Bad news about Thai Air

[short 215]

As originally reported on the Secrets board and I have confirmed via call to Thai Air in LAX, Thai Air is replacing the A340 with a 777 on the LAX BKK route.

 

The flights are now 2 hours longer to allow for a refueling stop.

 

Executive Economy seats are no more. You have a choice of economy or business (about $5000) r/t.

 

The new schedule means that travelers from the US east coast will probably have to spend the night before in a LAX hotel.

 

 

Question for anyone that has personal experience: How does the Eva Air Executive Economy seats compare to the Tha Air Executive Economy seats?

[Gary 4,119]

As originally reported on the Secrets board and I have confirmed via call to Thai Air in LAX, Thai Air is replacing the A340 with a 777 on the LAX BKK route.

 

The flights are now 2 hours longer to allow for a refueling stop.

 

Executive Economy seats are no more. You have a choice of economy or business (about $5000) r/t.

 

The new schedule means that travelers from the US east coast will probably have to spend the night before in a LAX hotel.

 

 

Question for anyone that has personal experience: How does the Eva Air Executive Economy seats compare to the Tha Air Executive Economy seats?

 

I was talking to friend about non-stop flights from BKK to LAX. His view was that the non-stop was entirely too long to sit and that he much preferred a one stop flight. Myself, I much prefer for the shortest non-stop trip time. Different strokes for different folks.

 

As far as the Eva upgraded economy seats, you have to make your reservations as far in advance as possible. My last two inquiries both had all those seats sold out.

[js007 795]

I was talking to friend about non-stop flights from BKK to LAX. His view was that the non-stop was entirely too long to sit and that he much preferred a one stop flight. Myself, I much prefer for the shortest non-stop trip time. Different strokes for different folks.

 

As far as the Eva upgraded economy seats, you have to make your reservations as far in advance as possible. My last two inquiries both had all those seats sold out.

 

As for the Thai nonstop routes? I've done both the JFK - BKK flight and the LAX - BKK flights. To be sure, 17.5 hours is a long flight. But on my last trip back, from BKK to LAX, the flight was only 13.5 hours for some reason. That was a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting a longer flight. Anyway, with the Premium Economy seating, the flights were all OK. I guess there must be other airlines with Premium Economy seats?

[CheshireTom 1,377]

As originally reported on the Secrets board ...

 

 

 

[davebuczek 21]

As for the Thai nonstop routes? I've done both the JFK - BKK flight and the LAX - BKK flights. To be sure, 17.5 hours is a long flight. But on my last trip back, from BKK to LAX, the flight was only 13.5 hours for some reason. That was a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting a longer flight. Anyway, with the Premium Economy seating, the flights were all OK. I guess there must be other airlines with Premium Economy seats?

 

You were flying with the jet-stream on the way back...

[pattaya_mad 208]

a good side note for Brits is thai have relaced the ageing 747s with the A340 on the Heathrow-bkk route, at least we can have a bit of in flight entertainment now

[chatkeow 28]

a good side note for Brits is thai have relaced the ageing 747s with the A340 on the Heathrow-bkk route, at least we can have a bit of in flight entertainment now

 

Were the seats still 34" pitch in economy on the Airbus, or were they smaller and included that infuriating foot rest which further reduces pitch ??

[FoxtrotOscar 36]

According to seatguru site if it's the a340-500 the pitch is 36", if it's the -600 think it's the same as the 747.

[Samsonite 181]

The type of seat, the seat pitch and the in flight entertainment are entirely up to the airline and how much money they want to spend on their aircraft. Both Boeing and Airbus will install just about anything the buyer wants (there are limits). Some airlines have the manufacturer do the interior and others do it themselves or send it off to a third party.

I've been on 747s with well worn (to be polite) interiors and very basic IFE and I've been on 747s of approximately the same age that were in excellent condition and had every gadget available at the time. It is up to each airline as to what "comforts" they will provide.

[jballstate 326]

I was talking to friend about non-stop flights from BKK to LAX. His view was that the non-stop was entirely too long to sit and that he much preferred a one stop flight. Myself, I much prefer for the shortest non-stop trip time. Different strokes for different folks.

 

As far as the Eva upgraded economy seats, you have to make your reservations as far in advance as possible. My last two inquiries both had all those seats sold out.

 

If you are flying from US east coast I don't know why you would fly to LAX to connect with a flight to BKK. You are going to spend about 7 hours getting to LAX from the east coast counting flying time, checking in, ect. plus a possible plane change in route. Then you have the layover time in Los Angles. From the east coast now that Thai Airlines no longer flys non-stop from JFK to BKK would be to take Cathy Pacific from JFK to Hong Kong (16 hrs) and then fly them from Hong Kong to BKK ( between 2 & 3 hours as I recall). Total flight time including chang in Hong Kong is about 20 hrs. Cathy Pacific is a very good airline with good food & flight attendants as well. If you are looking for a good business class fare check out Aerosvit Airlines. Sometimes they will put on a special that is hard to beat. You fly from JFK to Kiev and then Kiev to BKK. They are pretty much a plain jane airline but their food and service in business class is not bad at all. They will also furnish you with limo service from anywhere in New York City to JFK if you are flying business class. I made 2 trips JFK to BKK business class on them just over a year ago and on one trip I paid $2,900 round trip and on the other flight caught a really good special for $2,200 US round trip. The free limo service is handy if you are flying into LGA and have to get over to JFK for your connection. I would not fly them in economy class.

[steamer 158]

from WIKI

 

 

The 777-200LR is the world's longest-range airliner and holds the record for longest distance flown by a non-stop commercial aircraft,^[6][7] with the demonstrated capability to fly more than halfway around the world.

