Thai Airways will remove first class cabins across its fleet, replacing them with upgraded “business plus” suites as its most premium onboard offering. The move, confirmed by CEO Chai Eamsiri, aligns the airline with other major international carriers that have already eliminated first class. Passengers will instead see enhanced business class seating, particularly in the front row, offering more space and upgraded features.

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The airline’s first class product, once a hallmark of luxury travel, had already been scaled back in recent years. Only three Boeing 777 aircraft still feature first class cabins, all of which will be refitted under a broader fleet standardisation programme. This overhaul will introduce a consistent layout across aircraft, including business class, premium economy and economy cabins on Airbus A350, Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-300ER jets.

The new Royal Silk business class suites will include sliding privacy doors, 24-inch screens, Bluetooth audio streaming, wireless charging and USB-C power outlets. Thai Airways will also introduce “business plus” suites in the first row, offering larger seating areas, extended legroom and companion dining options. These four premium suites will be sold at a higher fare than standard business class.

The strategy mirrors similar approaches by airlines such as American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa, which have shifted focus from first class to enhanced business offerings. Thai Airways believes this change will provide passengers with more choice while improving revenue potential, particularly in competitive premium travel segments.

Premium economy will also become a standard feature on Thai’s twin-aisle aircraft, targeting travellers seeking a more affordable upgrade from economy. However, the airline clarified that its “Premium Economy Plus” product currently consists of older business class seats from previously operated Airbus A330 aircraft, rather than newer lie-flat designs.

The upgraded long-haul business class will complement the lie-flat regional business class on Thai’s new Airbus A321neo jets. The airline aims to create a seamless premium experience across short- and long-haul routes, allowing passengers to maintain consistent comfort throughout their journey. Chai Eamsiri stated this unified product strategy is expected to boost customer satisfaction and help Thai Airways capture a larger share of the regional business travel market.

Picture courtesy of ExecutiveTraveller

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Executivetraveller 9 Apr 2026

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They stopped selling First tickets on BKK-LHR months ago apparently.

Simply not available any more - I last got one in September

Now we know the seats are still there and being used as business, without the caviar, etc would be my guess, not that I eat that slop anyway.

As long as a general is still comfy in the seat I don't see any issue.

So do we expect the Biz Class seats to go up with this improved level? i was looking at flights to Bali last year and Thai's Biz Class was much higher priced than the competition. They put a premium on direct I guess, but it was too much for me and I changed in Singapore.

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

They stopped selling First tickets on BKK-LHR months ago apparently.

Simply not available any more - I last got one in September

Now we know the seats are still there and being used as business, without the caviar, etc would be my guess, not that I eat that slop anyway.

Unfortunately caviar is also served in business class. I was served that on BKK-LHR last week, so there's probably no escaping the "slop" unless you travel in economy.

I never understood the appeal personally. I always travel low class, bring my own snacks and don't notice the difference.

I never travel Fist Class any longer … not since I was and the Company’s meter. Thai airlines really is unable to offer a first class service that is competitive with airlines like Singapore, Emirates etc. I have to believe that their passenger loads in First were dropping. Likely a smart move to give up and try to focus on something that they have a chance of success with.

In the past I had three issues with TG. 1. Their website was unstable and the UI not user friendly. 2. Their fares almost never came close to market prices. 3. Their product was past its sell by date. You never really knew what aircraft you were going to get or how old it was. The seats were out of date with “flat bed” being a concept without a plan. The onboard service that the grandma and grandpa flight attendants gave was perfunctory at best. If TG can sort those issues out I might give them a closer look.

Thai Airways should improve its on-time performance.

1 hour ago, 1tooth said:

I never understood the appeal personally. I always travel low class, bring my own snacks and don't notice the difference.

Under 5' 6",are we?

I generally on long haul fly business class as I find it to be better value for money than 1st, as my main carrier is Swiss their 1st class sucks. Although I am waiting for the new A350 1st to be used on a route that I want as it looks way better than the current offering from Swiss 1st

2 hours ago, Homburg said:

Unfortunately caviar is also served in business class. I was served that on BKK-LHR last week, so there's probably no escaping the "slop" unless you travel in economy.

