pogonation

I posted this in the star alliance section initially and haven't had any response so I though I may as well post here in my home BD section where most of the FT activity goes on

Hi there.
I am having trouble choosing between TG F and LX F for a flight out to Bangkok this summer. I have already asked a few questions about TG on the TG section but still can't decide which to take.
I know TG doesn't offer a turn-down service which I find quite important but I was just wondering if any people who have flown both airlines in F could give me comparisons of the two and reccomend what they would consider the best airline for me to fly??
If you could offer any advice, I would be very thankful

Things which I would find most important are:
Quality of Bed
Quality of IFE and size of screen
Attentiveness of FA's
Quality of food
Load factor

Thanks ^

alanw

I think you'll find all of your criteria rate about the same, except for the food, where TG is pretty amazing. I have only been on an LX daytime flight so can't comment much about the bed, but I had the best airplane sleep of my life on a TG flight LHR-BKK in F a few months ago.

pogonation

Really, that was one of the things which was putting me off TG: The lack of a proper turn-down service with bed linen and a mattress. Did you find the lack of these on TG to not be a problem?

alanw

Well I have personally never found this to be a big deal (on my last SQ flight I didn't even bother with it and just went with the duvet). The duvet was nice, pillows big and fluffy, and PJs comfortable. For me, it was great.

modularmayhem

Amazingly bad... in my experience

Both flights ive had LHR-BKK and BKK-FRA the food in F was horrible. So much so that i wouldnt fly them again.

I guess its like anything, it can be hit and miss... but ive definately heard mixed reviews of recent TG catering, whereas LX seems to be much more consistently good.

Given the choice i would definately go with LX

kt74

Ex-BKK, there are big advantages to using Thai (premium check in, escorts thru immigration, free massage, buggie to the plane, etc)

I haven't done LX F, but I think the new TG seat is basically the same as the LX one - very spacious, not especially private, but a big table and big footstool - more "open plan" than the herringbone coffins on BA, and more comfortable IMHO than the SQ 744 skysuites. NB depending on the route, TG has a habit of substituting older planes - you should be fine to LHR or ZRH though

I actually quite like the functionality of the TG IFE - better even than the newest SQ IFE. Screen is not the biggest, but it's touch screen, intuitive to use, and AVOD is responsive to FF/RW etc. Selection is ok, but not the widest (don't think LX is particularly great either though)

As the others have said, service and food is reportedly hit or miss on TG. But, allegedly caviar is being re-instated to F, and you can at least pre-order your meal ex-BKK (pad thai garnished with lobster tail!)

Tiger_lily

Ex-BKK I would definately do TG F purely for the ground experience.

ZRH gets the 346, which I believe rarely gets subbed for other equipment*

The best bet might be to try and do LX from ZRH and TG on the way back.


*ask on the TG forum though

Traveloguy

At the end of the day, both are premium carriers especially compared with a significant number of partners.

nonsoloinglese

I did LHR-BKK on TG F last August and thoroughly enjoyed it. Reasons?

1. Food, lots of it and good quality contrary to modularmayhem
2. Lots of shoulder space and more comfortable around the head/neck area than BA.
3. Asian carrier efffect - I just love the service
4. Never flown them before



Both LX and TG are premium carriers and I back Traveloguy's last comment.

More Champagne Sir?

Hers's my two cents... the new TG F seat is better than LX. The service on TG is pot luck.. either superb or downright awful (my experience has only been the latter ). LX still has a quality product and guaranteed good service....

LonLH

My experience too. TG service is a bit of hit and miss and with LX you know what you get. And the LX seats are quite OK (except that they are 340s so you have only 8 F seats and FAs can be at times be a bit streached).
The major benefit (appreciated by Mrs LonLH) is that you get some spa treatments at BKK with TG.

RTW4

Just flew LAX-ZRH in LX F and LHR-BKK in TG F. The LX flight was FAR superior in my opinion. Food excellent, staff great, seat excellent. The TG flight was good as well but IMHO the product was fair. Incidentally I also took the TG flight in F from BKK-TPE-ICN which was horrendous...business class food, FA actually sleeping in the first class pods during the flight and absolutely no personal attention at all....

Brian_1

I have to disagree. I flew LHR-BKK 3 weeks ago with them.

To have no choice of starter in F Class is beyond me. The quality of the food was very poor indeed. They didn't even have enough metal cutlery to go around, so some folk had to have plastic (most untidy looking). The toilets are tiny! I pity any of our American cousins trying to get changed in them. The bed doesn't go completely flat, it has an angle on the shoulder/head portion. The crew were noticeable by their lack of presence in the cabin.

The only thing I liked about it was the large table, which is great for dinning/working and the lounge/buggy transfer in BKK.

I would much rather fly LX over TG.

B

alanw

Are you sure you were on TG? In F? I had a choice of starter, large completely flat bed, and the lav didn't strike me as any smaller than any others.

masopa

As has already been mentioned, might I not suggest LX out, TG back?? That way you're flying out from their home base and should benefit from better food (in principle) and ground services.

That's more or less what I'm doing at the end of this month - LH EDI-FRA-DXB then TG DXB-BKK(ergh!)-HKT-BKK-LHR. Means FCT in FRA and Royal First Spa in BKK...