Dissapointing F experience BKK - FRA
Jul 16, 2012, 9:48 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,347
Thanks BizFlyerNorway for your report!
I am not a frequent FF on Thai, but my few experiences in F and J (including a RT in J from LAX to BKK) are best described as mixed. I had a horrible BKK to LAX flight with the crew doing the minimal that they can do. But then I have a wonderful J flight from HKG to BKK that the crews were friendly, personable, and engaging. I personally think that Thai's weaknesses are:
1. Too many configurations with too many products - that really upsets people with frequent last minute aircraft substitution, and the worst is that the product really varies - like first class - classic first class sleeper seats, full flat sleeper seats, suite type seats, and then another version of suite type seats that have yet to showcase in reality.
2. Inconsistency in terms of quality of flight attendants - some of them are super nice and personable, but some of them are simply uninterested. This happen across the board - not limited to just economy cabin. How purser carries his or her duties always dictate how well the flights will be.
However, I am very surprised at the poor execution of the ground service of Thai First. Its ground service remains one of the strengths of Thai First Class. This ground service at BKK makes CX (lack of) and SQ (lack of and not to mention lounge matrons) look poor. The staffs are genuinely friendly and make your ground experiences as pleasant as possible. The escort service to the gate is nice, as BKK is huge. I am just surprised that a gate escort is not available.
I hope you will write Thai an email and let us know how it goes.
Thanks for sharing!
Carfield
I am not a frequent FF on Thai, but my few experiences in F and J (including a RT in J from LAX to BKK) are best described as mixed. I had a horrible BKK to LAX flight with the crew doing the minimal that they can do. But then I have a wonderful J flight from HKG to BKK that the crews were friendly, personable, and engaging. I personally think that Thai's weaknesses are:
1. Too many configurations with too many products - that really upsets people with frequent last minute aircraft substitution, and the worst is that the product really varies - like first class - classic first class sleeper seats, full flat sleeper seats, suite type seats, and then another version of suite type seats that have yet to showcase in reality.
2. Inconsistency in terms of quality of flight attendants - some of them are super nice and personable, but some of them are simply uninterested. This happen across the board - not limited to just economy cabin. How purser carries his or her duties always dictate how well the flights will be.
However, I am very surprised at the poor execution of the ground service of Thai First. Its ground service remains one of the strengths of Thai First Class. This ground service at BKK makes CX (lack of) and SQ (lack of and not to mention lounge matrons) look poor. The staffs are genuinely friendly and make your ground experiences as pleasant as possible. The escort service to the gate is nice, as BKK is huge. I am just surprised that a gate escort is not available.
I hope you will write Thai an email and let us know how it goes.
Thanks for sharing!
Carfield
Jul 17, 2012, 1:37 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2009
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I pride myself being the longtime president of the Thai Women Appreciators Club . ( TWAC ) It is therefore a permanent disappointment flying Thai F and being served by overaged overweight disillusioned female persons who have the only desire to rush through the unavoidable service and go to sleep til morning comes . Having said so , some are nice personalities .
It is this the only thing that does seriously worry me , Thai being a transporation company and not an entertainment centre . For those here who did ever have the experience of buying a ticket ( meaning in exchange for cash ) I may point out that their prices are good and what else does really matter except of arriving alive .
It is this the only thing that does seriously worry me , Thai being a transporation company and not an entertainment centre . For those here who did ever have the experience of buying a ticket ( meaning in exchange for cash ) I may point out that their prices are good and what else does really matter except of arriving alive .
Jul 17, 2012, 1:57 am
#33
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It is this the only thing that does seriously worry me , Thai being a transporation company and not an entertainment centre . For those here who did ever have the experience of buying a ticket ( meaning in exchange for cash ) I may point out that their prices are good and what else does really matter except of arriving alive .
Jul 17, 2012, 3:54 am
#34
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That the poor girl was trained to operate evacuation slides, and much other emergency eqipment, is surely eclipsed by her inability to distinguish between two varieties of cheese made in Europe.
I think you are not treating seriously the distinction between a fine British cheese and a, well, non-British piece of flabby rubbish with holes in it.
Jul 17, 2012, 8:02 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 198
That the poor girl was trained to operate evacuation slides, and much other emergency eqipment, is surely eclipsed by her inability to distinguish between two varieties of cheese made in Europe.
