Thai Airways welcomes 2 new A350 models for modern travel

[kimamey]

18 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

I would hate to sit next to him on a flight!

Yeh right,  of course you would. 

What makes you think you'd pass the intensive medical needed to be given that honour?

[kimamey]

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure Airbus are aware of passenger needs.

I think the interior outfitting is usually done by another company, but that atolls to Airbus, the outfitter and hopefully Thai Airways.

I doubt this article is an in depth look at these planes anyway. 

[rbkk]

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure Airbus are aware of passenger needs.

You have missed my point; it's not about the manufacturer of the aircraft. It's the operator of the aircraft (Thai Airways) that have chosen not to go with a free internet policy unlike their competition Singapore Airlines  et al. Thais are a nation at the the top of the ladder in social media usage. That requires the Internet.

[Doctor Tom]

15 minutes ago, rbkk said:

You have missed my point; it's not about the manufacturer of the aircraft. It's the operator of the aircraft (Thai Airways) that have chosen not to go with a free internet policy unlike their competition Singapore Airlines  et al. Thais are a nation at the the top of the ladder in social media usage. That requires the Internet.

It's a rather serious indictment of society if people can't put up with a few hours of no internet.  What ever happened to books?   Aircraft entertainment systems are more than adequate to entertain the most bored of air passengers, even kids.  Not one person on this Earth is so important that they have to be internet connected 24/7/365, with the possible exceptions of the US President  and the Military.   

Edited August 11, 2023 by Doctor Tom

[rbkk]

43 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

It's a rather serious indictment of society if people can't put up with a few hours of no internet.  What ever happened to books?   Aircraft entertainment systems are more than adequate to entertain the most bored of air passengers, even kids.  Not one person on this Earth is so important that they have to be internet connected 24/7/365, with the possible exceptions of the US President  and the Military. 

I'm of the opinion that people should be offered options/choices as standard. The competition has free Internet. The national airline denying access is unnecessarily hindering. Example: Why can't I message my wife to change the arrival time of my weather delayed flight?
BTW books have evolved now to e-books. With an Internet connection you could download any book and read to your hearts content at 35,000feet. Yes you could download a book before boarding but offering Internet onboard is more Thailand 4.0.

[bangkok19]

I thought their existing planes (e.g. Sydney -Bangkok route) already had touch screens.

I've used them!

[NanLaew]

44 minutes ago, rbkk said:

Example: Why can't I message my wife to change the arrival time of my weather delayed flight?

OMG, how on earth did we survive before when the De Havilland DH50 was delayed with a flat tire on the Delhi stopover and there was absolutely no way to tell Reginald and Daphne in Penang that we'd miss high tea with them on Sunday.

 

 

But seriously, how about your wife getting Flightradar24 on her smartphone like mine does?

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, rbkk said:

I'm of the opinion that people should be offered options/choices as standard. The competition has free Internet. The national airline denying access is unnecessarily hindering. Example: Why can't I message my wife to change the arrival time of my weather delayed flight?
BTW books have evolved now to e-books. With an Internet connection you could download any book and read to your hearts content at 35,000feet. Yes you could download a book before boarding but offering Internet onboard is more Thailand 4.0.

I'd rather have cheaper tickets, not add-ons I don't need.  Tell your wife to put 'Flight Aware' App on her phone, then she can check for herself. 

[rbkk]

30 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

OMG, how on earth did we survive before when the De Havilland DH50 was delayed with a flat tire on the Delhi stopover and there was absolutely no way to tell Reginald and Daphne in Penang that we'd miss high tea with them on Sunday.

 

 

But seriously, how about your wife getting Flightradar24 on her smartphone like mine does?

True story. My sister and I were "Stuck" (Free hotel/tours/food/drinks) in Delhi for 3 days in 1976 after our British Airways (B.O.A.C.?) flight to London from Hong Kong (3 stop-overs for fuel-BKK/India/Germany) had an engine fire on take-off from Delhi and had to dump fuel and land back. As unaccompanied young passengers ( 13 +11 yrs old) British Airways assured us that our contact points at both ends had been messaged (Telegram). They had not received any notifications and both ends were unaware of our delay. It took 3 days to source an aircraft (from Australia) to continue our journey. Some people lost their jobs at BA over their handling of the emergency.

