Thai Airways accused of favouring foreign passengers over Thais

[Bday Prang]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

If I couldn't understand Thai, she might have been right, she should have known there were no foreigners on board.

You should have told her you could not speak or understand english 

Edited March 29, 2023 by Bday Prang

[rose33]

16 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

While I can understand, nonetheless, that fellow passenger held a more frequent flyer customer status and on that basis got the perks accorded to the earned status. When I was flying more regularly before retirement, I also had earned small perks along the way. Ha! Today I am at Disney World in Florida. Those who pay an additional $29.99 per person a day get to go in the fast lane for the rides … grrr, but I have to suck it up. Afterall, as an American, I should be used to money according a different status … in Justice, in education, in healthcare … need I go on?!

Yeah I am Aussie and I cringe every time a US cit tells me that "The fact is, when you  [tip more, fly business class, etc], they simply treat you better." 

 

Can't everyone just maintain a baseline level of politeness and conviviality that everyone is entitled to? How difficult is that? Makes life so much more pleasant.

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

How come she is only briefing you directly and not making an aircraft wide announcement as normal? No pre landing videos etc?

Were you the only passenger in the whole aircraft?

You said earlier you were the only "white guy" onboard!  Why the colour mention I do not know, but it implies there were other "non white guys" on board.

 

If we assume you were not the sole passenger onboard, even if, and you have not stated it, she knew you spoke fluent Thai before she gave you your personal safety brief, she still had to make the announcements/personal briefings in the airline's native language and English as a minimum to the other passenger(s)!

 

 

 

 

 

I mention that I am a farang as that is why she separated me from the rest of the passengers, who were not farang. 

It was a domestic flight and the language was Thai.

 

[Bday Prang]

maybe delusions of grandeur    https://www.doctena.be/en/doctor/dr_alexandre_kamnerdsiri-408 according to this link he's a GP    the "consultant" status appears to be something he's added himself 

Specialises in sexual medicine apparently   Does that mean  he's a pox doctor  lol

Unusually high profile if you ask me , just google his name if you can be bothered,  I'm either getting old or just old fashioned  but I'm sure my GP doesn't have a web page like this  https://www.drwk.be/    Unusual middle name for a Thai 

[BayArea]

15 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

The good doctor is obviously a smart cookie. Thailand needs more like him. Except, I'd think that Thailand needs them in Thailand and not so much Belgium. 

 

the good doctor is General practitioner, Sexologist, Sexual Medicine Specialist 

Edited March 29, 2023 by BayArea

[crouchpeter]

20 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

It's been my experience that Thai Airways tends to give better service to non-Thais over the years when I flew Thai.  I saw a lot of that back in the 80's and 90's.  Also heard a number of Thais complain about this as well.  Didn't matter if it was business or economy class.    

Now I tend to stay away from Thai Airways as their fares are always more expensive than their competitors and the routing is never that convenient.  

When disembarking on Thai air, the stewardesses usually do not wai a Thai girl traveling with a farang. Seems they've got the same attitude as Western women towards Thai girls!

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

It's been my experience that Thai Airways tends to give better service to non-Thais over the years when I flew Thai

Perhaps the USA guys tip the crew!

[Dan O]

22 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

It's been my experience that Thai Airways tends to give better service to non-Thais over the years when I flew Thai.  I saw a lot of that back in the 80's and 90's.  Also heard a number of Thais complain about this as well.  Didn't matter if it was business or economy class.    

Now I tend to stay away from Thai Airways as their fares are always more expensive than their competitors and the routing is never that convenient.  

So your experience 30 years ago is what you base your view of them on.  Way to stay current 

[spidermike007]

15 hours ago, Sig said:

He made a proper fool out of himself. With only what was explained in the article - one single example, how on earth does the reason for the treatment suddenly become a point of foreign/Thai!? There are likely a thousand other things it could be! It's even possible that IF extra attention was indeed being given to that passenger, maybe there was a VERY good reason and it's possible that such reason couldn't be shared in order to protect the privacy or even dignity of that passenger. There are so many possibilities outside of the idea that it is because the person was a foreigner, it is absurd. It looks like what I seem to come across so often... a racist, socially projecting on others. If one is racist and terribly insecure, projecting that onto others will make one's conscience feel justified. Not sure what it would take to convince me that this guy is not an arrogant, insecure racist. Of course, I wouldn't say that he is such, I don't know him, but boy oh boy, he sure is begging the question!

