for boarding:



After dedicated boarding, we were to be found in 2 floor on HS-TGG and the seats 19A + B. I`ve done this flight a lot of times, and have to say that i find it comfortable, even with the old configuration. Here are some pics from the cabin, and about how we saw it. Seat 19A is by far my favourite, due to the fact that you will be first out of this cabin, and that the seat is placed a little to the right of the inner fuselage, which gives an exceptional roomy feeling. Plenty of storage space aswell in 2 floor:

Plenty of legroom:



Seat 19 J/K seen from 19 A/B:



Old style seat controller....



Menu & Headset already in place as we seated:


Champagne (Piper-Heidsieck), and other refreshments including warm towel where handed out. My mom had never been in second floor before, so she was having a blast!



Premium Economy Cabin 2 fl. seen from the back:



Blancets and pillows where also in seat when we arrived at the seat:



Here are the menu for ARN-BKK in Premium Eco:









After «Boarding Completed» things went quikly; Push, engine start up, Safety Demo, and taxi to RWY for take-off.




Safety folder Thai 747:



Push-back released, and we`re rolling....:



ARN tarmac:

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In route to RWY:



RWY seen from my seat:



After a powerful take off roll, we where airborne. Nice flying weather this afternoon from ARN:


After a smooth climb & left turn, i could see ARN through my window:


«Seatbelt Sign Off» at 1450, and flightdeck came on air to announce route, weather etc. He estimated the flight time to be approx. 10 hour`s. Serving of foredrinks started aswell at this time.


Table dressed by the crew, awaiting an appertizer and drink.


I choosed Champagne to the Appertizer:



Then it was time for the starter...Still accompanied by the Champagne:



I went for Stir-Fried Beef as main, enjoyed with some red wine:




Continued with red wine to the cheese, Port was offered, not a big fan...:



Nice and calm atmosphere in the cabin during serving of dessert:




Time for dessert, of course with som coffee & Cognac. The cake was good, nothing more:

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Ended up with a couple of rounds more of cognac, and were about to look at one of the movies. It turned out that the system was down, and could not be reset. ….Too bad, but hey, that`s life sometimes...



Uuhhuu...not working....:



People started to relax, and many laid down for some sleep:


A couple of GT`s is never wrong:


The cabin where dimmed down, and with few exeptions, most people went to slepp. Me and mom enjoyed the flight, and talked trough a lot of hour`s.


«Aft Galley»:


Self Serve bar in the back of the cabin:



Stairway down to 1 floor:



After a couple of hour`s of sleep, the cabin ”came to life”, and breakfast soon to be served:


Some fresh juice and water was offered before breakfast, aswell as a cold towel.



Breakfast served:



We where now closing in to BKK, and a great flight was soon to be over. No photos due to darkness.
Thai Airways PE class from Scandinavia is a great way to get to BKK, and to this price, I am still smiling....We klanded at 0520 local time, and our luggage came out as 1 & 2. No complaints what so ever....Due to early landing, we were lucky to avoid the morningrush in immigration, and soon after, we were seated in the taxi. My mom were to spend 1 week with me and my girlfriend in Hua Hin, and here are some of our doings from there:.

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AS mentioned, we got picked up by our regular driver, and here are some photos on the way down to Hua Hin.



Big and great looking sculpture near BKK:



My mom still smiling after a long trip:



It turned in to be a fine week in Hua Hin with my mom & GF. I always rent a car down here, so it`s easy to get around. We went first to Wat Huay Monkhol, and here are some pics from there:




Mom & GF went a couple of rounds with the elephant…


For then to throw coins, as you wish for good things:


A visit to one of the munks is a must, here mom & GF:


Mom & GF:


Wat Huay Mongkhol also houses a ”Womans Tempel”, here are mom soaking in impressions:


After a small sightseeing, we went up to Wat Khao Takiab, so my mom could get a good view of the beachline of Hua Hin. (Hua Hin City in background)

After a trip to the beach, we visited my favourite reataurant in Hua Hin. They have the most delicious chicken & stucky rice! Have to say, chicken does not taste the same in Norway….


Mmmm...lovely food, her represented with Barbeque Chicken, Sticky Rice and «Som Tam», or pappaya salad if you want…:


This ”gangster” was also hungry, and did get a taste...



