When I opened the check-in reminder for my upcoming Thai Airways flight last week, I realized that I'd only flown economy class with them recently. As a traveler, this isn't a problem – I only fly between Thailand and Japan or Taiwan these days – but as a blogger, it felt like neglecting my duties.

Curious, I logged onto the Air Canada Aeroplan website (my preferred way to book business class award flights) to see if there was any availability for my flight – there was, but at a slightly higher price than I wanted to pay (45,000 points + taxes), and not with the aircraft type I actually wanted to fly on (the Airbus A350).

UPDATE: At the end of 2024, I finally got to test the Business Class of Thai Airways' A350 on a flight from Bangkok to Tokyo. I'll include details about this trip later in this post!

Nevertheless, I felt compelled to write a new review of Thai Airways' Business Class, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Read on to find out if my gamble paid off!

Thai Airways' business class has improved since the pandemic.

Before April 2024, my last Thai Airways Business Class flight had been shockingly long ago – longer than I remembered. It was in April 2017 aboard the now-retired Airbus A380 from Osaka to Bangkok. At the time, I liked Thai Airways' new color scheme on the superjumbo, but I found the in-flight meal (Larb, an unusual choice) disappointing; the service seemed strangely cold and impersonal.

Since then, I've naturally flown on some of the best first and business class products in the world and generally travel more frequently in premium cabins – my expectations have, frankly, risen considerably. Nevertheless, as you will see in the following sections, I have a much better impression of both the onboard product and the service of Thai Airways.

NOTE: For this review of Thai Airways' Business Class, I flew from Fukuoka (FUK) to Bangkok (BKK) in April 2024 on the Boeing 787-9 and later, in November 2024, on the Airbus A350 from Bangkok (BKK) to Seoul (ICN).

Breakdown of the royal silk experience in Thailand

The seat

I reached my seat (a standard but satisfactory reverse herringbone seat in a 1-2-1 configuration on the 787-9) and found a beautiful amenity kit made of Thai silk by the legendary brand Jim Thompson. Although the flight was too short to convert the seat into a bed, it was more than comfortable, even if its color scheme seemed a bit pale compared to other Thai airline cabins; the cabin itself felt somewhat cramped.

Months later, when I flew Thai Airways' A350 business class, I expected the staggered seating arrangement to be more spacious than the reverse herringbone layout and for the cabin to feel more spacious overall. While this was true to some extent, I ultimately didn't find the difference particularly noticeable.

The service

As numerous reviews of Thai Royal Silk Class confirm, the hospitality on board Thai Airways is always second to none, even if the service itself isn't always seamless. Fortunately, the latter wasn't a problem on this flight. Even better: one of the flight attendants even chatted with me for a while about my extensive travels through Thailand – I even recommended this website to her!

Food and drinks

Far superior to the larb I last had in Thai Airways Business Class: the Massaman beef curry on this flight was flavorful, rich, and delicious, although I was puzzled by the two salmon fillets on my rice plate. Furthermore, the crew provided plenty of champagne; I was particularly pleased that Thai Airways was finally serving proper, brewed coffee in Business Class again. Before the pandemic, even passengers in the first row had to make do with instant coffee!

The prawns with red curry that I enjoyed on the TG business class flight from Bangkok to Seoul in November 2024 were just as delicious as everything else I ate in Bangkok. Truly restaurant quality – from the firmness of the meat to the flavor of the curry.

The entertainment

One area where Thai Airways surpasses most other Asian airlines (especially Japanese ones) is its in-flight entertainment. While entire seasons of TV series are rare, there's a wide selection of new films. On this flight in April 2024, the psychological thriller "Eileen" and the climate change drama "The End We Start From" were among the films shown. This was more than sufficient, as my test flight in Thai Airways' 787-9 Business Class lasted approximately five hours.

The advantages

One disadvantage of flying with Thai Airways to Bangkok compared to flights from there is the limited lounge options outside the hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport – the "Fukuoka Lounge" unfortunately lived up to its spartan name. Furthermore, business class ground services (expedited security and immigration) are limited to Bangkok Airport, although business class passengers can fortunately use the Fast Track upon arrival.

The Thai Airways Business Class Wild Card

Whether you're flying Thai Airways in Business, First, or Economy, the airline has a habit that can significantly impact your flight experience. I'm talking, of course, about Thai Airways' tendency to swap aircraft at the last minute—almost always an older model for a newer one. Before the pandemic, airline bloggers even had a term for it: "Getting TG'd!"

The good news is that Thai Airways has since retired many of its really old aircraft, particularly its outdated A330 fleet and most of its 777s with old cabins. In all likelihood, the Thai Airways 787-9 Business Class I described here is the "worst" you'll experience during your trip (and it's not bad, of course, just standard). And it gets even better: Thai Airways will be introducing a brand-new Business Class from mid-2027!

More frequently asked questions about Thai Airways Business Class

What are the advantages of Business Class on Thai Airways?

With a Thai Airways Business Class ticket, you'll enjoy a lie-flat seat, a multi-course in-flight meal, a fully stocked bar, and priority check-in/boarding. As a Business Class passenger, you also have lounge access. However, this may not be available if you book an upgrade at the airport. In certain fare classes, you'll also earn more miles with a regular ticket than in Economy Class.

Does Thai Airways' Business Class have lie-flat beds?

From 2024, almost the entire Thai Airways long-haul fleet will be equipped with beds in Business Class. However, a few older 777 aircraft with reclining seats remain. I recommend contacting Thai Airways to check the onboard product for your flight and to inquire about any last-minute aircraft changes before your departure.

Does Thai Airways have a good reputation?

Thai Airways enjoys a relatively good reputation among the general public, but a surprisingly mixed one among frequent flyers. While regular travelers (especially Westerners) appreciate the first-class service on board and the friendliness of the cabin crew, frequent flyers criticize the airline for its inconsistent offerings (especially in First and Business Class) and its limited route network outside the Asia-Pacific region.

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    • Conclusion

    I hope my report on Thai Airways' Business Class was helpful. While not perfect, Thai's Business Class has improved significantly in the years since my last flight, even though my expectations are now much higher. Some of this improvement is due to specific decisions made by the airline, such as making proper coffee instead of the disgusting instant coffee that used to be served. Other improvements are more subtle – the service seems more attentive, though I'm not sure if this is due to new crew training protocols or simply a post-pandemic desire to travel. In any case, I would be delighted if you would entrust me with planning your trip to Thailand!