TG F : What to expect

[dukesy]

Hi Guys

Thanks to SQ's rather insanely high C fares ex UK, i have managed to get a LHR-SYD return on TG for less than the SQ C class Fare

Now i appreciate that the onboard wont be anywhere near SQ's offering, buit i have heard mixed reports regarding their ground services (Private cars, Massages etc)

I have travelled F on SQ previously, and have done C on a LOT of airlines (inc TG), but i was wondering

a) What to expect
b) Any tips ?

FYI : I am LHR-BKK (744) BKK-SYD_SYD (all 346), BKK-LHR (744) in March

Was gooing to ask on TOF, but wanted to get your guys input first !

[MAN Flyer]

Ah TG in F, where to start....

I have done a lot of intercontinental flights in F on TG in the last few years, including over twenty last year. They are as inconsistent as you can get ; as good as the best airlines around with superb crews one minute, and as poor as the worst with completely uninterested crews on occassion.

In fairness, their consistency does seem to be on the up again and the flights in the latter half of last year were better than the first half. They can still go either way, but the trend is upward at the moment.

The main thing about flying from UK to Australia is seat comfort and sleep, and as long as you don't suffer one of their annoying equipment swaps (thankfully rare but still happening) you will be fine as the seat is good for sleeping. In fairness even if you get equipment swapped the old seats are very comfortable as well. The A346 is also a decent aircraft with a nice F cabin with two rows of 1-2-1.

Ex-LHR you will have access to the London Lounge and the SKL F. In Bangkok you will be met at the gate by TG staff with your name on a board and depending how far away your gate is they will either walk with you or put you on a buggy and escort you to immigration if you are going into town or to the TG F lounge if just transferring.

The TG F lounge is very nice, and was one of my favourites anywhere. Sadly they did 'enhance' it in the middle of last year and they got rid of most of the staff (in fairness it was a bit OTT in staff numbers) and the chefs, which greatly reduced the amount of fresh food you could choose. It's still very nice, and often quiet and the fried rice still seems decent enough so no complaints there.

You will also have access to the TG Spa Lounge facility across from the F lounge, where you can get various different types of massage, including up to a full 1 hour body massage. As I rarely get to the airport much more than 90 minutes before departure I usually just have a neck/shoulder or foot massage, and if you are in a rush you can have both at the same time, which can be fun.

When your flight is boarding they will escort you to the aircraft, again either on foot or in a buggy depending what gate you leave from. If you are running it a bit fine and want to use the Spa make sure you tell them and they will come and get you over there.

Not sure if you are going straight through both ways but if not and you are checking in at BKK you can use the special F checkin right at the first entrance to the terminal. They have Porters here who will take your luggage at the door and a staff member will take your documents from you and sit you down in a nice little seperate area. They will then escort you through immigration and down the escalator to the J lounge at D pier, put you on a buggy and drive you along a passageway along side the J lounge, out into the terminal and into the F lounge. The latter bit is quite new as they have blocked off the nearest entrance to the F lounge for some reason.

If you haven't done this before then I would recommend giving it a go for the novelty value alone. The buggy through the J lounge still amuses me even though I have done it many times. I have personally stopped using the F checkin as it takes too long. I only have hand luggage and I have no idea what they do at F checkin but it takes 5, 10 or 15 (even 20 once) minutes. I just go to J checkin and walk to the F lounge myself, it's far quicker.

I am flying them myself again on Friday from LHR for the first time this year. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

[Kyo]

I have personally stopped using the F checkin as it takes too long. I only have hand luggage and I have no idea what they do at F checkin but it takes 5, 10 or 15 (even 20 once) minutes. I just go to J checkin and walk to the F lounge myself, it's far quicker.

Gotta say I didn't encounter any delay whatsoever. Even though we checked in two pieces of luggage. Then again, this was an early morning TG600 BKK-HKG.

With TG F, expect the unexpected! (aircraft swaps)

I'm still smarting that I won't get the 346 to MUC next month. I'd change it also, if it wasn't for the fact they retimed it and I'm getting 1.5 days in MUC as a result, allowing me sufficient time to poke around Munich. (2 stopovers, technically)

[jhm]

put you on a buggy and drive you along a passageway along side the J lounge, out into the terminal and into the F lounge.

For my one and only time having this experience, I refused. It seemed comical to accept a ride on a buggy for the 30 seconds or less it takes to walk down the corridor but in some quarters (but not me), I'm sure the buggy ride is seen as excellent service!

[jjpb3]

When your flight is boarding they will escort you to the aircraft, again either on foot or in a buggy depending what gate you leave from. If you are running it a bit fine and want to use the Spa make sure you tell them and they will come and get you over there.

They also patiently (though with a look of controlled alarm) wait by your side if you're finishing sending an urgent work email on the wireless network when your flight is well into boarding phase.

TG F ground experience at BKK truly is a selling point for the F ticket. I'm glad to hear that they seem to be getting a handle on the variance in inflight experience.

