LHR-BKK Fleet
Mar 23, 2018, 5:04 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London/Frankfurt
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 181
Ah, I missed that.
Join the club.
You can do some island-hopping from BKK on MH to TPE/CMB/DEL and back for reasonable money and 360 TP before your return. I think that HKG is < 2000 nm and therefore NBG. I went to TPE, but it will be very hot in July.
I like a window seat on the BA J flights to BKK because you can watch other aircraft more easily sitting backwards.
You can do some island-hopping from BKK on MH to TPE/CMB/DEL and back for reasonable money and 360 TP before your return. I think that HKG is < 2000 nm and therefore NBG. I went to TPE, but it will be very hot in July.
I like a window seat on the BA J flights to BKK because you can watch other aircraft more easily sitting backwards.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:44 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 373
Unfortunately I would recommend choosing a different carrier or codeshare option, even via another hub, if you can. The BA 777s used on this long flight are basically some of the oldest and even dirtiest with unreliable and dated IFE systems. The onboard service for the day flight return is also hit and miss and inconsistent. In summary, flying BA to BKK is risky! User be aware.
Sep 5, 2018, 8:03 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,692
Unfortunately I would recommend choosing a different carrier or codeshare option, even via another hub, if you can. The BA 777s used on this long flight are basically some of the oldest and even dirtiest with unreliable and dated IFE systems. The onboard service for the day flight return is also hit and miss and inconsistent. In summary, flying BA to BKK is risky! User be aware.
To be honest, I find a lot of the comments on the BA service to BKK quite exaggerated. Granted, if state of the art IFE is a must, then by all means look elsewhere. But other than that, and unless the outbound crew have popped open the return stock of the bar, you'll be fine taking the BA9/10 rotation. At least personally, I have only had good experiences on the route so far
I saw another post recently stating that "nothing will ever be 100% perfect on any carrier" - that statement is worth keeping in mind on this topic too, as well as most aspects of life in general.
Sep 5, 2018, 11:22 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,222
Recently I have switched to Gulf Air however as no need for ex-EU and still cheaper than BA.
Gulf Air have better business class now as well not to mention better catering on board.
Sep 6, 2018, 12:06 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln UK/BKK
Programs: BAEC Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 423
So you are suggesting to avoid any route where BA deploys the old 772s?
To be honest, I find a lot of the comments on the BA service to BKK quite exaggerated. Granted, if state of the art IFE is a must, then by all means look elsewhere. But other than that, and unless the outbound crew have popped open the return stock of the bar, you'll be fine taking the BA9/10 rotation. At least personally, I have only had good experiences on the route so far
I saw another post recently stating that "nothing will ever be 100% perfect on any carrier" - that statement is worth keeping in mind on this topic too, as well as most aspects of life in general.
To be honest, I find a lot of the comments on the BA service to BKK quite exaggerated. Granted, if state of the art IFE is a must, then by all means look elsewhere. But other than that, and unless the outbound crew have popped open the return stock of the bar, you'll be fine taking the BA9/10 rotation. At least personally, I have only had good experiences on the route so far
I saw another post recently stating that "nothing will ever be 100% perfect on any carrier" - that statement is worth keeping in mind on this topic too, as well as most aspects of life in general.
I agree with this. I've been taking BA9 for four or five times a year since it changed times and to a 777-200 and the only thing that annoys me is the inconsistency of the crew. Most of the time they are very good but sometimes poor. I always manage to get 5A or 5K and I find it quite funny that the poor crews are the ones who tell me to turn right when I board - they don't know the layout of the aircraft.
I took BA9 back in July and had an indifferent crew which has caused me to book with Finnair in October but that is also because I'm bored of ex-AMS lol. Its a shame because the crew I had on BA9 the other day was fantastic.
I've never had the IFE fail and I don't think I've found excessive dirt. Its also worth pointing out that G-YMME is regularly used on BA9/10 and has wifi fitted and working. I used it for the free hour back in May but didn't bother other day when we had G-YMME again.
As far as I can tell, the same planes are used to EZE, BLR, GCM/NAS and TLV.
Sep 6, 2018, 2:33 am
#38
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
I have this flight coming up - had options to go via HKG but just prefer flying direct - im not concerned about the 777-200 - done them many times from Gatwick in J - yes the IFE is poor but I’ll just take my laptop and load some movies ! Other than that the cabin is identical - service wise I’ve had indifferent and amazing crews on many different sectors across Mixed and Worldwide fleets - I don’t expect this one to be any different - it’s always a bit of a roulette ! At least BKK has the new bedding now - albeit not new catering but hopefully by end of November they do.
Sep 6, 2018, 3:21 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Hampshire
Programs: BAEC GOLD
Posts: 38
I recently flew CW to BKK on the 777 from LHR. It was probably the worst long haul flight I've taken. The plane was dirty and the crew (mixed fleet) were just awful - they seemed more interested in what they where going to wear that night than providing any decent customer service. The flight time's aren't great either.
Thankfully I flew back via HKG on A380 - great flight and fabulous crew too.
Thankfully I flew back via HKG on A380 - great flight and fabulous crew too.
Sep 6, 2018, 7:01 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Sep 6, 2018, 7:30 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
That is all well and true, but it is worth remembering that all of the competitive products to BKK mean that the value equation differential is pronounced on this route that give the BA BKK service such a poor reputation. (And I say this as someone that would connect to BKK, not look for a non-stop service ex-LON since I am not based there.).
Sep 6, 2018, 7:42 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Sep 6, 2018, 8:25 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: USA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 812
That is all well and true, but it is worth remembering that all of the competitive products to BKK mean that the value equation differential is pronounced on this route that give the BA BKK service such a poor reputation. (And I say this as someone that would connect to BKK, not look for a non-stop service ex-LON since I am not based there.).
Last edited by capin; Sep 6, 2018 at 9:58 am