Thai Airways seating

[Gus 97]

Well i learnt something new today, even at my age.

If using the Thai (UK) web site and going through the booking process and selecting the cheapest ticket fare you do not see all the seats which are available on that flight, now many of you may have known this, but I didn't :)

 

In the past when looking at seat avilability on TG910 and 911 the middle of the aircraft always showed no seats available, same same on the upper deck, no economy seats going.

However, once you click onto the second tier of tickets, Voila, loads more seats available.

 

So if you want to see how busy your flight is looking then try this method, I don't think it is 100% as there will be many passengers who have not booked a seat and wait until check in to be allocated one.

I like a quiet flight so travel on Monday-Wednesday, but if I see a flight with lots of unreserved seats then I will book that flight and spread out.

 

[Harvey 249]

I'm flying into Pattaya in early October and coming in from Tokyo on Thai Airways as well.

 

Their US website wouldn't let me see available seats too. And get this (I had booked this ticket four months ago), wouldn't let me pick my seat until like three weeks ago. When I ticketed, it just assigned me a seat (which I'm glad I changed).

 

Like you, I don't like not having all the information I use to make booking decisions.

[Gus 97]

Harvey a secondary check is expertflyer.com, it costs nothing to join but you are limited to how many free searches you can have per day, join then create seat alert to see your flight. If you are using more than one flight then it has to be done seperately.

For TG on 30th October, LHR-BKK the cheapest fare shows 67 seats available but if I pay the next rate then there are 183 economy (coach) seats free but a certain amount of these will be allocated to passengers who have not booked a seat initially..

[graymatter 153]

I usually fly budget airlines so my choices of seat selection is limited but i still hate a 5 hour flight on the A320 airbus unless I get an aisle seat. My concept here is to look for a single seat allocated next to a window and then choose the aisle. I reason that most people will avoid the middle seat so the odds of getting a vacant seat next to you increase are much better.

 

I flew Thai air lines to london a few years ago and chose an aisle seat on the window side of an A340. This had 3 seats either side and 4 in the middle.and I was more than a little horrified when I realised that the three seats were going to be occupied by me and a very large german couple, I smiled at the cabin crew and in my best Thai i simply said "sah wah dee khrap!" and at down. It must have worked because when the doors were locked I was invited to move into a middle row with 4 seats. I admit I felt a little guilty because I got to fly from Bangkok to london stretched out on 4 seats. I managed to ignore the dirty looks from other passengers.

[Gus 97]

Once, I think it was on BR068 I managed to wangle 3 seats to myself, then after take off a couple told the flight attendant that they were seated seperately and wanted to sit together, yes, youv'e got it, mine were the only 2 together so I finished up flying to BKK in a window seat trapped in by 2 other pax. :)

[marleyboy 140]

I just today booked a flight with Thai for January 2018, (Im also going with Thai on friday!).

 

For this weeks trip, I booked on Thais web-site..........cheapest ticket....and I managed to book 59E on both legs (nice seat..I had it in January this year too).

 

For my trip next January, I paid a higher economy fare (basically to get me more miles). I was able to book the upper deck for that trip.

 

I will be going twice a year for the next few years,,,then I will retire................yes!!

 

I used to use Eva.....but the last few years Ive used Thai.....I prefer the daytime flight from Heathrow, and the early morning flight from Bkk...

 

Ive flown Thai maybe 20 odd times over the years.........only ONCE! (well actually it was on both legs!) Have I managed 3!!! seats to myself!! Once or twice....Ive had a spare seat next to me......but the majority of times...the y are really fulll!

I "normally" fly on a Friday come back Friday/Saturday/Sunday...so "maybe" these flights are busier than during the week?

 

January, I will be flying over on a Thursday, and returning on a Tuesday...so "hopefullly"! the flights will be less busy?

 

I do prefer Thai Airways to Eva though.........(saying that!? the "pot noodle" things! on Eva were nice!).

[keyman 1,413]

Whenever I'm flying alone on Thai I change my seat at the airport. I check in early and ask if they will change my seat for an exit row seat so that I get the extra legroom. Occasionally I have someone next to me, but sometimes the middle seat is spare or even both. If I notice the flight is not full I ask to move to a centre row on my own and stretch out so I manage to get some kip.

You cannot prebook exit row seats and they won't allocate to children or anyone who is unable to assist the cabin staff with the exit door should it be necessary to evacuate.

 

KM

[Gus 97]

59E marley, is that next to a trap door? :) I have not been on a A380 yet.

