Flight no : TG402
Date of departure : 18th September 2003
Gate : D42
Origin : Singapore
Destination : Bangkok
Aircraft type : Boeing 777-2D7 (Suphan Buri)
Registration number : HS-TJH
Time of departure : 0820
Actual time of departure : 0840
Duration of flight : 2 hrs 20 mins
Actual duration of flight : 1 hr 55 mins
Runway use for departure : 02R
Runway use for arrival at BKK : 21R
Gate used at BKK : 22
Seat number : 46H

I had to go to Shanghai for another business trip with meetings to attend . The last time I went to Shanghai was about a month ago on Malaysia Airlines . I enjoyed Malaysia airlines ‘s A330 and B777( The 2-5-2 configuration was not so bad after all ) tremendously and now I decided to try another airline . An airline that I have not flown before and also offers either Boeing 777 or Airbus330 (Best is both) and among all the airlines like Cathay , Air China and Thai Airways , I decided to choose Thai Airways .The air tickets was slightly more expensive then Malaysia Airlines . I paid around S$600 including Chinese visa and tax .

Anyway , 18th September came very quickly . I woke up quite early in the morning , feeling excited to be flying another airline and flying my favorite Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 . I read in some article that TG has re-configured some of their 777-200s to 3-3-3 configuration . I was hoping for 3-3-3 because after flying on Emirates’s 3-4-3 configuration on their 777s , I didn’t like it because It was very packed and no room to move about if it’s a full flight . I went to airport around 2 hours before departure and there were many foreigners queuing up so I guess it’s a full flight . I was right when I asked the check-in counter lady , I was disappointed that it was 3-4-3 but I managed to get an aisle seat . I choose window seat for my Bangkok to Shanghai flight A330 .
Even through the time was still early , I went through the departure lounge and headed towards my gate which I saw my beautiful 777 plane that was going to take me to Bangkok . Using my binoculars , I took a peep at the registration and it was the last TG’s 777 , HS-TJH. Anyway , I should continue my report .
I was the first few to board the plane as this was probably my one and only 777-200 ride because my return flight , I would be flying A330-300 and B777-300 .The seats were configured 3-4-3 and even through the aircraft width is wide but I find it very cramp and the space between the 2 aisle seats is very tight . The flight was full as I saw no empty seats , looking around . The cabin crews gave a very warmed welcome to all the passengers boarding . That was a nice start , definitely make up for the lack of PTV .
Anyway , the plane only started pushing back around 0840 because of some inconsiderate late passengers who took their own sweet time . I was kind of surprised when the tow-truck pushed the plane back and maneuver the plane towards 02 direction .I thought the plane would be taking off via 20 L . Anyway , the engines were quickly started and we headed towards 02R for an immediate take off because the pilots wanted to make up for loss time . It was quite a long take off roll and after rotating , we headed towards 5000 feet before making a turn ( I forgot which direction ) towards our assigned FL390 . It was only after take off , the captain spoke his first words , welcoming us on board Thai Airways . I find this very weird . He gave us our flight details briefly and told us to fill up this entry form in which one of the lucky passengers on board will get a chance to win a free economy ticket to Bangkok .I make a vow to myself , if I win the ticket , I will give the ticket to a good friend of mine . The flight entertainment on board Thai airways has to be very disappointed . They showed some documentary and cartoons which does not interest me . I spend my time resting , enjoying the light turbulence with a few severe turbulence while half way through the flight . I must say that I am impressed with their service because they kept offering drinks and when some of the passengers requested for their drinks , they served them almost immediately unlike some airlines I had experienced either forget to serve them or took a long time to serve them . That is what I call service . The strange thing is that usually airlines I flew on, offered towers before departure but they served towers before our meal . Our meals came shortly after taking our towels , We had a choice of sausage omelette or pork noodle . As I don’t really like pork noodle , I chose the sausage omelette . To be frank the omelette was tasteless but the salad was good . After clearing the meals , it was time for the lucky draw to take place . Seat no 62H was the lucky winner , I can’t remember her name but she looks like in her 20s from China . Everyone was clapping for her , envying her for being so lucky . Not so soon after that , it was time for us to prepare for arrival . I must say this flight went pass very fast . The approach to Bangkok Airport was a bit rough especially entering the cloudy area . Once we were cleared of the clouds , the landing was pretty smooth and touched down quite nicely on runway 21R . These are the planes I saw at the airport. Gulf Air A340-300 (50th Anniversary) , Thai Airways B737-400, B747-400 , B777-200/300 , MD-11 , A330-300 , Cathay A340-300 , EVA Air B747-400M (Old and New ) ,Indian Airlines A320 , Aeroflot Illushin 62 , Ethiopian B767-300, Kuwait A340-300 , MK B747-200F , Singapore Airlines B747-400 , Malaysia A330-300 (9M-MKE) I flew this bird last month !! , Sri Lankan A330-200 (4R-ALB) I flew this bird last year , China Airlines A340-300 ( My first time seeing this bird ) , President Airlines B737-200 , Phuket Air B737-200 , Thia Orient B747-200, L1011 and Phillipines B737-400 . That’s about it I think .

Part 2 coming up next . Hope you enjoyed my report so far .