Background
I have always been wanting to go to the Venice Biennale but never really put my mind to make the trip because it takes place in the summer when it's much harder for me and especially my partner to take leave from work. But this year's September, due to my partner's boss also being away for quite awhile, and on account that I would be having my birthday at around the same time, we decided to make a special birthday trip to the Biennale especially since it is the architectural biennale this year, and is curated by the usually-thought-provoking Rem Koolhaas and I being an admirer.
We have generally been loyal SQ flyers and have flown many times with them in all their cabin classes. While it is certainly on and off depending on the crew, we had some excellent superbly memorable service with them especially in F and Suites. No doubt we always think of SQ as the best out there. But we are also aware that other airlines are catching up and it's neck-to-neck race in premium cabins. So we want to check the competition out there. We were burning miles for this trip and it was quite a fair bit more expensive to use these partner airlines but our curiosity trumped over my propensity to hoard miles.
This report will be about First Class experience with 3 airlines which are reputedly the best of the best and I will be comparing them both on ground and in the air. I started the journey in Singapore with SQ J but I am not starting the report with this flight since my focus is on F of the 3 airlines. Hope you guys enjoy. And thank you for reading.
Flight number: TG920
Route: BKK-FRA
Reg: HS-TUB
Seat: 1F
My experience with TG started with disembarkation from SQ978, docked at gate D2 of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
I was booked SIN-BKK-FRA-VCE in the same ticket and told myself there is a 50% chance that TG would pick me up at the gate and drive me with a buggy to the First Class Lounge. If so, then it would be a major tick to their First Class ground service. Considering I came off a competitor airline, they are not obliged to know that I arrive or give me such treatment. If I had arrived off a TG flight, then yes, they must do that.
Well, yes, they did pick us up at the gate. A young smiling agent (everyone smiles in Thailand, the land of Smiles anyway...)was holding a placard with our names and greeted us with a nice Wai and "sawasdee kha" as we emerged from the aerobridge. Well done TG for the special treatment. The trip started with a good note.
The buggy ride was speedy to the intersection between the C and D wings where we got off the buggy and then up the lift and walked a little bit to the First Class Lounge. I was initially hoping that the buggy would drive us all the way into the lounge like some TRs mentioned. It was not the case apparently. Perhaps not if you arrive from a transfer flight at the arrival level.
The First Class Lounge was manned by more smiling dragons who enthusiastically welcomed us and were about to quickly shepherd us into the lounge when I asked them if we could do the massage first. "Ah, Good idea, Mr SQueeze", they said. So one of them escorted us to the Royal Silk Spa while the other took our carry-ons to be stored aside under their watch.
At the spa, we were immediately seated at one corner and served glass of cold drink.
"Good evening Mr SQueeze, welcome to Royal Thai Spa, we have two different massages here, the Touch of Silk and the Royal Thai. Which would you want, sir? "
"Oh, what's the difference?"
"Touch of Silk with oil. Royal Thai no oil", she said in her melodious Thai accent.
Both of us opted for the "without oil". First impression so far was just ok. The place is quiet but does not feel posh and expensive like what I expect a First Class lounge to be.
Decor is soothing with plenty of timber accents but is rather simple and lighting is basic. It won't win any interior design award.
We were soon escorted to the treatment room which is much nicer. It's huge. There is a tub at one end. I am not sure if it can be used. I was not offered to use it.
The bathroom is huge too.
Robe is provided. And the black item wrapped in plastic is a very sexy short shorts. It's super elastic and super short. I wish I could take home some. Haha.
Huge wardrobe to hang jackets and our clothes is towards one corner of the bathroom
And slippers are provided. I like the design but didn't get to use it much.
I have always been wanting to go to the Venice Biennale but never really put my mind to make the trip because it takes place in the summer when it's much harder for me and especially my partner to take leave from work. But this year's September, due to my partner's boss also being away for quite awhile, and on account that I would be having my birthday at around the same time, we decided to make a special birthday trip to the Biennale especially since it is the architectural biennale this year, and is curated by the usually-thought-provoking Rem Koolhaas and I being an admirer.
We have generally been loyal SQ flyers and have flown many times with them in all their cabin classes. While it is certainly on and off depending on the crew, we had some excellent superbly memorable service with them especially in F and Suites. No doubt we always think of SQ as the best out there. But we are also aware that other airlines are catching up and it's neck-to-neck race in premium cabins. So we want to check the competition out there. We were burning miles for this trip and it was quite a fair bit more expensive to use these partner airlines but our curiosity trumped over my propensity to hoard miles.
This report will be about First Class experience with 3 airlines which are reputedly the best of the best and I will be comparing them both on ground and in the air. I started the journey in Singapore with SQ J but I am not starting the report with this flight since my focus is on F of the 3 airlines. Hope you guys enjoy. And thank you for reading.
Flight number: TG920
Route: BKK-FRA
Reg: HS-TUB
Seat: 1F
My experience with TG started with disembarkation from SQ978, docked at gate D2 of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
I was booked SIN-BKK-FRA-VCE in the same ticket and told myself there is a 50% chance that TG would pick me up at the gate and drive me with a buggy to the First Class Lounge. If so, then it would be a major tick to their First Class ground service. Considering I came off a competitor airline, they are not obliged to know that I arrive or give me such treatment. If I had arrived off a TG flight, then yes, they must do that.
Well, yes, they did pick us up at the gate. A young smiling agent (everyone smiles in Thailand, the land of Smiles anyway...)was holding a placard with our names and greeted us with a nice Wai and "sawasdee kha" as we emerged from the aerobridge. Well done TG for the special treatment. The trip started with a good note.
The buggy ride was speedy to the intersection between the C and D wings where we got off the buggy and then up the lift and walked a little bit to the First Class Lounge. I was initially hoping that the buggy would drive us all the way into the lounge like some TRs mentioned. It was not the case apparently. Perhaps not if you arrive from a transfer flight at the arrival level.
The First Class Lounge was manned by more smiling dragons who enthusiastically welcomed us and were about to quickly shepherd us into the lounge when I asked them if we could do the massage first. "Ah, Good idea, Mr SQueeze", they said. So one of them escorted us to the Royal Silk Spa while the other took our carry-ons to be stored aside under their watch.
At the spa, we were immediately seated at one corner and served glass of cold drink.
"Good evening Mr SQueeze, welcome to Royal Thai Spa, we have two different massages here, the Touch of Silk and the Royal Thai. Which would you want, sir? "
"Oh, what's the difference?"
"Touch of Silk with oil. Royal Thai no oil", she said in her melodious Thai accent.
Both of us opted for the "without oil". First impression so far was just ok. The place is quiet but does not feel posh and expensive like what I expect a First Class lounge to be.
Decor is soothing with plenty of timber accents but is rather simple and lighting is basic. It won't win any interior design award.
We were soon escorted to the treatment room which is much nicer. It's huge. There is a tub at one end. I am not sure if it can be used. I was not offered to use it.
The bathroom is huge too.
Robe is provided. And the black item wrapped in plastic is a very sexy short shorts. It's super elastic and super short. I wish I could take home some. Haha.
Huge wardrobe to hang jackets and our clothes is towards one corner of the bathroom
And slippers are provided. I like the design but didn't get to use it much.
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