Thai Airways Operate Airbus A340 Bkk>lhr>bkk ?

[JetSetWilly]

I did a search on this but couldn't find a related thread... there may be one out there already... but if not...

I was searching for flights on Thai Airways website just now... FINALLY it appears that they are starting to operate Airbus Industrie A340's between London Heathrow and Bangkok - or at least thats what it says!

Flight 1 Monday August 24 2009, Departure:00:55Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International, Arrival:07:15 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3, Aircraft:Airbus Industrie A340-600

If its correct (why shouldnt it be) that means comfortabe seats... and movies... at last !!

Anyone know anthing more, or direct me to the thread if there is one?

Thanks,

JSW

[Spee]

If its correct (why shouldnt it be) that means comfortabe seats...

How could the seats be more (or less) comfortable than on the 747-400 that was used on that route for years? Both aircraft in coach have the same seat width (17 inch) & pitch (32-34 inches) specifications.

If you mean the 2-4-2 seating configuration on the 340 is better than the 3-4-3 config on the 747, then I guess a case could be made for that. I've always preferred wide bodies with only 2 seats along the bulkheads. Less chance of sleepus interruptus on the overnight sleep period.

Regardless, it's still a 12 hour flight which is a long time to spend in any coach-class seat.

I see the newer Airbus does not have power ports in coach-class, just like the older 747. That really sucks on a long haul flight.

[Captain Chaos]

I am not convinced the TG website is reliable in regards type of plane - I was looking at flying SIN-BKK-LHR return TG biz class as it it much cheaper than flying direct SIN-LHR on SQ ... but the website told me there was an A340-600 doing the SIN-BKK leg!!! There definitely is not. So might be worth double checking before pressing the 'process payment' button (try Amadeus or similar?)

CC

[ozfarang81]

A340-600's do operate on BKK/SIN quite frequently actually. You should double check your facts yourself Captain Chaos!

And as for the difference in comfort in economy, the A340's have the latest product with seat back TV in every seat. it is a far cry from what the 747 offers in economy.

[think_too_mut]

So might be worth double checking before pressing the 'process payment' button (try Amadeus or similar?)

The backend is Amadeus. TG online booking site is just an interface that feeds into it (and gets info from it). Same old reservation system that has been in place for decades - just with nicer front end.

Same as online banking money transfer: a fancy web site is nothing else than the old fashioned telegraphic transfer that the banks, to make it cheaper for them and not see you in the branch, have made you do it yourself. After that, it goes where it has been going since early 80s with mainframes (that still process it all).

[Mosha]

The A340s are only being used cos they couldn't flog em

[IMA_FARANG]

I did a search on this but couldn't find a related thread... there may be one out there already... but if not...

I was searching for flights on Thai Airways website just now... FINALLY it appears that they are starting to operate Airbus Industrie A340's between London Heathrow and Bangkok - or at least thats what it says!

Flight 1 Monday August 24 2009, Departure:00:55Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International, Arrival:07:15 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3, Aircraft:Airbus Industrie A340-600

If its correct (why shouldnt it be) that means comfortabe seats... and movies... at last !!

Anyone know anthing more, or direct me to the thread if there is one?

Thanks,

JSW

Nice try, but it also depends on what seating they put in, and the spacing they choose, especially in the rear. I flew from Istanbul to BKK on Turkish Airlines with a A340-600. The business class seats looked nice, but in the economy the seats were too close together. If the passenger in front wanted to put his/her seat full back to sleep the seat was litterly resting on my knees. And the way thr LCD panels for the video are set, if the seat in front of you is back, your viewing angle at the LCD panel is from above the LCD panel, and you have to have your chin in your chest to be able to see it well. The seats were even closer together in the very rear low cost ticket area.

The whole thing could have been solved by giving another 6 to 10 inches of room between seats, but in the flight I was on, every seat was full, and the back of the passengers head in front was only about 6 inches from my face. That was even with the seats up.

P.S. The video selection on Turkish Airlines Istanbul to BKK was crap. Disney movies and "made for television" films.

[Who, me ?]

I still prefer the 777, when it is question of comfort ....

[Captain Chaos]

A340-600's do operate on BKK/SIN quite frequently actually. You should double check your facts yourself Captain Chaos!

And as for the difference in comfort in economy, the A340's have the latest product with seat back TV in every seat. it is a far cry from what the 747 offers in economy.

I stand corrected - but as a regular SIN-BKK-SIN weekend commuter, I have yet to see an A340 on that route!

[bkkjames]

A340-600's do operate on BKK/SIN quite frequently actually. You should double check your facts yourself Captain Chaos!

And as for the difference in comfort in economy, the A340's have the latest product with seat back TV in every seat. it is a far cry from what the 747 offers in economy.

I stand corrected - but as a regular SIN-BKK-SIN weekend commuter, I have yet to see an A340 on that route!

