Thai Airways Treats Australia With Contempt

[clifford]

I used to be a fan of Thai, but no longer.

Thai has decided to put its oldest and worst aircraft (333 and PER excepted) on the BKK-Aust runs even though airfares are quite high. For a 9 hour flight this is just unacceptable (to me at least). For example, TG puts a coughpy old 747 on the BKK-SYD run and regional 772's with poor business seating on flights to MEL and BNE.

This is totally unacceptable, and so I don't book Thai ex Australia any longer. I'd rather fly SQ Y class and enjoy the price and service difference. No wonder Thai is losing money hand over fist.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Ikara]

Oh, pleeeeeeeeeze.

I'm 70 and its supposed to be us old farts that make statements like that. I (we - old farts) still think the 747 is the most beautiful aircraft in the sky

If as a DYKWIA, Thai doesn't suit you, then fly Garuda or China Air, at least then you'll probably have a decent whinge! I do understand though that Thai should have rung you to see if their decision suited you.

I'm old - forgive me!

JB

 

[Mark3000]

Clifford does have a point. I've recently passed on a direct BNE-BKK direct on Thai in favor of going via Syd with Qantas. I'm really hoping for a refurb J but I'm not sure what my chances are yet

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Thai went to brand new 787's on its Brisbane services last year.

 

[Austman]

This is nothing new.

Thai has always had a bizarre mix of aircraft many of which have desperately needed upgrading.

But the interiors have always been kept in very good condition with cleanliness standards better than Qantas.

Y-class on older Thai aircraft can be pretty comfortable. The J and F hard product doesn't always complete well with other carriers.

 

[kamchatsky]

I guess is that there are too many people flying using J/F *A awards from Lifemiles/United/<insert *A carrier> and TG don't get much money from these flights.

 

[Chrisd26]

Have flown 747 SYD-BKK a number of times in J and F.
It's cheap! Yes clean and in good condition. Friendly cabin crew etc

F probably not worth it - usually get J exit row which is quite OK

'Speed Feeding' can be a bit annoying!

 

[Austman]

I guess is that there are too many people flying using J/F *A awards from Lifemiles/United/ and TG don't get much money from these flights.

I would guess the passenger percentage for those flights would be very low. And the problems whinged about by the OP have existed long before Lifemiles. They were there even before the *A was created.

 

[Cynicor]

I guess is that there are too many people flying using J/F *A awards from Lifemiles/United/<insert *A carrier> and TG don't get much money from these flights.

Actually, that's kind of backwards. If demand was high, TG wouldn't release award seats.

As demand is low, at least they get something for the seats. But no, overall Thai obviously aren't making much off these flights and seats any way you slice it.

 

[Altair]

Last flew TG for our honeymoon 8 years ago. Experienced the aircraft changes to very old J seats for the overnight long hauls to Europe and even short hauls to various points in Asia. I complained got a "due to the global recession we do not care" response so I dumped their Royal Orchid programme (was *G) and never flew with them again.
With their recent issues IMO I would not fly with them as I have heard questions about their mx and safety, although I do admit the risks are still quite low.
Anyway it all goes back to how you value things, TG easy to get *A redemptions and low price premium cabins but you also have to expect a lower quality product.

 

[smit0847]

TG is an absolute basket case of an airline. They're losing millions of dollars every year. They don't seem to know or care that there not competitive or else they would restructure and turn their fortunes around.
Vote with your feet- SQ and CX blow TG out of the water

 

[clifford]

Thai went to brand new 787's on its Brisbane services last year.

But now it's being replaced with an old 772, so back to square 1. Probably been reassigned to BKK-OSL (for example), which must obviously be more important than BKK-Australia.

 

[Altair]

But now it's being replaced with an old 772, so back to square 1. Probably been reassigned to BKK-OSL (for example), which must obviously be more important than BKK-Australia.

More fuel efficient aircraft for a longer flight makes better sense but as others have said TG cannot be relied upon for consistency.

 

[clifford]

Oh, pleeeeeeeeeze.

I'm 70 and its supposed to be us old farts that make statements like that. I (we - old farts) still think the 747 is the most beautiful aircraft in the sky

If as a DYKWIA, Thai doesn't suit you, then fly Garuda or China Air, at least then you'll probably have a decent whinge! I do understand though that Thai should have rung you to see if their decision suited you.

I'm old - forgive me!

JB

Well, "old fart", I retired in 2000 and am on an age pension. I find your comments to be offensive.

 

[smit0847]

But now it's being replaced with an old 772, so back to square 1. Probably been reassigned to BKK-OSL (for example), which must obviously be more important than BKK-Australia.

Outside of probably Japan, Scandinavia is TG's most important market. They love holidaying in Thailand.
I'd be thankful TG operate proper F to SYD 10+ times a week. They're losing money by doing it but still offer it. It could be worse.

 

[Foreigner]

This is totally unacceptable, and so I don't book Thai ex Australia any longer. I'd rather fly SQ Y class and enjoy the price and service difference. No wonder Thai is losing money hand over fist.

My parents not keen to fly TG

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I used to be a fan of Thai, but no longer.

Thai has decided to put its oldest and worst aircraft (333 and PER excepted) on the BKK-Aust runs even though airfares are quite high. For a 9 hour flight this is just unacceptable (to me at least). For example, TG puts a coughpy old 747 on the BKK-SYD run and regional 772's with poor business seating on flights to MEL and BNE.

This is totally unacceptable, and so I don't book Thai ex Australia any longer. I'd rather fly SQ Y class and enjoy the price and service difference. No wonder Thai is losing money hand over fist.

Just my 2 cents worth.

TG's economy product is supposed to be very good. TG's F product is just fine ex Australia, old or new configuration of the 747 doesn't really matter.

TG's business class is a generation behind, but no different to its competitors QF and SQ - all have angled lie flat seats.

 

[drron]

The problem is it is the Thai military that control Thai airways and they always come down on TG CEOs who try and put TG on a commercial footing.The last link is a good summary of their problems.
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/new-korn-thai-and-privilege/
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/newin-and-abhisit/
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/nuts-grapes-and-pineapple/

Baker Tilly :: Thai Airways- Drastic Action Required

 

[smit0847]

Baker Tilly :: Thai Airways- Drastic Action Required[/COLOR][/U]

This is an excellent analysis of the fundamental problems of TG. There are reasonably simple solutions but I can't see the board of TG approving full privitisation as they would quickly lose their jobs. There are too many snouts in the trough.

Do government owned airlines need to be profitable though? Governments can incur unlimited debt because they never have to pay it off.

 

[boomy]

Oh, pleeeeeeeeeze.

I'm 70 and its supposed to be us old farts that make statements like that. I (we - old farts) still think the 747 is the most beautiful aircraft in the sky

If as a DYKWIA, Thai doesn't suit you, then fly Garuda or China Air, at least then you'll probably have a decent whinge! I do understand though that Thai should have rung you to see if their decision suited you.

I'm old - forgive me!

JB

Nothing you wrote makes any sense.

Yes, the B747 is indeed a beautiful aircraft but what does it have to do with the hard product inside?! TG B747 J cabin is one of the worst out there and the 2-2-2 B777/A330 are not much better either.
Complaining about TG being notoriously inconsistent and using old cabins to AU is DYKWIA? You do know this is a frequent flyer forum I hope.

When is the last time you flew Garuda? From what I've heard and read they improved a lot and their J product looks better than TG.