You combine poorly justified nationalism, with money, and it can be a toxic brew. In this case, add in the title of doctor. It may or not be racism, but it sure is a heavy dose of arrogance, with absolutely nothing to back it up. 

[Freddy42OZ]

On 3/29/2023 at 7:32 AM, handymax said:

Hey Doc, now you know how we foreigners feel every day we're in Thailand, try going to a national park and paying 10x the entry fee, just because we're not Thai, or the local market and paying double for a simple bag of food. Doesn't taste good, does it?

How often are you going to National Parks? 

I never pay double for anything on the local market and I shop in one a few days a week for vegetables and fruit.

[brianthainess]

On 3/29/2023 at 2:50 AM, webfact said:

after a flight attendant provided services exclusively to a foreign passenger. The attendant told the Thai man that the foreigner was a Gold Status member.

Loss of Face, and sounds rude, I wonder if he had flown, Air France he would have thought himself more entitled than the French man behind him. Thainess 

[John Drake]

10 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

maybe delusions of grandeur    https://www.doctena.be/en/doctor/dr_alexandre_kamnerdsiri-408 according to this link he's a GP    the "consultant" status appears to be something he's added himself 

Specialises in sexual medicine apparently   Does that mean  he's a pox doctor  lol

Unusually high profile if you ask me , just google his name if you can be bothered,  I'm either getting old or just old fashioned  but I'm sure my GP doesn't have a web page like this  https://www.drwk.be/    Unusual middle name for a Thai 

He's got a lab coat and a stethoscope and everything!

[proton]

On 3/29/2023 at 7:39 AM, RichardColeman said:

I travel cattle class. If some fool pays twice the price - or more - for the same flight, same distance and same time out of their lives , then good luck to them getting a bit more. Most people to Europe will try and sleep most of the flight, not exactly to get extra when catching zzz's

I did biz class for the first time last year on Qatar, waste of money and not only that the food was worse than in their economy, absolute garbage. People seem to have the attitude that they can stay in the toilets as long as they like as well. More space and drink is all it gets you.

Edited March 30, 2023 by proton

[proton]

First clarse is for proper people

 

 

[Freddy42OZ]

On 3/29/2023 at 10:03 AM, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"The airline owes him an apology and a better explanation."

 

Just love the sarcasm, great stuff!

No sarcasm. 

He paid the same for his seat, he also had gold level membership. 

I would be furious if I was him in the same situation.  

I suspect that the airline, like most service businesses, are trying to operate with fewer staff.  

I've been in low quality restaurants where they have 2 servers and getting service takes ages, and I've been in high quality restaurants where they have 6-8 servers and you get served pretty much instantly.  

People who pay a higher price expect, and rightly so, a high standard of service.

Businesses should make sure they have enough staff to deliver the service they advertise and for which we pay for. 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

58 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

No sarcasm. 

He paid the same for his seat, he also had gold level membership. 

I would be furious if I was him in the same situation.  

I suspect that the airline, like most service businesses, are trying to operate with fewer staff.  

I've been in low quality restaurants where they have 2 servers and getting service takes ages, and I've been in high quality restaurants where they have 6-8 servers and you get served pretty much instantly.  

People who pay a higher price expect, and rightly so, a high standard of service.

Businesses should make sure they have enough staff to deliver the service they advertise and for which we pay for. 

Certainly agree in general with your comments.

 

The problem here is we only have his word for what actually happened. There are always 2 sides to every story?

But if we take everything at face value and the Flight Attendant\Stewardess was not giving him the same service, all he had to do was press the call light, which would result in someone asking what he wanted,  failing that he could have stood up and gone to speak with the cabin supervisor? Getting furious is not the best thing to do!

 

However saying:

"What does that foreign passenger have that I don’t? I have both a French and a Belgian passport. I can speak three foreign languages, English, Greek, and Russian. I got overlooked because I am speaking Thai, right? Can you clarify this for me? Do I have to buy any coupons to receive the same standard of service? Where can I get it?”