I think you are not treating seriously the distinction between a fine British cheese and a, well, non-British piece of flabby rubbish with holes in it.
I think you are not treating seriously the distinction between a fine British cheese and a, well, non-British piece of flabby rubbish with holes in it.
And: Care to elaborate "British cheese" as there is only this rock hard orange-yellowish piece of somehow worked on milk as far as I remember sir.. ?
Jul 17, 2012, 12:51 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Very well , gentlemen , we seem to be heading for serious business now talking about cheese being served on board of an Asian plane. OP complained about aforementioned women , though said to be of a somewhat younger species , being unable to distinguish cheese A from B and elaborate on the difference . Very bad . Though they put more energy into identifying liquids by :
" When trying to find the right white wine she lifted up all the bottles and read on them. "
I could swear Stilton shows a " Made in UK " somewhere . You just got to lift it .
" When trying to find the right white wine she lifted up all the bottles and read on them. "
I could swear Stilton shows a " Made in UK " somewhere . You just got to lift it .
Jul 17, 2012, 2:43 pm
#37
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Your experience in The World of British Cheese is clearly in need of some refinement
The supermarket version of Cheddar (probably your reference) is plain sad. But there are any number of artesenal producers of terrific cheeses, including Stilton - as served by Thai, and so dragging the thread back on topic.
Jul 17, 2012, 3:01 pm
#38
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I recently flew Egyptair from BKK and was surprised to find the airline had Thai cabin crew on board. Full marks to MS for its cultural sensitivity and the effort to make its Thai passengers more comfortable and put them at ease.
Clearly our OP was in need of such cultural pampering, so perhaps Thai could consider placing European cabin crew on its services to our great continent. This would put an end to the linguistic challenges faced by the OP, and the new crew member could be trained as Maitre Fromager/Sommelier to further enhance the OP's on-board experience.
Clearly our OP was in need of such cultural pampering, so perhaps Thai could consider placing European cabin crew on its services to our great continent. This would put an end to the linguistic challenges faced by the OP, and the new crew member could be trained as Maitre Fromager/Sommelier to further enhance the OP's on-board experience.
Jul 18, 2012, 10:10 am
#39
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Dont make this into a "cheese discussion", because that is not what it is. Its just a small part of many things went wrong on one specific flight.
I dont think you will find anybody buying a F class ticket with the only intention of getting there alive! So give me a break!
If only 2-3 of the things went wrong, I would probably never wrote about it. It was since so many things went wrong at the same time I made the first post. As I have mentioned earlier, my flight out of London was very good.
But on the other hand, TG is scoring low on food served in F compared to other carriers. They could really need some western expertise in order to give them some advise on the catering side. On the beverage side however, they are doing great.
I dont think you will find anybody buying a F class ticket with the only intention of getting there alive! So give me a break!
If only 2-3 of the things went wrong, I would probably never wrote about it. It was since so many things went wrong at the same time I made the first post. As I have mentioned earlier, my flight out of London was very good.
But on the other hand, TG is scoring low on food served in F compared to other carriers. They could really need some western expertise in order to give them some advise on the catering side. On the beverage side however, they are doing great.
Jul 18, 2012, 11:32 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 51
BizflyerNorway was merely just voicing his opinion on that particular flight. This is what forum and discussion is about. Some people whether by culture or character are just simply mean and sarcastic when other people's opinion don't go in line with theirs. I mean.... do u have to be so sarcastic? Yes, its funny written but i feel its much more of sarcasm. Yes, you may experience more or whatsoever. "Dont be evil".
On unrelated matter, i flew few times with TG F. LHR/NRT/FRA - BKK
I think most of us here already agreed that TG is very inconsistent. It depends on your luck. RELATIVELY. Everything is relative. Relative to SQ, CX, MH, OZ, KE, NH, JL .... TG definately ranked lower compared to those first tier premier asian airlines. (except that TG has very good ground service). If you compared to UA, US, AA etc.... then you are comparing second tier group airlines... TG will fare well. Relative.
I have no problem with TG. In fact i mostly fly with them due to cheaper pricing! My complain is always about the food only. Again, this is my taste bud, my opinion. TG food is bad COMPARED to those first tier asian airlines i mentioned.
