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Aussie Part Five: Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 – forever inconsistent

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  • Aussie Part Five: Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 – forever inconsistent

    Aussie Part Five: Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 – forever inconsistent



    I don’t think I really have anything to say about Thai Airways, except that there are definitely cutbacks on catering, in terms of quality and quantity. The service was pretty good on board, especially on the long haul segments from Sydney to Hong Kong via Bangkok. The ground service in Sydney was definitely lacking, compared to Bangkok. Other than priority check-in, there was no ground escort service like in Bangkok Airport. But it was sort of expected, and I preferred the freedom to visit shops and of course to visit Singapore Airlines’ First Class lounge.

    September 24, 2014; Wednesday
    TG 472 SYD-BKK Lv1540 Arr2200 Boeing 747-400 HS-TGB “Si Satchanalai”

    Thai used Aisle G for check-in, and there is a separate check-in for three service classes.




    Photo of Thai Airways’ Boeing 747-400 HS-TGB at Sydney – just an interesting note, HS-TGB actually arrived from Bangkok the day before, and they stayed there till the next afternoon.




    Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777-300ER VH-VPF to Los Angeles



    Singapore Airlines Silver Kris First Class Lounge at Sydney
    It was a very impressive facility, and the service was much more personable than Singapore Changi’s Private room. The staffs did not treat TG First class passengers any differently. There was a menu, on top of a buffet.



  • #2
    Dining Room Area






    Laksa from the menu



    Individual First Class Lounge Suites




    Seating Area in the front

    Comment


    • #3
      Wines


      Seating Area in front of the window with a view of tarmac





      Gate 51



      Boarding began at 3:15pm, and after the usual pre-boarders, first and business class passengers were welcomed onboard first.


      First Class Cabin Shot – I was the first one I board and I had the chances to take some cabin shots and I was lucky to get the newer first class suites.



      Comment


      • #4
        Solo window seat







        Middle Pair seats


        Newspapers and Magazine


        Seat features:
        1. Literature Pocket and power outlet location


        2. Flower Vase


        3. Entertainment console and pocket

        Comment


        • #5



          4. Hangar of jacket


          5. Tray Table


          6. Seat Control – Lights and Adjustment of Seats




          Pre-takeoff beverage was offered along with hot towels and a Porsche Design Purple amenity kit



          I notice some scratches of the seat panel.


          Door was closed at 3:43pm and we pushed back five minutes later. We took off from R/W34L at 3:56pm. Flying time was nine hours and seven minutes.

          View after takeoff from Sydney


          Comment


          • #6



            Printed Menu &Wine List:



            Wine List:
            Wine List
            Our champage and wines have been carefully selected by experts. We are delighted to served them to our premium passengers in a rotation basis. Please consult with cabin attendants for the availability, so that you can experience these special wines at different times when you fly with THAI.

            White Wine:
            Le Demoiselle de Sigalas 2010
            Chateau De Cruzeau Pessac-Leoganan 2009
            Montagny Premer Cru 2009

            Red Wines
            Chateau Larmande St. Emilion 2009
            Chateau Fleur Cardinale 2007
            Givry Premer Cru Clos du Cellier Aux Moines 2010

            Dom Pérignon Vintage 2004

            1795 Extra Cognac Otard

            I am impressed with chilled glass of Dom Perignon!


            Warmed mixed nuts will be offered


            Dinner was offered next and here is the dinner menu:
            First Serving

            Canapés

            White Sturgeon Caviar with Garnishes

            First Course
            Lobster Crayfish and Smoked Salmon with Garnitures

            Salad
            Mixed Green Salad with Thousand Island and Pesto Dressing

            Main Course
            Briased Lamb Shanks with Marinated Sauce
            Sweet Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Red Capsicum, sautéed Spinach
            Or
            Pan-fried Salmon with White Wine and Pesto Sauce
            Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables
            Or
            Stir-fried Beef with Black Bean sauce
            Egg Noodles, Mixed Vegetables
            Or
            Chicken Thigh with Bamboo Shoot in Red Curry
            Steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice
            Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables

            Assorted Bread, Butter
            Assorted Cheese, Fresh Fruits

            Dessert
            Berry Cheesecake with Double Cream
            Tea, Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino

            The only course missing is the canapé course, but the F/As offered me some canapés later during midflight!





            Comment


            • #7





              After dinner service, I took a picture of the seats in recline and full flat position before the typical lights out process!
              Position One:



              Full Flat Position:




              Bottled water – local brand was offered shortly afterward


              The F/A offered some canapés in the middle of the flight – Scallop canapé, duck breast canapé, and sundried tomato & cheese canapé!


              The routing today:

              Kandos –340-Mudgee-Gulgong-360-Concurry-380-Katherine-Burrundie-Dawin-Lospalos-Sulawesi-Tutong/Bangar Seri Begawan-Go Cong-PNH/Phnom Penh-Bangkok

              Comment


              • #8
                Second meal was offered about two hours prior to arrival.

