Thai to serve BRU as from Nov 2011 !

[Desert Rat]

I found it on bourse des vols.com

050112
Possibilité(s) des vols aller
Date Compagnie Vol Ville Départ H.Départ H.Arrivée Ville Arrivée
05-Jan Thai Airways 935 Bruxelles 13:30 06:20 Bangkok (Aéroport de Suvarnabhumi)
Possibilité(s) des vols retour
Date Compagnie Vol Ville Départ H.Départ H.Arrivée Ville Arrivée
19-Jan Thai Airways 934 Bangkok (Aéroport de Suvarnabhumi) 00:30 07:00 Bruxelles

Total 742 euros!!!

[regi]

Was speaking this week to some people from a well known Belgian travel agency - they told me that the 777 that's gonna fly the route is "old configuration", so not a 'state of the art' onboard experience. Nevertheless, their pricing is very competitive indeed... Still hesitating to try them (intend to go Thailand end of Dec or early Jan), or stick to QR (ex-Bru) or EK (ex-AMS but WITH the A380 flying DXB-BKK)...

yes, the choice is completely up to you.
There are several points that can influence your decision:

• total price
  travel time
  lounge acces
  earned mileage
  luggage allowance/luggage transfer
  desire to fly modern equipment/A380
  food
  experience with another airline

I have a personnal opinion about each item, but having done many flights planned a long time in advance, I must admit that many flights were much different than expected. Luckely mostly in my favour.
( despite I am known to be a BIMAN basher, I must admit that the total experience with Biman was not catastrophically as other passengers endured, it was even the fastest connection I ever had between Bangkok and Brussels - in that direction. And when I flew Alitalia I thought it would be a great thing and even paid a bit more than some other possebilities, and it turned out to be a total nightmare )

I would chose the TG option for the non stop flight, transfer of luggage, membership of Star Alliance.
The Qatar option is a bit cheaper, maybe even better service and food, modern equipment.
The Emirates option demands a trip to Amsterdam - which I try to avoid because of the terrible traffic in central Netherlands.

The B777 old configuration : I hope that you will have IFE. And 9 abreast. Be aware about new configuration with 10 abreast.

Oh, almost forgot it: if you still have to buy a ticket to BKK to fly end of December, don't get a cardiac arrest when you hear ticket prices of 1200-1400 €.
Good luck, and let us know your decision, and even maybe a trip report.

[capetown]

I would chose the TG option for the non stop flight, transfer of luggage, membership of Star Alliance.
The Qatar option is a bit cheaper, maybe even better service and food, modern equipment.
The Emirates option demands a trip to Amsterdam - which I try to avoid because of the terrible traffic in central Netherlands.

The B777 old configuration : I hope that you will have IFE. And 9 abreast. Be aware about new configuration with 10 abreast.

Oh, almost forgot it: if you still have to buy a ticket to BKK to fly end of December, don't get a cardiac arrest when you hear ticket prices of 1200-1400 €.
Good luck, and let us know your decision, and even maybe a trip report.

Well, I flew QR to BKK in July and EK in April , and I was thrilled by the QR experience and the EK-A380 related part of my EK-trip. I posted a flight report of both trips earlier on this forum. Getting to Amsterdam is not such a big deal if you take the Thalys in Brussel-Zuid - taking you straight to Schiphol in approx. 1.30 hrs... I checked the prices (departure 28 Dec, return 20 Jan), and TG ex-bru varies indeed between 1100 and 1400 EUR (3745 in Business!), whereas QR ex-bru costs approx. 800 EUR in that period (and 2176 in Business). QR seems one of the only airlines out there that does not increase its prices during "top periods" such as Xmas and NYear. TG does it, EK does it, and all European carriers as far as I know have this tendency. So given the superb experience I had with QR in July, there is a very strong chance that I'm gonna pick them again, probably in Business. Biman is definitely not an option

[cnc]

keep in mind all aircrafts have IFE! that doesn't mean they have PTV

[Desert Rat]

just bought A BKK-BRU-BKK for X-mas Holiday @ 41.000 THB with Lufthansa.

I might turn to a senator with M&M ...

I hope I'll get the some money though...

[nijltje69]

I'm flying BRU-BKK-CGK with Thai in C leavin the 24th, it's really not good to hear 'old equipment' any idea what to expect on this"old equipment"'. Another thing I checked for an additional 2 passengers in C and it seems it's FULL in C that day.

Thanks,
Pieter

[RoMax]

As Thai is preparing for their new Brussel route, they gave some extra comment on this.

- Since the start of the bookings on July 1, Thai reached a 80% loadfactor for their inaugural flight on 17 November (with a B772 with 30 royal silk class seats and 262 economy class seats, for who didn't knew this yet). And maybe very important to know it's mentionned that all seats are equipped with latest inflight personal screen entertainment system.

- “Brussels was chosen as Thai’s new destination to facilitate the growing number of passengers travelling between Thailand and Europe and for travellers’ convenience through the direct route. As well, it is in line with Thai’s strategy for expanding and serving other European cities, through a feeder city such as Brussels," said Pandit Chanapai, EVP, commercial department of Thai Airways International.

