New Thai Cabin Interiors
 

Originally posted in the "New/Unusual/FYI Star Routes" thread with the announcement by Thai they are starting BKK-AKL nonstop flights, but on reflection, thought this part of that post deserved it's own thread.
If the reports turn out to be accurate, TG has suddenly catapulted itself into contention for serious consideration in any cabin when choosing carriers. Sounds like a wonderful upgrade to each cabin.
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The 346 will introduce TG's new cabin interior upgrade product - sounds pretty fine to me if the reports are accurate & it's adopted fleet wide ! I guess "about time" is appropriate as well
(Not too keen on their new exterior paint job though, if recent depictions on certain aviation web sites are accurate.)

TG's A346's will reportedly have :
- F cabin - 8 beds with 80" pitch 180 recline.
Flat Horizontal Beds, AVOD, PC outlets, Internet connectability (later)

- J cabin - 60 beds, 60" pitch, 170 reciline
Almost horizontal bed seats, AVOD, PC outlets, Internet connectability (Later)

- Y cabin - 199 seats 34" inch and footrests.
6" recline, footrests, *AVOD*, some PC outlet access.

The actual description (except for number of seats obviously) for each cabin is reportedly the new standard that will be rolled out fleetwide.

See page 8 of this PDF to get an idea of what the new seats will look like in First (747 and 346), Business(747,346,345,772), premium econ(345) and econ (747,346,345,772).

Warning: the PDF is 2.76 MB

Extremely interesting document - thanks for sharing. Seems TG really is intent on raising the bar somewhat. Some very aggressive moves laid out in there.
Cheers.

And how often have we heard such promises before? ;)

34 inch pitch is quite good for eco ...

Isn't that what they currently have?

NZ, and MH are other who do.

Kiwi Flyer will know more for sure, but I believe NZ is coming down to a 32" for Y when the refurb of their fleet takes place.
AC is the other :-: carrier that offers 34" in Y.

There's always UA with its Y+...

Think I've got the answer to my previous question....

No-one seems to have 34" pitch in Y fleetwide, unfortunately.

• NZ does on its 744s, and that will stay with the refurbished cabins (with PTVs etc) with 32" on other international aircraft
• AC seems to range from 32-34
• TG's MD-11s and 777s have significantly less than the 34" pitch of the 747s
• NH's 3 class 747s have 34" pitch, whereas the refurbished a/c with new style first and business and economy plus have only 32". Don't know what the pitch of their 777s is.
• UA has economy plus firmwide now, I think, which varies from 34-36"... but beware those non economy plus seats with 31" - ouch!
• Some SQ 777s have 34" pitch but the rest of the fleet has much less (aside from the Exec Economy A345s of course, which have about 37").

Full marks to TG for what looks like a great new product, and especially for resisting the usual airline temptation to give with one hand (PTVs in Y) and take away with the other (a couple of inches of pitch, not to mention footroom thanks to the control boxes).

The link below is now on the TG website with an overview of their A345 that will be operating the BKK-nyc nonstops. Most importantly it includes some "live" pictures of the new J cabin seats to be rolled out fleetwide.
TG has also updated some of their seat maps to show the new configuration on fleet types like the 772, 744 etc. Excellent quality seat maps showing nearly every little detail.

The A345 seat map shows TG will operate it with the first 2 zones holding C, Zone 3 holding a Y+ in 2x3x2 and Zone 4 holding regular Y with 36".
http://www.thaiair.com/Travel_Destin...hai_to_nyc.htm

When are they expected to be completed with the refurbishment?

TG hasnt said when they will finish with all refurbishments and all aircraft, but (from what I can tell from various sources):

*Four new A340s (with the new seats/interiors will be delivered in 2005)

*Four new A340s (with the new seats/interiors will be delivered in 2006)

*Seven new A340s/B787s (with new seats/int) delivered in 2007-2008 period

*all eleven B747s (with the oldest seats-18 seats in First class) will be reconfigured starting with first roll-out in Mar 2005

*one of the nine B747s (with the semi-new seats-14 seats in First class) will be reconfigured starting with first roll-out in 2005

*all eight B777-200s will be reconfigured starting with the first roll-out in Summer 2005

*all six B777-300s will be reconfigured starting with the first roll-out in Summer 2006

*not sure about refurbishment schedule of the 33 old A330s/A300s

*hope they dump or trade-in the four old MD-11s (I really dont like those old seat configs)

*not sure if they will refurbish the ten small B737s (three leased out to a subsidiary company budget airline called Nok ("Bird") Air)

*TG might get first shipment of A380s (super jumbo double deckers) in 2009

I agree that the new planes and overhaul in interiors and seats on most existing craft (starting with first roll-out this month) COMBINED with planned enhanced Thai food menus and entertainment systems, great friendly and warm Thai crew service and new super large Bangkok airport (and TG first and business class lounges with Thai modern decor and famous Thai massages) scheduled to be opened in March 2006 (postponed from Sept 2005) will make TG extremely competitive with all airlines (including top-notch Cathay Pacific and Singapore Air) :D