To kick off the return portion of my unique journey to Bangkok by way of Paris, I flew Thai Airways’ Boeing 787 enterprise class on the 11hr30min flight from Bangkok (BKK) to Milan (MXP). It had been a number of years since I flew Thai Airways lengthy haul, and I bear in mind pondering it was one of many extra underrated enterprise class experiences on the market.
So I used to be joyful to be again within the skies on Thai Airways’ Dreamliner, and goodness, this was a fantastic flight. Whereas the laborious product is simply your typical reverse herringbone seat, the gentle product was phenomenal, from scrumptious meals (together with caviar!) to heat and hospitable service.
Thai Airways is great, and I can’t look ahead to the airline to quickly introduce a brand new enterprise class product, as that might put the service into the highest tier of airways globally, for my part.
How I booked my Thai Airways enterprise class ticket
I booked the complete return portion of my journey as one ticket. Particularly, I redeemed 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan factors and paid $138.02 in taxes & charges to e-book the next:
11/22 TG940 Bangkok to Milan departing 12:35AM arriving 7:10AM
11/22 LX1613 Milan to Zurich departing 10:30AM arriving 11:35AM
11/22 LX52 Zurich to Boston departing 5:30PM arriving 8:00PM
You actually can’t beat the worth of Aeroplan awards from Asia to the USA by way of Europe, and it’s doubtlessly even higher of a worth if you would like a stopover in Europe, as that prices simply 5,000 additional factors, and mainly provides you two journeys for the value of 1.
Fortuitously Aeroplan factors are straightforward to come back by, as this system companions with most main transferable factors currencies.
Thai Airways enterprise class lounge & boarding
Previous to my Thai Airways enterprise class flight, I checked out just a few lounges at Bangkok Airport, together with the Thai Airways Lounge, Turkish Airways Lounge, and EVA Air Lounge. Reciprocal Star Alliance lounge entry guidelines actually do provide you with a whole lot of choices on the airport!
My flight was departing from gate D7, with boarding scheduled for 12:05AM, half-hour earlier than the departure time.
Boarding on Thai Airways tends to be fairly orderly, in my expertise, and this flight was no exception. There was only one quirk — an Italian man was being (I assume) deported from Thailand on our flight, so he was escorted to the aircraft by police, after which Italian police picked him up upon arrival (and we arrived at a distant stand, so it made the deplaning course of a bit chaotic).
Anyway, boarding began at 12:05AM, with enterprise class passengers being invited to board first (nicely, a minimum of after the man being deported).
Thai Airways 787 enterprise class cabin & seats
I boarded by way of the ahead door, the place I used to be greeted by the very pleasant crew, and pointed proper into enterprise class. Thai Airways’ Boeing 787-9 enterprise class cabin consists of 30 enterprise class seats, unfold throughout eight rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration. It takes up the complete area between doorways one and two.
Particularly, the airline has Safran Cirrus seats put in seats on these Dreamliners, which is a fairly normal reverse herringbone product, and it’s not one which’s newest era by way of know-how. Whereas Thai Airways’ cabin finishes are lots to course of, I do admire how distinctive the cabins are, in an period the place so many airways simply go for very beige and generic cabins.
These touring with a companion might want to reserve a pair of the middle seats, given that you simply’ll a minimum of have some proximity to at least one one other (although you’ll nonetheless should lean ahead to correctly converse — these seats aren’t nice for {couples} or households).
In the meantime solo vacationers, or those that simply worth having each an aisle and window, will wish to choose one of many window seats. For instance, I assigned myself seat 19A, the window seat on the left aspect within the final row.
In the event you’ve flown in a reverse herringbone seat, odds are that you simply’re accustomed to the idea, and the seat finishes.
When it comes to options, to the aspect of the seat you’ll discover an uncovered storage space the place you may cling headphones, an leisure controller, a studying gentle, the headphone jack, the seat management panel, and a USB-A outlet.
The tray desk extends from beneath the console to the aspect of the seat, and needs to be flipped over to be prolonged to its full dimension.
Beneath the aspect console you’ll discover an AC energy outlet. That and the USB-A charging are the one choices, as there’s no USB-C or wi-fi charging accessible.
On the aisle aspect, you’ll additionally discover an armrest that may be raised and lowered (it must be lowered for takeoff and touchdown), and that may be opened to disclose a space for storing as nicely.
The seat then options an ottoman that’s a good dimension, which turns into a part of the mattress when totally reclined.
One completely pleasant characteristic of Thai Airways’ Dreamliners is that they’ve particular person air nozzles, which is all too unusual on huge physique plane of non-US airline.
All-in-all, it is a completely good enterprise class laborious product, however nothing particular, notably by way of privateness and know-how. That’s to be anticipated, although, and Thai Airways will quickly be rolling out a brand new product. Whereas this tough product is nothing leading edge, the excellent news is that it’s nonetheless fairly aggressive, and it’s positively not a cause to keep away from the airline.
