Help with flights to Thailand -(Biz Class)

DKLS

Am looking for flights to Thailand end of february for weeks, as its my honeymoon, and my fianc!es first long haul flight, I thought it would be a good time to upgrade to biz class.

Any suggestions of carrier? for around £1500 each or less

Kenny_Powers_3

There is only one way to go to Thailand business and that is with Thai airways.

ScottySmog

Doing a trip to Thailand in business in a few weeks myself with Thai Airways.

Defininately worth shopping around. The price on the Thai airways website was £2,194 each whereas our local Thomas Cook got the same flights, same days, same times, etc for £1,517 so it possible for around the price you want to pay.

BritRael

Kenny_Powers wrote: »

There is only one way to go to Thailand business and that is with Thai airways.

Not true. er...unless you mean they are the best? :rolleyes:

I've been with Emirates, KLM, Omanair and Gulf. There are numerous others

shudd1967

I have flown prem econ direct to Thailand with Eva air - think they call it Elite, I know that there are classess above that as well, I think its called Evergreen, there may be one above that too.

I would recommend Eva air.

Kenny_Powers_3

BritRael wrote: »

Not true. er...unless you mean they are the best? :rolleyes:

I've been with Emirates, KLM, Omanair and Gulf. There are numerous others

It's a saying "There is only one way to........."

It means "The best way to...."

Donnie

Kenny_Powers wrote: »

There is only one way to go to Thailand business and that is with Thai airways.

What are you talking....? Do they even have fully reclining flatbed seats in Business Class?
Thai Airways have always been behind the curve. They are finally upgrading their seats to a standard already attained by most of the major airlines five years ago. Don't believe me, take a look at these pics from a couple of years ago. Even their First Class product was rather limited. Fine if you like sleeping in armchairs.

Fly them only if the price is right.

I prefer BA Club World, even with their slightly stuffy service. Plus you can have what amounts to a semi-private cubicle.

THAI the best? Come on....pull the other one.

I've flown Business Class to Thailand with a few airlines; BA, Cathay, Singapore, Etihad and Emirates. THAI Airways would probably be my bottom choice; for seating, entertainment and food.

It would be above EVA Premium Economy, but below what I would call actual Business/Club Class standards currently available.

ScottySmog

The plane used on the LHR-BKK route has been retro-fitted with new pod style business class seats. http://www.thaiair.com/thai-services/in-the-air/en/Royal%20Silk%20class/royal-silk-class-services.htm

They are angled (167 degrees) lie flat seats. These are fitted on 12 of Thai's fleet of 18 Boeing 744 aircraft (designated 7443 by Thai), They are also fitted with AVOD in flight entertainment, cameras, etc.

6 of the aircraft still have the seats shown in Donnie's photograph (designated 7442 by Thai) but they are mainly used on domestic (Phuket, Chang Mai) and Asian routes (Tokyo, Singapore) although they are still used on the BKK-FCO-MAD route.

Don't like BA Club World seats - they manage to squeeze 8 across on a B747/B777 - they only get 9 across in economy on a B777 (10 on a B744) - and some are rear facing which I don't like (personal choice granted) - although the rest of their business class product is excellent.

Kenny_Powers_3

Donnie you don't know what you're talking about.

Thai had lie flat beds when i flew with them (although not level iirc) The food was great, the service superb and the IFE was excellent.

Better than Virgin, Singapore, Swiss, Lufthansa, Cathay, China (Airlines) and BA. (not flown biz with the others you comment on)
But don't talk to me about Eva air! Having flown extensively with airlines across the Far East i can honestly say you don't have a clue what you are talking about.

malkie76

ScottySmog wrote: »

They are angled (167 degrees) lie flat seats.

ug hate lie-flats as the slight angle does make it harder to sleep, and I've yet to find one which doesn't stop you slipping downwards at some point.

Fully-flat is the industry standard now.

SS wrote:

Don't like BA Club World seats - they manage to squeeze 8 across on a B747/B777

I honestly count it as four across given the ying-yang arrangement. I do agree that flying backwards can be a strange experience, but I like the middle backwards pair for flying with a partner.

However BA's prices do tend to be more expensive than competitors, but Galleries/Flounge/CCR in T5 more than make up for that

edit

Just as a suggestion - you may wish to consider taking an indirect route to get the best prices - although I'm not the best person to suggest routing (others here with eastern experience should be able to help you).

For example if you fly BA to north america (my expertise) you get cheaper deals flying from a european starting point via London. I know it sounds daft, but BA give better deals from european starting points to encourage european based passengers to travel with BA via London. So, buy yourself a cheap ticket to a european starting point - then buy a BA ticket from that point to Thailand via London

Kenny_Powers_3

For example if you fly BA to north america (my expertise) you get cheaper deals flying from a european starting point via London. I know it sounds daft, but BA give better deals from european starting points to encourage european based passengers to travel with BA via London. So, buy yourself a cheap ticket to a european starting point - then buy a BA ticket from that point to Thailand via London.

In terms of flying to the US (My second home) it often works out cheaper if you fly on a KL ticket through AMS.
One of the cheapest gateways to the US is ATL or EWR. It usually is cheaper to get a ticket starting in the UK to AMS then to ATL. i.e, MAN-AMS-ATL (all on one ticket) as oppose to MAN - AMS then AMS - ATL.

That said, whilst connecting through both AMS and ATL is a breeze i always tend to fly direct on VS. For those who are looking for a cheaper alternative try the examples i said above.
A KL ticket inculdes AF and Delta and NWA.