Or 'throw it in the bin' as trump did to the IRAN 10 point peace plan.

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I never understood the appeal personally. I always travel low class, bring my own snacks and don't notice the difference.

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I never understood the appeal personally. I always travel low class, bring my own snacks and don't notice the difference.

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I never understood the appeal personally. I always travel low class, bring my own snacks and don't notice the difference.

Retired,I can't afford first or business so I always book early to get a seat in the first row of economy which has better leg space. (an I check when my borading ass is given me to ensure the row/seat number is as I booked on line).

That's all I need plus of course a couple of nice sandwiches (from home) to supplement the economy tray meal, and purchased at the airport, a couple of small cakes and 2 bottles of cold Lipton Lemon tea. Good enough for me.

I wish I had done that when I had to fly non stop from Tokya to Texas. The cabin crew all old and well overweight, they started serving the meal quite late and had to rush to collect all the trrays just before landing in Taxas.

Before finishing the tray service to every economy passenger the cabin crew person had to go back to the galley to get a forgotten fork or whatever, all super slow. Wine was served by a second CC person. Totally disorganized, they ran out of the wine many were hoping to order, and continuously asked passsengers eating to put their knife and fork down and hold the bottles for 1 or 3 minutes.

Plus cc staff regularly butting into personal conversations between passengers about dogs etc.

All way way less than professional.

I've always had acceptable and friendly service on TG despite aging aircraft.

If they're going to rejig Business, then Premium Economy should be made lie-flat or it isn't worth the money. Premium Economy is the future of air travel, esp with ticket prices through the roof. A little luxury one can afford.

Which brings me to the old joke. On Air Canada, most stews are pushing 70. A friend once asked why, on Asian airlines, the stews are all babes. It's about the design of the aircraft. When they hit 25, they walk to the back and there's a chute. Bada-bing!

On a (slightly) more serious note, without First Class, how are Thai stews going to find rich husbands???

I love Thai Airways Biz Class

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

They stopped selling First tickets on BKK-LHR months ago apparently.

They're still being sold, but only on TG910/911, not on TG916/917.

Only flew TG First Class once when I got an upgrade from Business through a gold card offer. Most the added services seemed unnecessary and a little annoying to me.

I don't need someone to carry my hand luggage, travelling in a golf buggy makes me feel like a disabled person, and the long walk to the gate is useful pre-flight exercise. The longer pre-flight massage was nice, but they closed the spa years ago.

And after all this extra 'pomp', transfer to the plane was on a rickety bus (what does Thai have against air bridges?).

But without using points, Thai pricing in any class is just not competitive anyway.

5 hours ago, Front Row said:

In the past I had three issues with TG. 1. Their website was unstable and the UI not user friendly. 2. Their fares almost never came close to market prices. 3. Their product was past its sell by date. You never really knew what aircraft you were going to get or how old it was. The seats were out of date with “flat bed” being a concept without a plan. The onboard service that the grandma and grandpa flight attendants gave was perfunctory at best. If TG can sort those issues out I might give them a closer look.

I flew BKK to LGW in 2020 (start of lockdowns) when Emirates stopped flying for a while (UAE airspace closed)

Both flights, Emirates and Thai were A380 Business Class so a like for like comparison.

Thai is complete rubbish compared to Emirates in terms of cabin layout, comfort, food and service

3 minutes ago, VBF said:

I flew BKK to LGW in 2020 (start of lockdowns) when Emirates stopped flying for a while (UAE airspace closed)

Both flights, Emirates and Thai were A380 Business Class so a like for like comparison.

Thai is complete rubbish compared to Emirates in terms of cabin layout, comfort, food and service

Since THAI have never flown any aircraft to LGW ever, your comment rubbishing their in flight service sounds like rubbish.

5 hours ago, Front Row said:

In the past I had three issues with TG. 1. Their website was unstable and the UI not user friendly. 2. Their fares almost never came close to market prices. 3. Their product was past its sell by date. You never really knew what aircraft you were going to get or how old it was. The seats were out of date with “flat bed” being a concept without a plan. The onboard service that the grandma and grandpa flight attendants gave was perfunctory at best. If TG can sort those issues out I might give them a closer look.