Technically, you are both right, the a340's on the route of SQ, not Thai

[KhunDave]

TG started to use the A346 on one of the double-dailies to LHR a couple of months ago. I have noticed from flightstats that they have recently introduced another one on to the other flight, making LHR an all-Airbus operation at present. Could be a sign of the times in respect of falling passenger numbers, or possibly a result of maintenance requirements on the 744 fleet. For economy passengers the advantage is seat-back AVOD on the Airbus.

Incidentally these are not the same aircraft that were originally on the LAX and JFK non-stop flights. Those were the A345's which TG tried (I think un-sucessfully) to sell.

[ozfarang81]

bkkjames - actually SQ operate only 777-200 and 777-300 on BKK/SIN. The ONLY service operated by the Singapore Airlines A340's is the non stop LAX flights. These aircraft are in all-business configuration.

TG have been known to use both A345 and A346 on the SIN route.

Mosha - you are wrong, these A346's were never up for sale. It is the A340-500's that were up for sale, as others have said that originally were purchased for the Ultra Long Hauls which became too expensive when oil prices peaked. Now that oil has been reduced the A340-500's are being used on the LAX direct service, and filling other gaps in the network as required. The Boeing 777-300's are currently under refurbishment to the same standard as the 777-200ER's (new economy product with PTV, lie flat business) and one just came out of the hangar last week, VH-TKC. The other 3 will be completed in the next couple of months. These aircraft are used to Sydney, Brisbane, and intra-asia e.g. Japan, Korea, HK

For those on the PER flights, the new A330-300's will arrive mid year with the same lie flat business and new economy product with PTV. The Perth flights will switch to this aircraft once the first aircraft arrives meaning ALL Australian operations will be with new products very soon.

So thats the actual facts, which very few people on this board actually know

[think_too_mut]

and one just came out of the hangar last week, VH-TKC. The other 3 will be completed in the next couple of months.

You might have misspelled it, "VH" is an Oz registration.

That particular aircraft (VH-TKC) is a small plane.

[tw25rw]

For a while you could fly Swiss BKK-SIN on an A340, but I think they have dropped it now. Was the cheapest way to do it and get *A ff points.

[RAZZELL]

Flew back on one last month.

No dramas

RAZZ

[ozfarang81]

and one just came out of the hangar last week, VH-TKC. The other 3 will be completed in the next couple of months.

You might have misspelled it, "VH" is an Oz registration.

That particular aircraft (VH-TKC) is a small plane.

lol quite right, HS-TKC I meant. Too used to Aussie reggo's

[Captain Chaos]

So thats the actual facts, which very few people on this board actually know

Gosh, thanks Oz for sharing your superior knowledge with us

[Captain Chaos]

For a while you could fly Swiss BKK-SIN on an A340, but I think they have dropped it now. Was the cheapest way to do it and get *A ff points.

Swiss website shows it still as an A340-300, and agree it was (is?) the cheapest way to do SIN-BKK return and get *A miles. Big drawback is that there's only one flight a day, so it either suits your schedule or it doesn't. Used to do that flight as a weekly commute a couple of years back and no complaints but it got tiring pretty quickly. Swiss seemed to upgrade me a lot to biz class, even to first on a couple of occasions, which was very nice late on a Friday evening (I'm a *A gold carder which I guess is the reason why)

CC

[bkkjames]

bkkjames - actually SQ operate only 777-200 and 777-300 on BKK/SIN. The ONLY service operated by the Singapore Airlines A340's is the non stop LAX flights. These aircraft are in all-business configuration.

TG have been known to use both A345 and A346 on the SIN route.

Mosha - you are wrong, these A346's were never up for sale. It is the A340-500's that were up for sale, as others have said that originally were purchased for the Ultra Long Hauls which became too expensive when oil prices peaked. Now that oil has been reduced the A340-500's are being used on the LAX direct service, and filling other gaps in the network as required. The Boeing 777-300's are currently under refurbishment to the same standard as the 777-200ER's (new economy product with PTV, lie flat business) and one just came out of the hangar last week, VH-TKC. The other 3 will be completed in the next couple of months. These aircraft are used to Sydney, Brisbane, and intra-asia e.g. Japan, Korea, HK

For those on the PER flights, the new A330-300's will arrive mid year with the same lie flat business and new economy product with PTV. The Perth flights will switch to this aircraft once the first aircraft arrives meaning ALL Australian operations will be with new products very soon.

So thats the actual facts, which very few people on this board actually know

Mate, i was joking. Suggest you turn off the superiority complex and relax, were are discussing airplanes, not global warming mate

[think_too_mut]

Swiss seemed to upgrade me a lot to biz class, even to first on a couple of occasions, which was very nice late on a Friday evening (I'm a *A gold carder which I guess is the reason why)

There is another reason why they upgraded economy class tickets (yes, tickets, not passengers) to biz or first.

Their economy class seats on that leg are at rock bottom price and massively used by travel agents and discounters to sell 2 days 3 night package. Same with Finair and Emirates on their leg to HKG (Finair pulled out from teh Singapore sector).

