Thai Smile merging with THAI
Mar 24, 2023, 8:57 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
* Thai Smile Plus.
Mar 26, 2023, 7:18 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 128
The REAL reason cited for the merge is to maximise the aircraft utility.
TG wants to open new routes that it has license/permits to land but these are low-capacity routes and they just want to make use of WE narrow body aircrafts but then cannot bc WE does not own the permit to land at these new international routes.
Whereas, there are some 6-7 hour gap where their wide-body planes can also just take on round-trip domestic route to fill the gap in the market. But right now bc they’re using these aircrafts on low-demand routes such as KUL, they would likely swap KUL for small narrow body for CNX or HKT for wide-body aircrafts.
TG wants to open new routes that it has license/permits to land but these are low-capacity routes and they just want to make use of WE narrow body aircrafts but then cannot bc WE does not own the permit to land at these new international routes.
Whereas, there are some 6-7 hour gap where their wide-body planes can also just take on round-trip domestic route to fill the gap in the market. But right now bc they’re using these aircrafts on low-demand routes such as KUL, they would likely swap KUL for small narrow body for CNX or HKT for wide-body aircrafts.
Mar 26, 2023, 8:06 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,337
The REAL reason cited for the merge is to maximise the aircraft utility.
TG wants to open new routes that it has license/permits to land but these are low-capacity routes and they just want to make use of WE narrow body aircrafts but then cannot bc WE does not own the permit to land at these new international routes.
Whereas, there are some 6-7 hour gap where their wide-body planes can also just take on round-trip domestic route to fill the gap in the market. But right now bc they’re using these aircrafts on low-demand routes such as KUL, they would likely swap KUL for small narrow body for CNX or HKT for wide-body aircrafts.
TG wants to open new routes that it has license/permits to land but these are low-capacity routes and they just want to make use of WE narrow body aircrafts but then cannot bc WE does not own the permit to land at these new international routes.
Whereas, there are some 6-7 hour gap where their wide-body planes can also just take on round-trip domestic route to fill the gap in the market. But right now bc they’re using these aircrafts on low-demand routes such as KUL, they would likely swap KUL for small narrow body for CNX or HKT for wide-body aircrafts.
Mar 26, 2023, 8:53 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,924
Don't count on it. TG is likely to follow the UA/AC/LH format for service, meaning no full service on the narrow bodies for flights less than 90 minutes. Seats likely to remain as is. No need to do more. The return of lounge access, *A perks , especially checkin at BKK will be enough to attract business class pax. Bangkok Airlines and Air Asia are not competitors in the niche.
True and if the airline's management had some comme sense at the time, it would have saved itself a mess.
The model was all the rage a decade ago, promoted by US "experts", These were the same idiots that gave us United's Ted and Air Canada's Zip, and Tango.
True and if the airline's management had some comme sense at the time, it would have saved itself a mess.
The model was all the rage a decade ago, promoted by US "experts", These were the same idiots that gave us United's Ted and Air Canada's Zip, and Tango.
Apr 3, 2023, 10:47 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 128
Don't count on it. TG is likely to follow the UA/AC/LH format for service, meaning no full service on the narrow bodies for flights less than 90 minutes. Seats likely to remain as is. No need to do more. The return of lounge access, *A perks , especially checkin at BKK will be enough to attract business class pax. Bangkok Airlines and Air Asia are not competitors in the niche.
True and if the airline's management had some comme sense at the time, it would have saved itself a mess.
The model was all the rage a decade ago, promoted by US "experts", These were the same idiots that gave us United's Ted and Air Canada's Zip, and Tango.
True and if the airline's management had some comme sense at the time, it would have saved itself a mess.
The model was all the rage a decade ago, promoted by US "experts", These were the same idiots that gave us United's Ted and Air Canada's Zip, and Tango.
Yes, the creation of Thai Smile was very stupid but it was inline with industry's golden recipe back then for airlines to be "group of airlines". Like LH and its Austrian and Swiss. Or Singapore with its Scoot and Silk. Thai Airways was supposed to have "Nok" and Thai Smile to be just like SQ.
Apr 4, 2023, 7:02 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,337
precovid there were up to 6-8 wide bodies every day flying to HKT and CNY (incl. 747) beside some narrow bodies...guess they would have to extend their fleet to reach these numbers again
Last edited by BinSabai; Apr 4, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Apr 4, 2023, 8:47 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,726
Words are saying that they will bring back wide bodies to only Chiang Mai and Phuket just to "increase aircraft utility" as these destinations can fill the 5 hour gap for aircrafts that would otherwise be sitting still during the day. This is basically a perfect fit the moment TG carries more "medium haul" flights 3-6 hours in duration. So Biz class may come back in some form or another (but not sure whether it would be marketed differently to WE's current Smile Plus). I hope they at least change Smile Plus to slightly larger Biz seat (non-lie flat) in 2-2 config as you know. Hi-so Thais like the distinction!
Yes, the creation of Thai Smile was very stupid but it was inline with industry's golden recipe back then for airlines to be "group of airlines". Like LH and its Austrian and Swiss. Or Singapore with its Scoot and Silk. Thai Airways was supposed to have "Nok" and Thai Smile to be just like SQ.
Yes, the creation of Thai Smile was very stupid but it was inline with industry's golden recipe back then for airlines to be "group of airlines". Like LH and its Austrian and Swiss. Or Singapore with its Scoot and Silk. Thai Airways was supposed to have "Nok" and Thai Smile to be just like SQ.
I think those were the main destinations for wide bodies precovid as well....have never experienced any wide body to other domestic destination...
precovid there were up to 6-8 wide bodies every day flying to HKT and CNY (incl. 747) beside some narrow bodies...guess they would have to extend their fleed to reach these numbers again
precovid there were up to 6-8 wide bodies every day flying to HKT and CNY (incl. 747) beside some narrow bodies...guess they would have to extend their fleed to reach these numbers again
Apr 4, 2023, 9:23 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,063
I think those were the main destinations for wide bodies precovid as well....have never experienced any wide body to other domestic destination...
precovid there were up to 6-8 wide bodies every day flying to HKT and CNY (incl. 747) beside some narrow bodies...guess they would have to extend their fleet to reach these numbers again
precovid there were up to 6-8 wide bodies every day flying to HKT and CNY (incl. 747) beside some narrow bodies...guess they would have to extend their fleet to reach these numbers again
I have flown many times preCovid BKK-CNX on B747 and 747. If I had an award flight in business class to BKK, then I could fly in J to Chiang Mai at no added cost. 😊
Apr 5, 2023, 1:06 am
#25
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Apr 6, 2023, 4:20 am
#26
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Location: WLG/BKK
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Apr 6, 2023, 7:52 am
#27
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Apr 6, 2023, 12:24 pm
#28
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Apr 6, 2023, 10:56 pm
#29
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Apr 7, 2023, 12:03 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
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