[dukesy]

Just transiting

many thanks guys....

you've kinda confirmed what i thought a little..

i should have mentioned that i am just transiting both ways, and hadnt intended to leave airport

i only have 90 minutes on way out, but an horrid (unless you tell me otherwise) 7 hours on the way back ;-)

and only in oz for 36 hours so will be seriously in need of a little pampering on the way back, so a massage/spa spunds perfect !!!

[MAN Flyer]

Gotta say I didn't encounter any delay whatsoever. Even though we checked in two pieces of luggage. Then again, this was an early morning TG600 BKK-HKG.

Oh it always takes longer in the F checkin over J. The last time I was in the F checkin I was sat in the seats just in front of the desks (in the 'enclosed' bit not in the spacious area near the windows). I had been there 10 minutes myself when a German bloke marched in from the seats near the windows, up to the desk and demanded his tickets and passport back. The bemused staff handed them back and he stormed off saying 'it takes six times longer here than next door'

I wil give it another go in a couple of weeks for old times sake and will see how long it takes.

For my one and only time having this experience, I refused. It seemed comical to accept a ride on a buggy for the 30 seconds or less it takes to walk down the corridor but in some quarters (but not me), I'm sure the buggy ride is seen as excellent service!

I do find it really funny myself. You are going down this passageway and openings are appearing in the J lounge with pax sat there and each to a man/woman look up as they catch sight of you and before they can work out whats happening you've gone. As I said, there is a certain novelty value I suppose and it's definitely amusing.

i should have mentioned that i am just transiting both ways, and hadnt intended to leave airport

i only have 90 minutes on way out, but an horrid (unless you tell me otherwise) 7 hours on the way back ;-)

Some will probably disagree, and with it being your first time in TG F you may well want to be pampered in the Spa and stuff, but with a 7 hour connection I would be off into town. Unless it's OMG O clock.

[dukesy]

Lets see how this thread develops !!!

hmm...arrive BKK on TG 452 at 0620 (Ex SDY at 2215)

leave on TG916 at 1330

So yes, 7 hours !!!

would that be sufficient time to go see something of merit ?

And if so, what !!! ?? (Im a 40ish (Married ) man travelling alone)

I can see this developing into a whole other thread about "Things to do in Bangkok in 7 hours " !

This could get interesting !!!!!!

[Pinkfloyd]

hmm...arrive BKK on TG 452 at 0620 (Ex SDY at 2215)

leave on TG916 at 1330

So yes, 7 hours !!!

would that be sufficient time to go see something of merit ?

And if so, what !!! ?? (Im a 40ish (Married ) man travelling alone)

I can see this developing into a whole other thread about "Things to do in Bangkok in 7 hours " !

This could get interesting !!!!!!

It's BKK, your options of what to do in town are endless, depending on what you are in to..

But as stated by MAN_Flyer, you have to take into consideration the terrible traffic jams in and out of Bangkok...

[Kyo]

I've done a nice dinner at Ekkamai (near Sukhumvit) and a 2 hr massage (also near Sukhumvit) in a transit of 5 hrs, 15 mins before, so 7 hours should be fine... with a 30-min Friday night jam on the expressway into town

It was tight, though.

But seriously, 7 hours is heaps...

[phaleesy]

For my one and only time having this experience, I refused. It seemed comical to accept a ride on a buggy for the 30 seconds or less it takes to walk down the corridor but in some quarters (but not me), I'm sure the buggy ride is seen as excellent service!

I remember! We got onto the buggy. Then I opened my mouth to ask where we were going. When we found out that it was only a short walk down the corridor, we got off promptu.

I was a PITA that evening. The F checkin was empty. Five or six people were just standing there and yet they took ages to process our tickets! They were also too lazy to accompany us to the internet cafe to view our ESTA applications on-line and insisted we print the forms and bring it to them. Until one of us threw a tantrum , but that was only after at least 30 mins trying to print off a temperamental printer (like most things in BKK ) and the check-in girls still refusing to come view the applications off the screen despite repeated requests. Not impressed.

[jhm]

I was a PITA that evening. The F checkin was empty. Five or six people were just standing there and yet they took ages to process our tickets! They were also too lazy to accompany us to the internet cafe to view our ESTA applications on-line and insisted we print the forms and bring it to them. Until one of us threw a tantrum , but that was only after at least 30 mins trying to print off a temperamental printer (like most things in BKK ) and the check-in girls still refusing to come view the applications off the screen despite repeated requests. Not impressed.

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6696

[hsf]

Looking forward to my trip!

[MAN Flyer]

I am flying them myself again on Friday from LHR for the first time this year. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

I was on TG917 from LHR last night. It would appear that they are restricting the Dom as they only served it before take off then the Bolly came out, despite only Dom still being shown on the menu.

When I asked the girl about this she said Dom is 'for welcome drink'. When I asked why it only lists Dom in the menu I got the standard local refusal to be the bearer of bad news, and just got a smile.

dukesy, as a matter of interest, how much was your TG F ticket to SYD ?.

[hsf]

I was on TG917 from LHR last night. It would appear that they are restricting the Dom as they only served it before take off then the Bolly came out, despite only Dom still being shown on the menu.

Oh dear!