From the article; as of March 31, 2013, the schedule suggests that Thai’s Los Angeles to Bangkok service will be operated by the 747, and first class award space is wide open!
Well it's about time!
This will be the first time since early 2005 that Los Angeles will get First Class on Thai Airways. The non-stop A340-500 didn't have First Class.
Glad to see the 747 return to Los Angeles but as the article states, the launch date could change.
I hope Thai Airways is successful with the 747 on the LAX route.
Anyone know if they will also order the 747-8I?
Would be great if it can do LAX-BKK non-stop profitable if they do go forward with it.
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1800 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 14678 times:
At 8270mi, that's one long 744 flight.
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
It still stops in Seoul, South Korea.
It's not a non-stop.
Would be interesting if the 747-8I would be able to do it.
Last year, Thai Airways had a huge 1:15 scale 747-8I on display at Siam Paragon mall celebrating their 50th anniversary. Seems like the 747-8I is on the table for Thai Airways.
HB-IWC From Greece, joined Sep 2000, 4414 posts, RR: 76 Reply 3, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 14314 times:
The information about the deployment of the B744 on the BKK ICN LAX route is outdated. TG now plans to deploy the new B77W on the route. This aircraft does not feature a First Class cabin.
RWA380 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2158 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 14298 times:
Quoting Superfly (Thread starter): This will be the first time since early 2005 that Los Angeles will get First Class on Thai Airways
But other than the A-345, TG has operated first class service to the USA correct? DC-10's, 742's, 743's, 744's, M11's a lot of that was before LAX became TG's US gateway, after TG left DFW, YYZ then SEA. Their SEA-YYZ leg was always treated like a full International service sector, F & J were often half full or less, so service was always top notch, Y was too.
Next Flights: AS PDX-SEA-KOA on DH4/738 in F, HA KOA-OGG on 717 in Y, AS OGG-PDX on 738 in F
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38485 posts, RR: 80 Reply 7, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 14173 times:
Quoting HB-IWC (Reply 3): The information about the deployment of the B744 on the BKK ICN LAX route is outdated. TG now plans to deploy the new B77W on the route.
Sure about that?
I just did a search at the Thai Airways website for a flight to LAX in March of 2013 and it shows a 747.
Quoting RWA380 (Reply 4): But other than the A-345, TG has operated first class service to the USA correct? DC-10's, 742's, 743's, 744's, M11's
Yes, that is correct. None since 2005 when the A340-500 non-stop started.
Quoting kiwiandrew (Reply 5): This is TG we are talking about everything could change.... the date...the aircraft type ....
True.
BTW, anyone know what they're doing with the A340-500? They're just sitting there at BKK.
Polot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1492 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 14108 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 7): BTW, anyone know what they're doing with the A340-500? They're just sitting there at BKK.
Nothing, they are parked awaiting someone to buy them. Although one was being used to shuttle some government officials around Europe earlier in the summer, don't know about now.
g500 From United States of America, joined Oct 2011, 720 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 13930 times:
Quoting jfk777 (Reply 9): Thai is moving to a 777-300ER from a -200ER. Why would they fly a gass guzzling 747 all the esy from Bangkok to Los Angeles ?
you beat me to it
Thai operates 6 777-300ERs, they have 8 more coming, why use a 747 on that important route, why not a more fuel efficient 777-300ER which if far more comfortable for the passengers anyway?
dairy From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 237 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 12091 times:
Quoting Polot (Reply 8): Quoting Superfly (Reply 7):
BTW, anyone know what they're doing with the A340-500? They're just sitting there at BKK.
Nothing, they are parked awaiting someone to buy them. Although one was being used to shuttle some government officials around Europe earlier in the summer, don't know about now.
HS-TLA, TLB and TLC are stroed at Don Muang (DMK)
HS-TLD, which did the government trip to europe, is parked at Suvarnabhumi (BKK).
RoyalOrchid773 From Thailand, joined Apr 2001, 59 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 10030 times:
Quoting g500 (Reply 10): Thai operates 6 777-300ERs, they have 8 more coming, why use a 747 on that important route, why not a more fuel efficient 777-300ER which if far more comfortable for the passengers anyway?
If they use the newly refurbished 747 (designated as 74N; now only HS-TGY), the passengers in the economy would be offered the exact product as offered in 777-300ERs.
nethkt From Thailand, joined Apr 2001, 985 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 9554 times:
Maybe the 747 cockpit crew need to visit LA once again after a long absent?
