Hi all, I am a 20's guy from Hong Kong who loves aeroplane very much. I enjoy flying and after being a CD-Rom of A.Net for a few years (>10 years), I decided to sign up as a member and sharing some of my flight experiences with all of you.

Since English is not my mother language, sorry for my poor English in advance in the following flight report.

In Aug 2012, a promotional material has been send to my email account and I found that TG was running a promotion for their HKGBKK flights. I discovered that it will enable me to participate in the inaugural A380 HKG->BKK flight at a reasonable price (USD602 for roundtrip business class) and the timetable suit my working schedule. Therefore I booked the ticket and pre-select the seats for both segments immediately via TG's website in late August. This will be my 1st time participated in the Inaugural flight; 1st time being seated on the upper deck of 747 / A380 and my 3rd time onboard the A380 (previous were EK A380 in Y) and I am really looking forward to it.

Some days later, I discovered that TG has changed the inaugural flight from Oct 28, 2012 to Oct 6, 2012. I immediately changed my ticket (free) and secured my window seat via TG's HK office hotline.

Finally it came to the big day!!!

Date: 2012年10月6日
Departure: HKG
Arrival: BKK
Flight no.: TG601
AircaftA380
Reg no.HS-TUA
Gate: 60
Seat: 12A (upper deck business class)
Scheduled departure time: 13:25
Scheduled arrival time: 15:05
Actual departure time: 13:28
Actual arrival time: 15:23

TG's 2nd A380 revenue flight!
TG's 1st A380 flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok

Few days before the event, a major ferry crash happened in Hong Kong which claimed 39 lifes.
As a result, the flags were lowered.


TG's check-in counters are located in Terminal 2. I like the Terminal 2 a lot as most of the passangers will go through the security check in Terminal 1, it can save you a lot of time to do so.

However, I am a little bite disappointed as not many special decorations have been placed in the check-in area.
This flower is the only one I can find


As a business class passanger, I am able to go to TG's lounge in HKG.
Nothing special and as I want to capture the arrival of TG''s A380.
I stayed in the lounge for 10 mins and then processed to the gate.

At Gate 60, I disapointed again, only a few billboard about the TG's A380.
Also, the cocktail is prepared for the invited guests (eg. top management of travel agent etc.) only.


Again, these models are for the invited guests only as well.
They don't want to give you the brocedure (about the A380) as well. (even you are a first-class passanger)
Well, not a big deal.


Flight information displayed at the gate.


Cocktail. Not many of their "invited guests" show up, so that waiters begin to inviting passangers to consume the food...
well....




around 11:45am, TG's A380 finally arrived Hong Kong.
She landed at runway 07L and taxied to the gate slowly.
No water-salute has been arranged as well... so low-profile in my opinion.
















As a surprise, CZ's A380 arrived from Beijing as well and docked at Gate 62.
Two A380 met each other for the first time!!!







Some TG's top management gave a speech. No representive from Hong Kong Government as a result of the ferry accident. All un-necessary activities have been cancelled.


Some of the Crews and FAs


Finally it is time to board


Business class on upper deck














A small Y cabin on the upper deck as well




Stair towards the lower deck


More about the business class seat






Safety card and the stationery kit.
Note. Nothing special in the kit accept a few letterhead and a suggestion form




Souvenir for business class passanger (a key ring).
Actually I preferred those souvenir to Y over this one.


How towl before departure


Welcome drink


Push back




Bye bye CZ A380


Clear for take off runway 07R










I enjoy the vie of the window a lot. Window is my best in-flight entainment!!!






PTV




Now you can check the detailed menu via the PTV




while the traditional one also provided


Snack before the lunch


Finally the lunch time!!! Order has been taken before the depature.


Appetizer


Garlic, not as delicious as its look


Main, Roast Pork Fillet with Black Pepper Raisin Sauce & Mashed Potatoes
Very delicious


Dessert...
Cheese cake has not been distributed even it was included in the menu lor


Specially prepared for the flight




View from Upper deck Y cabin






Y's legroom


Almost arrive Bangkok!!!!




Arrival. Again no water-salute even it was TG's 1st A380 arrival with revenue passangers












Docked at Gate C3 finally






Final shot


The hardware are great.
Service are good (but a little bite slow, may be due to not familar with A380)
However, this inaugural flight is a little bite low-profile and quiet disappointed.
I expected TG can arrange more special things to celebrate the event.

Return flight on Oct 7, 2012 will coming soon.

Very good report with nice and sharp pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Hello davidho1985,

Very nice report with really good photos. Thank you for sharing  
I was on the TG A380 flight to Hong Kong on the same day too, and I agree with you that the celebrations (to the public) to mark its first A380 flight haven't been as spectacular as I hoped.
Very nice also the see the Royal Silk experience on your flight, how was the flight load? and was the Economy class section on the upperdeck open?

Quoting davidho1985 (Thread starter): Souvenir for business class passanger (a key ring)

Would be very nice to see whats inside the box though  

Quoting davidho1985 (Thread starter): Specially prepared for the flight

Looks great!

Look forward to reading your return flight,

Regards,

Win

Hi,

Nice report and pictures, thanks for sharing TG's JCL on the A380.

Quoting davidho1985 (Thread starter): TG's check-in counters are located in Terminal 2. I like the Terminal 2 a lot as most of the passangers will go through the security check in Terminal 1, it can save you a lot of time to do so.

- Interesting comment, I prefer T1 because there is always a wait for the train, always found security @ T1 to be pretty good.

Quoting davidho1985 (Thread starter): Again, these models are for the invited guests only as well. They don't want to give you the brocedure (about the A380) as well. (even you are a first-class passanger)

- That's a shame, I guess there were lot's left over if many of the invited guests did not attend.

Food looks for a flight of this duration.

Cheers

Mark

Hi David...

Many thanks for the report...

Quoting davidho1985 (Thread starter): Since English is not my mother language, sorry for my poor English in advance in the following flight report.

Not important at all... and your english is good. Saves waffling like I do... also, excellent crisp images as mentioned above.

I also agree that it seemed a little low-key to those not invited as VIP guests - perhaps they are getting complacent about A380's at HKG these days. . .

Luke

Thanks for the report! it is excellent with lots of details.

I think many of the invited guests, especially various government representatives, have to bail out last minute due to a very serious ferry accident in Hong Kong on October 1st, as the OP has explained. Having an A380 service in HKG is always exciting and no one will avoid any type of celebration. However, TG has also changed its inaugural date from late October to early October. However Thai Airways has almost no celebration of the first A380 flight and I presume TG wants to save all the good stuffs for the long haul inaugurals in December. The HKG and SIN flights are sort of like training and familiarization flights for the crews. Thankfully I did not make an extra trip to HK for the low key inaugural.

But TG PR - it is really bad to have those gift items in display if they are not for passengers. Other airlines put things in a gift bag and then gave them to their invited guests in discrete. Only display items that you are going to give out to passengers.

The food looks typical Thai Airways style and thanks for sharing and look forward to the return flight!

Carfield

Hello

Great report about the inaugural 388 from HKG, however the there was not so much to celebrate the event.
Great to see the upper deck Y-cabin as well, Always nice opposed to the 3-4-3 downstairs. TG colors and overall product look great in J and Y.

Greetings
Marc