Thai Airways no longer flies to Bangkok non-stop from Los Angeles, its only U.S. destination, but does provide service via Seoul and starting next year, via Osaka as well.
With the new flights just loaded into the schedule, Thai has made generous award space available on the new route. The flight runs three times per week and every day that I checked had two seats in business class, but note that Thai rarely releases more than two seats at a time in longhaul business. If you are traveling in a larger group, book two, then go back and see if Thai has released any more space–often you will find two more seats available.
Even without Singapore Airlines releasing space to Star Alliance partners in business or first class on their trans-pacific routes, fidning award space to Asia is not at all difficult when booking with a Star Alliance carrier. Asiana, United, ANA, and Air Canada tend to be generous in award allocation, particularly if you book almost a year in advance (which in many cases and on other award routings is meaingless).
What is nice about this new route is that Thai will put its 777-300ERs with great lie-flat business class seats on the route–a better altnerative to Asiana’s angled business class or Uniteds lie-flats, which provide limited privacy if you are traveling solo.
(tip of the hat to Canadian Kilometers)
Nice, I fly to SE Asia, and that sounds much better then UA alternative.
Does Thai Airways continues on with easy connection from kix-bkk ?
Does this flight also have a first class cabin?
@choi–yes, the same airport continues to BKK shortly after landing with the same flight number.
I booked with Untied miles in Silk Class. Was wondering about the return flight on 1.31.14. Does is stop in Japan or Korea? The reservation Thai Airline service rep. advised it is the same as Lax to Bangkok.
Just found out that we are confirmed on the return flight via Osaka. Thank you for the heads up about the new route!
We are booked on the Thai Airways flight to Bangkok departure 1-18 and return 2-1. We were expecting the new 777 300 ER. I was informed today that starting 1-18 for the entire year they will go back to the 777 200 ER with only 30 not 42 business seats that are not full beds!