In April 2018 I needed to quickly organise flights to get me from Auckland, New Zealand to London, UK.
Many options were considered and I settled on Thai Airways. The idea of flying on a 787-9 Dreamliner to Bangkok, then an A380 to London was appealing. I knew I needed to arrive in as good shape as possible.
A few days before my departure, the Dreamliner was swapped out for a 777-300 owing to the need for Thai to check the engines of their 787-9 fleet. I was a bit disappointed but it really didn't inconvenience me that much.
LEG ONE:
The flight was scheduled to leave Auckland at a very civilised 1:10pm. Check-in was easy, with a 30KG baggage allowance. I have to say that Auckland International Airport is maturing nicely. Passport control was streamlined and the pre-flight experience is really nice.
My first impressions of the 777-300 is that it is really well-appointed. Heading to Economy Class through the more expensive seats does give one a little FOMO and a definite plan to try flying like that in the future. That being said, the seats in Economy Class has ample legroom for me (of course, I'm not that tall) and the seats were quite comfortable width-wise. I had a window seat on this flight, and thankfully I didn't need to move throughout the flight. The crew were friendly and expert on this flight, but English was a bit lacking. Still, it wasn't hard to be understood. I had two meals on this flight - a Thai fish and rice, and later a Thai beef. Both were very flavourful and a little spicier than is the New Zealand normal. I enjoyed them both. Boarding and disembarking were efficient and quick.
Duration: Approximately 12:30hrs.
TIME TO KILL:
I had a four hour layover at BKK to entertain myself. It's a lovely airport with plenty of people to watch, and the fantastic hum of a small town. Many restaurants and food options, many stores to explore. There is also a multitude of free device charging stations all over the airport to use. This is a very good thing indeed.
LEG TWO:
This was my first time on an A380. These things are massive. So much space. The climate control and lighting is fantastic, and the service on flight was top-notch.
Again, I had a window seat. And a follow passenger who sniffed next to me. And a fellow passenger who sniffed behind me. No matter how great these aircraft are, you just can't control who flies on them eh?
I enjoyed this flight. It was a little cooler and fresher than the first leg, so wrapping myself up in the complimentary blanket was necessary. The crew were attentive and expert, and spoke English better than their counterparts on the 777-300.
Duration: Approximately 12:30hrs.
ARRIVAL:
Diembarking at LHR was quick. Passport control was easy and efficient. It did not take as long as I expected at all. Baggage collection was a breeze and there didn't seem to be any baggage checks on this flight. That struck me as weird.
CONCLUSION:
I enjoyed flying with Thai Airways. It was a good experience and I arrived as fresh as I expected. I do recommend them as an option for this longhaul destination.
^sd
*originally posted at https://wheresimonwanders.wordpress.com/