Thai Airways Aircraft Changes

By: Ben Schlappig

Published: September 14, 2014

36 comments

I’ve written in the past about how unreliable Thai Airways’ scheduling and aircraft planning is. People think I’m joking and exaggerating. I’m not. I don’t think it would be unfair to say that Qatar Airways’ A380 delivery schedule was executed with more precision than Thai Airways’ aircraft planning.

Thai Airways’ aircraft planning is so unreliable that it has its own verb which can be used in lieu of your preferred cuss word — “TGed.” Used in a sentence — “My flight is scheduled to be operated by a 747 with first class as of now… hopefully I don’t get TGed.”

So how much “TGing” has Thai been doing lately?

Thai Airways will offer first class to Sydney… no they won’t… yes they will…

One of the best ways to get to Australia in first class is on Thai Airways through Bangkok, as they release a ton of award space.

A few weeks back I was surprised when Thai Airways announced that they’d be swapping in 777s for the 747s that usually operate the route for peak season, starting October 26, 2014. That signified the end of Thai’s first class service to Australia. This sucked for anyone on a first class award to Australia, as they were downgraded to business class.

It seems Thai Airways was just kidding, as they’ve reversed the equipment swap on the Sydney route. Thai Airways will continue to offer 10x weekly 747-400 service to Sydney, with first class.

Go figure they downgraded all the first class passengers to business class, and now they’re still confirmed in business class even though the flights once again have first class.

Thai-Airways-747

Thai Airways will discontinue their second daily Bangkok to Frankfurt flight… no they won’t…

A few weeks back Thai Airways announced they would cut their second Bangkok to Frankfurt flight, which is operated 6x weekly by an A340-600. It seems they changed their mind since then:

Oh, and remember that 747-400 service Thai Airways was planning on launching out of Dusseldorf? Well, they’re still not taking reservations for that.

Bottom line

Hey Thai Airways, want to know why you’ll lose 20 billion Baht this year? Because you don’t let people book your flights!

There’s value of course in yield management and also in optimizing your route network and equipment types, but not on a daily basis… especially when you stop taking reservations each and every time, and downgrade your passengers.

Unbelievable.

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Callum B Guest

January 31, 2017, 10:01 pm

Hi Lucky, I read your blogs religiously. Despite reading this blog I stupidly decided to book F class flight for my partner and I in June from Sydney to Frankfurt with an open-jaw, returning from CDG. I booked in October and thought I may get "TG'd" as it was 9 months in advance. Sure enough... Thai Scheduling is having a fiddle with the FRA flights. The current TG920 service from BKK to FRA is on an A380, but they have stopped selling all F class to FRA. I called Thai and let them know that i was fine if i was getting TG'd, but i wanted to reroute to CDG as they are less likely to change the a380 from there, or at the very lease still offer F class. Thai, in their infinite wisdom wont let me change until they confirm the equipment change.. I asked why i couldn't re route and they said i can, but there is no discount F fares available to CDG so id have to waitlist.. So unreliable.. so frustrating... Should have read your blog a little harder. Lesson learnt for next time!

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Al Guest

September 24, 2014, 9:09 am

TG has cancelled their planned Dusseldorf service: http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/100893/thai-cancels-planned-dusseldorf-service

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qasr New Member

September 21, 2014, 10:52 pm

I got TGed BKK-SYD and just accepted the new two class flat bed layout in J. Didn't mind too much since it was the overnight sector and I would mostly sleep. But now it is back to a 747 and there is no award space at all... cabin is F0 with no seats assigned so still crazy things going on.

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Michael Kao Member

September 16, 2014, 1:50 am

What happens when you book TG F award from Sydney to Europe using Lifemiles when they had the aircraft change? LM won't allow you to have mixed cabin, does it mean you get your ticket canceled? Or you just get J SYD - BKK, and F still from BKK to Europe? If the latter, it's not so bad as SYD - BKK is relative short and J is good enough. But it will be a headache if they cancel the ticket as you might not find award availability in J for the whole trip!

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LuvTG Guest

September 15, 2014, 2:33 pm

I have flown TG several times and never had an equip swap. They were all A380 F segments from CDG or FRA or NRT so maybe just i improved my odds by booking popular routes that they can not afford to mess with and damage their rep. But big deal - TG'ed? never heard of it and would sound eye-rolling if I heard somebody using it. Yes, it is sad that one of the few remaining good values for UAL redemption is BKK-SYD F for 40,000 o/w, but 30,000 o/w in C is still good value. This would have been a good factual piece, but too much crying....just report and stop complaining (sounds childish and spoiled) and try to avoid using words such as "sucked"....makes me cringe - and that is too bad because I really love your reviews, tips, etc, but lately it is too much temper tantrum throwing.

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