                Second Serving


                Soup
                Cauliflower Cream Soup



                Hot Light Meal
                Tomato Mozzarella Quiche
                Potatoes, Chorizo Sausage
                Mesclun with Italian Dressing
                Or
                Stir-Fried Udon Noodles with Oyster sauce
                Stir-Fried Pork with Mango and Vegetables, Oriental Sauce



                Dessert
                Fruit Pudding with Vanilla Cream



                Tea, Coffee, Chocolate Malt

                Chocolate


                Decent began at 9:33pm local Bangkok time, and we landed on R/W19L at 10:03pm, and we parked at a remote bay 111 at 10:15pm. First class passengers were escorted to an exclusive van.

                Goodbye HS-TGB


                Ground service was as expected, and there was some wait for the baggage to arrive. There was a line at custom but the ground agent said something in Thai to the custom officer, and I was off to my pre-ordered van.

                After a quick overnight in Bangkok, I returned to Hong Kong on TG 606.
                TG 606 BKK-HKG Lv1600 Arr1945 Boeing 747-400 HS-TGY “Dararasmi”
                I am not going to say much about Thai’s service, but I will let the pictures speak!

                Check-in at Bangkok


                Comment


                • #9
                  Royal First Class Lounge – not too busy when I arrived





                  Dining Room – first time seeing it






                  HS-TGY at Bangkok – Gate C9 – we had an escort but no golf cart



                  Another suite 747
                  My seat 3A

                  Comment


                  • #10



                    The flight was full in first class, but half empty in business and economy class. We took off from R/W19R at 4:17pm.



                    Flying time was a short two hours and twenty minutes and we stayed at 37,000feet. The service got under way quickly after takeoff.


                    Beverage & mixed nuts



                    There was no more hot savory service.

                    Here is the menu today:
                    Soup
                    Spring Chicken and Galangal in Coconut Milk Soup

                    Main Course
                    Poached stuffed Chicken with banana in yellow curry
                    Steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice
                    Sautéed Vegetables
                    Or
                    Wok-seared New Zealand Lamb Loin with Onion, Brown Sauce
                    Tossed Healthy Noodles with Fried Shallot and Garlic
                    Or
                    Seared Prawn with pepper compote served with Vanilla Veloute
                    Tossed Seaweed Pasta

                    Assorted Bread, Crackers, Butter
                    Cheese and Fresh Fruits

                    Dessert
                    Apple Tart with Vanilla Anglaise
                    Tea, Coffee
                    Espresso, Cappuccino
                    TG 606 F – MENU F: SEP 2014

                    But I ordered something new today. Thai Airways is offering this exclusive Thai set meal now, and the courses are more filling than the normal menu. So I gave it a try! I tried most courses except the Thai Dessert.
                    Here was the menu provided on the website:

                    Tom Yum Prawn soup – delicious and there were four prawns in the soup!


                    The entrée was huge:


                    Deep-fried marinated chicken with lemongrass


                    Deep-fried marinated fish – not included when I ordered the meal


                    Stir-fried minced beef with garlic chili & basil

                    Comment


                    • #11


                      Thai Omelet


                      Steamed rice
                      Black & white glutinous rice with longan

                      Honestly I really enjoyed this Thai menu, and for medium haul regional flights, this is a good menu to order. But I am not a Thai food expert, so I can’t really give you a Thai perspective. From a Chinese perspective, I enjoyed the Thai menu.

                      For dessert, I went back with the Western dessert. I have the Apple Pie.



                      But I noted a new addition, which was a tray of assorted Thai sweets.




                      Hot tea in lemon


                      Descent began at 7:05pm local time, and as expected, there was some ATC hold, but not too bad!
                      View of Hong Kong


                      We landed on R/W25R at 7:37pm and parked at gate 48 at 7:45pm. Golf Cart service was still provided here in Hong Kong, which was appreciated when your plane was parked far.

                      Conclusion:
                      It is an interesting trip and I am happy to get to fly a few airlines, and visit a few additional Australian cities. I really enjoy visiting Uluru and hope you enjoy this trip report. I wish I can do a bit more commentary, but there are more important events happening in Hong Kong now and I need to spend a bit more time supporting the protestors before heading to the US soon. Anyway here is a link to all the pictures of this trip, as well as a sub album on Uluru.
                      http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...eSeptember2014

                      Thank you for reading!
                      Carfield

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi Carfield,

                        Nice read there with lots of pics and less words.

                        I thought TG looks great there at your TR, not sure why you wrote 'forever inconsistent' ��

                        I just experienced by first TG F too but on the A380. Doesn't look as good as this one. the hardware looks very cheap esp seen with my design eyes. But the service and the food was great. Hopefully will post that TR within 1-2 weeks.

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