chris1979

Flying for first time with Thai in First (thinking about it, first time with Thai full stop) at the end of January returning 3 weeks later.

LHR - BRU - BKK - SYD

Have read through the various posts here and familiar with other First classes (and have done my homework around seats etc (hence the BRU routing and currently looking like the 'decent' First seat on BKK - SYD).

Was wondering whether it's worth pre-ordering a meal and if so, any particular recommendations? 39 options is a bit too much choice for me but don't want to miss out if that's what I should be doing to enjoy the flight the most.

Any other pointers of what to do / ask for? I don't drink so not fussed about what alcohol they serve etc and was planning on having a massage (time / availability permitting) in BKK (and am looking forward to the First carts - assume they are just there waiting at the gate? are they personalised for each pax?)

Which lounge should I be heading to? Assume the Spa for a massage and then Royal First?

Many thanks.

Jofneytoad

Hi Chris firstly I'm no expert when it comes to all things at Thai Airways but having just done our first First class with TG from SYD-BKK (stopover) then onto LHR I'd say make the most of it and enjoy it.

We didn't pre order any meals and were happy with the choices on board on the day we flew.

I'd get to BKK airport in plenty of time we allowed 3hrs 45 mins to experience the lounge and spa. We got one buggy ride when we arrived to do the BKK-LHR leg of our journey just after check-in but not on arrival from SYD or when we went from the lounge to the plane on the BKK-LHR flight.

The hrs massage really relaxes you and made the flight to London a lot more relaxing (I don't do relaxing on planes for some reason).

Food was nice on both flights not sure which I'd say was best, the crew on the BKK-LHR were a lot better than those on the SYD-BKK leg also, plus we actually preferred the A340 as opposed to the jumbo which goes against what most others feel on here but each to their own I guess.

If you want anything on board just ask.

Above all enjoy it and take some photos to make the memory last longer like we did, keep saying I'll do a trip report of our trip but keep putting it off.
All the best

RICK69

Lobster In Sauterne Wine Sauce (Lobster)
Grilled Beef Fillet With Red Onion Marmalade (Beef Steak)
Marinated Chicken With Thyme And Lemon (Chicken Lemon)
Hot Smoked Salmon With Tomato And Olive Sauce (Salmon Tomato Sauce)
Lamb Glazed With Stilton Cheese/Port Wine Sauce (Lamb Port Wine)
Chicken Green Curry (Chicken Kiew Wan)
Beef Green Curry (Beef Kiew Wan)
Prawn Green Curry (Prawn Kiew Wan)
Thai Prawn Soup (Tom Yum Kung)
Deep-fried Seabass Sweet And Sour (Sweet Sour Fish)
Boiled Rice With Checken (Chicken Boiled Rice)
Boiled Rice With Minced Pork (Pork Boiled Rice)
Boiled Rice With Prawn (Prawn Boiled Rice)
Assorted Sushi (Sushi)
Savoy Cabbage Charlotte (Vlml Cabbage)

Chef Recommendation Menu:

Oven Roasted Rack Of Lamb (Lamb Rack)
Pan-fried Lamb Cutlets (Lamb Cutlets)
Blanquette Of Nz Lamb (Blanquette Lamb)
Grilled Nz Beef Tenderloin (Grilled Beef)
Pan-fried Nz Beef Tenderloin (Panfired Beef)
Braised Beef Cheeks (Beef Cheeks)
Slow Cooked Stuffed Capon Breast (Stuffed Capon)
Grilled Capon Breast (Grilled Capon)
Slow Oven Cooked Capon Breast (Oven Capon)
Steamed Black Cod (Herb Cod) View
Grilled Norwegian Salmon (Salmon)
Black Cod Anchoide (Anchoide Cod)

Standard Menu:

