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Review: Thai Airways A330 Business Class (HKT-HKG)

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Note

I write trip reports for a hobby, and like to think that I get better over time. This report was written in April 2015, and falls in the oldie-but-not-so-goodie category of trip reports – blurry photos taken with an iPhone 5, and a not-so-useful content focus.

I’ve left the post up for aviation nuts who like any and all reviews, though for those looking for a review: check out a review of Thai Airways’ A330 business class here.

Introduction
The Beas River Chalet Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge Hong Kong
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Business Class Lounge Hong Kong
Thai Airways 609 A330-300 Business Class Hong Kong to Phuket
The Bell Pool Villa Resort Phuket
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Business Class Lounge Phuket
Thai Airways 608 A330-300 Business Class Phuket to Hong Kong


THAI Flight 608
Monday, February 23, 2015
Origin: Phuket (HKT) Gate: 7 Dep: 14:45 (16:00)
Destination: Hong Kong (HKG) Gate: 69 Arr: 19:15
 (20:05)
Duration: 3 hr 30 min (3 hr 5 min)
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A330-300
Seat: 17E/17B (Business Class)

I boarded through door 2L, and turned left into the business class cabin.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Cabin

I was blocked in seat 17E, and as my parents were still shopping, I settled down in the seat. I had acquainted with it on the outbound, so this was just a recap.

much preferred these colour tones to the red-purple ones on the outbound.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Cabin

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Legroom

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Seat Controls

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View from Seat 17E

One of the most interesting features of seats 17E and 17F are that they are used as crew rest seats on long flights, and thus feature curtains that passengers are allowed to use on these short flights. I guess if you’re stuck next to a stranger these aren’t the best seats to choose, but as a couple, try to block these two seats on the THAI Airbus A330.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Curtain

The painting, for ambiance, is behind these two seats. 😉

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Picture

The purser came and introduced himself, and asked for the whereabouts of my parents. I said that they were shopping, and he laughed. I could immediately tell that this was a better flight than the outbound.

He proceeded to throw give me a hot towel, which was nicely presented.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Hot Towel

He also served me some juice, which I chose orange juice.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Orange Juice

I’ll stop right there and comment that the purser kind of looked and acted like one of those waiters that joke around in high-class Italian restaurants and serve you wine with a trumpet in his hand. He was subtle, yet nice, and proceeded to interact with passengers throughout the flight.

Speaking of jokes…

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Airshow Time to Hong Kong

My parents soon boarded, and they were the last to before the door closed, and we pushed back. Before that, I decided to switch seats with my mother so I could get a window and she and my dad could get a curtain around them, so we proceeded to do so.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View from Seat 17B

The safety video played, which was, unfortunately, slightly tedious.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Safety Video

It was literally a pushback and a short roll to the runway.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Tarmac

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Tarmac

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Runway

Our takeoff roll was rather smooth, and we were in the air in no time, though it was still enough to spot a Sunday Airlines 767 from Kazakhstan.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Runway

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Tarmac

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Sunday Airlines 767

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Views upon Climbout

The views upon climbing out were sublime, and featured a clear view of the coastline.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Views upon Takeoff

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Views upon Climbout

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Views upon Climbout

I attempted to take a picture of economy class during takeoff, which ultimately backfired.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Economy Class

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View after Takeoff

I visited the bathroom after takeoff, which was similar to that of the outbound.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Toilet

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Toilet

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Toilet

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Toilet

The menu wasn’t available, so I was briefed the menu. It was also located inside the entertainment system.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Menu

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Menu

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Menu

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Menu

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Menu

Due to my culinary interest I had a look at the Thai food recipes, which the purser caught me looking at. We had a conversation about the best types of Thai food (which is the most ironic conversation someone can have on a plane, but whatever, THAI’s meals are great).

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class IFE Recipes

Almost right after that the IFE of all seats in row 17 stalled and went off, and they had to get the technician to sort out our screens. One by one he sorted them out, and he was done in five minutes, and was extremely apologetic.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class IFE

The meal service started somewhere over Bangkok with drinks and nuts.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Drinks and Nuts

This was followed by the smoked salmon with crabmeat cocktail, which was tasty.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Appetiser

Which was followed by garlic bread, which was pretty good, though I’ve had better on airplanes.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Bread

For the main course I chose seafood pad thai. It was phenomenal. There was a slight kick to it, yet there wasn’t that cheap, ketchup-y taste.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Main Course

I asked to skip the cheese course, but a flight attendant came up and said “you don’t want the cheese course?” Given that they’d come up personally with a cheese course on their hands, I accepted, but it tasted like goat cheese (the side fruit was great though).

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Fruit

I was then offered a “Phuket pineapple strudel”, which had gone soft albeit still being tasty. After I finished, the flight attendant took my plate, and the second cart (for those who hadn’t finished their cheese courses) came over and I was offered another strudel. Realising her mistake, the flight attendant let me have the strudel anyway, as it was tasty.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Dessert

An hour and a half into the flight, meal service ended with a hot towel, which was much better presented, though in a different way.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Hot Towel

I reclined my seat and watched The Giver. Many people say that the movie is underwhelming after reading the book, but I didn’t think so – it was just an interpretation. Unfortunately I was rather sleepy, and by the time I finished with the movie we were descending into Hong Kong, so I didn’t get any proper sleep until I got home.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class The Giver

We began our descent twenty-five minutes out of Hong Kong, and the captain came on and hoped that we’d all had a great flight (which I definitely had).

The lights were also turned off for landing, as is the norm when descending into Hong Kong.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Cabin upon Descent

Unfortunately, our descent didn’t feature views of Hong Kong, rather through the other way, featuring views of the sea. At daytime, I can appreciate that, but at nighttime, it’s kind of tedious.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View upon Final Descent

We landed at Hong Kong Airport exactly forty-five minutes behind schedule.

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class Views of Tarmac

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THAI Airbus A330-300 Business Class View of Cathay Pacific A330

We pulled into gate 69 at 8:05PM sharp (can’t beat this gate!), and after bidding farewell to the crew, were first off the plane and out of baggage collection in less than twenty minutes.

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Hong Kong Airport Gate 69

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THAI Airbus A330-300

Bottom line on THAI Airbus A330 Business Class

Overall I was very impressed with the flight. The service and food went way beyond my expectations, and the seat was solid for a three hour flight.

That said, since this is also their longhaul product, I’d refrain from choosing THAI on flights where I’m not guaranteed their fully flat business class, as it really makes a difference regarding sleep quality.

An okay flight and an amazing flight makes an above average choice of getting to and from Phuket, I suppose.

Bottom line on this trip

Was this trip as rejuvenating as I’d thought it’d be? Did I unwind? With the mosquitoes, especially, no.

However, I was happy with the trip. While I’d definitely choose another hotel with less mosquito concern (and hopefully better amenities too) on my next trip to Phuket, I’d say I’d stick with THAI on how to get there.

Time to roll out the rest of the trip reports!

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