Pre-Airport
Thai Airways only flies out of Europe with their A380's from two airports, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Frankfurt am Main (FRA). On a Monday in January 2015, I was booked on the 1.30pm flight from Paris. While I could have taken an early a.m. flight with either SAS or Air France, Paris is a city you can’t visit too often, so I chose to fly down from Copenhagen the day before.
Paris CDG airport, and especially the uniquely designed Terminal 1 where most Star Alliance flights departs from, is far from my favorite airport. But I quickly found the check-in area for Thai Airways. The business and first class check-in area was guarded by a lady, and since I didn't have a print-out of my itinerary, I almost had to swear that I was actually booked in first class to be allowed through.
To my great disappointment, the first class agent was busy checking in one of my fellow first class passengers, so I hesitantly walked to the available business class agent waving me over. After handing over my passport and placing my suitcase on the scale, it only took a few seconds before I had my first class boarding pass in my hand.
Fact:You are entitled to check in 50kg (110lbs) when flying first class with Thai
Airways, plus an extra 20kg (44lbs) with Star Alliance Gold status.
Lounge
Star Alliance have a common lounge in the non-Schengen area of CDG Terminal 1, with a special area for first class passengers. They do serve a decent champagne (Heidseick's Monopole), but apart from that, there is not much of a first class feeling at the lounge.
First glass of Heidseick's Monopole champagne
Pre-Boarding
The Airbus A380 is not a small bird, and when 500 passengers want to board at the same time, chaos ensues. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that the unwashed masses of economy class would board from gates 56 and 57, while first and business class passengers would use gate 55.
Pre-Departure
I was the first onboard of all first class passengers, and I was greeted by female cabin chef, and then later by the two cabin attendants serving the front cabin of the penthouse floor of the A380. The cabin chef proactively offered me a ”tour”, as well offered to take pictures of me in the cabin.
Me on Thai Airways' First Class on the Upper Deck of the A380
Thai Airways A380 First Class Seat 2K
Thai Airways A380 First Class Cabin - View of Row 2
My Thai Airways First Class Seat and Leg Room
Shortly after, I was offered a glass of Dom Perignon 2004, which of course, I could not decline. I was also offered a hot towel, as well as a very wide selection of newspapers and magazines. A Rimowa amenity kit with products from L'Occitane was also handed to me, together with a set of Thai first class pyjamas.
Dom Perignon Vintage 2004 Champagne
Early-Flight
The captain had reported 10hours 30mins flight time with some turbulence, but it took 45 minutes after takeoff before the male cabin attendant came to my seat with another glass of Dom, together with some assorted nuts, served unheated to my surprise!
First Class Canapes onboard Thai Airways
Three canapés were served. One with blue cheese, fig and walnut, another with parma ham and parmesan cheese, and the last one with salmon and cream cheese. While that might sound yummi to some, it doesn't to a cheese-hater like your Flightfox correspondent here. I did eat the lower half of the salmon "bagel" though. I sent back the leftovers, and went to the lavatory to change into my new pyjamas, or as I call it, my "Thai Royal First cotton track suit".
I had great expectations for the next serving – the caviar. It was served with the usual garniture; egg white, egg yolk, chopped onions, sour cream and… wait… “No blinis?” I asked. ”No, only thin toasts today, Sir”. Disappointment. But at last we came to the ”real deal” - the sturgeon eggs.
Sturgeon Caviar onboard Thai Airways
She poured me a spoonful from her silverware, which I wouldn't be surprised would cause death penalty in certain countries, as we caviar connoisseurs know that is should be served by a spoon of mother-of-pearl, cow horn, or in worst case, wood.
Sturgeon Caviar onboard Thai Airways
Stoli Vodka served with Caviar onboard Thai Airways
Stunned, and also a bit tipsy after three glasses of Heidsieck in the lounge and on my third glass of Dom in the air, I forgot to ask for Stoli to accompany my caviar. But the cabin attendant also forget to offer it, didn't she? It was on the trolley and the passengers in row 1 were offered it. Stoli has been my favorite vodka brand since I read American Psycho, where it is the preferred brand of the main character and his friends. Anyway, it wasn't that important. Champagne, and especially Dom, is legit with caviar.
