Thai Airways simply does not offer a competitive business class product on its 777-200. There is no other way to say it.
I appreciate the warm service on Thai and thought the meals were decent on this flight, but the seat is no longer competitive. Two years later (see intro for more details), Thai has updated it crockery onboard, but not its seat…
Thai Airways 561
Bangkok (BKK) – Seoul (ICN)
Wednesday, November 05
Depart: 11:30PM
Arrive: 06:55AM+1
Duration: 05hr,25min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Seat: 14A (Business Class)
I was working in the lounge and amongst the last to board, so my cabin shots are not as pristine as they are when I am first to board. Even so, you get a good idea of the cradle-style seats available onboard the 777-200. While these are good seats for lounging, these “angled lie-flat” seats are not ideal for sleeping. Indeed, I slid right down them in “lie-flat” mode…
At least the soft product wasn’t bad: the comforter and pillow were fluffy and that certainly helps.
Here’s the menu for the flight:
A light snack was served after takeoff, which included a nicely presented condiment dish with lettuce, cucumbers, sliced chicken, and a sliced carrot shaped into a rose. Dessert included a chocolate truffle and small tart.
Additional bread was offered, including garlic bread:
Breakfast was served prior to landing. The first course included sliced fruit, yogurt, and a croissant:
Kimchi was also included in a plastic container on the tray.
For the main course, I had an unremarkable cheese omelet with potatoes and some mushrooms and sausage that I did not even touch.
CONCLUSION
As much as I hate bashing any airline, Thai Airways business class is well below average. It’s not something I would wholly avoid, but I far prefer just about any carrier in the region when it comes to business class. That’s saying something…
Good news: while this aircraft is still flying, Thai now uses a more modern A350 on the Seoul Incheon route.
What is your experience with Thai Business Class?
This is a 777 not an A330 lol
Wow, good catch. The ticket receipt shows A330, but you are right based on the spacing and window.
The one thing I like about this is how they offer the real service as the 2nd one instead of the first. So many carriers offer a full first service on a 5-6 hour flight with a well-past-dinner departure time and then a light snack for the 2nd one.
Actually, they have begun retrofitting the A330-300s with the Thompson Vantage, yet another business class configuration for Thai.
I rarely order the western dish when flying an Asian carrier, yet I notice the main bloggers seem to do so frequently (maybe I’m mis-perceiving). I would have gone with the Jap Che or fried rice all the way.
Totally agree. Why bother to fly an Asian carrier just to have an omelette.
I totally agree with this comment. Always chose Western and never want to try Asian cuisine.
should we acknowledge that this route now uses the A350? Lie flat and direct aisle access.
and agree with @Justin. One should always gravitate towards Thai option. I have never been disappointed with the Thai breakfast served on board.
Fully agreed!
On this route, Asiana and Korean Air also offer nonstop flights, as well as a few regionals. None of them offer stellar hard products, but both offer aisle access from all seats. 1-stop competitors include Singapore and Cathay, both of which have phenomenal products that would seriously make me pick a 1-stop over a direct with the advantage of flying into Gimpo instead of Incheon, and make it a no-brained for flights to Busan, Jeju Island, or other parts of Korea.
I also agree with the excellently named @Justin, I rarely order from the Western menu when departing from an Asian country.
TG658 – the current flight no (same time and route as the review) has the latest J config (direct aisle access) in the a350.
this review, though thorough, does not offer the same relevance as the first / first lounge review.
I don’t think this bashing is justified and compared to whom is it not competitive? This is a 5h30 regional flight. Other. Asian carriers fly recliners on regionally configured planes, like ANA on their new B787, CX on their current B777 and even future ones. MH, BR, … the list goes on..
Even SQ will need a few more years to get to an all-flat business class across SQ/Silk.
And let’s not talk about flights of a similiat time in Europe or the US.
I wish all airlines would follow SQs lead to go to all flat, but I’m not holding my breath…
Flew Bangkok to Auckland on the 777 before they upgraded the route to their 787. It was pretty much unbearable for an 11 hour flight. The same flight the following year was much nicer once they started using the 787.
I don’t have any issue with the comfort of Thai J on regional sectors, particularly day flights. However, the way they continued to offer angled flat seats in J on overnight flights, years after the competition had lie flat…another matter entirely, and if not designed to drive people away, it certainly had that effect.
The other crucial, unmentioned fact is that Thai believes it can charge a premium for its J class, in the order of 25-50% over that charged by quality competition such as SQ, CX, and the like. They are dreamin’, and it’s one of the factors in their effective bankruptcy.
The clueless buffoons on the board should be ( but won’t be) shown the door.
Thai Airways 2 x 2 x 2 configuration is rubbish. Try getting up and going to the toilet from a window seat, when the person next to you is sleeping. Worst Business Class i have ever experienced.
I think it is TG656 not 561. This flight mainly targets group tours and labors while other ICN night flights use A350.