First world problem.
Cheers.
On unrelated matter, i flew few times with TG F. LHR/NRT/FRA - BKK
I think most of us here already agreed that TG is very inconsistent. It depends on your luck. RELATIVELY. Everything is relative. Relative to SQ, CX, MH, OZ, KE, NH, JL .... TG definately ranked lower compared to those first tier premier asian airlines. (except that TG has very good ground service). If you compared to UA, US, AA etc.... then you are comparing second tier group airlines... TG will fare well. Relative.
I have no problem with TG. In fact i mostly fly with them due to cheaper pricing! My complain is always about the food only. Again, this is my taste bud, my opinion. TG food is bad COMPARED to those first tier asian airlines i mentioned.
First world problem.
Cheers.
Jul 18, 2012, 11:35 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2009
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I recently flew Egyptair from BKK and was surprised to find the airline had Thai cabin crew on board. Full marks to MS for its cultural sensitivity and the effort to make its Thai passengers more comfortable and put them at ease.
Clearly our OP was in need of such cultural pampering, so perhaps Thai could consider placing European cabin crew on its services to our great continent. This would put an end to the linguistic challenges faced by the OP, and the new crew member could be trained as Maitre Fromager/Sommelier to further enhance the OP's on-board experience.
Clearly our OP was in need of such cultural pampering, so perhaps Thai could consider placing European cabin crew on its services to our great continent. This would put an end to the linguistic challenges faced by the OP, and the new crew member could be trained as Maitre Fromager/Sommelier to further enhance the OP's on-board experience.
your posts show outstanding compassion for the needs of the hungry traveller and for the international confusion on the language -sector . May I offer you my fullest respect , if not adoration . May I most respectfully ask you to further elaborate on the problem of finding out what is in a bottle without looking at it .
Again , I am impressed .
Jul 18, 2012, 1:57 pm
#42
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I mean.... do u have to be so sarcastic? Yes, its funny written but i feel its much more of sarcasm. "Dont be evil".
I have no problem with TG. In fact i mostly fly with them due to cheaper pricing! My complain is always about the food only. Again, this is my taste bud, my opinion. TG food is bad COMPARED to those first tier asian airlines i mentioned.
I have no problem with TG. In fact i mostly fly with them due to cheaper pricing! My complain is always about the food only. Again, this is my taste bud, my opinion. TG food is bad COMPARED to those first tier asian airlines i mentioned.
I'm pleased you at least acknowledge the universal truth that low prices generally involve some kind of compromise on quality or convenience. Thai is accessible in First, either through relative low fares and affordable upgrades or its wide open redemption availability.
To fly Thai First and expect it to be the equivalent of, say, Lufthansa's way more exclusive First-class cabin is perhaps expecting too much.
Jul 18, 2012, 6:19 pm
#43
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Staff from Y Class Serving F Class?
In Y class, passengers who have ordered special meals are usually served before other passengers (sometimes before the regular meal service) and no other meal is then served to these pasengers.
They might have even assumed that your fillet steak was your "entire special meal" and had you not said anything assumed that was the only thing you're going to be eating!!
Jul 19, 2012, 6:17 am
#44
Join Date: Feb 2009
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[/QUOTE]
Sir ,
nobody at Thai would allow 2 " young girls " servicing anything in F just based on what they think is good for the passenger . To add a tecnical aspect : all meals in F are supplied on trays of 6 identical meals . The meals are thern individually prepared which is the reason that always somebodyx runs through the cabin with a piece of paper to note your preference . Result of this procedure is then pinned to the wall in the kitchenette and after it has been served it will be marked as done . There is always a cabin chief appointed at least for F for the individual flight supervising this . Can't tell you about special meals because no have before . Pity they have nothing on the drink side to order in advance , couple of caipirinhas never a mistake .
Sir ,
nobody at Thai would allow 2 " young girls " servicing anything in F just based on what they think is good for the passenger . To add a tecnical aspect : all meals in F are supplied on trays of 6 identical meals . The meals are thern individually prepared which is the reason that always somebodyx runs through the cabin with a piece of paper to note your preference . Result of this procedure is then pinned to the wall in the kitchenette and after it has been served it will be marked as done . There is always a cabin chief appointed at least for F for the individual flight supervising this . Can't tell you about special meals because no have before . Pity they have nothing on the drink side to order in advance , couple of caipirinhas never a mistake .