[Siam Sam 964]

Were the seats still 34" pitch in economy on the Airbus, or were they smaller and included that infuriating foot rest which further reduces pitch ??

 

You've been on too many planes.

[tomcat76 327]

from WIKI

 

 

The 777-200LR is the world's longest-range airliner and holds the record for longest distance flown by a non-stop commercial aircraft,^[6][7] with the demonstrated capability to fly more than halfway around the world.

 

...not the whole story. Even an aircraft rated for the distance has to make a tradeoff between the number of passengers/baggage/cargo it can carry and the required fuel load (nearly full tanks for a max-range flight obviously). I suspect this has something to do with Thai Air cancelling their non-stop LAX-BKK service. The A340 could make the trip, but possibly not with enough dry carrying capacity to keep it profitable wi rising oil prices (and their fares were already significantly higher than many others offering 1-stop service from LAX to BKK and so actually flying more miles).

[Samsonite 181]

...not the whole story. Even an aircraft rated for the distance has to make a tradeoff between the number of passengers/baggage/cargo it can carry and the required fuel load (nearly full tanks for a max-range flight obviously). I suspect this has something to do with Thai Air cancelling their non-stop LAX-BKK service. The A340 could make the trip, but possibly not with enough dry carrying capacity to keep it profitable wi rising oil prices (and their fares were already significantly higher than many others offering 1-stop service from LAX to BKK and so actually flying more miles).

 

At the time both Thai Air and Singapore Air started their Ultra long haul flights, the Boeing 777-200LR (Longer Range) wasn't available. To get the Airbus 340-500 light enough that it could make the trip they had to remove somewhere in the order of 40 to 60 seats, I've forgotten the correct number, which, of course means a corresponding reduction in the number of passengers and baggage. Singapore Air eventually went so far as to make it an entirely business class flight with only, IIRC, 100 seats.

The Boeing 777-200LR, which went into service in March of 2006, and could easily make the trip in either direction, non-stop, with a full load of 301 passengers and luggage and at a lower cost to the airline (two engines vs four). OTOH, I doubt Thai Air.has enough demand to fill such a plane for a daily flight. Maybe if it was only offered two or three times a week?

[short 215]

If you are flying from US east coast I don't know why you would fly to LAX to connect with a flight to BKK. You are going to spend about 7 hours getting to LAX from the east coast counting flying time, checking in, ect. plus a possible plane change in route. Then you have the layover time in Los Angles. From the east coast now that Thai Airlines no longer flys non-stop from JFK to BKK would be to take Cathy Pacific from JFK to Hong Kong (16 hrs) and then fly them from Hong Kong to BKK ( between 2 & 3 hours as I recall). Total flight time including chang in Hong Kong is about 20 hrs. Cathy Pacific is a very good airline with good food & flight attendants as well. If you are looking for a good business class fare check out Aerosvit Airlines. Sometimes they will put on a special that is hard to beat. You fly from JFK to Kiev and then Kiev to BKK. They are pretty much a plain jane airline but their food and service in business class is not bad at all. They will also furnish you with limo service from anywhere in New York City to JFK if you are flying business class. I made 2 trips JFK to BKK business class on them just over a year ago and on one trip I paid $2,900 round trip and on the other flight caught a really good special for $2,200 US round trip. The free limo service is handy if you are flying into LGA and have to get over to JFK for your connection. I would not fly them in economy class.

The problem with flying through NY is the unreliability in the winter.

[steamer 158]

...not the whole story. Even an aircraft rated for the distance has to make a tradeoff between the number of passengers/baggage/cargo it can carry and the required fuel load (nearly full tanks for a max-range flight obviously). I suspect this has something to do with Thai Air cancelling their non-stop LAX-BKK service. The A340 could make the trip, but possibly not with enough dry carrying capacity to keep it profitable wi rising oil prices (and their fares were already significantly higher than many others offering 1-stop service from LAX to BKK and so actually flying more miles).

 

Apparently Thai airways does have 2 versions of the 777-200 including the ER (extended range) which carries up to 300 passengers and 2 versions of the 777 300 including the ER. They no doubt have their business plan but they most certainly don't have to stop for fuel as the opening post indicates. Extra cost in landing fees as well as fuel for a second take off must be quite expensive but perhaps adding passengers that get on and off at the stopover is what make the change worthwhile. The aircraft itself isn't the issue. In fact the 777's in all configurations carry more passengers than the A340 does.

 

http://www.thaiairwa...wnloads/77E.pdf

Edited February 17, 2012 by steamer

[pattaya_mad 208]

pretty damn happy they have replaced the 747 with the A340 airbus on the heathrow-bkk route, well thats what I flew home on from my recent trip

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

If you are flying from US east coast I don't know why you would fly to LAX to connect with a flight to BKK. You are going to spend about 7 hours getting to LAX from the east coast counting flying time, checking in, ect. plus a possible plane change in route. Then you have the layover time in Los Angles. From the east coast now that Thai Airlines no longer flys non-stop from JFK to BKK would be to take Cathy Pacific from JFK to Hong Kong (16 hrs) and then fly them from Hong Kong to BKK ( between 2 & 3 hours as I recall). Total flight time including chang in Hong Kong is about 20 hrs.

 

I agree. Even with the LAX-BKK non-stop, total flying time from an NYC metro airport is longer via LAX than non-stop flights from NYC via Tokyo or Hong Kong. Since Newark Liberty was a better departure airport for me and I have nearly all my FF points on Star Alliance members, I used the Continental (soon to be United) non-stop to Narita, then on to BKK. Total flying time was about 20 hours, including the connecting time in Tokyo. I never experienced any delays during winter months, although it is a possibility. I once got out a day ahead of a storm that screwed flights up for nearly a week.

 

Evil