Thai First has gone downhill
Mar 28, 2024, 5:02 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York,NY USA
Posts: 1,481
Thai First has gone downhill
I just flew roundtrip LHR-BKK /911-910. I used to fly it all the time pre-pandemic. From LHR the SQ lounge is closed for renovation, so you used the LH lounge which is absolutely nothing special. The service and lunch on board were excellent. The seats are old and their idea of proper linens is an uncomfortable synthetic quilt. There is no privacy. The IFE screen which i turned off so i could sleep kept going back on by itself. The movie selection is inferior compared to other Asian airlines.
The overnight flight from BKK to LHR was awful. TG took away their first class lounge which IMHO was one of the best. Great food and service. Instead, they have roped off a section of the business class lounge and changed the seats. There were 10+ waiters standing around doing nothing. Took me 20 minutes to get a drink only after asking twice. The menu lacked western dishes and overall disappointed. I skipped dinner on board and went to sleep. (I don't understand people who get on board and eat a second dinner). Again, the IFE screen kept coming on again after turning it off.. The CSD said there was a fault in the system. Why don't they fix it? The flight attendants were anything but attendant. They didn't seem to care. I had the Thai/ Chinese breakfast. which was nothing special.
The one thing Thai does is deliver the first class bags quickly on both ends.
It is unfortunate that TG is the only carrier with non-stop first class service to Bangkok. BA will resume service in October but without First. Many of my friends tell me they have given up on TG and are flying EK through DXB.
i am finished with Thai.
The overnight flight from BKK to LHR was awful. TG took away their first class lounge which IMHO was one of the best. Great food and service. Instead, they have roped off a section of the business class lounge and changed the seats. There were 10+ waiters standing around doing nothing. Took me 20 minutes to get a drink only after asking twice. The menu lacked western dishes and overall disappointed. I skipped dinner on board and went to sleep. (I don't understand people who get on board and eat a second dinner). Again, the IFE screen kept coming on again after turning it off.. The CSD said there was a fault in the system. Why don't they fix it? The flight attendants were anything but attendant. They didn't seem to care. I had the Thai/ Chinese breakfast. which was nothing special.
The one thing Thai does is deliver the first class bags quickly on both ends.
It is unfortunate that TG is the only carrier with non-stop first class service to Bangkok. BA will resume service in October but without First. Many of my friends tell me they have given up on TG and are flying EK through DXB.
i am finished with Thai.
Mar 28, 2024, 7:09 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BKK
Programs: TG ROP Platinum, M&M Senator, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 8,337
sorry for your bad experience!
I flew BKK LHR BKK in F last year and had a excellent experience
SQ F lounge in LHR was open and excellent.
Food, beverage and service on board were superb. on the second leg i was the only passenger drinking wine and the FA opened 2 bottle of red and white each so that I could choose my preference (i did not ask for...)
I did not have the impression, that the seats are old...actually the plane were delivered from Boeing in April 2022
The F section of the TG Prestige lounge has at least 10 western dishes on the menu, I was just there a couple of days ago and had a beef stroganoff with mash potatoes which was good (as a Platinum member I am entitled to use this section even if flying J or Y)
Agree that the staff in the lounge are a bit shy on approaching you for a follow up...
agree that the selection of movies on TG for a Westener might be a bit disappointing...
otherwise my experience was excellent and on par as pre covid, when I flew TG F to CDG, FRA , SYD, NRT, HND and KIX
I flew BKK LHR BKK in F last year and had a excellent experience
SQ F lounge in LHR was open and excellent.
Food, beverage and service on board were superb. on the second leg i was the only passenger drinking wine and the FA opened 2 bottle of red and white each so that I could choose my preference (i did not ask for...)
I did not have the impression, that the seats are old...actually the plane were delivered from Boeing in April 2022
The F section of the TG Prestige lounge has at least 10 western dishes on the menu, I was just there a couple of days ago and had a beef stroganoff with mash potatoes which was good (as a Platinum member I am entitled to use this section even if flying J or Y)
Agree that the staff in the lounge are a bit shy on approaching you for a follow up...
agree that the selection of movies on TG for a Westener might be a bit disappointing...
otherwise my experience was excellent and on par as pre covid, when I flew TG F to CDG, FRA , SYD, NRT, HND and KIX
Mar 31, 2024, 5:56 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: Thai Airways
Posts: 358
I just flew roundtrip LHR-BKK /911-910. I used to fly it all the time pre-pandemic. From LHR the SQ lounge is closed for renovation, so you used the LH lounge which is absolutely nothing special. The service and lunch on board were excellent. The seats are old and their idea of proper linens is an uncomfortable synthetic quilt. There is no privacy. The IFE screen which i turned off so i could sleep kept going back on by itself. The movie selection is inferior compared to other Asian airlines.
