Thai Airways’ turbulence at Suvarnabhumi: Transport minister threatens contract termination

[webfact]

 

Transport Minister Suriya Jungroongreangkit issued a warning to Thai Airways International (THAI) following a series of complaints about subpar ground services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

 

Speaking after a pivotal meeting with airport service operators, Suriya unveiled a roadmap for dramatic improvements or contractual consequences.

 

“The ministry has been inundated with grievances regarding the dismal quality of ground services provided by several airlines and businesses.”

 

In a bid to address the mounting concerns, a high-stakes meeting was convened with key players, namely THAI Ground and Bangkok Flight Services.

 

Revealing the root causes, the transport minister attributed the service quality debacle to a dire shortage of adequate equipment and a revolving door of underqualified staff. With patience wearing thin, he delivered a clear ultimatum:

 

“Shape up or face premature termination of contracts, particularly Thai Airways, which still has a staggering 12 years left on its tenure.”

 

Expedite improvements

 

In a bid to expedite improvements, Transport Minister Suriya disclosed a short-term strategy involving the enlistment of Airports of Thailand (AOT) Ground Aviation Services. Suriya stressed the imperative for THAI to meet service standards within its contractual timeframe.

 

“The ministry will closely monitor operations monthly.”

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal 

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-15

 

- 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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[flyingtlger]

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

[NanLaew]

51 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

 

mooooo.....

[bokningar]

They pay someone to get a ridiculously long contract ( 12 years left)

And now they have to do the job as well, can't be right 

[Zack61]

From hero to zero. How times have changed. 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

There talking about ground services?

Which means, aircraft handling, baggage movements, turn-arounds.. etc

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Shape up or face premature termination of contracts, particularly Thai Airways, which still has a staggering 12 years left on its tenure.”

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Suriya stressed the imperative for THAI to meet service standards within its contractual timeframe.

12 years to shape up ???

[geisha]

I’ll never forget a passenger who didn’t put his phone off immediately after the announcement, a stewardess turned round in the alley and screamed at him !  A real soi 6 voice . Yes,  passenger was wrong, but the fish wife look wasn’t very becoming.

[geisha]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

There talking about ground services?

Which means, aircraft handling, baggage movements, turn-arounds.. etc

 

Everything .

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, geisha said:

I’ll never forget a passenger who didn’t put his phone off immediately after the announcement, a stewardess turned round in the alley and screamed at him !  A real soi 6 voice . Yes,  passenger was wrong, but the fish wife look wasn’t very becoming.

 

I'll never forget flying in biz class with my 18 year old son. After dinner finished, everything packed away my son politely asked for a glass of Coke.

 

 

Biz waitress (cabin crew) continued walking and yelled back at my son "go and ask in economy class".

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Well, tell the minister, that Thai just adjusted their ground services to their lousy inflight performance. It is an absolute disgrace, how these arrogant snobbish air crew behave in their ever-so-important execution of their jobs. I do not really care for smiles and "Hello Mr. " but you can imagine what happens, if these high flyers all of a sudden have to evacuate an aircraft or assist a passenger. The same applies to the food; I agree that in-flight food is not meant to compete with Michelin stars but some food would be so much better if just properly reheated.

Hence, I for one, gave up flying Thai long time ago; they will not feel the impact but I get much better deals with low cost carriers operating at half the price; there at least I know that I do not have to expect anything beyond basic minimum - and that is OK with me. 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

Did you know:

https://ir.thaiairways.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231110-thai-mdna-3q2023-EN.pdf

• THAI recently received the TTG Travel Hall of Fame and Best Inflight Service Awards at the 32nd TTG Travel Awards 2023 Ceremony. The prestigious awards were voted by readers of TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s print and online publications such as TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTG MICE, TTG associations, TTG-BT MICE China, TTG associations, and TTG Asia Luxury, for THAI’s excellence in travel trade industry. THAI was honored the TTG TravelHall of Fame after winning the Best Southeast Asian Airline Award at the TTG Travel Award for 10 consecutive years.

