Thai Airways is finally introducing up-to-date premium products to the busy London-Bangkok route.In recent times the carrier has been lagging behind rivals British Airways, Qantas and Eva Air (who all offer the latest lie-flat products in first and business class).But Thai's B747s used on the route are now being fitted with fully lie-flat seats in first class with passengers in business class getting lie-flat style versions.
The number of first class seats is cut from 14 to 10. Passengers sit three across (1-1-1) on seats with cushions which are almost 22 inches wide and where the legroom is boosted to 76 inches. Seating reclines 180 degrees.Business class seating goes down from 50 to 40. Seats are 20 inches wide with 60 inches of legroom. Passengers sit four across (2-2) on the B747's upper deck or downstairs on the left-hand side of the cabin. The recline is 170 degrees.
But economy class remains unchanged with entertainment buffs still having to manage without seat back screens, video on demand and so on.Thai operates twice a day from Heathrow. Most likely you'll experience the new first and business classes when taking Thai's long standing flight TG911 at 11.50 or inbound flight TG910 from Bangkok at 00.35. Most B747s operating these services have been retrofitted.
Thai's other services, namely TG916 from Heathrow at 21.35 and TG916 from Bangkok at 13.50, are due for conversion soon.
For more information go to www.thaiair.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