So, instead of turning away a paying (at however low price) passenger in economy while flying empty biz/1st seats they upgrade, starting from high memberships status, passengers to vacate their seat in economy and let Swiss earn more money.

Feels nice but it is not really a great honor: they will never upgrade you if there is 1 free seat in economy. Why would they? Unless 1st/biz class are totally empty and captain requests some bodies in front for better aircraft balance.

You see, in that case, your Highness Gold Member, your membership status promotes you into dead weight to balance the plane. If they did it to me, I would have drunk 2-3 bottles of champagne over the 2 hours flight.

[ozfarang81]

forget Swiss on BKK/SIN, the flight has been dumped, it will be finishing up april 25, flight will terminate at BKK and no longer continue on to SIN.

bkkjames - no superiority complex, just correcting the incorrect info provided by numerous people in this thread thus far. should i have not bothered?

[bkkjames]

forget Swiss on BKK/SIN, the flight has been dumped, it will be finishing up april 25, flight will terminate at BKK and no longer continue on to SIN.

bkkjames - no superiority complex, just correcting the incorrect info provided by numerous people in this thread thus far. should i have not bothered?

nothing wrong with correcting any errors but suffice to say the way you do it could use a little extra lucky Charm

Mosh you are wrong! So thats the actual facts, which very few people on this board actually know

[Captain Chaos]

Swiss seemed to upgrade me a lot to biz class, even to first on a couple of occasions, which was very nice late on a Friday evening (I'm a *A gold carder which I guess is the reason why)

There is another reason why they upgraded economy class tickets (yes, tickets, not passengers) to biz or first.

Their economy class seats on that leg are at rock bottom price and massively used by travel agents and discounters to sell 2 days 3 night package. Same with Finair and Emirates on their leg to HKG (Finair pulled out from teh Singapore sector).

So, instead of turning away a paying (at however low price) passenger in economy while flying empty biz/1st seats they upgrade, starting from high memberships status, passengers to vacate their seat in economy and let Swiss earn more money.

Feels nice but it is not really a great honor: they will never upgrade you if there is 1 free seat in economy. Why would they? Unless 1st/biz class are totally empty and captain requests some bodies in front for better aircraft balance.

You see, in that case, your Highness Gold Member, your membership status promotes you into dead weight to balance the plane. If they did it to me, I would have drunk 2-3 bottles of champagne over the 2 hours flight.

[Adopts squeaky British gentry voice] Firstly, one is glad to note that our TV minions have noted one's high frequent flyer status and are suitably forelock-tugging / doffing of cloth caps when addressing one

Secondly, I don't like shampoo all that much but always made a bit of a dent in their red wine stocks, so I don't really care why they upgraded me! Thirdly, I regret to see them stopping that route and find it surprising - never seem to have had any trouble filling the plane, and more importantly with even less competition, Sing Air and Thai will no doubt sense an opportunity to put their comedy prices up even more...

CC

[think_too_mut]

Thirdly, I regret to see them stopping that route and find it surprising - never seem to have had any trouble filling the plane, and more importantly with even less competition, Sing Air and Thai will no doubt sense an opportunity to put their comedy prices up even more...

It is not hard to understand why they are ceasing the BKK-SIN leg. At rock bottom prices they still have to have another 17 crew members staying overnight in BKK. That can easily be 200$ a day for their sleep, food and transport. If the rule is (it was years back) that the crew can not fly every day, that would mean another set of 17 crew members for each no-work allowed day overnighting.

At the same time, Air Asia has nobody on the books overnighting and can do more at lower prices.

Same thing as with Olympic Airways of Greece. To lure potential buyers back in 2004. the first thing they ditched was ATH-BKK-SYD-MEL route. Planes always full, almost black market for their seats.

What it really was - they had 120 crews overnighting at BKK and SYD at any given day, rendering void any income from the tickets sold.

[h90]

If I understand it right, every type of airplane can be filled full with cheap seats or can be made more comfortable, right?

[ovenman]

forget Swiss on BKK/SIN, the flight has been dumped, it will be finishing up april 25, flight will terminate at BKK and no longer continue on to SIN.

Thanks for the heads-up. I am booked to fly BKK-SIN on 06 June on Swiss. I tried to check my reservation on Swiss's website only to get this message: The status of your reservation does not allow viewing the reservation online (20605). Sounds like a phone call to Swiss is in order...

[ovenman]

If I understand it right, every type of airplane can be filled full with cheap seats or can be made more comfortable, right?

Correct. The configuration of the seats is up to the individual airline. A THAI 777 generally won't be equivalent seating-wise to say, a Delta 777.

[khundon]

Fly first class then you avoid all the above crap.

[think_too_mut]

Fly first class then you avoid all the above crap.

Sure, sir.

Is it what you do ? 15,000$ return to America?

And you can still get first class like on United: