Thai Airways First Class from Tokyo to Bangkok - Exceptional
As most airlines continue to scale back or eliminate first class altogether, citing high costs and limited profitability, a small number still buck the trend. Thai Airways is one of them.
Thai continues to operate a competitive first class product on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, currently flying routes between Bangkok and Tokyo, Osaka, and London. These tickets are not cheap. Even the relatively short Bangkok to Tokyo route often exceeds $2,500 one way. The obvious question is whether the experience justifies that price.
I was fortunate enough to try Thai Airways Royal First on flight TG677 from Tokyo Narita to Bangkok. I booked the flight using Air Canada Aeroplan points for 60,000 points plus taxes and fees. That is undeniably steep for a flight of this length, but given the aspirational nature of first class and the rarity of the product today, it was a price I was happy to pay.
Check-in at Narita was efficient and painless. The counter opened three hours prior to departure, boarding passes were issued quickly, and security was equally smooth. From there, I made my way to the lounge. Thai does not operate its own first class lounge at Narita, so first class passengers instead use the ANA First Class Lounge.
Food & drinks options on offer in the ANA First Lounge
The lounge itself was pleasant but understated and certainly no Al Safwa. It felt similar to the adjacent ANA business class lounge, with only subtle differences. The most noticeable was how quiet the space was, clearly a result of the small number of first class passengers. Food and beverage offerings were a step above, particularly the self-serve bar stocked with high-end Japanese whiskies and specialty bourbons. The food selection included both buffet items and made-to-order dishes available via your phone.
Knowing what awaited onboard, I tried to pace myself. I ordered a small sushi plate and grabbed a few light items from the buffet. The sushi was excellent, good enough that I did order a second plate before finally stopping myself as boarding time approached.
The seat itself is enormous, easily occupying the space of two already spacious Thai business class seats. In addition to the main seat, there is a separate ottoman equipped with its own seatbelt, allowing for companion dining if you happen to be traveling with a friend.
Upon boarding, I was presented with plush slippers, a La Mer amenity kit, and the onboard menu. The amenity kit was easily the nicest I have received, and it included a particularly unique perk: a 45-minute La Mer signature facial redeemable at participating locations in Bangkok. The headphones were high-quality and noise-canceling, and the drink list managed to outshine the offerings in the lounge.
After a champagne welcome drink, we departed for Bangkok. Shortly after takeoff, the oversized tray table was set and dinner service began.
As is customary in many first class cabins, the meal opened with a traditional caviar service accompanied by chopped egg whites and yolks, shallots, cream, chives, lemon, and melba toast. This was followed by an amuse-bouche of chicken rolls, fried shrimp, warmed nuts, and raisins. Two starters followed: veal tart with mushroom sauce and smoked tuna tartare with lime and grapefruit. Each dish was excellent and easily comparable to restaurant-quality food on the ground.
For the main course, I chose the wagyu beef with green curry. It was outstanding, remarkably tender and flavorful, and to my surprise, genuinely spicy. According to the menu, the heat came from a Thai shrimp paste dip, making this one of my favorite airplane meals I have ever had… This was before the chilled vodka shots, seemingly a Thai Airways specialty.
An extensive bread selection accompanied the savory courses. Dinner was followed by a generous spread of premium cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, crackers, and honey. Finally, dessert concluded the meal with a mango and banana cake, though sweet potato ice cream with maple syrup was also offered. By this point, I was thoroughly full and changed into my pajamas before settling into the bed.
The bed itself was exceptionally comfortable, and I slept for most of the flight. Unfortunately, that meant I slept through the second meal service, one of my few regrets of the trip, and a good excuse to fly Thai first class again. The pajamas were just as impressive as the rest of the soft product. While the branding makes them less discreet off the plane, the comfort and quality were excellent.
I cannot speak to whether this experience was typical for all first class passengers, as it likely had more to do with the rapport I built with the purser over the course of the flight. Upon landing in Bangkok, I was escorted directly from the aircraft, guided straight through immigration despite there being no formal fast-track process, and then accompanied to baggage claim. The airport staff then insisted on carrying my bag all the way to my ride, which, somewhat amusingly, was the shared Grab rideshare waiting area… No limo for me I’m afraid.
My new favorite quarter-zip
I booked this flight using Aeroplan points, taking advantage of the program’s distance-based pricing system discussed elsewhere on this site. Thai Airways first class may be less flashy than some Middle Eastern counterparts, but it delivers a deeply luxurious, thoughtful experience while connecting two of the most visited countries in the world in comfort and luxury.
