Why Thai Airways First Class Sucks

The international reputation of Thai Airways continues to plunge, thanks to the latest scandal which reveals that Thai Airways executives, the Thai military, royals, and important government employees are widely given upgrades and other perks. Thinking about flying Thai Airways first class? Think again. Here's today's letter to the Bangkok Post.

Your article ''Ticket upgrade row spurs suit'' (News. Dec 28) does not surprise me in the least. Up until about 18 months ago I and my wife were regular first-class travellers (three times annually) aboard TG916/TG917 to and from London.

Minutes prior to departure of each flight I would always check the seating arrangements via the ''Check my Trip'' website and generally find there were only three or four bookings in first class for the flight. Yet on virtually every flight the cabin was fully occupied, with the ''empty'' seats being taken always by Thai people.

This led to a situation whereby there were insufficient staff to provide a half-decent service, especially to those who had booked and paid for seats in the first class section. Had there been prior notification of the cabin being full THAI might have provided the correct amount of cabin crew.

I pointed this out to THAI via e-mails on a number of occasions together with various other complaints about old aircraft, lack of comfort and, more importantly, the fact that they did not supply value for money. Not once did I receive an acknowledgement let alone a response. I don't want to be a continual ''moaner'' so I just accepted their ''couldn't give a damn'' attitude and took my business elsewhere.

Living in Phuket, we heeded the advice of other frequent travellers to London and Europe to go via Singapore and as from 18 months or so ago we have never looked back. Flying business class with airlines from Singapore to London is infinitely more comfortable, provides better service than you would ever get from THAI first class and most importantly gives value for money.

On one occasion we received an unexpected upgrade to first class and we were so spoilt that in comparison it made THAI first class look rather like another airline's premium economy. Some one time prominent person once said "THAI First Class sucks" and I couldn't agree more. It is made worse that they allow prominent and influential people to use their premium services for free (or for a 'small backhander') and it is so noticeable to the fare paying passenger that they, like ourselves, no longer fly with them. When and until the corruption and malpractice, which allegedly starts at the very top, is stamped out, THAI will never ever be a viable airline.

I await with interest the outcome of the court hearing, but somehow I doubt that it will ever get that far: more likely we will never hear about the squabble again. If it does defy the norm and ends up in court, perhaps then it might just open a small can of worms which can provide the basics for a start to stamping out the corruption which is rampant throughout the airline.