Thai Airways

www.thaiairways.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Excellent business class service

Family Traveler

3/5

Infant baggage allowance

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

4/5

Interesting destinations in S.E. Asia

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Popular destinations in Thailand, but high prices

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Above average assistance if scheduled in advance

Long Term Traveler

4/5

Larger seats, good meal offerings

Novice Traveler

4/5

Very clear website and costumer service

Introduction

Thai Airline is a relatively young airline. It didn’t get its start until the 1980s. However, it quickly became a major airline. It was the first airline to fly directly to England from Southeast Asia. It is also a founding member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance.

Thai Airlines is one of the highest quality airlines in the world. It regularly is ranked in the top 5 in terms of quality for customer service both on the ground and in the air. In-flight services and food are of superior quality. Small details like hospital grade air filters in the cabin help make Thai one of the world’s most liked airlines.

Ratings

Important Factors 4/5

Average Delay

17%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Less than 2%

Customer Satisfaction Rating

5 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A300-600; A300-600R; A330-300; A340-500; A340-600; A380; Boeing 737-400; 747-400; 777-200; 777-200ER; 777-300; 777-300ER

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Bangkok, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, Los Angeles, Manila, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul

Location of Hub

Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok

Countries Served

Thailand, Singapore, China, Japan, India, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, US, Australia, Norway

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

Bangkok-Phuket; Tokyo-Bangkok; Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Hong Kong; Bangkok-Singapore, Bangkok-Los Angeles

In-Flight 5/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Local cuisine and western alternatives

Food Quality

Above average

In-flight Menu

full meal and beverage service including complimentary bar on all flights

Average Leg Room

30-32 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Personal seat back touch screens offer movies, television, and music

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

2 (1 for infants)

Weight Limits and Restrictions

32kgs in Business and 1st class and 23kgs for economy

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

Extremely easy to navigate and great info

Special Needs 4/5

Handicap Accessibility

Average accessibility, if scheduled ahead of time, above average assistance

Pets

In cabin up to 10kgs and in cargo after that. Charged as at least excess baggage ($119USD)

Special Offers /Partners 5/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Star Alliance

Hotel Partners

Royal Orchid Plus

Competing Airlines

Malaysian Airlines, Delta Airlines, AirAsia

Strengths

Superior in-flight services
Great food
Comfortable cabins
Star Alliance member

Weaknesses

Limited reach
Expensive flights

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Thai Airways frequent flier program is called Royal Orchid Plus. It allows users to earn miles on Thai flights and on flights operated by other members of the Star Alliance. Indian airline Jet Airways is a partner airline. Miles can also be earned on code-sharing flights to Bangkok operated by Malaysian Airlines and Emirates Airlines. VIP lounges are located at Bangkok’s International Airport. Other lounges are small and located in airports regularly serviced by Thai Airways.

Conclusion

Southwest is a popular, budget-friendly airline that offers service nationwide. It often flies into secondary airports, such as Chicago Midway and Dallas Love’s Field, but serves most major cities in the US. It is a no-frills carrier without any extras, but it offers practical features like free baggage checking and a user-friendly web site. Among fliers who choose airlines based on price, Southwest is one of the country’s best. Its user-friendliness is another plus, though the no-frills nature of the Southwest experience is not for people who need to be pampered in any way during a flight.