Thai Airways A330-300 Economy class

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Thai Airways A330-300 Economy class

Published: 20/01/2010 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Airlines » Thai Airways »

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CHECK-IN The resort city of Pattaya, where I had spent a few days, is an hour and a half drive away from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. I made sure to leave at 1430 for flight TG602 to Hong Kong, departing at 1840. CX072/AA6102 is the next Hong Kong-bound service, which leaves twenty minutes later at 1900.

The driver’s sure maneuvering got me to the airport at 1600. I proceeded to Thai’s check-in area at aisles H and J where I was asked to choose between 31A, a window seat, or an aisles seat on row 61. With an arrival time of 2200 ahead of me, I wanted to be off the plane and away as quickly as possible so I opted for the front of the cabin, as the logical choice.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is infamous for the lengthy distances it takes to reach the gates so it’s a good idea not to linger landside but clear immigration and security checks as soon as possible. I checked the signs for my gate, E7, which was off to the right after security. I looked for a cart to load my haversack and bulging laptop. With one eye on my watch, I paced myself, managing to browse a bit in the souvenir shops.

BOARDING The holding area was already packed by the time I arrived at 1750. I sensed a restlessness in the crowd, keen to get on the plane. A little past 1800, Royal Orchid Class members and travellers with children were called, which sent the rest of us in Economy to jump up and surge forward, despite the announcement that boarding would be done by rows. After a while, it was obvious no one was following any numerical sequence, but the flow was at least orderly.

Once everyone had settled down the attendants rolled out a trolley with the day’s national publications in both English and Thai. I picked the Bangkok Post, having read The Nation earlier that morning.

The plane pushed off at 1850 with a slight wait on the runway which was when they chose to air the safety video. We were informed the flight would take two hours and ten minutes.

THE SEAT Thai’s A330-300 offers two classes. Business class, configured 2-2-2, is identified as AB-EF-JK, and Economy class, occupying two cabins, is 2-4-2 or AB-DEFG-JK. My seat, 31A, was in the front row of the first economy cabin by the window.

Since I felt uneasy about storing my laptop in the overhead compartment, I slipped it underneath me. I fitted my small knapsack between the wall on my left side and the seat. My belongings now within reach, I was a happy passenger.

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? The first row by the bulkhead in both Economy class cabins have the most legroom, and you are the first to disembark after the Business class passengers as there is an exit nearby. In the first economy section, the washrooms are way at the back of a 16 row cabin. Row 48 on the other hand is directly behind these facilities, and also by an exit.

THE FLIGHT With the TV monitor mounted on the bulkhead in front of me, I thought I could enjoy the feature on “extreme environments”. This wasn’t to be however as the monitor was defective and blurred. I had to continually shift position in order to catch the right viewing angle.

Dinner was a delicious potato mayonnaise appetizer, with a choice of pork steak or chicken curry rice for mains – I went for the former. A sinful chocolate cream cake provided that sweet ending. At 2150, the captain came on the PA to let us know we would be descending within minutes.

ARRIVAL At 2215, the aircraft’s wheels were on terra firma. Clearing immigration with my Hong Kong smart ID card was as painless as usual, unlike the wait for luggage which was from four aircraft, including Thai, all on one carousel. It was nearing 2330 when I grumpily trudged out of Chek Lap Kok Airport to meet my taxi.

PRICE Web fares for departures in the first week of February start from THB12,350 (US$375).

VERDICT I always enjoy the food onboard Thai as I did on this journey, managing to leave a relatively clean tray. The National Geographic-type features they show are of interest to me but I couldn’t enjoy it because of the cloudy monitor.

CONTACT thaiairways.com

Margie T Logarta