But you probably won't.

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Since THAI have never flown any aircraft to LGW ever, your comment rubbishing their in flight service sounds like rubbish.

Correct -my error- it was LHR (my original Emirates flight was LGW, which is my chosen airport and I mis-typed)

Other than that my comments apply as stated especially "Thai is complete rubbish compared to Emirates in terms of cabin layout, comfort, food and service"

5 hours ago, chilli42 said:

I never travel Fist Class any longer … not since I was and the Company’s meter. Thai airlines really is unable to offer a first class service that is competitive with airlines like Singapore, Emirates etc. I have to believe that their passenger loads in First were dropping. Likely a smart move to give up and try to focus on something that they have a chance of success with.

I agree. I've always thoroughly enjoyed Thai's biz class in every respect. Also flew it domestic back then on I think A330s with those huge leather seats. I always try for biz on long haul. The ease of pre boarding, bags of hand baggage space, the calm, more space and comfort, a more personal service, better quality meals ... it's the way flying should be (and the way it always was in an earlier life as a privileged airline employee 555)

Never eaten 'real' caviar though - only ever the supermarket variety at home. Didn't stun me but I couldn't call it 'slop' 555.

5 hours ago, Homburg said:

Unfortunately caviar is also served in business class. I was served that on BKK-LHR last week, so there's probably no escaping the "slop" unless you travel in economy.

It's been a while, but the best in-flight caviar I can remember was on a G700 non-stop from Biggin Hill to Singapore.

6 minutes ago, VBF said:

Correct -my error- it was LHR (my original Emirates flight was LGW, which is my chosen airport and I mis-typed)

Other than that my comments apply as stated especially "Thai is complete rubbish compared to Emirates in terms of cabin layout, comfort, food and service"

No worries, easy mistake. Considering Emirates was the "all-A380" airline and truly finessed their fleet-wide experience due to having deeper pockets than any other A380 operator, it's probably true that all the other A380 operators were delivering "rubbish" compared with Emirates.

13 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

No worries, easy mistake. Considering Emirates was the "all-A380" airline and truly finessed their fleet-wide experience due to having deeper pockets than any other A380 operator, it's probably true that all the other A380 operators were delivering "rubbish" compared with Emirates.

Indeed, but the fact remains that £ for £ for customers, Emirates is an all-round "happier" flying experience, IF you're happy with changing planes in Dubai - which I am.

Even the 777, whilst not as nice as the A380, is, IMO preferable to Thai.

I used to fly Thai all the time, using my international air miles / points to pay for flights to Phuket, but that's 2 things i'd never now do out of choice:

Fly TG or go to Phuket (the latter of course being in this thread)

3 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Or 'throw it in the bin' as trump did to the IRAN 10 point peace plan.

Retired, I can't afford first or business so I always book early to get a seat in the first row of economy which has better leg space. (and I check when my boarding pass is handed over to ensure the row/seat number is as I booked on line).

That's all I need plus of course a couple of nice sandwiches (from home) to supplement the economy tray meal, and purchased at the airport, a couple of small cakes and 2 bottles of cold Lipton Lemon tea. Good enough for me.

I wish I had done that when I had to fly non stop from Tokya to Texas. The cabin crew all old and well overweight, they started serving the meal quite late and had to rush to collect all the trrays just before landing in Taxas.

Before finishing the tray service to every economy passenger the cabin crew person had to go back to the galley to get a forgotten fork or whatever, all super slow. Wine was served by a second CC person. Totally disorganized, they ran out of the wine many were hoping to order, and continuously asked passsengers eating to put their knife and fork down and hold the bottles for 1 or 3 minutes.

Plus cc staff regularly butting into personal conversations between passengers about dogs etc.

All way way less than professional.

2 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

I love Thai Airways Biz Class

2 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

I love Thai Airways Biz Class

2 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

I love Thai Airways Biz Class

I don't, I flew biz clss regional out of Suv. twice q week for years. My 18 / 19 years old Thai son often with me in Biz, full fare ticket paid by me.

But on one evening biz flight Bkk to Jakarta the evening meal finishes and packed away. My Thai son politely asked the stewrdess for a glass of coca cola.

