For the next portion of my Allegris round the world journey, I flew Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER first class on the 5hr30min flight from Bangkok (BKK) to Tokyo (NRT). My gosh, what an incredible flight this was, as it was so nice to be back on Thai Airways, experiencing the carrier’s ”new” first class.
Continue reading: Review: Thai Airways First Class Boeing 777 (BKK-NRT)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Thanks for the reviewe!
Tho, one thing - flute glasses are the worst for champagne. Unless you want to hide taste of champagne.
Looks similar to the A380 seats. Goodness I miss their 747s to Australia… (and the excellent United MileagePlus pricing on them at the time…)
Thai doesn’t get high enough marks by most imo for their excellent catering, glad you had an excellent experience!
Had the chance to fly THAI's new First class from BKK-LHR on two occasions in 2024 (both Miles & More award bookings @110'000 miles each!), and I share and agree with most of the points. For the seat, I can add one more observation: compared to for example SWISS 777 First class, the space on THAI's 777 First seat is terribly underutilized. There's a big gap along the windows and the edge takes up way too much space, effectively shrinking the width of the seat in a 1-2-1 configuration to much narrower in comparison. Coupled with poor privacy, the seat effectively leaves a lot to be desired. Soft product and service does indeed partly make up for it, I just wish the ground experience and First class lounge @BKK would be on par with in-flight.
What an exceptional wine list! That list leaves Singapore Airlines Suites for dead.
Thai Airways maintenance should come as a shock: anyone who has been to Bangkok in the last few years will have seen tens of their A380s, 747s, A330s and 777s literally rotting on the tarmac.
I think it has to do with mostly Westerners reviewing TG and publishing it online.
It seems that there are some reviewers that totally trash TG's food, while others love it a lot. I think generally TG has good food curated for an Asian palette.
Many American reviewers will go onto Asian airlines but refuse to try the Asian options.
The “Thai-style Chinese crullers” you speak of are known as pa-tong ko in Thai. I’m surprised Thai didn’t refer to them as such. They’re very famous as a street food throughout the country, and best straight out of the oil, dipped into condensed milk. อร่อยมากๆ!
I’m very sure I read the exact same comment before in one of Ben’s reviews. I think it was in the F review of ANA. Funny how no airline uses their Thai name!
I wouldn’t go that far and, in fact, don’t think the list of spirits is anything to write home about. But I will give them credit for a decent wine selection.
First class exists on some 777 exclusively to be able to transport the King to wherever he wants. His color is yellow/gold. The colors either are determined by the day of birth (yellow is for those born on Monday) — or by the royal standard, the mystical bird Garuda on yellow background.
In Thailand, Yellow is the colour of the King, hence the use of yellow in THAI royal first class. Purple is the colour of the Queen, hence the use of purple in THAI business class (royal silk). Just letting you know since you commented on the cabin colour schemes
Lucky - how do you treat a points booking (to include an Amex redemption) when it comes to tax time? Do you just not write anything off? Offset it against 1099s at the point valuation they use on the 1099? Write of the cash price of the ticket as an expense?
Honestly curious? I’d expect the third . . .
It's literally written on the menu.
I’m surprised someone commented without fact checks. Or maybe I shouldn't be surprised as no one fact checks anymore.
And this name topic was brought up on the mid trip preview of this exact review.
The King is a pilot, he was an air force pilot. He owns many airplanes. He would not be able to fly commercially due to security precautions.
You should ask IRS, or an accountant not the what someone believes to be a correct return.
I have heard such a comment about the flûte glass. I have lived in France half of my life and I have never had Champagne served in anything but a flûte.
What do you recomnend?
A wine glass? A coffee mug?
A coupe would be the worst if you don't drink fast, besides it's not practical in a plane. Tulipe glasses or even standard white wine glasses would be slightly better but come on, the difference is extremely minimal!
Kevin, whenever he or the Queen need/want to travel intercontinentally, the Royal Household makes use of one of TG’s 777s equipped with F/Cl and specially trained cabin crews. He and the Queen don’t like flying with the RTAF 345, unlike other senior members of the RF. There’s a reason why ZRH and MUC are serviced daily. And yes, they do fly commercial, the 2-6hrs delays due to HM’s late arrivals are tales of many Facebook and Twitter stories.
Virgin tried tugging to the runways almost 20 years ago Ben. It wad dropped because it caused more problems than it solved
https://simpleflying.com/throwback-virgin-atlantics-fuel-saving-tug-trial/
Which would be almost entirely useless for flying from Bangkok to Europe since they don't have the range.
OMAAT Review Bingo:
X Photo of a water bottle
X Yes/No personal air vents
X "I don't eat pork"
The royal household uses its own 737 when flying short haul. When they travels long haul. They usually fly TG in 777 with F/C. As previous post mentioned, there is a reason why ZRH and MUC are served on a daily basis. It's the favorite destination for the King getaway. Whenever the King would spend extensive time in Europe, one of his 737 would get ferried to ZRH or MUC for the King to fly short-haul between ZRH and MUC.
Thai Air Force also owned an ex-TG A340 with Lufthansa F/C seat installed. These are used in some occasions.
Rumor has it that the royal household does not preferred a fully-enclosed seat so that's why TG never did come around to install a door in neither F/C or B/C.
Ps. The moment I read the breakfast menu, I knew that you would go with Japanese because the Thai menu got pork in it. Actually for the Thai menu, each components come in an individual small bowl so you can actually ask them to omit the menu with pork. If so desired, I think you could phone TG in advance and ask for them to make it in minced beef or minced chicken version.
That was true for Rama IX and his wife. The yellow color represents Monday and as Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on the 5th December 1927 which was a Monday, his color was yellow and as his wife was born on a Saturday, her color was purple.
As his successor was also born on a Monday, his color is yellow, too. But that's totally accidental.
Nothing you said contradicts anything that I said….I was just giving a quick summary for Ben
It’s not about poor maintenance, it’s just that THAI are not flying those planes anymore and are trying to sell them or their parts. They also have planes stored in Pattaya at U-tapao
Got to be honest the drinks menu just doesn’t cut it. Bombay sapphire gin, poor vodka and “ shandy “ in first class is so weak. I’m looking for premium options not what I can buy on easy jet heading to Alicante:-(