TRIP REPORT (ENGLISH)

CDG / BKK (PARIS - BANGKOK) - TG 931 (2009 March 31) - Business class

The supposed to be provided daily (according to THAI AIRWAYS advertising through last 3 years) 7443 version of the 747-400 was changed 3 weeks before the flight. The old out of age 7442 version without lie flat beds (business) was provided in place. The 7442 version had 50 business seats (with less pitch) instead of 40 in the same space of the 7443 version. In fact it appears that THAI AIRWAYS does not have enough 7443 version and can not match what its promises to customers. I noticed other complains on several Web sites for the same point. I noticed too that change was not for an unexpected failure but scheduled just because THAI AIRWAYS had only 12 747-400 in 7443 version and other are old 7442. In my last FOUR flights (business class) I got TWICE the old 7442 version which is uncomfortable. The shameful way THAI AIRWAYS treats its business passengers is outrageous. The only answer (when I complained before the flight) was : "change your date of flights if you want". This is stupid when appointments and hotels bookings (and so on) are already scheduled. During flight if a young hostess was smiling the older one was with a perfect lack of courtesy and when she served plates for diner it was with an unpleasant "for you" just as it was bones for dogs. Cabin crew did not pay much attention to safety and did not even notice while end of taxiing and during take off that an overhead cabin luggage was open. When lights were off (night time by 6:30 p.m : PARIS time) there was a cockpit announcement about safety belts to be fasten according to turbulence. Cabin crew did not checked if passengers had safety belts fasten (business class upper deck) ! As I can not sleep in the non lie flat seats I notice 3 times that if there was cockpit announcement in 1 hour to fasten (the unfasten and fasten again) I did not saw any cabin crew had a check in the cabin to see if sleeping passengers had safety belts on. Years ago, I wads fond of THAI AIRWAYS but it seems now to be a declining company which does not care with its passengers and business customers.

HAN / BKK (HANOI - BANGKOK) - TG 685 (2009 April 15) - Economy class

On HAN - BKK I was with friends who flew on Y. So I booked on Y to be with them on HAN - BKK (short flight of less than 1:50 hours). I stayed in BKK while my friends flew after from BKK to CDG. On HAN - BKK we were supposed to have seats 33 A - 33 B for my friends and 34 B for me (e tickets). We do not pay attention (big mistake with THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL !) while checking in HANOI. If I got 34 B my friends where in some 40 J and 40 K seats ! On 34 A there was a THAI lady flying to Germany with a astonishing (very VERY big) luggage which can not be stored under seat and which was blocking her legs ! Cabin crew did nothing for that and this was stupid for if (of course in around rows where we stayed overhead luggage compartments were full of other non compliant cabin large luggages). But (I saw it during flight when I went to see my friends in 40 J and 40 K) there was plenty of seats free in the back of the plane ! Cabin crew was aware of this fact (while boarding) that there was plenty of seats free in the back of the plane to have a convenient storage of luggage and for the lady's comfort and safety. I never saw (I am some 63 years old and saw "strange things" in aeronautics since 1968 !) such a astonishing attitude of a cabin crew for in case of accident or emergency exit it was dangerous for the unfortunate lady !