To see the report with all the photos, please see the link below:
http://milesawayblog.com/thai-airways/
After 10 days of visiting wonderful Western Australia, it was sadly time to begin our long trip back to Germany. Thankfully, we were able to stop in Bangkok for 4 nights on the way so our vacation was technically not officially over yet. We had flown to Perth from Singapore on Qantas and to get from Perth to Bangkok we were flying Thai Airways on their Boeing 787-8. We had redeemed United MileagePlus points for a one-way award flight. There is nothing better than free flights!
Perth Airport
We used public transportation to get from the Hyatt Regency hotel in Perth to the airport and arrived about 3 hours before our time of departure. The airport was relatively quiet this afternoon and we were quickly checked in and through security. The terminal that Thai Airways departs from in Perth doesn’t have that much to offer besides a handful of shops and just a few restaurants.
We found a place to enjoy a last Little Creatures beer in Australia and to watch the afternoon traffic out on the apron. Eventually, we saw our plane approach and land on the runway in front of us. Time passed quickly and it was time to board.
Afternoon traffic at Perth Airport including the discontinued Etihad flight
Best shot we could get of our plane
Departure
As mentioned, our flight would be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and flying time this evening would be about 7 hours. We boarded through the jetway and were greeted by the friendly Thai cabin crew. The flight appeared to be completely full in economy class with no empty seats at all. Our seats were comfortable with average legroom.
Once boarding was complete, we pushed back and taxied to the runway passing a South African Airways plane that would be departing to Johannesburg later in the evening.
Once on the runway, we had a quick take off roll and before long we were airborne and leaving Perth behind.
Inflight
As we were leaving the Australian continent behind, the cabin crew started the inflight service. A drink service came first along with some rice crackers. It was the perfect time to enjoy a Singha beer while looking at our last views of the Australian coastline!
Anyone who has flown on a 787 probably has noticed the oversized windows that are also electronically dimmable. It is always fun to play with the settings and most people had the windows in a medium setting during the flight, casting the cabin in a blue light.
The Thai Airways inflight entertainment system has a decent range of audio and video options helping pass the time on long flights. The Thai 787s feature large seatback screens.
Soon after the drink service, it was time for the main meal. We both opted for the chicken; which ended up being a very flavorful spicy Thai red curry with rice and vegetables. The meal was very tasty which has always been our experience when flying Thai.
The flight passed by quickly and we enjoyed some nice sunset views on the way. The inflight entertainment system helped kill the time. Before landing we were served a delicious Mango ice cream bar that we have enjoyed on several other airlines as well.
By the time we were approaching Thailand, night had fallen and we approached Bangkok in the darkness. We made a smooth landing and the windows immediately fogged up due to all the humidity outside. After a long taxi, we parked at a remote gate where we deplaned by stairs and were bussed to the terminal.
Final Thoughts
This was another great flight for us with Thai Airways. While Thai might not be as highly ranked as neighbors such as Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific, they have never disappointed us. We always have found the food to be great for economy class, the crew friendly, and the cabins to be in great shape. We look forward to more flights on Thai in the future.
Again, to view all the photos please visit this link: http://milesawayblog.com/thai-airways/