Hello from Bangkok. I’ve completed the second leg of my trip and was pleasantly surprised at how marvelous Thai Airways was in first class…it has been a few years.
The flight left Tokyo Haneda after midnight and arrived in Bangkok before sunrise…at 3:43 AM to be exact. And while not exactly long enough for sleeping, the flight attendants onboard made sure it was a very comfortable flight for me and the two other first class passengers.
The last time I flew the Thai 747-400 in first class, the seats looked like this:
And this was the IFE:
So a lot has changed in the last decade…
The nine semi-enclosed suites in first class are a nice upgrade from what I had last time, even if they themselves are now aging. Thai uses great bedding so I did manage to grab a couple hours of sleep after my post-takeoff meal.
Speaking of meals, I decided to pre-order a steak for this flight (how predictable, I know…). Last time I took this flight, which was in business class, the post-takeoff meal was sushi. Despite my best efforts to broaden my culinary palate this year, I still struggle greatly with sushi. Thus, I took the safe bet and pre-ordered a steak.
Normally, the service on this flight is a light snack after takeoff followed by breakfast prior to landing. I had a “brinner” combo instead, starting with fresh fruit and a croissant, then moving to carrot soup (the late night snack on the menu) and finally my steak, which was surprisingly disappointing for Tokyo. Granted, Haneda and Narita are different airports, but I had a much better steak on United than I had on this flight.
But all that didn’t matter. First, because the service was so over-the-top genuine, friendly, and hospitable. The crew was simply flawless and I so appreciated it.
Second, I scored a Rimowa amenity kit! Rimowa amenity kits are actually provisioned in first class only on flights departing Bangkok (BKK), but a FA had one leftover from the flight to Tokyo and offered it to me…what a lovely souvenir of this flight.
CONCLUSION
There’s more to share, which I’ll do in my full trip report. But I’m pleased to say Thai Airways remains exceptional in first class. I really enjoyed everything about this flight except its short length.
And of course the ground service remains outstanding in BKK…
I love that ride to immigration! Even with the moving walkway, it is a long way to walk…
I absolutely love TG First Class. Their service is just amazing. Have flown the 388 a few times and the 744 once from BKK to HKG. Even on that short flight, the food spread was just fantastic.
My wife and I have flown First Class from MUC-BKK twice now on Thai. It is always an amazing flight and the flight attendants can’t do enough for you. The ground service in Bangkok is always welcome after an overnight flight. We’ve both stayed in Bangkok and just connected, and both times we’ve always had the golf cart service to both transit security and escort to the 1st class lounge and also to immigration and baggage claim. Always wish I had more miles to burn so we can continue using Thai as they are the only ones that we can consistently find award space far in advance.
Hope you weren’t accosted by Thai Immigration – they have a nasty reputation! Did you feel safe?
Thai in first always is amazing, the trouble is sometimes it’s amazingly bad. Just another feature of Amazing Thailand.
The trouble is that no one actually pays for it; it’s not going to be around much longer as Thai teeters on the brink and looks to reduce costs.
It is noted that you’re one of those PITA people insisting on eating after midnight, keeping the lights on /cutlery clinking during what should be ( very limited)sleeping time. I guess you can be forgiven as the intention was to write a review.
Who are you to tell people what time they can eat? If you pay for ticket on a full-service airline you are entitled to eat too! The time of day is irrelevant. People with attitudes like yours as the real problem.
A part of me actually misses the old school Thai first class with the drop down screen. Man, those were the days! The LAX to Tokyo flight was such a sweet spot for cheap fares and awards. And often empty. The seats sucked, the IFE was non existent, but the service was so amazing you (almost) forgot the rest. I used it a lot in business a as well and the upper deck (2-2) was such that you removed the armrest in the middle to sleep across the empty seat next to you. The 90’s. I listened to Pearl Jam on my CD player and spread across two seats in business to try and sleep semi flat.
I ever did a CPH-BKK flight that was booked as BC but where I ended up in the FC seats of the first pic. It was at a time that SQ still used the rock hard angled purple seats in BC so I remember that I was extremely pleased with Thai.
I have been in the newer seats as well. Quite pleasant.
Love the timing of the Champagne pour picture.
I do hope TG’s F service remains, and I can only guess it probably will if for prestige and political reasons.