Thai Airways Long Haul

[sungod]

Been some years since I traveled long haul on Thai, it wasn't anything to write home about. Anyway, I have a good offer with them at the moment to the UK with my family (I like direct flights), its similar price to BA. Question is, does economy class in Thai have personal tvs like BA? Any recent travelers?

Thanks.

[wileycoyote]

Dear Sungod,

Sorry .

Unfortunately,not currently on LHR_BKK_LHR,when we flew Dec/January

However,rumour is TG are offering better economy class from 2011 with personal TVs & Better seating,livery etc.

However ,they do offer a better add on price with British Midland (Star Alliance) & it so easy to depart from your home airport & pick up your luggage at your Thai home airport rather than Suvarnabhumi,where you just transit.

Best wishes

Wiley Coyote

[FritsSikkink]

looks like they do

http://www.thaiairways.com/thai-services/in-the-air/en/Economy%20class/economy-class-services.htm

[meatboy]

always fly thai service good,never late,good food,plenty of red wine,who wants to watch telle.

[theoldgit]

looks like they do

http://www.thaiairwa...ss-services.htm

The clue is in the link you provided, "selected aircraft", it doesn't include the 747's they fly on this route, certainly not when I have flown in steerage anyway.

[SantiSuk]

looks like they do

http://www.thaiairwa...ss-services.htm

The clue is in the link you provided, "selected aircraft", it doesn't include the 747's they fly on this route, certainly not when I have flown in steerage anyway.

Have flown Thai maybe 5 return trips in last 2 years (and another 5 with EVA and another 5 indirect via the Middle East with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar). I had a similar pattern for the four years prior to that with the occasional BA flight also - but old trips are irrelevant as things change quickly.

Just to confirm what theoldgit says, since in flight entertainment seems to be important for you. Thai have until now flown very old 747s the trips I made with them and the IFE was rubbish - drop down tiny screens and one dictated programme. But everything else was good (the service is usually charming) and, echoing another poster, their CEO recognises the weakness and is promising better equipment on the route sometime in the nearish future.

Must confess I choose solely on price (applying a £150 differential to the indirect price and avoiding Indian transfers; i.e. I am prepared to pay £150 extra to have a direct flight and avoid a broken night's sleep on the plane). All the airlines have their good and bad points. The last three trips I have made have been direct with EVA on that basis. EVA are fine, but their weak point is sometimes poor and occasionally disgusting food - but getting better I feel - and very stingy alcohol offerings -and getting worse I feel (the last time they offered the wine by the thimble-full and only once). Also EVA's hostesses are beginning to realise they are flying a bucket shop carrier and are beginning to act accordingly (but they are very decorative ).

I can cope with crap food, no IFE (I sleep) and hostile cabin crew, which is why I buy on price alone.

[roamer]

Many years since I have flown Thai. I'm also not an EVA fan. In actual fact I don't really mind breaking my flight so carriers such as Qatar do it for me, the levels of service & food + a good AVOD system. Just want to know, who are the carriers that still fly into BKK without AVOD systems ?

[sungod]

Many thanks for all your replies, it was kind of what I expected. The fleet is pretty old, and they are not too quick in replacing it. The tv is important as I'm traveling with my 2 and a half year old son,12 hours is going to be along time to keep him occupied, (Apart from sleep deprivation for 2 days before traveling!)and cartoons on his own screen should kill some time. Looks like we shall take the BA flight then.

[SantiSuk]

Sungod.

Only Thai of the carriers I have flown in the last 4 years does not have seat back selectable entertainment. So that covers BA, Quantas, EVA, Emirates (they have the best system by a country mile including many thousand music albums), Etihad, Gulf, Qatar. I do not know about routes via the Indian subcontinent, the Russian bloc, Malaysia or other European national carriers like KLM, Lufthansa and Air France.

As a class the Middle East airlines are the best in my view (with Emirates being my particular favourite), though you will see that there are significant holes in my population of experience. If you can tolerate the break of journey in the middle of the night, which in more recent years I have decided not to, it will be a pleasant experience with good IFE, better than average food and often less restricted access to alcohol (curiously given their Muslim nation progeny). And of course usually £75 to £200 cheaper than a direct flight.

[SGD]

Just booked Etihad with a 80 minute layover. Thai were available for a little more money but their planes are about 20 years behind the curve on IFE. When you have a child, you need IFE.

[KED]

I just flew Thai from London to Bangkok on 27March11 and was shocked at the condition of the 747-400. The plane interior was ragged and dated, and as mentioned before, only the antique IFE of a single screen in the cabin with a few smaller tvs above. I cannot imagine how they can stay competitive with the same or higher fares of other carriers.

[theoldgit]

I cannot imagine how they can stay competitive with the same or higher fares of other carriers.

I think I can answer that one, they don't. Some people still like them though.

Thai should be taking delivery of one of their new A380's next year, I have heard that they will be using on the BKK-LHR route, I don't know if this is in fact the case, but if so it would be great though I suspect they would increase their fares.

[meatboy]

Many thanks for all your replies, it was kind of what I expected. The fleet is pretty old, and they are not too quick in replacing it. The tv is important as I'm traveling with my 2 and a half year old son,12 hours is going to be along time to keep him occupied, (Apart from sleep deprivation for 2 days before traveling!)and cartoons on his own screen should kill some time. Looks like we shall take the BA flight then.

over 28years i have flown with most of the carriers,service thai,quantas,emirates,air lanka,not that good sadly to say my own countrys b.a.bloody awful.,and cost the most.

[trisailer]

We have always liked Thai Air and choose to pay extra to fly them. United is crap and TA is the only airline that flies nonstop to LA. We flew from JFK nonstop a few times and it was always good. The food is good and each economy has good choices of movies. I think it also has a little more leg room as well.

[NanLaew]

For the OP: buy your kid a portable DVD player, cheap as dirt at Argos (even cheaper in LOS). Then he can watch what he wants, when he wants. My lad doesn't leave home without his!

[samran]

Have flown them alot (once twice per year) between MEL and BKK and always have had the screens in the back of the seat. Very suprising to hear that they don't have it on the LHR route yet.

I like them as they have very good leg room, important when you are 6-foot plus.

[theoldgit]

Have flown them alot (once twice per year) between MEL and BKK and always have had the screens in the back of the seat. Very suprising to hear that they don't have it on the LHR route yet.

Yes, because the newer Airbuses on the Australian routes, as they do to the US, they use the old 747's on the London route, they did use the Airbus for a period a while back.

[sungod]

Many thanks for all your replies, it was kind of what I expected. The fleet is pretty old, and they are not too quick in replacing it. The tv is important as I'm traveling with my 2 and a half year old son,12 hours is going to be along time to keep him occupied, (Apart from sleep deprivation for 2 days before traveling!)and cartoons on his own screen should kill some time. Looks like we shall take the BA flight then.

over 28years i have flown with most of the carriers,service thai,quantas,emirates,air lanka,not that good sadly to say my own countrys b.a.bloody awful.,and cost the most.

Thai were actually the most expensive, BA being the cheapest direct were not a lot more than stopping over for an hour or so in the ME.

[sungod]

For the OP: buy your kid a portable DVD player, cheap as dirt at Argos (even cheaper in LOS). Then he can watch what he wants, when he wants. My lad doesn't leave home without his!

Top tip, thanks