nrt1011 From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 100 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5439 times:
I fly from Sydney to Bangkok quite often, Thai has used the lovely A346 exclusively for a number of years. Recently they have change to the 747-400,any ideas why?
lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10671 posts, RR: 100 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5409 times:
Quoting nrt1011 (Thread starter): Thai has used the lovely A346 exclusively for a number of years. Recently they have change to the 747-400,any ideas why?
The first thing I do is go to Seatguru and note than there is a drop in premium seats and a sharp increase in Y seats. That tells me that is where the demand is. The A346 has been sent to where the front cabin will be filled. I would ask where? My first guess would be PEK or PVG. SYD apparently fills the back of the plane well though...
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2554 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5397 times:
More Y, less J.
We'll be getting the A380 next year, which is a pretty clear signal that they're going for the Y market at SYD these days. Perhaps we could see an A380/A346 combo (that would be VERY welcome!).
UA787DEN From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 291 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5394 times:
Hmm..capacity?! If it was all about comfort, we would have lovely 763s flying DEN-COS. If Thai can make money on the route and fill aircraft, they can put a 744 on that route and better use a 346 elsewhere.
IndianicWorld From Australia, joined Jun 2001, 2403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5386 times:
Given that BKK is not a high yielding destination in its own right, and Australia as a whole really isn't exactly the biggest premium market, its strange they sent them here in the first place.
nrt1011 From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 100 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5379 times:
Good points and makes sense. Whatever plane they use, the thing is usually pretty well full. I don't really mind, either plane is fine by me, just the 747 seats are a bit older.
I noticed Thai actually changed the BKK-LHR flights from B747 to the A346, probably per the points above
I love the thought of the A380 at some time, I flew the SIN one maybe 3 weeks after they got it. As long as I fly Star Alliance, I don't mind
We'll be getting the A380 next year, which is a pretty clear signal that they're going for the Y market at SYD these days. Perhaps we could see an A380/A346 combo (that would be VERY welcome!).
TG have shelved plans to operate their A380 down under... The A380s will be deployed on HKG, SIN, LHR, FRA, & CDG... As for the equipment change on the SYD from a A346 to B744 this was due to A346 pilots not satisfied being restricted to the regional routes therefore they operate the A346 to LHR... Yes, politics rule @ TG not management...
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Thai Airways are planning to increase capacity on European routes as they take delivery of the remaining A380s from their six-aircraft orders.Both carriers have opted against implementing original plans for deploying any of their initial A380s to Australia.
ZK-NBT From New Zealand, joined Oct 2000, 5020 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 5017 times:
Quoting EK413 (Reply 7): TG have shelved plans to operate their A380 down under
I read that but it does state that TG could use their A380s to SYD still when they take their last 2 aircraft later in 2013, SYD is still loaded from September 2013 AFAIK. LHR is possible but not certain aswell.
Quoting lightsaber (Reply 2): That tells me that is where the demand is. The A346 has been sent to where the front cabin will be filled. I would ask where? My first guess would be PEK or PVG. SYD apparently fills the back of the plane well though...
TG went from 21 weekly A346s to 11/12 weekly 744s to SYD. Interesting, they did use 2 class 777s for a while before the A346s aswell, so they have brought back F class in the last few years.
FCAFLYBOY From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2006, 471 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 4985 times:
LHR will see A380 pretty much guaranteed IMO as the front is nearly always full in both directions and Y class does well too. TG will make a killing if they have y+ on the route too as it will sell out pretty much on every flight from LHR.
BA and BR also offer Y+ but the arrival time
In BKK is late and less connection options too.
I'm always suprised people assume Thailand is a low yield market, perhaps yes outbound from OZ, but from Europe and especially LHR, there is a sizeable F/J market . Hence the number of high-end resorts
that have opened in Thailand in recent years.
lufthansa From Christmas Island, joined May 1999, 3074 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2614 times:
Quoting FCAFLYBOY (Reply 9): I'm always suprised people assume Thailand is a low yield market, perhaps yes outbound from OZ, but from Europe and especially LHR, there is a sizeable F/J market . Hence the number of high-end resorts
that have opened in Thailand in recent years.
That's still a low yeilding J. Plenty of that J traffic continues onto australia at heavy discounts over what BA/SQ/QF and even EK charge, and tourist J usually does not command the same premium as corporate accounts. For example, SYD-LHR on Thai is commonly available for about AUD $5000. Its just short of $8 000 on the carriers mentioned above. Sometimes more, and these are at the discounted prices. In fact often thai's F class on this route comes in at comparable prices to the others J. Great for the customer but not so great for Thai.
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