The overnight flight from BKK to LHR was awful. TG took away their first class lounge which IMHO was one of the best. Great food and service. Instead, they have roped off a section of the business class lounge and changed the seats. There were 10+ waiters standing around doing nothing. Took me 20 minutes to get a drink only after asking twice. The menu lacked western dishes and overall disappointed. I skipped dinner on board and went to sleep. (I don't understand people who get on board and eat a second dinner). Again, the IFE screen kept coming on again after turning it off.. The CSD said there was a fault in the system. Why don't they fix it? The flight attendants were anything but attendant. They didn't seem to care. I had the Thai/ Chinese breakfast. which was nothing special.
The one thing Thai does is deliver the first class bags quickly on both ends.
It is unfortunate that TG is the only carrier with non-stop first class service to Bangkok. BA will resume service in October but without First. Many of my friends tell me they have given up on TG and are flying EK through DXB.
i am finished with Thai.
The overnight flight from BKK to LHR was awful. TG took away their first class lounge which IMHO was one of the best. Great food and service. Instead, they have roped off a section of the business class lounge and changed the seats. There were 10+ waiters standing around doing nothing. Took me 20 minutes to get a drink only after asking twice. The menu lacked western dishes and overall disappointed. I skipped dinner on board and went to sleep. (I don't understand people who get on board and eat a second dinner). Again, the IFE screen kept coming on again after turning it off.. The CSD said there was a fault in the system. Why don't they fix it? The flight attendants were anything but attendant. They didn't seem to care. I had the Thai/ Chinese breakfast. which was nothing special.
The one thing Thai does is deliver the first class bags quickly on both ends.
It is unfortunate that TG is the only carrier with non-stop first class service to Bangkok. BA will resume service in October but without First. Many of my friends tell me they have given up on TG and are flying EK through DXB.
i am finished with Thai.
Perhaps you are comparing service to the AS lounge where it is difficult to have a moment's peace from a flood of staff who don't even consider to find out if you have been served already.
From experience on 5 FC flights in the last 6-7 months (2 from Europe and 3 to Narita), as well as many before, I mostly agree with BinSabai.
Apr 7, 2024, 6:39 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
TG's Royal First is very mediocre compared to other Asian carriers. I feel the same way as you do; there just isn't anything remarkable about it.
Apr 20, 2024, 11:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Bangkok
Programs: TG ROP Platinum
Posts: 36
In my opinion, the pricing is OTT, for the product offered.
Sadly, I get the impression that TG have rather given up on First and are just milking the LHR route while they can.
I am still using them mainly to run down my miles and upgrade vouchers.
I do value the direct flight and i find the seats are pretty comfortable, food offer is variable.
i have another BKK/LHR round trip in First (award ticket) coming up next month after that i will probably switch to EK or LH/SWISS.
Last time I checked there was 100000 plus baht difference (P fare) between THAI and EK for LHR return!
The agent i use says that many of her regular THAI premium customers have also switched to alternatives for European flights.
BTW when i flew out of LHR a few weeks ago I was told the Sing lounge would be closed for refurb until July.
Sadly, I get the impression that TG have rather given up on First and are just milking the LHR route while they can.
I am still using them mainly to run down my miles and upgrade vouchers.
I do value the direct flight and i find the seats are pretty comfortable, food offer is variable.
i have another BKK/LHR round trip in First (award ticket) coming up next month after that i will probably switch to EK or LH/SWISS.
Last time I checked there was 100000 plus baht difference (P fare) between THAI and EK for LHR return!
The agent i use says that many of her regular THAI premium customers have also switched to alternatives for European flights.
BTW when i flew out of LHR a few weeks ago I was told the Sing lounge would be closed for refurb until July.
Last edited by wordchild; Apr 20, 2024 at 11:34 pm