spk

744s go to MUC and NRT (TG640/641).

743s are long gone. Actually, they have been broken up for parts already.

Within summer TPI, 4 773's will be completely retrofitted. Looks like 2 will be online by March 30, another mid-May, and the another one in August.

We can expect a fare hike for C class. With this competitive product, TG would have no problem raising the fare.

Colin

Is the new-J seat on the 773 the same as the J seat on the 345?

spk

No, it's the same as J on 772ER. This seat is reported to be better than J on 345 because it's wider and the IFE screen is huge (17-19 inches).

Colin

But the seat is still slopey-flat not flat-flat?

pansted00

Correct they are only lie flat, not flat-flat as on BA.
And that is if you are lucky enough to get the retrofitted aircraft. As of today only 1 , maybe 2, 777-300 have been retrofitted with the lie flat seats... I can easily predict that there will be lots of angry pax when they find out they are supposed to sleep in the ancient seats with barely no recline...

Airgroove

As of today only 1 , maybe 2, 777-300 have been retrofitted with the lie flat seats...

Is this for certain...? I hope not!
Can anyone confirm...?

AG.

pansted00

According to TG's website, only 1 is retrofitted :
http://www.thaiair.com/About_Thai/Pu...craftFleet.htm
I heard that a second one is almost done, but even with that, it still leaves you with a 66% probability to get the crappy seats. Sorry but I don't take the chance.

Jove

Are all the 777-200 (non ER) fitted with the new J seats? TG website indicates there are 8 of these aircraft.

spk

Yes, all 772 and 772ER have lie-flat seats. 772ER has a newer version with wider seat and larger IFE screen.

773 will get the same seat as 772ER.

The risk of getting old 773 on this route definitely exists in the first two months (highest risk period from 1 April to 16 May) but the rotation of these 2 refitted aircrafts are loose and allow plenty of ground time in BKK. I think TG do this intentionally to minimize the risk of having to use the older 773.

BKKROP

Hi spk, thanks for the update, always good info, do you see it, that the last two being used, if being used at all, will only be on the Australian run. It's murphy's law, but have you noticed that the regular fleet never goes u/s during the daytime flights, when the bed is needed, it's always on a midnight flight!!!. Once this early Easter is out of the way, it is well and truely into the low season, but then have you seen July, wow, you should see the loadings for this month, I guess I am one of the unlucky FF trying to get Bdawards during this time and the odds are not in my favour.

Thai Business price is set to rise, I have noticed that there is little movement on prices this year. The opposition have a good idea on the MEL-SIN run, if they give me the new one, they hit me with a surcharge but "hide" it in taxes, and if I get the unfitted ones which is more times than not, it's the ord fare. Doesn't bother me it's a short flight, even so it cost AU$4255, and I normally pay TG AU$3275 to bkk. Qantas charge AU$4588 to bkk, so I see TG going to $4275. I get this feeling once all the planes are refitted, they will not hold back. Had to grin, someone referred to the Australian FF users of the cheap F fares (AU$5895) out of Australia as nouveau riche wannabees, but I would have thought we were just opportunists. It all good fun, regards bkkrop

NickW

Thanks for the information. I have flights booked in September; it sounds like it is likely that the refit of the 773 seating will be completed across the fleet by then - does that seem right?

I originally had F-class BKK-SYD reserved and I don't really want to start my vacation with the old J seating instead! I can live with new J.

Cameron38

Would be nice to be able to AFFORD the problem of which business class seats I would get. When I fly BKK-SYD next December, It will have to be Economy what with C class being 3 times the price of economy. Interesting to note that on one of the 777-300 configs, some Econ seats have 32" pitch and some 34". Important information for taller people.

henry999

It looks like F on the BKK-AKL-BKK route is gone. I'm trying to book an FRWSTAR2 for October-November and TG989 only comes up '777' on both SeatCounter and the AmexITN tool.

It does still say '346' on the TG website, but it also still gives the schedule for 6 Oct 07 - 27 Oct 07 ! ha ha

cheers,

Henry

WLGNZ

Yes F ex AKL is gone (from late March 08). There have been a few discussions on this.
TG will be flying 772ER which have the new biz class. There was some conjecture that F may come back to AKL late in the year but on my phone discussion with TG in New Zealand yesterday they where not very hopeful that this would happen.
The only F option to Asia ex AKL is now SQ.
Cheers
WLGNZ

macnivison

This article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on March 15 in the 'Traveller' supplement:

Thai Airways is in the process of upgrading the business & economy cabins on planes operating from Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane.
By the end of the month, all seats in economy will have in-seat entertainment & the business cabins will be converted to a capsule-style configuration, with seats that recline 163 degrees.

and from Thai's website advertising a special seniors fare:

THAI is flying the upgraded Royal Silk Business Class product on all flights* from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Bangkok : 2 x 2 capsule-style, forward-facing, 163 degree recline lie-flat seating, fitted with all the latest inseat entertainment options and facilities.