With products on the 74N as shown in link above, I think THAI will do just fine on this ICN-LAX flight.
34 inches seatpitch in Economy class, it's the widest pitch on ICN-LAX route.
But this winter'12 will see the new 777-300ER operating the route before shifting to B747-400, queen of the sky once again.
Don't be annoyed knowing the passengers around you are non-revs and op-upgraders, be grateful for them. Life is beautifu
lawair From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 9219 times:
It looks like 77W for the fall, 744 for the spring onward.. My guess is TG wants to send the refurbished 747s (74N) to LAX, but it will only have one available until either November or December. The rest of the 5 747s will only be starting refurbishment in October. At the same time, TG will already have two of its newest 77Ws delivered by the time October rolls around. So this is probably a matter of aircraft availability.
usflyer msp From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1784 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 9082 times:
Quoting jfk777 (Reply 9): Thai is moving to a 777-300ER from a -200ER. Why would they fly a gass guzzling 747 all the esy from Bangkok to Los Angeles ?
Maybe they have more profitable missions for the 777's. LAX is a notorious money-loser for TG so maybe they figure its not worth wasting their newest product on.
TreeHillRavens From Malaysia, joined Jun 2007, 339 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (8 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 8203 times:
Quoting nethkt (Reply 14): With products on the 74N as shown in link above, I think THAI will do just fine on this ICN-LAX flight.
34 inches seatpitch in Economy class, it's the widest pitch on ICN-LAX route.
No. It is not the widest but at least on-par with KE and OZ.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6079 posts, RR: 56 Reply 18, posted (8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 8142 times:
Quoting g500 (Reply 10): Thai operates 6 777-300ERs, they have 8 more coming,
TG operates 5 leased 777-300/ER from Jet Airways, one leased from BOC Aviation with another 5 on order and 8 more on direct order from Boeing. The 5 leased from Jet Airways all have First class while the other one does not and the rest on order will not have First either.
So TG will have at least 14 777-300/ER in service in a few years not counting the ones leased from Jet Airways. I'm not sure how long they are keeping those.
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
RWA380 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2158 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (8 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 8020 times:
So there is no advantage whatsoever flying the 74N to LAX vs the 77W? No additional passengers or no additional cargo space available? The route is one-stop, so I am assuming that both legs of the flight from BKK to LAX will be able to operate at full capacity using either aircraft, correct? I do recognize the ASM's are different and the 744 is not as fuel efficient as the 744, but there must be some advantage of using the 744 over the 77W, at at least TG thinks so.
Next Flights: AS PDX-SEA-KOA on DH4/738 in F, HA KOA-OGG on 717 in Y, AS OGG-PDX on 738 in F
briboy From Canada, joined Jul 2001, 320 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (8 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 7950 times:
Quoting RWA380 (Reply 20): So there is no advantage whatsoever flying the 74N to LAX vs the 77W? No additional passengers or no additional cargo space available?
Well, most of Thai's 747s have F, while only the ex Jet 77Ws have F.
I have not flown Thais *newest* F in their 747s, but the F in the 77Ws is better than their now old F.
next up: YYC, SFO, SYD, AKL, WLG, CMB, BKK, SIN, FRA, VCE, JFK
jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7342 posts, RR: 7 Reply 22, posted (8 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 7917 times:
Quoting usflyer msp (Reply 16): Maybe they have more profitable missions for the 777's. LAX is a notorious money-loser for TG so maybe they figure its not worth wasting their newest product on.
Why fly all the way to California then ? Thai may be better served NOT flying the Pacific. Thai should follow the new mantra in airline management, fly only to those cities reached nonstop, but not with an A340-500.
phxa340 From United States of America, joined Mar 2012, 624 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (8 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 7678 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 23): Why are you so against Thai Airways flying to Los Angeles?
I don't think that he is. He is just reinforcing the point that ULH is very expensive and not profitable with oil prices where they are. LAX is and has not been a very profitable station for TG.
25 lightsaber: Ok, since first class is being added back, we can call this an upgrade. Otherwise, its just an up-gauge! That confuses me. ULH is all about premium re
26 Superfly: This is not an UHL. The flight stops in Seoul, South Korea. Was LAX a profitable pre-2005 before they went to the non-stop with the A340-500?
