- Beaches and Mountains: Introduction
- Beaches and Mountains: Tampa to Charlotte to New York in US Airways First Class, US Airways Club Charlotte
- Beaches and Mountains: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York, Swiss Business Lounge New York
- Beaches and Mountains: Singapore Airlines First Class New York to Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt, Hotel Kempinski Gravenbruch
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Le Meridien Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways Business Class Lounge Bangkok, Thai Airways Business Class Bangkok to Phuket
- Beaches and Mountains: Westin Siray Bay Phuket
- Beaches and Mountains: Le Meridien Khao Lak
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways Business Class Lounge Phuket, Thai Airways Business Class Phuket to Bangkok
- Beaches and Mountains: Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok, Thai Airways First Class Bangkok to Paris
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Paris, Star Alliance Lounge Paris, Lufthansa Business Class Paris to Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: InterContinental Berchtesgaden
- Beaches and Mountains: Exploring Berchtesgaden and surroundings
- Beaches and Mountains: Schloss Fuschl Hotel Salzburg
- Beaches and Mountains: Sheraton Arabellapark Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: Exploring Munich
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich, Lufthansa Business Class Munich to Frankfurt
- Beaches and Mountains: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt, Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Chicago
- Beaches and Mountains: Conclusion
We left Le Meridien in Khao Lak at around 3PM and made it to the airport at around 4:30PM after a smooth ride. Once there our porter helped us with our bags to check-in.
Phuket Airport
Phuket Airport check-in hall
There was no queue at check-in so within a few minutes we had our boarding passes all the way to Munich (via Bangkok and Paris). I knew the flight from Phuket to Bangkok would be operated by a 747, which features first class, business class, and coach. They only sell coach and business class, though, so I asked about the possibility of getting a first class seat (which would still only have business class service). The agent happily obliged and put us in seats 1J & 1K.
Since our connecting flight was in first class we were offered an escort to the lounge. Thai Airways has the most phenomenal ground service in Bangkok, so I was happy to see they somewhat extended that service to connecting first class passengers in Phuket.
Enroute to immigration
Our escort walked us through immigration right past the queue and to the immigration office, which it seemed that passengers don’t usually see. I especially loved the carpet below.
My kind of immigration carpet
Then he escorted us through security, which was also hilarious. Instead of just getting us straight to the security belt line, he literally cut everyone with stuff already on the belt and had us place our stuff right at the beginning. We got some dirty looks, of course.
Terminal
Once airside the lounge was maybe a two minute walk away. Upon entering we didn’t have to show the agents anything and were invited to sit down in a special area for first class passengers. Hell, we even got dirty looks from the business class passengers.
Lounge entrance
The lounge itself was reasonably nice and not very crowded, with pretty colorful furniture.
Lounge
First class area
The snack selection was decent, consisting of finger sandwiches, pad thai, fresh fruit, rolls, etc.
Sandwiches
Hot snack selection
Fruit and juice
Drink selection
Pad thai
Shortly before 6PM we headed to gate nine for boarding. Boarding was in full swing so it was rather chaotic.
As we walked down the jet bridge I was really excited to see that our plane had Thai’s old livery, which only a couple of planes still have. That meant our aircraft would feature Thai’s really old product, which I enjoy.
Retrojet!
Thai 218
Phuket (HKT) – Bangkok (BKK)
Thursday, August 4
Depart: 6:25PM
Arrive: 7:50PM
Duration: 1hr25min
Aircraft: Boeing 747
Seat: 1J (Business Class)
Once onboard we were greeted by some very cheery flight attendants who directed us to our seats in the nose.
Since we were boarding through door 2L we got to walk through business class, which is pretty interesting on this aircraft. The right side of the business class cabin is the galley, so if you’re seated in the center section you face a wall to your right. This also means that the aisle is incredibly wide.
Business class
Thai’s first class on the old 747s consists of 14 seats, and while the product is well over a decade old, it’s an unbeatable product for a flight of this length. The recliner seats have some of the best padding of any seats in the sky, and there’s something nostalgic about flying a plane like this.
