Dissapointing F experience BKK - FRA
 

Just got home from a disappointing experience in TG F from BKK to FRA.

- Waited more then 15 minutes in the check-in area. Only 1 other pax there when arrived.

- No towel or juice was served in the check in area.

- No transport from F lounge to Gate A 6. Had to walk. And A6 is on the end of the A pier.

- After boarding, 2 thai empolyees was moved up from C. Both the Cabin Mangager (or what its called) and the captain was down there saying hello to them, but never even say hello to the rest of us in F.

- No name recognition.

- 2 very young Thai girls was serving. The where total helpless. When trying to find the right white wine she lifted up all the bottles and read on them. Even the cognac. Shows that she didnt know anything about the products they where serving. One thing is that she didnt know how to open a bottle of Dom P, but when she didnt know how to open a bottle of port wine, I had to conclude that she definitely was at the wrong place. And she continuously placed the plates and stuff on the wrong place on my table.

- I had pre-ordered a fillet steak. They served it to me before the starter. When I told them, they took it back, and served the starter. The pumpkin soup was cold. I asked if it was supposed to be that, and then they took it back to reheat it. It came back but tasted absolutely nothing. And what is the point of serving a plate with a bowl of soup, a small plate of a scallop, and one with 2 cubes of foie gras pate. It doesnt work together!!

- When they came back with my main course, it was reheated for the second time, and was completely dry. My friend, having the same said his was nice though.

- When cheese was served, I asked what cheeses they where. She didnt know, and went back to the galley for a piece of paper with the description. She then point on the stilton and told me that was the Emmentaler. Again: Knowing the products??

- Because of the inexperienced stewardesses the service was very slow on this late night flight. And I really felt irritated. In addition the English skills was very poor. And the Cabin manager was obviously not interested in talking to the F pax at all.

On the positive side:
- They didnt ran out of Dom P (probably since we where on the way home, ha ha)

- Seat is ok.

- Lounge experience at BKK nice.

- Nice welcome in FRA and escorted to lounge.

Pretty glad I didnt pay full price for the ticket, because then I really would have been mad!

Just had to share with you!

I think that this is business as usual on Thai.

Next time do what others do: Go to the C check-in. Much more efficient.


Had to walk to C9 twice during the last 4 days -too long as well IMO.


Now that could have been much worse :D.


Nothing new here, thus hardly understandable.

F.R.

I think you may have checked in at the wrong locality, Thai's first check in is very large, there would have been people everywhere, ranging from luggage porters to service representatives and they would have whisked you through your own private immigration and customs, then onwards to the lounge. it is at this point YOU decide if you wish to walk or have assistance. hey it is no big deal, it is a load of fun though. Anyone visiting Asia, has the same food "problems" you experienced and everywhere it is the same. Try telling a waiter you will have your tea at the end of your breakfast, or that you prefer to eat your cornflakes prior to the bacon and eggs, nope, it all arrives at once, you see this is how food is eaten over here, we pick a little of this and mix it with a little of that. Sorry to read that you didn't enjoy your flight, put it down to experience, next time, whoever you fly with in First, you will have a standard that has to be reached, albeit no that high in your estimations but a standard all the same. I just flew China and the only western person on board, I didn't know what I was eating, I laugh when you say you ordered a steak, wish I knew what mine was

Actually F check in is rather slow. OP noted no juice or towels brought, so those individuals must have been on holiday. OP also noted there was no transpo from the F lounge to the gate... (s)he made no mention of transpo to the lounge. But hey it is at this point that YOU read and take what you want. Hey it's no big deal, we all know how things operate in certain posts.


Your generalizations are absurd. Food in Asia tends to come out when it is done regardless of what it is. Asian restaurants, unless westernized, do not serve food at the same time. And lets be frank, most restaurants aren't westernized here. :rolleyes:


Since we're past your prologue this is the only section that matters and you completely whisk away OPs reasonable complaints.

You might laugh with the food but I laugh at your apologist notions.

You get what you pay for. Amen.

Thailand will remain Thailand and TG will remain TG. This is the real third world especially in their brains. Take it or leave it, but it will not change.