[Harvey 249]

Harvey a secondary check is expertflyer.com, it costs nothing to join but you are limited to how many free searches you can have per day, join then create seat alert to see your flight. If you are using more than one flight then it has to be done seperately.

For TG on 30th October, LHR-BKK the cheapest fare shows 67 seats available but if I pay the next rate then there are 183 economy (coach) seats free but a certain amount of these will be allocated to passengers who have not booked a seat initially..

 

 

Thanks a lot, Gus! Really appreciate it.

[marleyboy 140]

59E marley, is that next to a trap door? :) I have not been on a A380 yet.

No!

 

its in a row of 4...but this row is only 3 (obviously middle row!).

So basically, there are 4 seats in front of you, and 4 behind.........but next to 59E is a "space" where the seat would have been!! It gives you a little more space, to sit? i had it for both legs in Jan and Feb his year...I found it a good "well "better"! than the "average"!) seat.

 

I will be in the same seat (59E) tomorrow, and for my return in a fortnight. Then in Jan. Im sitting "upstairs". Hopefully it wont be as busy/noisy...........purely because not so many seats there! Plus as a bonus......"hopefully"! smaller queues to use the toilets!!

 

i like the A380, it seems to be quieter, as well as a bigger cabin, which (even though the seats are the same size!) gives an impression of more space. Saying that? The upper deck will be smaller...!?

 

Have a quick look on seat guru , as regards to seats. "Personally"? I prefer an aisle seat . (dont have to climb over people to get up for a walk/go to toilet etc!)....but of course...that means , the 2 sat next to you, will be climbing all over you! So I book an aisle seat, in the row of 4

(Or 59E! which has only 3 seats!) as in theory? Just the person sitting next to you, will need to climb all over you (well you know what I mean!) as they go for a walk/toilet etc etc!!

 

The older Im getting? The more I like a "better" seat!! And no!! I cant or wont pay for Business class!!

Edited September 14, 2017 by marleyboy

[Bob Belzy 150]

Well i learnt something new today, even at my age.

If using the Thai (UK) web site and going through the booking process and selecting the cheapest ticket fare you do not see all the seats which are available on that flight, now many of you may have known this, but I didn't :)

 

In the past when looking at seat avilability on TG910 and 911 the middle of the aircraft always showed no seats available, same same on the upper deck, no economy seats going.

However, once you click onto the second tier of tickets, Voila, loads more seats available.

 

So if you want to see how busy your flight is looking then try this method, I don't think it is 100% as there will be many passengers who have not booked a seat and wait until check in to be allocated one.

I like a quiet flight so travel on Monday-Wednesday, but if I see a flight with lots of unreserved seats then I will book that flight and spread out.

 

 

Over the past three or so years I've used Thai that has been the case. Cheapest tickets only get to pick from the rear of the economy section. Its also my perception (not saying its a fact) that the forward economy sets get a little (and I mean a very little) better service with things like pre-dinner drinks.

[Gus 97]

I don't know what happens if Thai sell most of their cheap tickets but not too many of the next tier, if everyone was sitting near the tail it would upset the centre of gravity of the flight. :)

 

Myself, I do not mind sitting near to the back, OK it can be bumpier and sometimes the food main dish can be run out but I don't mind that.

 

I think that once the flight opens passengers who have not reserved seats fill up the centre of the aircraft first, at BKK I have often thought about leaving a 100/200thb on my passport photo page,, "Tip"

 

What time for TG917 do the Thai airways staff man their desk, is it 5-30pm? Perhaps a handling company man them ? I usually self check in just after 5 pm

[Butch 3,456]

Hope this is relevent but I noticed Thai are now using their A350 on the LHR-BKK route in the evening (21:35 departure), I knew they were rolling it out but thought it wasn't until Xmas. Anyone know the seating configuration and recline / pitch etc?.

[Gus 97]

Butch

Seatguru are showing the Thai A350 as having 289 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout, 32" pitch and 18" width.

 

i think TG may do better business on the Heathrow route this high season, I think the Eva 777-300ER on the LHR route is now 3-4-3 seating layout which will deter some pax.

[short 215]

B777 3-4-3 is intended for tiny Asian families. It is rude for a westerner to buy one of those seats

[Bob Belzy 150]

Hope this is relevent but I noticed Thai are now using their A350 on the LHR-BKK route in the evening (21:35 departure), I knew they were rolling it out but thought it wasn't until Xmas. Anyone know the seating configuration and recline / pitch etc?.