 Here we are nearly 50 years hence and being connected today in the air is possible for the airlines. Some airlines have even saved costs by removing seat-back screens altogether and connect content direct to your device in the cabin. Live International TV is even  being streamed by some airlines.

[rbkk]

31 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

I'd rather have cheaper tickets, not add-ons I don't need.  Tell your wife to put 'Flight Aware' App on her phone, then she can check for herself. 

As, I'm guessing, your a leisure travellor, about 30% of your fellow travellors (Australian reference) find the Internet important to them. This rises to 50% in the business travellor sector. Thai people have a higher usage of social media for business and social than many other nationalities.

"In a recent survey of Virgin Australia customers, 1 in 3 passengers travelling for leisure and almost half of Business Class passengers said that wi-fi was important to them when travelling."

"Virgin’s main competitor, Qantas, currently offers free high-speed wifi to all passengers on most of its mainline domestic flights operated by Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft, in partnership with Viasat."
https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/virgin-australia-wifi/

[thaiowl]

10 hours ago, Moonlover said:

They are bringing the A330-300s back into service.

 

https://airwaysmag.com/thai-airways-older-jets/

That article is over 12 months old...and still no A330s flying.

[Muhendis]

On 8/10/2023 at 6:00 PM, scottiejohn said:

Out of the question!

Think of the germs!

Nah!

 

A soapy one should sort out all them 'orible little things

[Grumpy01]

16 hours ago, bluejets said:

We'd be happier to see them resume direct flights from Brisbane to Suvarnabhumi rather than having to spend our time and money travelling and staying overnight either in Sydney or Melbourne.

I agree I would like to see them return to Perth and offer direct to BKK now have to 4 hour to Syd or go via KL for 2 days

[observer90210]

Many digital security specialists recommend to avoid if possible...if possible, using free public wifi networks,  as in hotels, airports, planes or restaurants etc.... As I am not a IT specialist to contradict, I abide to that rule and avoid using wifi in public places. But it can be inconvenient and costly to use the phone network when in a hotel room.

[Lucky Bones]

On 8/10/2023 at 11:23 PM, Doctor Tom said:

Typical reaction on this forum, nothing about the A350 itself, just a load of snide comments, typical  and pathetic. 

A350? I think you will find that very few people look at or care about the plane.

People just want to get to "B".

As for the wi-fi, screens, headphones, germs etc....try reading a book?????????

[still kicking]

17 hours ago, bluejets said:

We'd be happier to see them resume direct flights from Brisbane to Suvarnabhumi rather than having to spend our time and money travelling and staying overnight either in Sydney or Melbourne.

Add Perth to the list 

[Grumpy01]

Be nice to see them back to Perth to BKK direct again

[jacko45k]

23 hours ago, kimamey said:

You can always clean a touch screen. How do you do that with all the other surfaces you touch on your way to that seat?

I am paranoid about touching public toilet door handles, so I use my mouth.

[scottiejohn]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I am paranoid about touching public toilet door handles, so I use my mouth.

I do hope it just to ask someone else to open the door for you!

[kimamey]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I am paranoid about touching public toilet door handles, so I use my mouth.

Can you tell me which ones so I can hose them down with bleach before I touch them. ????

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

I do hope it just to ask someone else to open the door for you!

Good suggestion,

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:57 AM, stratocaster said:

Not exactly new as both aircraft are almost 4 years old and are from a batch of cancellations. One plane is ex Hainan airways but never carried out commercial flights. Cost per plane is estimated at 110,175,000 US.

 

Is Thai Airways debt still up around the 600 billion THB mark?

 

Wonder if it will continue to be run as a boondoggle in the future even after being saddled with unreconcilable debts?

[still kicking]

What about restoring flights to Perth and Brisbane 

[Moonlover]

On 8/11/2023 at 7:16 PM, thaiowl said:

On 8/11/2023 at 9:15 AM, Moonlover said:

They are bringing the A330-300s back into service.

