Can anyone update me on the types of aircraft used by Thai on the twice daily Bangkok – London route as I want to avoid using the older 747 aircraft that have a relatively poor in-flight service. Do they now use newer aircraft with a more competitive and acceptable in-flight service?

Can anyone update me on the types of aircraft used by Thai on the twice daily Bangkok – London route as I want to avoid using the older 747 aircraft that have a relatively poor in-flight service. Do they now use newer aircraft with a more competitive and acceptable in-flight service?

It seems they use a mix, just did a trial booking online and got both 747-400 and A340...nice price 70,000 baht!

Bangkok to London

Flight 1 Thursday, May 28, 2009

Departure: 00:55 Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International

Arrival: 07:15 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3

Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG910 e Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A340-600

Fare type: Economy Restricted

London to Bangkok

Flight 1 Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Departure: 12:30 London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 3

Arrival: 06:05 +1 day(s) Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International

Airline: Thai Airways Intl TG911 e Aircraft: Boeing 747-400

Fare type: Economy Restricted

Legend:e = e-ticket option, THB = Thai Baht

Price

Travellers Flights Taxes

1 adult(s) x (58,380.00 + 9,575.00) = 67,955.00 THB

total for all travellers 67,955.00 THB

Fare conditions

Fare basis & Booking Class information

Additional collection

Payment condition

Convert displayed currency

fare notes

Thai Flexi: Travel Class : Economy

Flight Restriction : Valid on TG operating flights only

Advance Reservation : Reservation required for all sectors

Advance Ticketing : Immediately

Stopovers : Not permitted

Name Changes : Not permitted

Minimum Stay : Nil

Maximum Stay : 01 year

Reservation Change :

Before day of departure :

-Flight/Date changes : Permitted within validity ( Ticket must be reissued if higher fare concerned )

-Rerouting : Permitted ( Ticket must be reissued )

-Reissuing : Permitted with fee THB1000.To be higher fare, collect different fare plus taxes/ surcharges (if any)

After day of departure :

-Flight/Date changes : Permitted within ticket validity ( Ticket must be reissued if higher fare concerned )

-Rerouting : Permitted ( Ticket must be reissued )

-Reissuing : Permitted with fee THB2000.To be higher fare, collect different fare plus taxes/ surcharges (if any)

No-Show : Not permitted

Cancellation/Refund :

-Total unused : Permitted with fee THB2000

-Partially used : Permitted

Child Discount : 25% of adult applicable fare

Royal Orchid Plus Miles : 100% of mileage accrual

Enquiries : contact THAI Contact Center 662 356-1111

I flew into London this morning on TG910, an A340-600. has a modern cabin, but very narrow seats.

Thai have 18 747-400s, 12 of which have the newer retro-fitted interiors which feature the lie-flat seats in business class, and 6 of which (ironically the newer aircraft by delivery date) have the older cabin. There are currently no plans to retro-fit these 6. As you have noted, as well as the 747 they also use the Airbus 340-600 to LHR sometimes, this aircraft is much newer and they all have the new interior version.

The older cabin version of the 747 is supposedly restricted to secondary long-haul routes such as the Scandinavian destinations, where the three cabin layout, first, business and economy is actually sold as business, premium economy and economy. Thai's prime long-hauls such as Heathrow and Frankfurt are intended to always be served by the retro-fitted fleet. The airline is somewhat notorious however for last minute aircraft swaps due to over-running maintenance or technical problems, so whilst it would be extremely unusual to see an older-cabin aircraft at Heathrow it can never be entirely ruled out.