Thai Airways 787 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
Thai Airways’ 787 enterprise class options 16″ seat again screens. These are usually saved at an angle, after which you may push a button for head-on viewing. The leisure system wasn’t essentially the most fashionable, however was nonetheless adequate.
The TV had a good collection of motion pictures, reveals, audio, and video games — it was removed from one of the best within the business, however was enough. On account of how the system was organized, it was laborious to determine precisely what number of applications there have been, however it wasn’t unhealthy.
Because the Dreamliner doesn’t have a tail digital camera, after all my favourite characteristic is the map system, which I at all times prefer to regulate when awake.
Relating to Wi-Fi, Thai Airways’ Dreamliners have inflight connectivity in partnership with Panasonic. Panasonic affords respectable speeds, however to not the extent of Starlink or Viasat. The airline affords enterprise class passengers one hour of free Wi-Fi, plus all passengers get free messaging.
If you wish to buy Wi-Fi with out knowledge caps, you should purchase a browsing move for $14.99, or a streaming move for $39.99. I bought the previous, as a result of I discovered the value distinction to be surprisingly massive, and on prime of that, I not often discover that “streaming” packages really dwell as much as what’s promised, a minimum of with Panasonic. So for $15, I assumed that was good pricing (after all I’d choose free, however…).
I discovered the Wi-Fi speeds to be okay, and I appreciated that you might additionally swap between accounts, so I might use the plan on each my laptop computer and cellphone (at totally different occasions).
So yeah, I’d say Thai Airways is center of the pack on the subject of leisure and Wi-Fi, similar to with the laborious product. Fortuitously the remainder of the expertise is the place it will get good…
Thai Airways enterprise class facilities
Thai Airways affords a stable collection of facilities in enterprise class. Ready at every seat upon boarding had been a really plush pillow and substantial blanket, which assist with getting cozy in the course of the flight.
There are additionally mattress pads saved within the overhead bin, which may be positioned on seats when reclined, to make the mattress a bit extra comfy.
Then there have been a pair of fine high quality noise canceling headphones. Since there’s no bluetooth audio, that is the most suitable choice for having fun with the leisure choice.
There was additionally a colourful amenity equipment, with the fundamentals (a dental equipment, earplugs, eyeshades), and a few merchandise from Sirivannavari Maison.
There was additionally a cute little field of sweets positioned on the seat… what a pleasant contact!
Subsequent, there have been a pair of slippers, very best for visiting the bathroom with out placing on sneakers.
Through the boarding course of, pre-departure drinks had been supplied, with the selection of champagne, juice, or water. I used to be impressed that this was served in a champagne flute, and there was additionally a heat towel on a little bit tray.
The menu and drink record for the flight had been additionally distributed.
Except for pajamas (which weren’t accessible), I’d say that’s a stable collection of facilities!
Thai Airways 787 departure from Bangkok
The boarding course of was a bit extra hectic than traditional, given that everybody boarded by way of the ahead door, which made for lots of foot site visitors. I do love Thai Airways’ boarding music, which was enjoying up till departure.
Fortuitously boarding was fairly environment friendly, and wrapped up by 12:30AM, with 4 of the 30 enterprise class seats empty. Across the identical time, the captain was on the PA to announce our flight time of 11hr30min, and our imminent departure.
We began our pushback at 12:35AM, after which began our taxi at 12:40AM, at which level the protection video was screened. It was a fast taxi out to the runway, and by 12:50AM we had been cleared for takeoff on runway 2R. We had a clean climb out, and the seatbelt signal was turned off round 5 minutes after takeoff.
Thai Airways enterprise class dinner service
After takeoff, dinner was served, and you could find the Thai Airways enterprise class menu beneath.
Then you could find the Thai Airways enterprise class drink record beneath.
Meal orders had been taken shortly after takeoff, and I used to be additionally impressed by the tempo at which service bought began. Lower than half-hour after takeoff I used to be served my first drink, plus the amuse bouche. To drink, I ordered one other glass of champagne, with Laurent-Perrier Brut being on supply.
The amuse bouche consisted of seared tuna with spicy mango salad, and a grilled zucchini roll with goat cheese. Combined nuts and dried fruit had been additionally supplied.
Lower than 10 minutes later, the appetizer was served. There was no alternative, however as an alternative, everybody bought the identical factor. This included caviar with poached tiger prawn, grilled Hokkaido scallop with inexperienced apple tartare, and air-fried beef bresola with grilled asparagus and carrots.
Thai Airways persistently affords caviar in enterprise class on flights to Europe, in order that’s a really spectacular facet of the service, since not many airways serve caviar in enterprise class.