 

https://airwaysmag.com/thai-airways-older-jets/

 

On 8/11/2023 at 7:16 PM, thaiowl said:

That article is over 12 months old...and still no A330s flying.

The article does not mention a timescale. I guess it's a case of 'when the time is right'.

[stratocaster]

13 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Is Thai Airways debt still up around the 600 billion THB mark?

 

Wonder if it will continue to be run as a boondoggle in the future even after being saddled with unreconcilable debts?

Will be interesting to see the next financial report to find out what they put down on paper as the cost.

[NanLaew]

On 8/11/2023 at 5:17 PM, rbkk said:

As, I'm guessing, your a leisure travellor, about 30% of your fellow travellors (Australian reference) find the Internet important to them. This rises to 50% in the business travellor sector. Thai people have a higher usage of social media for business and social than many other nationalities.

"In a recent survey of Virgin Australia customers, 1 in 3 passengers travelling for leisure and almost half of Business Class passengers said that wi-fi was important to them when travelling."

"Virgin’s main competitor, Qantas, currently offers free high-speed wifi to all passengers on most of its mainline domestic flights operated by Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft, in partnership with Viasat."
https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/virgin-australia-wifi/

From the dates and chronology of your previous posts, like myself you may be a pensioner? Based on that assumption (I know, always perlilous) you are mostly a leisure traveler? So what's fueling the dire need for internet on airplanes in these relaxed, twilight years? And this concern about what the other, younger, working demographic allegedly clamours for? Apart from some other, non-Thai airlines having it I mean.

[still kicking]

On 8/11/2023 at 11:25 PM, Grumpy01 said:

I agree I would like to see them return to Perth and offer direct to BKK now have to 4 hour to Syd or go via KL for 2 days

Agree with you I caught the last non-stop to Perth from BKK now I have to stop over in KL or Singapore there was a rumour Perth BKK will start up again later this year but no word from Thai Air as yet 

[Wiggy]

The pitch is not the distance between the rows of seats. It is the distance of any point on a seat to the same point on the seat in front when not reclined. 

[stratocaster]

The latest in thing for some airlines now is to retrofit the exterior livery as used on their 70's and 80's aircraft. I thought this would be a good move for Thai airways as the exterior would then match the interior.

On a more serious note I was watching Heathrow departures yesterday and it is amazing the amount of former white elephants, also known as A380's that are back in service. Felt like every third plane was one. There was an article that stated that Thai A380's are to remain grounded for the foreseeable future.

I have just re watched a cine film I made in 1983 onboard a Thai flight and was surprised to see a full bottle, yes bottle, of Singha on the tray. Last flight taken I got a half empty plastic glass, they did not even give me the remains of the can.

[rbkk]

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

From the dates and chronology of your previous posts, like myself you may be a pensioner? Based on that assumption (I know, always perlilous) you are mostly a leisure traveler? So what's fueling the dire need for internet on airplanes in these relaxed, twilight years? And this concern about what the other, younger, working demographic allegedly clamours for? Apart from some other, non-Thai airlines having it I mean.

Simple. Choice. Being connected is my choice. The world moves forward whilst Thai Airways passengers are disconnected in the air. Why should passengers have to 'catch-up' when the option to keep them connected (If they so choose) exists for free with the competition?
 

 

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

And this concern about what the other, younger, working demographic allegedly clamours for?

I have a daughter currently studying for her B.A.(Tourism) in BKK, (Dual nationality/ 5 languages). Her intentions are to be international flight crew either with a Thai airline or an overseas airline, she hasn't decided yet. Happier passengers equates to a happy working environment.

 

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

So what's fueling the dire need for internet on airplanes in these relaxed, twilight years?

-Being able to have a chuckle at life now back in the UK on Have I Got News For You using the BBC iplayer @35,000ft?
-E-mails/messages?

-Shopping online?
-Research?
-A more productive life when the Internet is available......
 

Edited August 14, 2023 by rbkk