Checked in at Terminal 1 about 1.5hrs prior to departure and boarding passes issued.
The aircraft had arrived from Bangkok and parked beside a fellow A350 from CX. Currently, 6 airlines (SQ, QR, TG, CX, AY, CI) operates the A350 to SIN, with LH joining soon with its re-launched flights to MUC.
Departure Gate D32.
Operating this flight was TG's newest A350 aircraft then ( a brand new A350 was delivered to TG a couple of days later). Snapped a few photos of the plane. It would also be my 3rd airline on the A350, having flew QR's and SQ's versions previously.
31 August 2017
Thai Airways
TG 410
Singapore (SIN) - Bangkok (BKK)
A350-900
HS-THF
Economy Class
Flight Time: 2H06M
Boarding commenced by priorities and row numbers, and was actively enforced. Welcomed at the door and directed to the correct aisle.
Passed through the economy cabin with wais by each cabin crew. The seats are stylishly designed and the bulkhead has thai art-work as well. Definitely not as dull as SQ's version of the A350. A pillow and a pair of headsets were available on each seat.
A huge clear and responsive touch-screen IFE monitor at each seat. USB and headsets ports are located under the screen.
Legroom is quite decent and good for the long-haul too. Footrest available as well.
The August edition inflight magazine, duty free and safety card.
The cute little IFE controller, though it was not needed other than for the reading lights and attendant button as the monitor is touch-screen enabled.
Pillow and headsets. Blankets were also distributed by the crew to those who required one.
Menu of the flight... not. This could be the Business Class menu as it was totally different from what was served later.
All on board and ready to go. The flight ended up totally full I believe.
Safety video played.
I had the aisle seat on this sector, and so no views fom the window. However, camera view is available in the IFE selection. We had a short taxi to Rwy20C and soon departed for Bangkok.
2hrs to Bangkok.
IFE, though variety not as huge as some other airlines, contains the latest movie selection and is sufficient for the flight. Decided to watch the comedy 'Snatched' on this short flight.
Shortly after the seatbelt signs went off, the crew hastenly came down the aisles to deliver the special meals from the rear galley. Apparently there were quite a number of pasengers who requested special meals (around 50, according to the crew) and this required the crew to hand-deliver the meals to the pax during the first 30min of flight.
After the special meals were distributed, the standard meal service was conducted. The crew on this flight were definitely not the most junior among the TG crew as probably the senior crew were first trained on this new aircraft type, but service was still professional, warm and friendly.
For dinner, we were offered a choice of Nasi Goreng with chicken curry or Sweet and sour Fish with rice. I chose the Fish option. Meal came with a salad starter, warm roll with butter, dessert cake and a bottle of water.
Starter salad with dressing and a banana cake for dessert. The cake was a bit disappointing as it was rather dry and dense.
The main was delicous though! The fish was fresh and the sauce was tangy thai-styled sauce. Portion was generous too. Thumbs up!
The other option of Nasi Goreng (fried rice) with chicken curry was tasty too.
Beverages were only served after the meal distribution, which took quite a while and most of the meal was completed before the beverage cart reached my row. Luckily there was bottled water on the tray. Guess it wa due to time constraints due to the large special meals orders as normally, TG would have both the meal and bar carts out on the aisle during meal distribution (as was the case on the return flight). Had a cup of coffee to end the meal while entertaining myself with the movie.
Visit to the nicely designed lavatory. Other than the necessities, the only other amenity available is the jasmine-scented cologne.
View of the forward economy cabin.
Cabin crew clearing away the meal trays.
As we started the descend into BKK, a video of the arrival procedures was shown.
Flight map of our routing.
Landing in BKK Rwy19L. Took a video of the camera view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2LNqC9-Vss
Parked at the gate.
Disembarking
It was a pleasant and comfortable flight on TG on this short sector. Service was good and the full frills were provided. Ticket were also at rock-bottom prices (if bought early) which made it even more value-for-money, plus the chance to try out the TG's new A350 made it an even better experience.
Contrary to recent reports of 4hrs long immigration queues at BKK, the arrival immigration was totally empty at 10pm and we breezed through both immigration and customs in just a few minutes!
