The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) convened with Thai Airways International Public Co. Ltd. yesterday, December 8 following a passenger’s complaint that surfaced on social media.

 

The disgruntled passenger had purchased a business-class ticket but was seated in the economy class.

 

An ensuing investigation revealed that Thai Airways had restructured its business model, replacing Thai Smile flights with continuous flights using Airbus A320. This resulted in a change of service format. Smile Plus tickets, previously offered by Thai Smile, were replaced with Silk Class tickets.

The revamped service now aligns with Thai Airways’ business class services, offering facilities such as a 40-kilogramme luggage allowance, check-in and gate services, lounge access at airports, and onboard food and beverage services. However, the seating remained economy class, with the middle seat left vacant for passenger convenience.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Thai Airways

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-11

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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AFAIK, Thai Smile "business class" is the same as Thai Airways domestic business class, ie EuroBusiness class.

so they have stuffed business class seats in the middle of economy class - lol

 

what genius came up with that idea

1 hour ago, smedly said:

so they have stuffed business class seats in the middle of economy class - lol

 

what genius came up with that idea

I think you will find that we are seeing 2 photos comparing the class seating???

When you're the national carrier without really any other serious competitions, you tend to stretch boundaries just to see how far you can

go before people notice and complain... like in the case of Qantas when they sold 8,000 tickets to an already cancelled flight...

I can’t believe this made the news.  It’s a seating issue which the airline has to address internally.  

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the seating remained economy class, with the middle seat left vacant for passenger convenience.

How thoughtful

It's the Thai way .....  

6 hours ago, smedly said:

so they have stuffed business class seats in the middle of economy class - lol

 

what genius came up with that idea

My guess it was a Thai.

3 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

My guess it was a Thai.

Was Alan Joyce an Ozzie? 

4 hours ago, bdenner said:

I think you will find that we are seeing 2 photos comparing the class seating???

 

No, that is the real deal.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en_SE/offer/special_offers/Mixed_Classes.page:

 

 

 

4 hours ago, bdenner said:

I think you will find that we are seeing 2 photos comparing the class seating???

No I just downloaded the pic zoomed in, and it is defiantly not a doctored image they are in the same compartment 

Confusion and misunderstanding. Who would have thought that was possible in Thailand? Yet another of the endless examples of things not being thought through. Really, even top executives seem to have the mind of a five year old, totally devoid of logical thinking.

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

 

No, that is the real deal.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en_SE/offer/special_offers/Mixed_Classes.page:

 

 

 

Wow, I have never seen a 3 aisle passenger aircraft. Are you sure ?😁

I have no idea what that photo is of, but the article is about an Airbus A220 flight, which is a single aisle aircraft.

1 hour ago, neverere said:

Wow, I have never seen a 3 aisle passenger aircraft. Are you sure ?😁

I have been on one with 3 aisles many years ago. Great if not many passengers, can sleep in the middle row stretched out across the 3 seats, not sure what airline it was though.

1 hour ago, Taxi said:

I have no idea what that photo is of, but the article is about an Airbus A220 flight, which is a single aisle aircraft.

 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

using Airbus A320.

I think you need a quick visit to specsave 

No that picture can not be real.

 

Right?

2 hours ago, Olmate said:

Was Alan Joyce an Ozzie? 

Yes OZ-IRISH he was CEO of Quaint-ass as it got nicknamed becoz of all the male stewards. Retired sept this year. Google is amazing init.

"Thai Smile", "Smile Plus", "Silk Class",...

I remember the times when they had economy, business and first class. But I guess that was too easy for the marketing department. 

5 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Yes OZ-IRISH he was CEO of Quaint-ass as it got nicknamed becoz of all the male stewards. Retired sept this year. Google is amazing init.

No &hit sherlock, I was being facitous to a Thai bash! lol

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The revamped service now aligns with Thai Airways’ business class services, .... However, the seating remained economy class, with the middle seat left vacant for passenger convenience.

 

You cannot make it up, I would look at other airlines.

9 hours ago, smedly said:

so they have stuffed business class seats in the middle of economy class - lol

 

what genius came up with that idea

So you can sneer across the aisle at the plebs

1 hour ago, Taxi said:

I have no idea what that photo is of, but the article is about an Airbus A220 flight, which is a single aisle aircraft.

 

Look again, the article clearly says A320, Thai Airways don't even have any A220s, which is a single-aisle plane with 2+3 economy-seating in normal-configuration.

 

The photo is clearly a wide-bodied plane, so not an A320 or an A320, it has to be photoshopped, for comparison purposes. 

9 hours ago, smedly said:

so they have stuffed business class seats in the middle of economy class - lol

 

what genius came up with that idea

No, they have not done that but it is explained in the full article.   What genius didn't read it?

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, they have not done that but it is explained in the full article.   What genius didn't read it?

I read it 3 times.  Very very confusing.  I've flown business class a couple of times.  If I was stuck in the middle of economy I would be pissed.

2 hours ago, Ricardo said:

 

Look again, the article clearly says A320, Thai Airways don't even have any A220s, which is a single-aisle plane with 2+3 economy-seating in normal-configuration.

 

The photo is clearly a wide-bodied plane, so not an A320 or an A320, it has to be photoshopped, for comparison purposes. 

You are correct 🙂

It’s a mock up to advertise their ‘fantastic’ idea to allow you to use their new booking system to reserve ‘mixed class’ return flights. e.g. flying out on Economy and back on Business v.v.

 

 

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

So you can sneer across the aisle at the plebs

 

that's how i feel driving on the expressway in bkk. away from all the riff raff below. 

5 hours ago, neverere said:

Wow, I have never seen a 3 aisle passenger aircraft. Are you sure ?😁

Naahhh, it is a  flying departure lounge, another Thai thing.

Thai Airways still owes me 45k from canceled flights during covid. My travel vouchers are expiring in 24. What's the chances I get anything out of them? 

 

They said they were going to pay. 

 

Communication about the status of this with the airline is useless.

 

I can just use what they owe me and fly somewhere...till the end of the year.