Jul 20, 2012, 9:13 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2003
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doing sometimes F trips FRA-BKK-FRA and never had any of those problems addressed. ground and air service was always good.
I am always very surprised sbout the experience some people have with Thai , negative ones obviously being much more popular as far as it concerns the length of the complaints :
The BKK F-checkin to me is checkin-overkill . Most of the time I am buzy to get rid of all the people who want to do something for me . How anybody can spend 15 minutes at that place is a mystery to me . Mostly it is not worthwile even taking a seat .
Who misses towels , juices and probably a foot massage at checkin ? Maybe that would make it 15 minutes alltogether .
A Thai Captain moving out of his cockpit to welcome a passenger is something I never ever experienced , these passengers ( " Thai employees " ) must have been absolute top people which makes me wonder how they would ever start a trip to Europe in C . Possibly new signs of modesty .
Two young thai girls serving would be the biggest surprise in airline history . Actually something I have dreaming of for 15 years flying Thai . I would not even mind if they only spoke a Northern Thai hilltribe dialect . Trying to find the right wine by lifting the bottle is also something I very much appreciate because it is the only human way to find out what is inside the bottle . By looking down into the hole you get insufficient information . Maybe man from Norway tells us how to improve the process .
Same young lady being unable to open a bottle of Dom would be a case of minor horror because all bottles are opened in the kitchenette to avoid unpleasant accidents . i have never seen any Thai person opening a bottle in the cabin . Never .
Flying through the air there must one or multiple mysterious Thai attendants who are not capable of speaking English . Not that it matters , but I don`t know any although they appear from time to time , though only on internet forums as I believe . Usually inside flying objects their English is just fine .
Man from Norway complains about lack of understanding names of cheese . God forbid , she thinks Stilton is Emmentaler . I wonder why you ask her what it is if you already know it .
And so forth .
Summarising the terrible experience that Man from Norway had to suffer from I do not wish to call this a load of nonsense but just sort of unfortunate fate . I am a polite individual . My personal statistics over said 15 years Thai on yearly 3 to 4 return trips did not take me anywhere near such desasterous lows . Maybe I should increase the frequency .
The BKK F-checkin to me is checkin-overkill . Most of the time I am buzy to get rid of all the people who want to do something for me . How anybody can spend 15 minutes at that place is a mystery to me . Mostly it is not worthwile even taking a seat .
Who misses towels , juices and probably a foot massage at checkin ? Maybe that would make it 15 minutes alltogether .
A Thai Captain moving out of his cockpit to welcome a passenger is something I never ever experienced , these passengers ( " Thai employees " ) must have been absolute top people which makes me wonder how they would ever start a trip to Europe in C . Possibly new signs of modesty .
Two young thai girls serving would be the biggest surprise in airline history . Actually something I have dreaming of for 15 years flying Thai . I would not even mind if they only spoke a Northern Thai hilltribe dialect . Trying to find the right wine by lifting the bottle is also something I very much appreciate because it is the only human way to find out what is inside the bottle . By looking down into the hole you get insufficient information . Maybe man from Norway tells us how to improve the process .
Same young lady being unable to open a bottle of Dom would be a case of minor horror because all bottles are opened in the kitchenette to avoid unpleasant accidents . i have never seen any Thai person opening a bottle in the cabin . Never .
Flying through the air there must one or multiple mysterious Thai attendants who are not capable of speaking English . Not that it matters , but I don`t know any although they appear from time to time , though only on internet forums as I believe . Usually inside flying objects their English is just fine .
Man from Norway complains about lack of understanding names of cheese . God forbid , she thinks Stilton is Emmentaler . I wonder why you ask her what it is if you already know it .
And so forth .
Summarising the terrible experience that Man from Norway had to suffer from I do not wish to call this a load of nonsense but just sort of unfortunate fate . I am a polite individual . My personal statistics over said 15 years Thai on yearly 3 to 4 return trips did not take me anywhere near such desasterous lows . Maybe I should increase the frequency .