thecoach

Hello fellow travelers... I just booked first class from Philly to Bangkok on Thai using 120k miles... I may be able to book 90k united business, but wanted to try first class.. United first class looked great the last time i went to bangkok On business.. I assume Thai first is better than United Business .. right?? please correct me if Im wrong.. United has sleeper seats, and researching on the board.. Thai does not from LAX to Bkk.. So i thought i would ask some of you experts here... Thanks for your help.

joslire

TG service is wonderful. It's their physical product that is substandard. But if given this choice where I'd not be accruing mileage, I'd for got the TG first. There's better seat pitch & the seats, though old, are comfy. Be aware that there are no PTVs (though they do have video tape players w/a tiny screen & an ok selection of current movies). They have good wines & serve caviar. Usually 1st is mostly empty so you may have an empty seat beside you.

hugochan

Well, I am not an expert, but maybe able to share some points. TG service is far better than UA, and the F seats on TG flights are ok. If you are comparing TG F with UA C, then, I would have flown on TG F. Also, TG F customers get fast immigration service. There'll be a TG staff escort you to a special counter, so you don't have to wait in-line for immigration. If you do not care about the lack of in-flight entertainment, then TG F will be a definite choice.

gmailflyer

TG is slowly upgrading its physical product as well. If you are planning travel late 2005, who knows you may get better TG product and F could be fantastic.

If it is the old equipment (i.e in the next 12 months or so) you probably are wasting 30,000 miles to try TG F which is comparable to UA C as others have pointed out (the FAs will be much nicer but the IFE will be poorer and seats comparable).

stargold

There are so many options going form PHL to BKK, there is no reason (especially on a reward ticket) why you have to stick to TG or UA!!!

First step is to get from PHL to an int'l gateway. JFK, EWR, LAX, etc.

Once you're in JFK, you have the option of JFK-NRT-BKK on ANA F, which is reputed as the best prouduct in the world (short of a private jet), though availability was known to be tight.

If you choose to go to EWR, you have the option of the EWR-SIN-BKK in SQ Business, which should be a better use of miles than 120k for TG F (or indeed the same 90k for UA C)

If you're in LAX, you can do LAX-NRT on SQ F (instead of TG F), then go NRT-BKK on NH or TG. The shorter leg (NRT-BKK) shouldn't be too bad on TG although NH would be preferable, and NRT-BKK on NH uses their new aircraft on some days so you may be lucky.


If you need more help with regards to finding availability etc, then post here!

oontiveros

I second this suggestion. Go SQ or NH on the long haul in F. TG is great in F (I just flew them yesterday and was the only one in F until one of their board members and his wife came on and they upgraded them) but its better to take them from NRT to BKK as their seats and IFE isn't up to par with SQ and NH. Note that SQ's F seat is getting a little worn.

TG's service on yesterday's flight was excellent and they gave me a 1993 Gruard Larose in apologies for the upgrading of the boardmember (its because they told me I was the only one in the cabin)...I didn't care personally but I really like this particular bordeaux (the best value in the '82s) so I took it.

Shareholder

I agree with most posters, use TG for a short haul jump from SIN or NRT, but take SQ or NH across the Pacific if you can get award seats. For a couple of hours, TG is very good in F. Any longer and you notice the lack of IFE options and true sleeper bedseats. Of course, getting F on SQ is very difficult but I have found NH easier on awards in that cabin. While NH will be their old F seating from the west coast, it is still a superior product to TG's.