I now fly (outstanding, excellent) C with LX and C with SQ which are both better than what I ever got with TG F. Unfortunately this gets me less miles.

Sorry, Dsquared, you blame OP for "absurd generalizations", but your statements (also in other threads) tend to be more and more cynical that I can hardly take them serious any more (as I believe that you will know the sober facts much better).
I also share BKKOP's experiences (re Asian culture and TG's airport handling at BKK), while we all know that TG's cabin staff tend to have their pros and cons.
It certainly makes a difference when we compare them to CX, SQ, JL, NH or CI, thats true. But that is no reason to react as cynical as I have noted it continuously with you. What BKKOP also wants to say (as I do understand him): as a customer we have a choice and can -in most cases- opt for an alternative flight.

I did not blame the OP.

cheers

Sorry to hear your disappointing experience story BizflyerNorway. As I myself have just completed my first ever F experience with TG, I also have a mixed feeling about my flight experience - they are not bad, but something is not right...? I may need some time to understand TG's style, then relax.

As being an Asian myself, I would neither say "third world" nor to stress "Asian culture" - if you cannot match up with globally standardized customer service, then you have to go. And if Asian culture is the reason, another all Asian carriers also should fail.

But you also have listed TG's positive side as well. Maybe, just maybe, you (even myself) might enjoy a bit more next time.
Just wanted to share with you ;)

The OP's experience is not unusual. 15 minute check-in at the F area is almost normal in my experience. As stated by dsquared the OP was talking about buggy service from lounge to gate, I also was not offered this last time I flew TG F and had to walk right out to the end of C concourse. I was given the buggy from bottom of escalator to F lounge though.

none of the above excuses the poor meal service the OP received IMO.

As for Creole Spirit: you are amongst very few I am afraid.

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 .

Right you are , Sir . But unfortunately that mostly means to open your wallet to an extend which makes bad feelings of another type arise in the frequent traveller`s mind . Less elegant to talk about this aspect of course .

Thai C check-in at BKK has got it about right.

Drinks at airport and hotel check-ins are pure silliness: though I appreciate that others might enjoy the opportunity to flirt with drinks at inappropriate moments.

I do find it odd that it's assumed I require transport twixt F-check-in and airside lounge, yet I'm not offered the same facility to ease transition between lounge and aircraft seat. Puzzled but not particularly fussed.

Thai doesn't offer quite the level of service and on-board facilities offered by many other major carriers. It's a market: lower fares plus generally wide-open redemption availability make up for the lack of finesse and help fill the cabin.

I've always been happy to accept the compromise. Clearly the OP was not. Lufthansa offer a superb alternative but at a very significantly higher cost.

In my limited experience, cabin crew in Thai F try hard to please: but perhaps I'm easily pleased. The OP's comments about the young attendant are cruel: was he trying to intimidate her with his questioning? I'm lost on the "opening of bottles" part of the complaint: this should be done in the galley.

Last year we were the only two passengers in F between Milan and Bangkok. One of the two cabin crew was working First for the first time. She got a little flustered sometimes, with her supervisor watching every move, but she was charm personified. Perhaps the attendant the OP criticises was training, but the OPis not so easily charmed.

I've flown ten long haul F segments with TG in the past year. I'm still waiting to run into a service debacle that has me running here to vent.

I've had TG crews ranging from excellent to average. I have never had a below average crew on TG. I've had far greater service issues on my SQ and JL flights.

Yes, I have had one or two longer than average check-in experiences. I've also have been escorted without a buggy to some of the "closer" gates. Even with those minor issues I can't think of a better ground experience in Asia...

I dunno why - but the length of time taken at F check-in is not unusual to TG. I find most First class check-ins around the world seem to have the slowest passengers... or staff... its hard to work out who slows it down...

Maybe F pax are trying to get away with more luggage, or with tiny cabins they are trying to get two seats together? Or confirming special meals? Whatever... with the exception of CX in HKG, I have waited longer than biz class pax at many F check-ins.

As for hot towels and drinks... the hot towel at BKK is nice to clean your hands and face. I can happily skip the drinks.