Certainly comes over as condescending and arrogant and that is certainly not the way to talk  to anyone!

He comes over as a 'jerk' and 'do you know who I am', when he could have handled it so much better!

He is supposed to a 'professional' and he certainly didn't show it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[zzaa09]

On 3/28/2023 at 1:56 PM, ezzra said:

So now that the shoe in other foot as they say, it could have been one off situation, however, Thai silk service, in the opinions of many, is not as silky as it used to be and he's not the first one to notice.

Hasn't been right for a couple of decades. 

[metisdead]

Off topic trolling posts and the replies about racism in the US and other countries have been removed.  This topic is about:

 

 Thai Airways accused of favouring foreign passengers over Thais

[Neeranam]

20 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

You should have told her you could not speak or understand english 

lol, I have done that with some people

[Hanuman2547]

14 hours ago, Dan O said:

So your experience 30 years ago is what you base your view of them on.  Way to stay current 

I still fly Thai when I have to domestically.  However, this topic was about international flights.  Would I fly Thai Internationally again?  Maybe.  Usually the routing isn't as convenient and the airfare is higher than their competitors.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Hanuman2547

[scorecard]

On 3/29/2023 at 7:50 AM, RefinedGentleman said:

Amusing that a person would create an incident over the mere possibility that someone on their flight MIGHT be receiving better service than they are. ???? My God, talk about a fragile ego. Imagine the experiences this guy has in restaurants...does he take notes on how the other tables are treated relative to this own? Must be hard to go through life like this.

I think you're missing the point.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 3/29/2023 at 6:12 AM, wwest5829 said:

While I can understand, nonetheless, that fellow passenger held a more frequent flyer customer status and on that basis got the perks accorded to the earned status.

You need to read the article properly, the Thai was "Gold" also...that was his point!

[Liverpool Lou]

On 3/29/2023 at 6:20 AM, ikke1959 said:

Childish jealous behavior.... typical..... we are better than the rest

You didn't read it, did you?  He wasn't saying that Thais are better than the rest, he was saying that Thais of the same THAI status are equal to the rest.

[StayinThailand2much]

That's a joke, right? A few years ago, Thai Airways wanted to refuse me boarding, because I had 'no visa for Thailand, or return ticket'. Also, for a few extra kilos they charged me almost as much as my flight ticket cost.

Edited March 30, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[huyuli]

Everything good in cattle class on recent Thai flights. Will continue to fly with them. Mooooooo.

[Danderman123]

On 3/29/2023 at 5:23 PM, Danderman123 said:

On the flip side ...

 

I flew Economy the other day (it happens), and there was a gentleman from a southern Asian country seated near me who insisted on a free upgrade to Business class. He kept marching up to Business class, only to be marched back by the staff. They had to keep a lookout to.make sure he didn't sneak up and take a seat.

On the flip side of that story, on the way back from Danang to BKK, I was given a free upgrade to the front of the plane (Business Class seating). No idea why.

[jacko45k]

7 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

On the flip side of that story, on the way back from Danang to BKK, I was given a free upgrade to the front of the plane (Business Class seating). No idea why.

Oversold in the back and a passenger traveling alone an easy choice. 

[Dan O]

9 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

That's a joke, right? A few years ago, Thai Airways wanted to refuse me boarding, because I had 'no visa for Thailand, or return ticket'. Also, for a few extra kilos they charged me almost as much as my flight ticket cost.

Hmmm, So you weren't prepared for your trip. Return or on ward ticket is required for visa exempt entry, same on all airlines.  Packing too much luggage is on you, they publish the limits right on the website just like all airlines 

[Danderman123]

50 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Oversold in the back and a passenger traveling alone an easy choice. 

I was traveling with a Thai lady. We were both upgraded.

[Bday Prang]

23 hours ago, John Drake said:

He's got a lab coat and a stethoscope and everything!

He looks like one of those smarmy TV doctors  from the UK   No doubt spends more time preening himself than curing sick people,    I bet a consultation is not cheap either  

I'm wondering if "working girls" in Belgium need some sort of health certificate to allow them to operate legally?

Could be quite lucrative, certainly  appears so