Booking with Thai Airways
For nearly 50 years, Thai Airways has built a reputation for excellent customer service. It has most recently won awards from Skytrax in 2006 for Worlds Best Cabin Staff and placed second in 2007 in the Best Airline in the World category. It is the national carrier of Thailand, operating out of its hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways also offers many non-stop passenger flights from Chaing Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited was founded in 1960 as a joint venture between Thailands domestic airline, Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airlines System. After a 17-year partnership, the Thai government bought SASs holdings making it the sole owner of the airline.
The first flights began operations from Bangkok to nine destinations within the Asian region. The first intercontinental flights were to Australia, then Europe and North American by 1980. After a merger with the Thai Airways Company, the company experienced faster growth as Thailands only national carrier.
In 1997, Thai Airways was a founding member of the Star Alliance network through which member airlines codeshare with each other, expanding their flight offerings. Additional partnerships have allowed Thai Airways to expand its list of destinations to include Africa (ending Jan. 16, 2009), China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The airlines route from Bangkok to Los Angeles is among the longest non-stop commercial flights currently operated.
Thai Airways fleet includes 89 aircraft, with the largest being the Boeing 767-400, seating 389 passengers.
The airline offers four travel classes, including Royal First, Royal Silk, Premium Economy and Economy.
Royal First-Class offers flatbed seats and is available mainly on Europe and Australia and some intra-Asia flights. Seating is equipped with touch-screen monitors, audio and video on demand and in flight entertainment systems with lumbar message. Customers may also choose from over 20 in-flight meals.
Royal Silk is the equivalent of the business class and includes angled, lie-flat business class seats that offer lumbar massage. All seats have 17-20 touch screens and AVOD and IFE.
Premium Economy Class is available on intercontinental flights from Bangkok and LA on the Air Bus A40-500. Less seats are free on this type of aircraft to offer more space for reclining and rests. These seats come with 10.5 touch screens with AVOD and IFE.
There is less legroom in Economy Class seating, but in-seat audio/video on-demand is available.
Thai Airlines has a frequent flyer miles program called Royal Orchid Plus. More than 2,000,000 people all over the world belong to the program. There are three levels in the program, Member, Silver and Gold. You can earn miles for flying on Thai Airlines, and also for code share flights to and from Bangkok, Thailand. You can also earn miles for flights on the partner airlines, which are Alliance and Jet Airways. You can even earn miles for staying at a partner hotel.
One of the seven Thai Departure Lounges at Suvarnbhumi Airport can be visited by Thai Royal Silk Class,Star Alliance Gold passengers and Thai Royal First Class passengers.Traditional Thai massage,spa Jacuzzi suites and foot massage is offered by the Royal Orchid Spa.