After mnica and lacy days with thai massage every day, we went back to the beach. This is next to the Hilton Hotel in Hua Hin:


A thai family relaxing on the beach in the afternoon:

Hilton seen from the beach;


Palms at Hua Hin beach:

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A couple of trips to the great steakhouse Papa John of course! Here are mom & GF relaxing and awaiting food:


A nice week in Hua Hin was now over, and it was time for mom to go back to Norway. Me & GF where going to Chiang Mai for 3 days the day after. We went early to the airport, and my mom could use the room as base this afternoon before leaving for ARN 0110 local time the next night. Ended up with a room at the Novotel Airport Hotel, which turned out to be a quite nice experience.
Returning to BKK from Hua Hin with Mr. Charin:



2 pleased ladies in the taxi bound for BKK:



Some pics from the taxiride:


Colorful buses down here...:



New E-type Mercedes:


This ”piggy” transport seen underways:



I guess toll roads are everywhere:


Closing in to the bridge over Chao Phraya River. Great looking bridges, especially during nights because of the lights.

Toyota factory in Bangkok:

Went on a little backroad to the airport, here are some pics:

Bangkok Airways Headoffice?:


Thai hangar @ BKK:


Thai under «Final Approach»:

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Thai Catering Building:


Thai Airways Int`l:


Thai Technical:




General tarmac @ BKK:

Novotel Airport Hotel – Bangkok

Arriving main entrance hotel:


Ended up with a junior suite at the hotel for 8000,- THB. It looked like this:

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View toward the hotel pool:




Hotel foajè late at night:



Then, finnaly morning, and breakfast under ways. Here some pics from the hotel breakfast buffet:


After a quick check out, were transported to the terminal by the hotel minivan:

deltanorge

BKK - CNX

Date: 20 Juni 2011 ETD: 0745
Flight: TG BKK - CNX
Aircraft: B747
Reg: HS-TGX
Seat: 2A + 3A Royal Silk Class
Load: ca. 90%
Push: 0821
Takeoff: 0845
Landed: 0937
Seatmap: TG 747



Check in without complcations, an strolled down a floor to do a little shopping & spotting before take off.


We where to fly with HS-TGX this morning, which ment the upgraded version of Thai`s 747.


After a climb up the stairs, it was nice to see the 1 class cabin again. As you might know already, Biz pax can be seated in 1 class on domestic routes with tha. I had already checked in trough internet, and picked seat 2+ 3 A for me and GF.


Sete 2A:


Refreshments and warm towel served when seated:


Great legroom!

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GF in 3A:


After a few minutes, flightdeck came on air and announced a delay due to ”Com problems” with ground. 36 minutes delayed, we pushed out and where ready for BKK-CNX.

Ground personel fixing the problem:


Some pics during taxing:


HS-TGP under take-off:


Cathay Pacific ready for take-off:


The Que behind us before take-off:


Then our turn, powerful and quick take off roll on this early Monday morning


KingFisher observed under take-off roll:

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Airborne:


Great view of Bangkok City after a 180 graders right turn:


Then serving breakfast:


Hot breakfast, and it tasted pretty good:


After food, there where time for som relaxing:


Deltanorge enjoying the flight:


Closing in to CNX, and here are some ”northern” landscape:


On final:


Touchdown CNX:


This AC stood still in the sun @ CNX:


Pics from taxing to gate CNX:

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A good flight with Thai Airways, and after luggage pic up, we went to the hotel, picked up by the hotel driver. Here are some pics from our stay in Chiang Mai.

CHIANG MAI

We stayed at....



....Which is a 5 star Spa & Resort hotel. I had booked a so called “Grand De Luxe Suite» for the 3 days we were to stay in Chiang Mai, and looked forward to some nice days. Paid 8500,- THB pr. night for this room which was approx. 120 sqm big including the porch. Normal roomrate was 20000,- THB pr. night. Really nice room, but i dont know if i would paid full rack rate. This is a drawing of the room:

Entry room:



Kitchenette/dining table/minibar:


Livingroom:


Bedroom:


Small officespace:


The Bathroom with jacuzzi/tv/waterfall:

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The porch with pool/riverview:


Evening pic of the porch:




Some pics from the hotel lobby and other areas:


Spa department: