Thai Airways was a great airline but started its decline in the early 2000s. Since COVID, Thai has lost about 50% of its fleet as their A380, 747, older 777s and A330 were all grounded. Thai Airways has also stopped flying domestically altogether. As a result, there are no more wide-body flights inside Thailand.
This is my first Thai Airways flight in nearly 4 years. I started my trip at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. I visited the new Royal Orchid Prestige lounge. There is good amount of food in the new lounge but many other Thai Airways lounges including the Royal Orchid Spa are still closed.
The Thai B787-9 has the new individual pod seat in Business Class. However, Thai’s Business class product is generally one generation behind and with a lot of inconsistency across the fleet. The Economy Class seating on 787-9, however, has decent legroom with footrest. There are several cutbacks in service; there are no more printed menus, or newspapers and magazines. On regional flights, the cabin crew no longer wears the traditional Thai dress. The food in Business Class is fairly simple. I gave my final thought at the end of my flight.
45 Comments
at least, now it looks they do not use so many disposable plastic tableware, which is good for environment
It seems to me that Thai Airways had suffered more than others the Covid crisis and is not recovering as expected. Incredible so many lounges are closed, I flew to and from BKK last August….they were closed, disappointing.
thanks for review, Thai Airways serve other purpose, not only commercial airline
So frivolous and classist: "they could have done better with boarding"… yes they should put the economy passengers in another plane to avoid disturbing you. Just 3 years ago planes were down and the majority of the population with their feet on earth. Others like you never learned.
Thanks for your comments on Thai Airways. This will wake them up. But what I want to say is – it's happening to almost every airline in the world. Our Emirates flight from Washington to Bangkok was very nice but from Bangkok back to Washington was very poor, the seats and leg rooms were so small, food was not very good, the monitor in front of me was not working looked like they used the old Korean plane. We used to fly Turkish Air and delayed until we had to sleep at the airport. Air Nippon joined United Airlines which is terrible. And I think Korean Air the foods are not as good as before. And many…….
Thai used to charge me 600-800 CHF to fly home to the Philippines from Switzerland during the rainy season… Now they want 1400… idiotically bad…
I think the best for business class is Qatar airway,best for everythings on board,never fly any airlines again
Going to fly KUL-BKK-Osaka soon next mth (Feb 2023). Let's see how's their services
sam : "thai airways used to serve good food. now it's garbage."
her : "oh thank you, you made my day"
7:10 Sam is wrong about Thai dress. Thai dress has never been worn on domestic or BKK-KUL flights due to short flight time. In the past, shortest flight that Thai dress was worn was BKK-SIN. After COVID, they cut back on Thai dress on flights below 5 hours. Thai dress are still worn on longer flights such as Korea and Japan and all intercontinental flights.
Printed menu is gradually coming back. It's now available on most intercontinental flight.
9:15 The only non-flat bed aircrafts in the current fleet is 777-200ER. There are 6 of them and they are used only on regional flight (mostly to India). The rest are all offering full flat bed in Business class (777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9, A350-900, retrofitted A330-300). Actually, this is better than the airline that Sam always praise like Emirates where there are 100+ 777-300ER with angled lie flat bed flying around.
Sam, you seem to be so wealthy! Good for you.
The BGM is really so nice and what’s the BGM called?
The staff crew can't even understand the old time the meal served. Nowadays alot airlines standard drop . I think its no long as smooth as slik
Planes are parked because of supply and demand
Yes, Thai airway was once my favourite. But as year go by it had not improve. It’s from bad to worst.
No tourists – no airways. Thailand is very poor contry in fact 🙄
Thai are bankrupt. They are cutting costs everywhere affecting mostly lowly workers and customers. Everyone pays although not the executive staff. They should employ a non-Thai airline expert but they won't do that as it means they will loose face. Heaven forbid that.
ต้อนรับเฉพราะ VIP เท่านั้าแหละ.
What a nagging b*tch you are. Don’t you have anything better to do than to complain on everything. You were pointing out whether masks were mandatory or not and that it was unclear. Dummy, they will inform you if it’s required to wear a face mask.
Such an unnecessary human being you are
The Thai staff, the plane and the people seem lovely. You sound a little picky.
A lot of corruption, mismanagement. They were in trouble even before Covid. It's a minor miracle they didn't go under, it's going to be a long rehabilitation process before it could even think about getting back to status TG flights had in the 80s-90s.
My first flight with thai airlines was not that good experience. The inside of the plane was not that clean. Hope they can make improvements.
A lot of great answers with many analyses already for comment readers. Here is my short one.
They’re still implementing budget cut to cover debts, even the crews are still not paid in full and still heavily short staffed. They just started recruiting a new batch so they can fly more routes and start to make more money.
So sad to see how once a desirable employment got run down by corruption.
Know one knew that right on 15 January Yeti Airlines Flight 691 would crash in Pokhara. Worst accident after 30 year Before PIA Flight 268. RIP 😢 🙏
That don't have to cater to the customer anymore because of demand! Thailand has the highest tourist in Southeast Asia period! So you and everyone else is going to pay and get on that flight no matter what ! And if you don't they have just predicted 22.5 million arrivals for 2023 so they have an unlimited consumer base to replace you.
samchui very good for you go to thai land very okay good in thai land from usa mn
Thai went down hill about 5 years ago. The flight from Melbourne to BKK got to be a real drag, bugger all leg room, and the "meals" were bloody awful. Thai Smiles are just as bad!
100% agree. I flew with Thai from 20 years ago. Did long haul with them in 2016. Will never every fly Thai again.
Sam I like it when you’re more critical and honest of a airline; you’re almost always very nice but sometimes you do have to point out the deficiencies
6:56 不会吧sam都有白头发了。。。
Yes, different king different management
I have been flying from KL to BKK several times/year and only one airline that I should is TG even though Air Asia is much more cheaper but the quality can’t compare.
Thai airways has no right to operate anymore. I have been awaiting almost $1000 in refund from Thai Airways UK for almost a year now. Many customers have been waiting for YEARS. They don't operate customer service numbers in most countries anymore. My money has vanished. I sometimes fantasise about walking on board one of their planes and ripping out $1000 worth of materials to claim back what is mine.
Thanks I don't think I will use them for service
Nice🇸🇦
welcome to KL
787 is a bad aircraft for economy travelers
I think… you were right that one short flight can not tell most of the entire quality… All in all, as Thais, I do agree and with you Sam… The organisation lives up to its past reputation. They need to improve and make good judgements for best decisions to servive and get back to their quality. Thks again for good clip. Cheers!
traveldouche
Sarah waang lah sam , ndk ngarati dn do
I flew economy recently from bangkok to Sg, 2.5 hours flight and they didn’t provide any ear phone due to not enough earphones 😂
It’s really bad
Sam looks older 😮
they still wear traditional thai costume (flight: BKK- FRA; 02/01/23, business class)