Flew in one from Chiang Mai to BKK a couple of weeks ago. Compared to the B787 (Dreamliner) there seemed to be a little bit more room, although both aircraft are stated to be 32" seat pitch. Biggest plus was that unlike the Boeing, the video screen tilted to compensate for eye height and seat recline.

[Butch 3,456]

Cheers fellas. We flew to the states on a 787, for some reason I couldn't get comfortable but enjoyed the experience. I've seen a youtube video of a Frankfurt - BKK review in economy on one, and to be honest it visually looks much cleaner, sleeker and more comfortable than the 777.

[Goldpanner 399]

The reason most of the front and mid section seats show full is because of the big company's and consolidators allocations.

The closer to departure dat you get the better chance you have of finding an empty space.

 

The upper back economy section of the A380's is also generally shown as not available is because of the pricing.depending on what company your booking with.

[Gus 97]

Goldpanner thanks for the heads up, one thing I have noticed, is the closer to flight day the cheaper rates become unavailable. :)

 

For my probable flights TG917 is showing 37 available seats at the cheap rate and 157 for the next tier of fares.

TG910 is showing 121 available seats at the cheap rate and 282 for the next tier.

 

I missed the boat farewise as it was £513 but now £574 and I note that for November departures the fares increase again for high season.

I will book direct with Thai in the next 2 days and even with Skyscanner/Kayak/WestEast etc the TG fares are around £570 for early October departures.

[Goldpanner 399]

I think the reason Thai Fares are holding up is the aggro between Qatar and other Gulf states. Also Thai are shipping tons and tons of food through to Qatar so are on a good profit margin so can keep seat prices up. When the Qatar thing finally sorts itself out prices will drop. I mean TG were £465 before the Gulf crap started.

[Butch 3,456]

Goldpanner thanks for the heads up, one thing I have noticed, is the closer to flight day the cheaper rates become unavailable. :)

 

For my probable flights TG917 is showing 37 available seats at the cheap rate and 157 for the next tier of fares.

TG910 is showing 121 available seats at the cheap rate and 282 for the next tier.

 

I missed the boat farewise as it was £513 but now £574 and I note that for November departures the fares increase again for high season.

I will book direct with Thai in the next 2 days and even with Skyscanner/Kayak/WestEast etc the TG fares are around £570 for early October departures.

 

Still not a terrible fare Gus, I tend to get the jitters at anything over £600, but if I can get the fare in the range of £470-£570 then I don't feel that my pants have been pulled down too much.

 

Be interested for a review of Thai if you end up going on the A350 service.

[Goldpanner 399]

 

 

Be interested for a review of Thai if you end up going on the A350 service.

Thats one plane I want to go on before I pop my clogs.

Ive been on many types of plane from DC3's to a Beechcraft Staggerwing to Concorde several times.

[Butch 3,456]

Thats one plane I want to go on before I pop my clogs.

Ive been on many types of plane from DC3's to a Beechcraft Staggerwing to Concorde several times.

Don't want to stray too far off topic, but was Concorde (the in flight experience) as good as they said it was?.

 

I can see the A350 overtaking the dreamliner before long. I'm off to the RP in next couple of weeks on Cathay, LHR-HKG-MNL I've just seen that the CX907 from HKG to MNL is an A350 only on that service, which is a bummer because I'm out on the following which is an A330. Bugger.

[Gus 97]

I booked today direct with Thai online, 917 on the 31st and 910 on 23rd November, £574.

 

Fares are very up and down at the moment, even for the 2 different flights, STA looked on last night then by this morning fares had gone up again, I didn't book last night because I wanted to book a numbered seat.

Also, with the airline business as it is, I booked by credit card with Thai who do not charge extra like travel companies.

Interestingly when selecting your seat and you hover the mouse over seats at the rear of the aircraft it comes up with something like 'book these seats last' which is probably because of no overhead bins in the last few rows of seats in the centre.

 

I will post a report of my A350 experience in a few weeks but it will not be a very comprehensive one I am afraid.

Chok Dee

[Goldpanner 399]

Don't want to stray too far off topic, but was Concorde (the in flight experience) as good as they said it was?.

 

 

The inflight BA service was superb I wasnt that thrilled with the service on the Air France Concorde, but for the seating you didnt realy want a window seat as the inside of Concorde was very tiny.

When that afterburner kicked in you certainly felt it.