I did discover the presentation to be a little bit random, by way of spending all that cash on the caviar, however then barely having any accompaniments. Nonetheless, it was a superb appetizer. There was additionally a collection of heat bread, together with the service’s scrumptious garlic bread.
The primary course was served round an hour after takeoff, simply shortly after the appetizer was cleared. Of the three predominant course choices, I opted for the tiger prawns in pink curry with pineapple. This was served with jasmine rice, a turnip omelet, and stir-friend eggplant with candy basil. The dish was phenomenal, and I accompanied it with a pleasant glass of pink wine.
As quickly as the primary course was cleared, I used to be proactively introduced a cheese course, which was fantastically presentation, and had a cool number of choices.
Then for dessert, I chosen the coconut milk panna cotta with toddy palm and ginkgo nuts. YUM.
Whereas I used to be stuffed at this level, I used to be additionally given a chocolate bar, with Thai Airways sixty fifth anniversary branding.
What an unbelievable meal, because it was completely paced, with good champagne, and scrumptious meals.
Thai Airways 787 enterprise class bathroom
Thai Airways’ 787-9 enterprise class has two bathrooms — one is within the entrance middle of the cabin, by the cockpit, whereas the opposite is on the entrance proper of the cabin, in entrance of the primary row. These are fairly normal Dreamliner bathrooms, and neither is especially spacious.
What stood out to me is that the bathrooms remained spotlessly clear all through the flight, and that makes a giant distinction on a protracted haul flight. There have been additionally some additional enterprise class facilities, like a moisturizer and cologne.
Thai Airways 787 enterprise class mattress
As soon as again at my seat, it was time to get some relaxation, so I reclined my seat into mattress mode. Humorous sufficient, as you will have decided primarily based on the beneath footage, I didn’t notice in regards to the mattress pad till later within the flight, once I observed them within the overhead bin. So it’s positively one thing the crew might talk higher.
By the point I went to mattress, we had slightly below 10 hours remaining to Milan, as we had been flying simply south of the border between Bangladesh and India.
I’m often a horrible airplane sleeper, so I really did rather well on this flight, and wakened with slightly below three hours remaining to Milan, as we had been simply south of the Black Sea. For me that’s a fantastic night time of sleep!
Thai Airways enterprise class breakfast
Round 2.5 hours earlier than touchdown, cabin lights had been turned on, and the breakfast service began, with heat towels first being distributed.
You could find the Thai Airways enterprise class snack menu beneath (which I didn’t partake in), together with the breakfast menu, beneath.
I ordered a espresso to drink, which was wonderful.
I appreciated the three distinctive breakfast choices, and I opted for the croissant with Alaskan king crab, accompanied by spinach egg rolls, creamy spinach, and oven-dried tomato. This was additionally served with a bowl of fruit, muesli, and a pastry on the aspect. I need to admit, this was a superb airplane egg dish, one of the best I’ve had in a really very long time.
Thai Airways enterprise class service
One in all Thai Airways’ greatest strengths is its workers, which shouldn’t come as a shock, given the extent to which Thailand is understood for hospitality. The crew on this flight was stellar — they supplied heat service from the center, and had wonderful consideration to element.
As one small instance of the good service, each throughout boarding and in the course of the descent, the crew got here round to thank every enterprise class passenger for flying with Thai Airways. That stage of heat continued all through the flight.
Thai Airways 787 arrival in Milan
Earlier than I knew it, we had been on the brink of begin our descent. At 5:50AM Milan time, the captain introduced that we’d be touchdown in round 35 minutes, and 10 minutes after that, the seatbelt signal was turned on. We hit some bumps on the method, and the crew ready the cabin for touchdown fairly early.
We ended up touching down in Bangkok at 6:25AM on runway 35L. From there, we had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival stand, as we arrived at a distant gate. With us pulling in at 6:30AM, we had been 40 minutes forward of schedule, which is nice.
As I hinted at above, our flight was met by the police, as there was a man who had clearly been deported from Thailand, and Italian authorities took custody of him on arrival.
As soon as off the bus I headed to the Lufthansa Lounge Milan, the place I’d spend a while earlier than persevering with my journey again to the USA.
Backside line
My Thai Airways flight had all of the makings of a world-class enterprise class product. So far as I’m involved, the airline has among the many greatest meals and friendliest service you’ll discover in enterprise class on any airline. This flight had an particularly sturdy exhibiting, with all the things from caviar to a scrumptious Thai prawn dish.
Finally Thai’s 787-9 enterprise class laborious product is ok, however nothing particular. The identical is true of the leisure, Wi-Fi, and facilities. When Thai introduces a brand new enterprise class laborious product, I actually assume it’ll be a part of the large leagues by way of having an unbelievable enterprise class expertise.
What’s your tackle Thai Airways’ 787 enterprise class?
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