Lobster Thermidor (Lobster)
Grilled Fillet Of Beef Rossini (Beef Rossini)
Salmon Taragon Sauce (Salmon Taragon)
Lamb Satimbocca (Lamb)
Scallop Provencale (Scallop)
Glass Noodles Pad Thai (Pad Thai)
Stir-fried Prawn With Garlic Chili Basil (Prawn Basil)
Stir-fried Chicken With Garlic Chili Basil (Chicken Basil)
Stir-fried Beef With Garlic Chili Basil (Beef Basil)
Stir-fried Pork With Garlic Chili Basil (Pork Basil)
Beef Green Curry With Rice (Beef Green Curry)
Chicken Green Curry With Rice (Chicken Green Curry)
Pork Green Curry With Rice (Pork Green Curry)
Fish Chu chee
Prawn Chu chee
Prawn Pa Nang Curry With Rice (Prawn Pa Nang)
Beef Pa Nang Curry With Rice (Beef Pa Nang)
Pork Pa Nang Curry With Rice (Pork Pa Nang)
Chicken Pa Nang Curry With Rice (Chicken Pa Nang)
Chicken Massaman Curry With Rice (Chicken Mussaman)
Beef Massaman Curry With Rice (Beef Mussaman)
Pork Massaman Curry With Rice (Pork Mussaman)
Assorted Sushi (Sushi)
Chilean Sea Bass X.O. Sauce (Sea Bass)
Chinese Roast Duck (Roast Duck)
Beef In Black Pepper Sauce (Beef Black Pepper)
Rice With Chicken Flacour (Kao Man Kai)
Tom Yum Kung
Fish Maw With Crabmeat (Fish Maw Soup)
Noodle Soup With Fish Balls
Noodle Soup With Shrimp Balls
Wonton Soup With Prawn (Wonton Soup)
Fish Boiled Rice
Prawn Boiled Rice
Minced Pork Boiled Rice (Pork Boiled Rice)
Minced Chicken Boiled Rice (Chicken Boiled Rice)
Rice Porridge With Minced Pork (Rice Porridge Pork)
Mushrooms With Zucchini And Semolina Gnocchi (Zucchini With Mushrooms)
Black Cod With Ginger And Spring Onion (Black Cod)
Lamb Shank
Pork Loin
Prawn Guilin
Scallop-sea Bass
Chicken Thigh
Pork Pie
Shrimp Mornay
Salmon Black Bean
Veal Mushroom
Pork Sausage
Beef Madeira
Scallop Yee Heong
Pork Cider
Prawn Gratin
Duck Breast


Here are all your choices.

I have tried all 83 !!! Only joking

I contemplate on all of them.But mostly end up having the Lobster Thermidor (Lobster).
I find it fine.But it seems that a lot on this board do not rate it.

As the portion is not large I have it as another starter & then have another meal of what ever is on the plane.Once I had the crew meal which was great.

I did have Grilled Fillet Of Beef Rossini (Beef Rossini) last time but I can't recommend it.The FA forgot to bring the foie gras until I reminded her.

A lot of people like the curries as they are well suited to reheating.

ExpatSomchai

Yes but you can get a curry anywhere. Go for the Lobster and wash it down with some bubbly. If you are still hungry, as Rick said, just ask for something off the standard menu.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

did they tell u why there were no buggies?? or did you not require them?

Airgroovin

Exactly what AG did last flight TG F. The perfect plan, IMHO.

Oh, and don't forget the cognac! Polished off a considerable amount of the luscious amber liquid!

Cheers,

AG. :-:

Jofneytoad

No explanation, on arrival from SYD we were parked up away from the terminal so all the first class PAX were bused to the terminal and it was only a short walk to customs. And when we left the first class lounge to go to the gate for our LHR flight our escort said follow me and walked off in the direction of the gate which was a fair old trek.

While I haven't got a problem with walking and do plenty of it, it looked like the check-in staff had been expecting us earlier and rushed us through to the plane and the door was closed as soon as we stepped onboard.

I'm not complaining but about it another buggy ride would have been a nice touch and we'd have arrived at the plane and not felt rushed.

All in all a great experience that'll we'll treasure until hopefully we can do it again.

chris1979

So time has come to do what has been suggested. Will order the lobster and also have / go for on-board meal if I don't like the look of it (as said, I don't drink so the washing down doesn't work lol).

This is a UA mileage redemption booking so I don't actually have a TG booking reference which I think I need to pre book a meal.

I assume I can just call them in the UK and make a request over the phone giving them my name and flight numbers?

Many thanks.

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

that's all you need.

alternatively call UA and get the TG booking reference then do it all on line yourself, although doing it yourself means no seat selection via the TG website (if you haven't already done that)

mileageking

I didn't think UA could give TG booking reference no. I believe OP has to call TG and give flight #, date and name.

OP5545

Look at the reservation in "Existing Reservations" while logged into your account on United .com. Under the reservation number /record locator (top left hand side of the page) there should be a link to "view additional confirmation numbers" and this should be the TG reference No.

worldtraveller73

I've Pre ordered the lobster Thermidor before and only found it average- it's just not a food that caters well to being prepared in advance and reheated.

I'd stick to a menu option- unless your heart is set on something on the Pre Order list.

chris1979

I had tried this but only got the Brussels Airlines reference number (they are doing LHR - BRU legs).

Will call TG over next few days.

Thanks for the replies.

Unterwegs

We just did two flights this month: FRA-BKK (380) and BKK-SYD (747). We preordered meals on both flights. I would recommend against it. The regular menue is better.
Duck on FRA-BKK was completely overcooked, dry and stringy. Prawn curry was a few tiny pieces of shrimp in a sea of tasteless greenish sauce.
Rack of lamp on BKK-SYD meat completely overcooked, stringy and dried out (some had the consistency of beef jerky), potatoes were undercooked.
Monk fish was edible, but also tasteless.

I promise i will never ever complain about the F food on Swiss or Lufthansa. It is not great but it is still running circles around what Thai was serving.

Dr. HFH

I have pre-ordered it a few times. IME it can be quite good even as reheated in-air food, but the recipe, preparation and quality can differ greatly from one port to the next. You pays your money and you takes your chances.