I recently flew my very first ever F leg on TG from BKK-SYD after several J legs. It was booked through AV Lifemiles but I thought I would share some thoughts about it on here as I know its a popular route through USDM. I flew up J but spoilt myself to F for the return. People considering their first F trip might find my experience useful.
- The BKK ground experience is as ridiculously incredible as everyone says it is. The man at the F check-in entrance looked at me very suspiciously (I'm 29, look younger and was travelling alone but dressed appropriately) when I approached him and said 'umm, are you travelling F?!'. His tune changed significantly when I produced my itinerary showing that I was.
- The F check-in, while private, is very standard. There were chairs there (unusued) but I was not invited to sit-down while they did everything, I just stood at the counter as normal (this may be because of my age).
- I really liked how you have a private security and immigration entrance and then go straight into a J lounge - its a good design and good to avoid crowds and lines. I was the only passenger at all of these points.
- I was driven by buggy to the F Lounge. I felt absolutely ridiculous. You are driven around the back of the biggest J Lounge and then they squeeze through some doors to drive you to the F lounge entrance. Lots of strange looks as I zipped past people. I was reminded of a Jerry Seinfeld routine about 'cart people' where he says 'we all scurry out of the way like worthless peasants. Wave to the cart people Timmy - they're the best kind of people in the world!'. As I was being driven I imagined seeing someone I knew who was travelling Y and me waving royally at them as I went past and I could not stop giggling.
- The service REALLY stepped up a notch when I arrived at the F Lounge. The desk staff had the best English I encountered the entire time I was in Thailand and engaged in meaningful conversation rather than just formalities - the cart driver had a duplicate boarding pass which he handed to the desk staff so I did not even have to say where I was going or provide anything - they immediately knew my schedule. I was offered a private room which was very nice but is shielded from a public walkway only by frosted glass meaning I was forever hearing PA announcements outside. If you want to rest I would avoid a private room. I was the youngest person in the F Lounge by at least 10 years.
- I was given a ipad and selected food and drinks. These were both delicious - the grilled beef with sticky rice was excellent. I tried to take it easy on the alcohol knowing I had the flight to come.
- I had a good 4+ hours in the F Lounge and was pretty faultless. I did find the number of staff a little odd - there were FAR more staff than pax and someone would walk by room every 5 seconds like clockwork checking I was okay (at one stage there was only 5 or so pax in the Lounge yet at LEAST 20 staff). I would have preferred a lighter touch - I'm not an invalid.
- They asked when I wanted my massage and came and collected me and escorted me when the appointment time arrived. Again, I did not have to say a thing - everything was organised and ready and I was greeted with a 'welcome Mr. smit0847'. The massage 'suites' were very nice - very private and luxurious and relaxing. The 1 hour massage was very nice, certainly 'intimate' in terms of what they massage! (no happy ending dont worry but I did have to think about serious/sad things at some stages!). It was nice to be able to shower in the room as well. My masseuse spoke almost no English which I found odd compared with the perfectly fluency of the lounge desk staff.
- I wandered back across to the F Lounge and they immediately said 'welcome back - how was your massage?' which shows either the low numbers of pax in the lounge or the incredible attention to detail of the staff. They had kept my room for me and I was again offered more food and drink.
- I asked if they would collect me for the flight and they said they would. It left at 7:20pm, with boarding on the BP at 6:40pm. They said they would collect me 'about 7pm'. 7pm arrived and they had not and I started to panic a bit because I knew the gate closed 10 mins before flight and I had no idea how far away the gate was. I went to the front desk at 7pm in the bit of a panic and there was a bit of confusion - I asked if I should go to the gate and they just said 'your flight is boarding'. I didn't know whether that meant to wait for them to take me, or whether I should go but they said the gate was close, and being 7:05 by now I went there myself. Of course when I got to the gate it was a scrum of people, I squeezed through to the premium bridge and was the first F passenger to board. I felt quite uncomfortable sitting there by myself in this huge empty F cabin with all the J pax walking past glaring at me. Then about 7:15 all 9 other F pax arrived at once (Im guessing they had been brought on a few buggies - I only recognised a few of them from the lounge). I'm guessing they hold the plane for F pax in the lounge and purposely board them late?
- Again, I was the youngest F pax by about 10 years. 8 of the others were couples.
- F seat is very comfortable - much more comfortable and spacious then the TG J seat. Staff were older, very formal and polite but not really genuinely engaging. Does anyone else think the TG mens suit jackets look really cheap and ill-fitting? They never seem to sit right.
- When serving pax I noticed I would often be served last despite being in 2K - there was no issue because the staff handled a full cabin with ease and they didn't run out of anything. I'm not sure if this was because of my age or because I was a non-status reward pax (I hadn't bothered entering my *A SG number). I think Peter Russell Clarke was seated behind me and he got a far more formal 'if there's anything I can do' than I did.
- The Dom just tasted like any other champagne to me unfortunately (I'm not a bit champagne person), so I only had 1 glass. The caviar on the other hand was delicious! TG are never going to win any catering awards but the food was definitely better than in J. And as with J, far, far too much food - I stopped after main course - no-one had dessert (I think there was 8 courses for dinner?). They came around taking breakfast orders and said they would be serving it in 4.5 hours time. I pointed out that I doubt I would be wanting another multiple course meal in 4 hours! None of the 4 couples used the ottoman to dine with their partner - I would have loved to do this if I was travelling with someone. Dinner felt like it went quite quickly but was 2.5+ hours.
- The F pyjamas look awful (really cheap and shapeless - like an oversized solar/sun suit).
- Once the seats are converted after dinner there is only about 4 hours before the clanging of breakfast starts, so not enough for a full sleep. Everyone else tucked into a full breakfast while I continued to try and doze - I was not even remotely hungry.
- I slept extremely well (the best I've ever slept on a plane) with the mattress on the seat but I didn't like how the head rest slopes up (was my seat faulty?).
- My formal thankyou from the purser was again much more casual and shorter than everyone elses.
- I was sad for the flight to end because everything went so smoothly - yes TG are dated and old-fashioned but what they do, they do very well. F is an extremely comfortable and luxurious way to travel home.
If I was travelling just SYD-BKK again I doubt I would use the extra points for F over J as I don't think its worth it esp for a day flight, especially with the SYD ground experience being identical but if I was originating from BKK I would try for F simply because the ground experience is so impressive and the seat is much, much better than J for sleeping. If TG had SQ's or CX's onboard hard and soft product combined with their ground handling they would be a phenomenal airline.
Does this match others experiences on this route?