The First Course was listed as,
Terrine of Beef "Pot au Feu" and Duck Foie Gras
Poached and Glazed Leek Chunk in Balsamic Cream
Light Smoked Scallop Tartar
but the crew claimed the scallop to be crab. I wasn't sure, but it was by far the best part of those three items. The terrine was so chewy, that I left most of it on the plate, and only forked out the foie gras. The carrot was raw, which I found odd.
Thai Airways First Class First Course - Terrine of Beef
For this course, I switched to red wine, and I didn't regret choosing the Chateau Batailley 2007. Maybe not the best year (and the '07 should really be drunk by now), but it was one of the best red wines I have ever had in the air.
While they had a choice of four main courses onboard, I pre-ordered my main course in advance. It honestly took me hours to choose between the beef tournedos and the swordfish. But the fact that it is easier for them to screw up when preparing fish, combined with the possibility that I would have had to drink white wine after red, made me go for the tournedos.
Thai Airways First Class Main Course Pre-ordered - Beef Tournedos
I was asked how I wanted my steak, and I asked for it to be medium. The beef was served with a delicious slice of foie gras on top of it – as it should, and was served together with pommes anglaise, carrots (shaped as the potatoes), and haricot verts. While the beef was juicy and tender, I seriously doubt it was filet mignon, as tournedos should be. The main course was still by far the best of dish served on my flight. I also ran out of red wine several times, and the longest it took them to fetch more, was 17 seconds.
Before I had finished the steak, they had rolled out the dessert trolley in the left aisle. When it was my turn, I declined the cheese (as you may expect), but welcomed the fruits and a glass of port. The port was Cockburn's Special Reserve, which didn't impress me at first, but after some minutes in the glass, it came back as a positive surprise. The fruit was incredibly flavorful, especially considering that it was January!
Sleeping
I usually have problems sleeping onboard airplanes, even with a flat bed. Alcohol usually helps, but not always. But the TG bed was so comfortable that I fell asleep in minutes, if not seconds. I wasn't tucked in, as I have heard that they do on Japanese airlines, but I didn't have to be.
Sleeping on Thai Airways A380 in First Class
Breakfast
I had asked the crew not to wake me up for breakfast, but just an hour before landing. I comfortably woke up by myself and I was attended to immediately. I asked for coffee, some bread and fruits, and some orange juice. Coffee was excellent, the roll and croissant were ok, the selection of fruits was spartan, and the juice was not freshly squeezed, which I think is fair to expect in first class.
Breakfast on Thai Airways A380 in First Class
Landing/Arrival
Just before we landed, the two cabin attendants came over to my seat, kneeled and thanked me for flying Thai Airways First Class, and hoped that I would have Thai Airways as my first choice in the future.
We landed 15 minutes early. Unfortunately!
At arrival, a smiling lady waited for me and two other passengers, holding up a sign with our names on it. We were bussed to the terminal, escorted to the Premium Lane of immigration, and my suitcase was literally first on the baggage carousel. Onward to the city of Bangkok!
Post-Flight
Overall, I really enjoyed the flight, but if you want to be really spoilt, it would be best to fly Thai out of their hub to get the full experience. The check-in and lounge experience were underwhelming. In Bangkok, First Class passengers have access to the Royal Orchid Spa with free massage, as well as an a la carte menu. This is not the case in Paris and other outstations.
In air, the service is impeccable, and while the wines were very good, I wasn't overly impressed with the food offerings. The In-flight Entertainment system was good, with a nice big screen, but content was a little disappointing.
So the bottom line is, I would take a Thai First Class flight any day, without hesitating... except if I had a choice of other first class cabins.