???

[RandolphGB]

Nothing will change until a Westerner with an executive level career in the aviation industry is hired at Thai Air and AOT. Not some room IQ army generals or do-nothing Thais who've paid for promotions. 

[VBF]

1 minute ago, RandolphGB said:

Nothing will change until a Westerner with an executive level career in the aviation industry is hired at Thai Air and AOT. Not some room IQ army generals or do-nothing Thais who've paid for promotions. 

Which is partly why (IMO) Emirates is so successful. Everything this thread says about Thai can be turned 180 degrees when discussing Emirates.

[Bangkok Barry]

19 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

It is an absolute disgrace, how these arrogant snobbish air crew behave in their ever-so-important execution of their jobs. I do not really care for smiles and "Hello Mr. " but you can imagine what happens, if these high flyers all of a sudden have to evacuate an aircraft or assist a passenger.

 

I was on a flight from Dubai to Bangkok one night when a fight broke out after a passenger objected to another setting the seat in front too far back. The crew vanished from sight and it was down to passengers to deal with the situation. Do these arrogant snobbish crew realise that what they are is waitresses/waiters in the sky. That's all. 

[Bobydog]

7 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Did you know:

https://ir.thaiairways.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231110-thai-mdna-3q2023-EN.pdf

• THAI recently received the TTG Travel Hall of Fame and Best Inflight Service Awards at the 32nd TTG Travel Awards 2023 Ceremony. The prestigious awards were voted by readers of TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s print and online publications such as TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTG MICE, TTG associations, TTG-BT MICE China, TTG associations, and TTG Asia Luxury, for THAI’s excellence in travel trade industry. THAI was honored the TTG TravelHall of Fame after winning the Best Southeast Asian Airline Award at the TTG Travel Award for 10 consecutive years.

???

You'd have to wonder who paid who for the load of codswhollop!

[chiman]

Unfortunately, I don't feel safe flying Thai at the moment.  If they can turn things around, I will be happy to fly them again.  FAA certification would be a good start.  

[Bangkok Barry]

2 minutes ago, VBF said:

Which is partly why (IMO) Emirates is so successful. Everything this thread says about Thai can be turned 180 degrees when discussing Emirates.

 

Before the pandemic there were six Emirates flights from Dubai to Thailand, including two A380s. THAI had one. That tells you all you need to know. Last time I flew the route, December 2022, Emirates still had five after the 're-start' of air services.

[spidermike007]

The few times I have flown with them, it has been disappointing. They are now a marginal airline. Baggage retrieval can be very slow. Service can be surly. 

 

No thanks. Will stick with a real airline, that has pride in what they are doing, like EVA, where I get great service. 

Edited February 15 by spidermike007

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

series of complaints about subpar ground services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Maybe indirectly Thai Airways lost its focus on passenger service with its non-core businesses such as restaurants and catering business. 

• Thai Airways Launches Cabin-Like Cafe Selling Flight Meals - by Khaosod English - September 2, 2020

[steven100]

It's not just Thai airways, it's thai mentality....  I was in a shop yesterday,  I'm looking at items and how much and the wife watching on ...  then she says'   I have to help my husband .. who was unloading and carrying new stock into the shop,

 I can't stay and watch you ... so she ushers me out the door.   

I mumbled ' up to you '  as I walked out.   Arrogant all over ....   

 

 

[steven100]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The few times I have flown with them, it has been disappointing. They are now a marginal airline. Baggage retrieval can be very slow. Service can be surly. 

 

No thanks. Will stick with a real airline, that has pride in what they are doing, like EVA, where I get great service. 

yes ,  I won't fly TG ever again ....  now Singapore or Malaysian,  but Singapore is by far one of the best around.

As for Air Asia ... I'm reluctant to ever jump on their jets following their scrupulous ways trying not to refund following Covid cancellations.