27 Superfly: Exactly! Although, their A340-500 had premium economy. How about Singapore Airlines?
28 LAXintl: I dont think TG ever made money in the Americas. The routes have been for prestige. Some folks have posted stories here of how TG management sent over
29 jfk777: I do NOT have anything "against" Thai flying to LAX or JFK or say Miami for that matter but does Thai make $$$ flying to the USA ? TG seems to loose
30 nethkt: Well, maybe TG just fly there to have LAX on the route map....like UA or DL is making money out of BKK-NRT tags!? Hey, I'm no UA/DL basher here. Still
31 jfk777: With the ability to feed Bangkok from all over the USA at NRT they probably do make money. Its not as if Bangkok is a "must fly to" Asian city. Its n
32 LAXintl: By coincidence today read and interview with TG CEO Piyasavasti Amrandand. He made specific mention of the LAX A340-500 operations: "Unfortunately, we
33 Superfly: Oh yes it is! That may have been the case 30 years ago but that is changing. The people I know that work there are happy.
34 Viscount724: Do you have a source for the interview?
35 hz747300: I'm sure Emirates would help out too! Yes, and no. It's certainly the capital of that part of ASEAN, but that would be from a holiday perspective, so
36 Fly2yyz: So does this that TG will have the best hard product on the ICN-LAX route?
37 Superfly: You are correct and the manufacturing industry is booming. Many new industrial estates and automobile manufacturing and their suppliers are growing b
38 lawair: I think everyone's basically right. Bangkok is a significant and growing financial and corporate center at a regional level. It's also a "must-fly-to"
39 Fly2yyz: Sorry guys for not being specific, but I mean in comparison to the other airlines plying the route KE/OZ/UA/DL? I mean in a world where I could afford
40 Superfly: Of the ones listed, I have flown Thai and United in First class, business and coach and I prefer Thai although United offers a decent hard product. T
41 LAXintl: Was in the printed IATA member magazine.
42 Viscount724: Thanks. Found it in the April 2012 issue. Link here for anyone interested. http://www.iata.org/pressroom/airlin...2012/Pages/ceo-interview-thai.aspx
43 RWA380: I have flown AA, OZ, TG, BD International business class, and TG was by far the best experience. The Thai ladies that served us, were like ghosts, th
44 lightsaber: Bangkok is growing as a global business center. They aren't 'there yet' at the level of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, or Shanghai... But they are growing
45 panamair: The only carriers that fly ICN-LAX nonstop are KE, OZ, and TG. UA does ICN-SFO, and DL has ICN-DTW.
46 sq_ek_freak: Yes but ULH is also about operating the flight whilst attempting to make a profit. While F might be in demand, TG didn't install F in their A345 for
47 Superfly: Correct! A city with this amount of international traffic should have no problem selling First Class service long-haul on their national carrier whic
48 falkerker: But then SQ went full J and some say they haven't been doing good on that either. (there´s a thread about it a couple of weeks ago). I presonally be
49 Superfly: ULH flights are fine when in First Class and Business Class. My guess is that Singapore Airline's problem with their all J-class A345 is the $13,000
50 jjeff: I was on an old layout TG 747 HKT-BKK and on new config HS-TGY from BKK-NRT both in F last month. First flight was fine but the new cabin is extremel
51 lawair: You're right and Superfly provided the answer to your question, but I think we were talking about Bangkok as a city and global hub/center, not about
52 Superfly: The State Railway of Thailand that has a stop at Don Muang is S-L-O-W. . . That train line opened in 1891 and probably goes about the same speed as w
53 LAXintl: Sounds like TG plans for the 744 to LAX were not firm. Their GDS schedule now shows 77W 4x weekly permanently.
54 nethkt: http://airlineroute.net/2012/09/21/tg-s13update2/ As of now, BKK-ICN-LAX reverted back to THAI owned 777-300ER once again. Other 2 frames will be used
55 laca773: How's TG been doing out of LAX since they started LAX-ICN-BKK? How have the loads been? If the 77L had been available when TG decided to start to ULH
56 usflyer msp: I have always wondered why TG did not operate LAX via HKG. They would be the only competition to CX on the HKG-LAX route and HKG's lack of a curfew wo
57 Superfly: Not sure. How would I get that information? Or maybe not ended at all.
58 sq_ek_freak: I believe (at least in SQ's case) the seats themselves and the associated hardware was too heavy. Add in galley space considerations etc I think it b
59 Superfly: I see. Saw their A340-500s today parked at Don Muaeng. Kind of sad to see them parked there getting dirty. This is what I get for not fact-checking w
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