Pic: Lufthansa Business Class Breakfast on BRU to FRA flight (Jul 2014)
End of July, I booked a last-minute trip to Bangkok using 135,000 Lufthansa Miles & More miles + €544,41 in taxes and fees. Not my best redemption to date, but due the last-minute nature of my trip, a better option than paying >€2000 for a revenue ticket. My trip started with a Lufthansa Business Class flight from Brussels to Frankfurt on which a delicious muesli breakfast was served.
Pic: Lufthansa Senator Lounge B, Terminal 1, Frankfurt Airport (Jul 2014)
Pic: City Lights Lufthansa Senator Lounge at Frankfurt Airport (Jul 2014)
In Frankfurt, I visited Lufthansa’s flagship Senator lounge with features the ‘City Lights’ bar and a modern wellness area with luxury facilities that include ten showers and two spa rooms.
Pic: Comfortable seating at Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Frankfurt
As I had already flown Thai Airways A380 First Class twice (TG920 BKK-FRA and TG676 BKK-NRT) and as there was no award availability for Royal First this time, I used the opportunity to try the Thai Airways A380 Business Class cabin. At the time of booking, only middle aisle ‘honeymoon’ seats were still available. (see Upper Deck, Thai Airways A380 seatmap) Middle aisle seats form alternating pairs which are directed inwards or outwards. The inwards directed seats are so called ‘honeymoon’ seats which are great for couples, but not if you’re traveling solo. The outward directed seats are known as ‘divorce seats’. Fortunately, I had honeymoon seats 19E and 19F for myself.
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class Seats 19E 19F
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Business Class In-flight Entertainment Screens
Pic: Bart Lapers at Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class
Once settled in my seat, I was provided with a Borghese amenity kit and had a glass of Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne as pre-departure drink. Flight TG921 left Frankfurt at 2:45pm with foreseen arrival at 6:25am in Bangkok.
Pic: Fully Lie-Flat Seat Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class
Pic: Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Cucumber and Vinegar Relish Sauce
After departure, chicken satay with peanut sauce was served as hot savoury and orders were taken from the Thai Royal Silk Taste menu.
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class First Course
Pic: Thai Airways Business Class Chateau La Vieille Cure 2007
I paired my main dish with a matured red wine from the Thai Royal Silk Wine & Beverages list.
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class Stir Fried Chicken
Pic: Assorted Cheese and Fresh Fruits accompanied by Cockburns Port
Pic: Baron Otard XO Gold Cognac with Chocolate Brownie and Tea
Overall, the food experience was underwhelming. After flying Turkish Airlines Business Class several times and enjoying its delicious DO&CO catering, one’s expectations of inflight meal get much higher!
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Full Flat Honeymoon Seats 19E and 19F
After dinner, it was time to enjoy my fully lie-flat seats. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch much sleep as my biological clock was still convinced it was only early evening time. I noticed how a passenger was anxiously watching his inflight entertainment screen in flightpath mode all night. At departure, he had demanded a statement from the Captain ensuring we would not enter Eastern Ukraine airspace or other war zones. Just 48 hours prior to my flight to Bangkok, MH17 was shot from the skies above Ukraine.
Pic: Thai Airways avoiding Eastern Ukraine Airspace after MH17 Crash
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class Breakfast
Bangkok to Frankfurt
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Departure Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Check-in Bangkok Airport
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Passengers flying Thai Airways Royal First or Royal Silk class can enjoy a complimentary Spa treatment at the Thai Royal Orchid Spa at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport. As Royal Silk Business Class passengers are only entitled to a 30 minutes Neck & Shoulder or Foot Massage, I skipped the treatment. Here’s a map of the locations of the different Thai Airways lounges and Spa.
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Orchid Spa Bangkok Airport
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class Seat 17A
For my return flight TG920, I was able to secure a window seat with the shelf at the aisle side. Similar to the middle aisle seats, the Thai Airways A380 staggered cabin layout results in alternating seats with the shelf at the aisle or window side. I liked my seat a lot, as it formed a ‘cocoon’ where I was not disturbed by the foot traffic in the aisle. As TG920 departed Bangkok at 11pm, I had a great night of sleep. I even skipped breakfast to allow me to sleep until right before landing. :-)
Pic: Thai Airways Business Class First Course Salmon Roll
However, I did have a late night dinner on the Thai A380. Here’s the taste menu of my Bangkok-Frankfurt flight.
Pic: Thai Airways A380 Royal Silk Business Class Stir Fried Minced Chicken
Pic: Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class Assorted Cheese
Pic: Thai Airways Business Class Dessert – Pandan Sticky Rice Jelly Dessert
Pic: Lufthansa logo at Frankfurt Airport
As I had skipped breakfast on the BKK-FRA flight, the cold cut platter was a great welcome on my Lufthansa Business Class from Frankfurt to Brussels.
Pic: Lufthansa Business Class FRA-BRU Breakfast