- "Today, 12 to 15 per cent of passengers from Belgium and neighbouring countries, especially those destined for Australia, make their connections in Frankfurt. Thai expects these passengers will appreciate the convenience of the route to and from Brussels to Southeast Asia and Australia.”

- Under its 'I Fly Thai to Brussels' campaign, Thai Airways offers promotional fares for roundtrip economy class travel. The roundtrip Bangkok-Brussels-Bangkok ticket are sold at 35880 baht starting price. (for more information, see article below, or just check the Thai website)

- The promotional fares can be purchased until 29 February 2012 and travels should be accomplished within 17 November 2011 until 29 February 2012.

http://www.flightcentric.com/FC/FCnews/ ... -2744.aspx

[sn26567]

The president of Thai will be in Brussels on 17 November for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Gate B5 around 11:30 am, just before the boarding of flight TG 935.

[Stij]

In 10 days I'll fly Thai from BRU to Hanoi and back for... my honeymoon (yes, got married last weekend)!!!
Did anybody hear already some feedback on their Brussels route / aircraft / service?

Kind regards,

Stij

[Erna]

Congrats Stij!

[sn26567]

Congratulations, Stij!

[Stij]

Thanx!!!

[regi]

In 10 days I'll fly Thai from BRU to Hanoi and back for... my honeymoon (yes, got married last weekend)!!!
Did anybody hear already some feedback on their Brussels route / aircraft / service?

Kind regards,

Stij

First reports are very positive, except an occasional small technical hick up and some stuff with unloading the TG plane by uncovered stairs instead of bridging, due to a strike. ( at the moment of bad weather, not nice for people who come from a hot climate )
Price remains an issue, and bargain hunters won't see TG appear on the first pages when they look for tickets to BKK. But TG has always been an expensive airline: domestic as abroad.

[rix]

In 10 days I'll fly Thai from BRU to Hanoi and back for... my honeymoon (yes, got married last weekend)!!!
Did anybody hear already some feedback on their Brussels route / aircraft / service?

Kind regards,

Stij

Recently flew BRU-BKK-PhnomPenh, then return Krabi-BKK-BRU. Will post a trip report in the next few days

[Stij]

First reports are very positive, except an occasional small technical hick up...

That's OK, any airliner has its occasional hick ups... A friend of mine came to the wedding from LAXon UA, the inbound flight went well, the return was a disaster: by the time he was in LAX he was 6:30 delayed.

Cheers,

Stij

[Stij]

Recently flew BRU-BKK-PhnomPenh, then return Krabi-BKK-BRU. Will post a trip report in the next few days

Hi Rix,

that's great I'm so looking forward!

Cheers,

Stij

[regi]

Just received a report: more than satisfied about the BRU-BKK connection: less than 10 hours non stop. Good food, IFE, service, luggage handling, just name it. Legg room, comfort, clean toilet,...
TG sells the tickets no for 710 € in April. Yes, I know, for +- 550 you can get something else. But not that non stop flight.
Extra remark: load factor questionably low ! Many Thai on board. Or people who don't feel confortable to transfer in countries they don't speak the language. Or business people ,officials etcetera. ( I have no idea ho w TG could become to feed this connection with regional Asians whose end destination is in/around Brussels, for example Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam,...)

Seems that TG is not yet in the game for the tour operators?
Extra extra remark: for the critics about price: allow me to say that in the old days that TG did Brussels, it was between 34000 and 36000 bfr a ticket, that is 850-900 € !

[Stij]

Just received a report: more than satisfied about the BRU-BKK connection: less than 10 hours non stop. Good food, IFE, service, luggage handling, just name it. Legg room, comfort, clean toilet,...
TG sells the tickets no for 710 € in April. Yes, I know, for +- 550 you can get something else. But not that non stop flight.
Extra remark: load factor questionably low ! Many Thai on board. Or people who don't feel confortable to transfer in countries they don't speak the language. Or business people ,officials etcetera. ( I have no idea ho w TG could become to feed this connection with regional Asians whose end destination is in/around Brussels, for example Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam,...)

Seems that TG is not yet in the game for the tour operators?
Extra extra remark: for the critics about price: allow me to say that in the old days that TG did Brussels, it was between 34000 and 36000 bfr a ticket, that is 850-900 € !

That's good news!!!
But I bet you a beer we'll be on that one full flight they have...

The reason we choose TG to Vietnam was a combination of schedule, price and presumed service...

Kind regards,

Stij

[rix]

Recently flew BRU-BKK-PhnomPenh, then return Krabi-BKK-BRU. Will post a trip report in the next few days

Hi Rix,

that's great I'm so looking forward!

Cheers,

Stij

Hope it's useful: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=46633

[Stij]

Thanx Rix,

I emailed TG and asked very friendly if an upgrade was possible because this was our honeymoon...
We keep our fingers crossed!

Greets,

Stij