SHe didn't stop just back at him as she wlked down the aisle 'go and ask in Economy'. I objected saying 'my sone is a on a fully paid x class ticket (most expensiveclass of ticket) and he's entitld to the same service as all passengers.

The stewardess came back and yelled at me 'I don't serve children', I reples, 'my son is a university student not child.' By this age a seconf bix girl had arrived on the scene saying 'I also don't serve children'.

By ths stage there's a public scene, so I said 'I would like a glass of Coca Cola please. She brought it but just as she was about the put the glass down I gently pushed her hand so that the glass was in front of my son.

The biz stewardess girl yelled at me 'you're a very rude man'

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

Now we know the seats are still there and being used as business, without the caviar, etc would be my guess, not that I eat that slop anyway.

This is the "slop" that Thai airways served me on two biz class flights last year. I'm quite happy to say I really enjoyed it.

12 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

This is the "slop" that Thai airways served me on two biz class flights last year. I'm quite happy to say I really enjoyed it.

I have only ever flown biz on Thai regionally, never long haul - I prefer Emirates. But I have to say that looks a LOT better than Emirates biz class food. I love everything about Emirates but their biz class food is very average.

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

But on one evening biz flight Bkk to Jakarta

And you're still not over it?

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

I don't, I flew biz clss regional out of Suv. twice q week for years. My 18 / 19 years old Thai son often with me in Biz, full fare ticket paid by me.

But on one evening biz flight Bkk to Jakarta the evening meal finishes and packed away. My Thai son politely asked the stewrdess for a glass of coca cola.

SHe didn't stop just back at him as she wlked down the aisle 'go and ask in Economy'. I objected saying 'my sone is a on a fully paid x class ticket (most expensiveclass of ticket) and he's entitld to the same service as all passengers.

The stewardess came back and yelled at me 'I don't serve children', I reples, 'my son is a university student not child.' By this age a seconf bix girl had arrived on the scene saying 'I also don't serve children'.

By ths stage there's a public scene, so I said 'I would like a glass of Coca Cola please. She brought it but just as she was about the put the glass down I gently pushed her hand so that the glass was in front of my son.

The biz stewardess girl yelled at me 'you're a very rude man'

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

I don't, I flew biz clss regional out of Suv. twice q week for years. My 18 / 19 years old Thai son often with me in Biz, full fare ticket paid by me.

But on one evening biz flight Bkk to Jakarta the evening meal finishes and packed away. My Thai son politely asked the stewrdess for a glass of coca cola.

SHe didn't stop just back at him as she wlked down the aisle 'go and ask in Economy'. I objected saying 'my sone is a on a fully paid x class ticket (most expensiveclass of ticket) and he's entitld to the same service as all passengers.

The stewardess came back and yelled at me 'I don't serve children', I reples, 'my son is a university student not child.' By this age a seconf bix girl had arrived on the scene saying 'I also don't serve children'.

By ths stage there's a public scene, so I said 'I would like a glass of Coca Cola please. She brought it but just as she was about the put the glass down I gently pushed her hand so that the glass was in front of my son.

The biz stewardess girl yelled at me 'you're a very rude man'

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

I don't, I flew biz clss regional out of Suv. twice q week for years. My 18 / 19 years old Thai son often with me in Biz, full fare ticket paid by me.

But on one evening biz flight Bkk to Jakarta the evening meal finishes and packed away. My Thai son politely asked the stewrdess for a glass of coca cola.

SHe didn't stop just yelled back at him as she wlked down the aisle 'go and ask in Economy'. I objected saying 'my sone is a on a fully paid x class ticket (most expensive

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

And you're still not over it?

class of ticket) and he's entitld to the same service as all passengers.

The stewardess came back and yelled at me 'I don't serve children', I reples, 'my son is a university student not child.' By this age a seconf bix girl had arrived on the scene saying 'I also don't serve children'.

By ths stage there's a public scene, so I said 'I would like a glass of Coca Cola please. She brought it but just as she was about the put the glass down I gently pushed her hand so that the glass was in front of my son.

The biz stewardess girl yelled at me 'you're a very rude man'

NO, I'll never be over it.