First class cabin
Seats in row one
Seat controls
Once settled in we were offered pre-departure beverages. I went with iced tea.
Pre-departure iced tea
As departure time rolled around the captain came on the PA to welcome us aboard and advise us of our flight time of 1hr5min.
Out our right window was a Strategic Air Airbus 330, which is the first time I’ve seen the airline. Based on some research it appears as if they’re a charter airline based in Australia.
View from window
Airport terminal after pushback
After about a two mile taxi to the runway we had a fast takeoff roll thanks to our light load.
Taxiing to runway
The view as we climbed out was stunning, given that the sun was setting and weather was beautiful.
View on climbout
As we climbed through about 20,000 feet the seatbelt sign was turned off and service began. As it turned out the entire business class cabin stayed empty and all the business class passengers were seated in the first class cabin. Most interesting to me was that a Strategic Air flight attendant in uniform was seated in first class. Wonder what she was flying from Phuket to Bangkok for.
As on the outbound, the meal was mostly inedible, though I was saving my appetite for the first class lounge and flight to Paris. I did have a cup of tea after dinner with dessert, though.
“Dinner”
Tea
What was different than the outbound is that this crew was engaging, charming, attentive, and full of smiles. We started talking to them and mentioned we were flying to Paris. One of the flight attendants responded with “ohhhh, you are flying our 777-300, which we are VERY proud of.” Crews make or break a flight, and they certainly made this one!
Despite no real in-flight entertainment besides the airshow projector on the bulkhead, the sunset views out the window were better than even the best in-flight entertainment system.
Old fashion air show
We began a smooth descent and about 20 minutes before landing the seatbelt sign was turned on. With a “smooth as silk” landing and quick taxi we made it to the gate, where the real flying fun was about to begin.
How was cafe on the board? Terrible as usual?
Wow this actually looks really nice... I'm impressed! Thanks for sharing!
Lucky,
I had that configuration from NRT-BKK after an equipment swap earlier this year. Seats indeed are perfect if you're traveling with a companion or in my case making a friend....
In fact, there is a retro 747 LH F style screen that pops out of each seat.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=636933907409&l=e339cd0e35
SQ used to have a similar configuration on certain of their 747s. I think the RB 747SPs still have that long galley configuration. Not sure about IR's configuration on their SPs.
I was TGd and got one of these 747's for BKK-NRT, nothing lucky about getting them for that flight! As a bed there horrible IMO. For lounging I would agree, they are comfortable.
@lucky
you are relly lucku to have this "anitque" bird. this maybe the last side gallary 744 and then seat is in late 1990 style. similar seat can still found on CI TPE-SFO/YVR route.
@ Andy Bluebear I flew BKK-HKT in July on one of the newer 744s and F sold as J (I got 2K) was full and J about 75% full. I think depending on the timings there is a decent amount of paid premium connecting traffic.
Strategic/Air Australia will also fly to Melbourne though only 2 says a week (3 from BNE I think?) they also fly to Bali. All in fares in business from HNL to either BNE or MEL start from $1500 so pretty good though only angled recliner seats.
"As it turned out the entire business class cabin stayed empty and all the business class passengers were seated in the first class cabin."
Looks like this is pretty common knowledge for people who fly that route. I wonder why they don't just sell the first class seats as business class, and the business class as premium economy, like that one other route you told us about...
@ Tim -- Good to know, thanks!
@ rice -- Interesting. Guess it makes sense airlines mostly got rid of it, since it's pretty claustrophobic for those seated in the center section.
This 744 layout was also used in old KLM (and also SAS) 747 with side gallery.
Hey Lucky
Strategic Airlines (http://www.flystrategic.com.au/) is about to rebrand as Air Australia, and will start flying Brisbane - Honolulu in November I think - also Australia domestic routes. Their livery is kinda cool - check it here
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/lime-twist-in-tail-of-rebranded-airline-air-australia/story-e6frg95x-1226127606699