Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but..............
I flew from Kathmandu to Bangkok with THAI airways earlier this week. Seated in front of me were three Buddhist monks. I was mildly surprised to see them in Business Class but I was gobsmacked when, preparing to disembark, I noticed a Platinum baggage tag on one of the monks hand baggage.
To qualify as a Platinum member of THAI you need to travel a minimum of 80,000 miles a year, for a minimum of two consecutive years, in Business Class or First Class. I thought these monks were supposed to live simple, minimalist lives, working on behalf of their flock.most of whom were sitting down the back of the plane in Economyamazing!!!
Luang Pu Nen Kham was obviously not alone!!
I flew from Kathmandu to Bangkok with THAI airways earlier this week. Seated in front of me were three Buddhist monks. I was mildly surprised to see them in Business Class but I was gobsmacked when, preparing to disembark, I noticed a Platinum baggage tag on one of the monks hand baggage.
To qualify as a Platinum member of THAI you need to travel a minimum of 80,000 miles a year, for a minimum of two consecutive years, in Business Class or First Class. I thought these monks were supposed to live simple, minimalist lives, working on behalf of their flock.most of whom were sitting down the back of the plane in Economyamazing!!!
Luang Pu Nen Kham was obviously not alone!!
I suspect THAI gives Platinum status to many people without them having to comply with the usual qualification requirements.
If I remember correctly they introduced the Platinum level soon after there was a lot of publicity and photographs taken at check-in about government members who appeared to be abusing the baggage allowances and being given complimentary privileges with the airline.
My suspicion is that THAI gave introduced the Platinum tier and gifted Platinum cards to many many people in authority and "friends". Didn't it take a year or two until they let the general public know what the qualification requirements were?
Just my suspicion....
If I remember correctly they introduced the Platinum level soon after there was a lot of publicity and photographs taken at check-in about government members who appeared to be abusing the baggage allowances and being given complimentary privileges with the airline.
My suspicion is that THAI gave introduced the Platinum tier and gifted Platinum cards to many many people in authority and "friends". Didn't it take a year or two until they let the general public know what the qualification requirements were?
Just my suspicion....
A couple of years back I flew BKK-LHR. Just before boarding began a large group (maybe 20?) of monks showed up at the gate. All of them were preboarded before any of the passengers. When I entered the First Class cabin 3 of the monks were already seated in their suites. The rest of the group were seated in business class section on the lower level of the 744.
I didn't have a problem with their flying business or first, but like you I guess it just caught be by surprise.
I didn't have a problem with their flying business or first, but like you I guess it just caught be by surprise.
Who's to say they were not upgraded by Thai as a form of alms ?
yes i do suspect they are upgraded free of charge
I've seen numerous times on domestic flights someone in business class going up to a monk in the waiting area and discuss something, which I surmise is switching seats, because as they board they talk briefly to the FA and the monk goes to business class while the person who bought the business class ticket goes to sit in economy. I just assumed it was one way where an individual makes merit, or whatever exactly that Buddhist concept is.
It is a tricky business when a monk travels because many people, thais and non-thais, assume that monks should just receive the lowest level of service/product as they are "supposed to live a simple, humble life." The truth is- it is inconvenient for the monks/passengers/flight attendants alike when the monks travel in coach, especially on a long flight. A monk cannot have a physical contact with a woman, and when a monk is flying in the tight economy class, it's difficult for him and the female passengers/flight attendants to try to avoid each other... and one would have to arrange the seating assignment beforehand, so that the monk will not be seated next to a female passenger. Food service is also a challenge. Monks cannot eat past a certain time, but like anyone they do have to eat to survive. So on some flights, monks cannot receive the same food service like the other passengers due to this time restriction. Also- Thai people are often uptight/uneasy being around a monk, so having one seated so close to them is undesirable.
For these reasons alone, I think that a monk should always be upgraded when flying. It's just easier for everybody.
I don't think it's a TG's policy to give monks automatic upgrades. However, people who deal with monks frequently and understand these challenges know to try to book monks in business class, if possible. When a monk travels for personal reasons, he'd do it on his own expense. However, when he's traveling on a mission (which is often the reason why monks do travel), the organizer of the mission would usually cover the expenses and if they know better, they would book the monk in business class. Most monks don't have that much money, but even if they do, they usually won't spend it on flying business class.
Now- there are also monks who are wealthy or come from a wealthy family. Being a monk is not necessarily a life-long commitment. It's a rite of passage for Thai men. Some become a monk for a week, month, year, etc.; these monks, before they entered monkhood, are just normal people with jobs, with family, with frequent flyer membership and elite status.
For these reasons alone, I think that a monk should always be upgraded when flying. It's just easier for everybody.
I don't think it's a TG's policy to give monks automatic upgrades. However, people who deal with monks frequently and understand these challenges know to try to book monks in business class, if possible. When a monk travels for personal reasons, he'd do it on his own expense. However, when he's traveling on a mission (which is often the reason why monks do travel), the organizer of the mission would usually cover the expenses and if they know better, they would book the monk in business class. Most monks don't have that much money, but even if they do, they usually won't spend it on flying business class.
Now- there are also monks who are wealthy or come from a wealthy family. Being a monk is not necessarily a life-long commitment. It's a rite of passage for Thai men. Some become a monk for a week, month, year, etc.; these monks, before they entered monkhood, are just normal people with jobs, with family, with frequent flyer membership and elite status.
Quote:
Funny you never hear about planes being delayed for arguments and all the hullabaloo breaking out that some flights to the Holy Land have experienced over people refusing to sit next to women.Originally Posted by doradee
A monk cannot have a physical contact with a woman, and when a monk is flying in the tight economy class, it's difficult for him and the female passengers/flight attendants to try to avoid each other... and one would have to arrange the seating assignment beforehand, so that the monk will not be seated next to a female passenger.
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Fly by private jet?
There was a kerfuffle last year, actually it happens every few months...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ing-iPods.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...o-8662286.html
Certainly not as ironic as the Election Commission on a first class boondoggle to Scotland to "witness" the referendum.
There was a kerfuffle last year, actually it happens every few months...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ing-iPods.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...o-8662286.html
Certainly not as ironic as the Election Commission on a first class boondoggle to Scotland to "witness" the referendum.