[bkk6060]

Could this be the cargo door problem excuse when it is something more serious like ground maintenance issues?

Just hope they are properly serving the aircraft between flights.

[lopburi3]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

It's not just Thai airways, it's thai mentality....  I was in a shop yesterday,  I'm looking at items and how much and the wife watching on ...  then she says'   I have to help my husband .. who was unloading and carrying new stock into the shop,

 I can't stay and watch you ... so she ushers me out the door.   

I mumbled ' up to you '  as I walked out.   Arrogant all over ....   

 

 

Obviously up to no good.  😀

 

[mancub]

59 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Did you know:

https://ir.thaiairways.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231110-thai-mdna-3q2023-EN.pdf

• THAI recently received the TTG Travel Hall of Fame and Best Inflight Service Awards at the 32nd TTG Travel Awards 2023 Ceremony. The prestigious awards were voted by readers of TTG Travel Trade Publishing’s print and online publications such as TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTG MICE, TTG associations, TTG-BT MICE China, TTG associations, and TTG Asia Luxury, for THAI’s excellence in travel trade industry. THAI was honored the TTG TravelHall of Fame after winning the Best Southeast Asian Airline Award at the TTG Travel Award for 10 consecutive years.

???

TTG votes for/ gives awards based on who offers their staff the best perks, jollys or freebees ! 😁

[superal]

I am going against the grain because I fly Thai Air from Bangkok -  Heathrow quite often and I have no complaints . Also their flight from Heathrow to Bangkok gives the choice of arriving early morning at 06 00 am which gives me time for other flight connections from Don Mueang . Thai Air food and drinks are generally good . The disembarking at  Suvarnabhumi is not too far to walk to the immigration as opposed to other airlines where the walk is often 10 - 15 minutes . BTW , I only fly economy . More often than not the Thai Air flights are mostly full of passengers , so they cannot be that bad . Also cheaper than Eva who I use to use and IMO are also a decent  airline . I avoid the luggage carousels because I travel light and can be out of the Suvarnibhumi in 30 minutes after landing ( over 70 immigration booth )

[itsari]

6 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

move um on and head  um up, move um on 

[Dave0206]

2 hours ago, superal said:

I am going against the grain because I fly Thai Air from Bangkok -  Heathrow quite often and I have no complaints . Also their flight from Heathrow to Bangkok gives the choice of arriving early morning at 06 00 am which gives me time for other flight connections from Don Mueang . Thai Air food and drinks are generally good . The disembarking at  Suvarnabhumi is not too far to walk to the immigration as opposed to other airlines where the walk is often 10 - 15 minutes . BTW , I only fly economy . More often than not the Thai Air flights are mostly full of passengers , so they cannot be that bad . Also cheaper than Eva who I use to use and IMO are also a decent  airline . I avoid the luggage carousels because I travel light and can be out of the Suvarnibhumi in 30 minutes after landing ( over 70 immigration booth )

I also fly thai but from Zurich flight is OK as is food I'm not too fussy.

I have checked in bag but last twice it took approximately 45 minutes to pass immigration so after 10 minutes walk + 45 bag was waiting. 

In saying that passport control at schipol.zurich or lhr is no better than bkk only locals or fast track make it quicker if you arrive @ a busy time 

[Jonathan Swift]

8 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

If you don't fly First Class, you're treated like cattle....

Flying has nothing to do with ground services. Ground services are such things as baggage handling. Ground. Services. Not air services. Do your homework.

[Jonathan Swift]

I know a Thai lady who has worked in baggage/ground services for 15 years. About 5 years ago another contractor came in and cut all of their pay by 60%. Her 10 years of service meant nothing. She works successive rotating 12 hour shifts, sometimes 7 days a week. We all know that overworking and abusing employees who are underpaid and sleep deprived is going to create job performance problems. That is one explanation, in my humble opinion.