Got another flight from Southeast Asia this Sunday, and it’s a pretty unique one! Thai flag carrier Thai Airways is one of a dwindling number of airlines to offer a dedicated first class, particularly on long-haul flights, as more and more airlines transition to business class products that far outstrip the first class of yesteryear in terms of comfort, service, and amenities. Currently, its first class is only available on one aircraft type, the Boeing 777-300ER, and is avaliable on only three routes, only one of which is a long-haul one. First class is offered on Thai Airways flights to London, Osaka-Kansai, and Tokyo-Narita, on three aircraft: HS-TTA (Alongkorn), HS-TTB (Theparat), and HS-TTC (Simongkhon). Thus, it’s an exquisite privilege to be able to fly in one of the last long-haul first classes outside of the Middle East today with Thai Airways from Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi to London-Heathrow.
Server: Solo
Airline: Thai Airways
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Origin: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Racha Thewa, Thailand (BKK)
Destination: Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom (LHR)
Flight Number: TG910
Route: VTBS-EGLL
Seat: 2K (Royal First)
Time En Route: 12 Hours 43 Minutes
In the boarding area of Gate D3 at midnight, waiting to board our aircraft for the 12-hour 45-minute or so flight to Heathrow. Thai Airways flies twice daily between Bangkok and London, both with the 777-300ER. A 346-seater departs in the early afternoon, while a 307-seater like ours leaves in the earliest hours of the morning.
Taxiing out of the main ramp with the Satellite Terminal in the background. First impressions of our seat are that it’s…unique. For starts, the suites, arranged in 2 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration, don’t have doors. This is interesting, because this particular first class cabin debuted in 2022, less than half a decade ago, when sliding doors were already becoming an industry standard in many business class seats. Instead, we have a small privacy shield which slides up and down to form the outer wall of the suite. However, we were provided with a very generous amenity kit, one of the most extensive we’ve ever been given.
Departing BKK from Runway 19. Looking back at the airport, it’s clear that Suvarnabhumi is on the up-and-up, with an enormous Main Terminal, a modern, mid-field Satellite Terminal, and an even larger one set to open on the southern end of the field by 2031.
Climbing out of Bangkok. Though it’s been a long day and the rumbling of the GE90s is starting to lull us off to sleep, we’re going to stay awake for the first in-flight meal service, which will be served once we’re at our cruising altitude. The menu here in Royal First looks outstanding!
In cruise at 35,000 feet off the Burmese coast. Thai Airways more than makes up for any drawbacks with its service. The menu includes both Thai and Western dining options, with the Waygu beef steak being our choice. Presentation was excellent, with our meal not looking like it had been thrown together in a hurry, and service from the cabin crew was outstanding. Now, as we let our meal settle, we’re finally ready to catch some sleep as we head west towards Europe.
Waking up over Bulgaria in time for the second meal service of the flight. Sleeping was quite easy, even if our seat felt like it was due for a bit of maintenance, perhaps due to Thai Airways’s often-precarious finances. The bedding, at least, was substantial, and it perfectly matched the temperature the cabin was set at. As for the meal we’re ordering, we were informed that there were some yellow curries left over from dinner, so we promptly requested one. The curry was delicious, although not as spicy as we might have wanted. Admittedly, we’d consider “spicy” for a meal to mean “half a bottle of Tabasco dumped into it”.
Starting our descent towards the cirrostratus layer covering much of Britain, the English Channel, the North Sea, and the Low Counties over Belgium. The pre-dawn glow of the setting Moon is casting a golden tint on our mostly-white airplane, which is eerily beautiful. Our descent is going to be pretty gradual and smooth, according to our flight crew, and the seatbelt sign likely won’t come on and stay on (similar to our experiences with Alaska Airlines) until just before we start our final descent into London.
Arriving at dawn at Heathrow on Runway 27R. We’re one of a number of Asia-originating flights arriving here at this time of day, bringing in tourists, business travelers, or people visiting relatives from all corners of the Far East, as well as a couple flights that originate in Australia.
Taxiing to Terminal 2, also known as The Queen’s Terminal, under the watchful eyes of the controllers in Heathrow Tower. We’ve arrived a couple minutes early, so we have to wait a moment for our gate. Given how enjoyable our flight has been, however, this isn’t exactly a problem.
Deplaned at T2 in London as the Sun comes up, a rarity this time of year. While Thai Airways’s Royal First wasn’t exactly the ultra-luxurious experience it could be, it was still excellent, especially in terms of the amenities, dining, and service. Hopefully Thai Airways gets back on track and can upgrade or better maintain its Royal First hard product. At the end of the day, though, it’s still the best overall option for traveling directly between Bangkok and London if price is no object.
