Thai Airways (TG) Business Class In-Flight: Los Angeles - Bangkok (LAX - BKK) 03/2008 |
| Category: In-Flight Service | 2008-04-10 |
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| We’ve been talking about going to Bangkok for sometime and finally were able to put together a trip to visit this beautiful city. So, what would be the best way getting to Bangkok? Flying Thai Airways (TG)! We had previously flown on Thai Airways, but the flights between HKG-TPE-HKG were too short to really sample the in-flight service. So, for this much longer trip between LAX and BKK, we were hoping to fully experience Thai Airways’ 'Smooth As Silk'service. |
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| Our flight was originally scheduled to use the A340-500. Thai Airways currently operates four of these long-range planes in its fleet, with priority given to the New York JFK – Bangkok route with a 17-hour flight time. For our flight, the planned A340-500 was substituted with an A340-600. Due to the shorter range of the A340-600 and west-bound headwinds, a technical fuel stop was required in Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX). Changes of equipment is relatively common on our planned route (LAX – BKK), and if the flight is oversold, there is a remote possibility that some of the Business Class passengers would be operationally upgraded to First Class. However, at the check-in counter, the agent informed us that since the flight was not oversold, no Business Class passengers would be upgraded. Oh well ..... |
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| Thai Airways check-in area in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
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| Royal Silk Class (Business Class) check-in counter |
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| Our Royal Silk Class boarding passes for TG Flight 795 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Bangkok (BKK) |
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| When we arrived at the gate, we saw the crew sitting in the far corner of the waiting area. The gate agents were no where to be found. Thirty minutes before boarding and there were no gate agents around?! Finally, the gate agents showed up one by one. One agent made an announcement that there would be a 30-minute delay for boarding. Then, another agent asked all the Business Class passengers to form one line on the left side of the gate and the Economy Class passengers to form another line on the right side of the gate. |
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| After waiting in line for about fifteen minutes, the gate agent announced pre-boarding for passengers in wheelchairs as well as families traveling with young children. While this is not too unusual, we did not expect to experience such a LONG pre-board process and were surprised to see almost everyone seem to think they belong in the pre-boarding group! A family of eight with pre-teens and teenage children were in the pre-board line. A group of six people, just by showing their Business Class boarding passes to a police officer were pre-boarded. A man who came with airport staff got pre-boarded. Just as we thought that the pre-boarding process was finished, additional passengers showed up either in a wheelchair or with 'someone'. |
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| After standing in line for almost 45 minutes, we were finally boarded with other Royal Silk Class (Business Class) passengers. By this time, there were about at least ten Thai Airways agents in the gate area. With so many agents there, the boarding process was still unorganized and messy! When we finally board the plane, we found out that the group of six somehow got 'moved up”'to the First Class cabin. But, wait! Didn't the check-in agent tell us the flight was not oversold and the First Class section would be reserved for crew rest?! So, how did these people get moved up to that section?? After observing how the gate agents mishandled the boarding procedures, we were certainly not very impressed by Thai Airways. We started worrying about the quality of service we would be getting on board. |
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| Thai Airways Flight 795 Boarding Gate 120 |
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| All the Royal Silk Class (Business Class) passengers were waiting in line for almost 45 minutes to be boarded |
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| Luckily, unlike the gate agents, the cabin crew on our flight was friendly, pleasant and efficient, and they provided superb services. AJ told me later that while he was asleep, a flight attendant placed three big Crunch chocolate bars on the center drink table for him. During the flight, the FAs always come around to check on the passengers and refilling water. |
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| Views of the Royal Silk Class Cabin |
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| AJ really felt at home in the Royal Silk Class cabin |
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| Seat Controller -- It's easy to use and surprisingly we could get to a comfortable position |
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User comments: | | 2014-02-17 08:16:55 (GMT-6) | 23986: | USA | | 2014-02-16 14:35:43 (GMT-6) | 458174: | USA |
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