65 minutes. That is all we had.
We were flying from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Thai Airways. New A321neo.
I was hyped. Not because domestic service is some grand adventure. But because of the flat bed.
It is a new plane. New seat. Old routine.
Service will be brief. The legs are short. But I wanted to see it. I wanted the texture. The result was decent. The seats held up. The crew smiled. The food? Fine. Not life-changing, but respectful of the ticket price. It cost me a little extra, but for that extra, I got space. Silence. No middle seat hell.
The Cost
Cash. We paid cash.
Why? Because awards were gone. Or maybe we didn’t check. Who knows.
It was $330 roundtrip per person.
Think about that. Economy would have been cheaper by about $50 each way. Just fifty bucks to sit in the front? Easy choice.
Here is the itinerary for the history books:
- Outbound: TG132 on 4/21. BKK to CEI. 11:35 AM departure.
- Return: TG131 on 4/25. CEI to BKK. 10:10 AM departure.
The return flight was on an A320. The outbound was the A321neo. I could compare. I did.
Getting Through Suvarnabhumi
Suvarnabhumi can be a zoo. Today? Not really.
We arrived at 10 AM. Domestic check-in was a walk-up. No line. Just show passport. Stamp ticket. Done.
The lounge. It’s in Concourse A. Gate A1 is nearby. It is basic. Cold coffee. Hot noodles? Maybe. Some sandwiches. Non-alcoholic drinks only.
We did not stay long. We did not judge it harshly. It was empty. Empty lounges are good lounges.
We walked to Gate B4. Security was a breeze. No queues. Just walk through.
The plane waited for us. HS-TOA. Brand new registration. I tried to take a photo. The glass windows here are a photographer’s worst nightmare. Reflections. Gloomy light. Sorry.
Boarding started late. Cabin prep, they said. We waited fifteen minutes. It began at 11:20 AM. Business class got first dibs. Priority treatment feels good. Even if you are alone.
The Seat
Two agents greeted us at the door. Friendly. Polite.
The cabin? Sixteen seats. Five rows. Staggered layout. Thompson Aero Vantage. You have seen this before. Aer Lingus does it. JetBlue does it. It is a crowded tube turned sideways.
Purple? Yes. Thai uses purple. But less of it. It feels matured. Grown-up.
Three rows have pairs of seats. Two rows have solo throne seats.
Throne seats are better. You get a window. You get direct aisle access. But your neighbor is behind you. Or beside you. The footwell is tiny. If you have big feet? Good luck.
I took a throne seat.
The space next to it is generous. I put my laptop in the side storage. The window armrest is basically a shelf. Use it.
The tech is standard. USB-C. USB-A. Power outlet. Reading light.
The tray table is hidden vertically. Flip it up. Flip it open. Clunky, but functional.
Controls are on the side. Simple panel. Push button. Seat goes back.
The amenities arrived before takeoff. Pillow. Blanket. Water bottle. Heavy enough pillow. Not a tissue box shaped like a pillow. This was an actual pillow.
One detail: the plane has new Airspace bins. Big bins. Good overhead storage.
Screen and Signal
The screen is 17.3 inches. 4K. Sharp.
Too much glare. The cabin lights were on. I couldn’t read my own reflection, let alone a menu. But Bluetooth works. Connect your AirPods. Ignore the provided ones if you prefer.
Content? Decent selection. Movies. Shows. Audio. I watched the flight map. Only the flight map.
What about Wi-Fi?
Thai says it is there.
I checked. No signal.
I asked the crew. They said no Wi-Fi.
The dome is on top of the fuselage. It looks real. But the software isn’t on. Or the hardware is dead. Who knows? It did not matter for a flight that ended before I finished my appetizer.
Departure
The cabin was empty. Just us two.
Boarding ended in five minutes. Efficient.
We pushed back at 11:40 AM. Taxi to runway 20L.
Look down there. That United 787. Daily flights now via Hong Kong. Bangkok is getting busier.
We hit the runway. Climb out was steep. We were light on passengers. Light plane = faster climb. Physics is beautiful.
Seatbelt sign off. Curtains closed.
The music… oh the music.
They play it during boarding. Then they play it again. And again. Until the wheels up.
Annoying? Yes. Catchy? Also yes. It gets stuck in your head. I stopped fighting it. Let the synth wash over me.
The Food
Lunchtime.
No alcohol. This is a domestic rule. Drink it at the lounge if you want a gin.
We got a menu? No choice. You eat what they bring.
They asked what drink I wanted. Coke Zero. Served in a glass. Small glass, but a glass nonetheless. Not a cup.
The meal came ten minutes after takeoff. Spicy chicken. Rice. Fried egg. Thai cuisine done well. It tasted real. Not airplane slop.
Side of fruit. Mango pudding for dessert.
Good portion size. For a short hop.
The chicken had actual flavor. The egg yolk was runny. I scraped every bit with the rice.
The Lavatory
One bathroom. Up front. Behind the cockpit.
Clean. Spotless. Why? Because only two people used the cabin. It is a lonely bathroom.
The Bed
Can you sleep on a 65-minute flight? No.
Did I recline the seat? Yes.
It felt familiar. The footwell tightness confirmed my earlier fear. If my toes hang off? No thanks.
For a power nap? Maybe. For this trip? It was just a reclined chair. Comfortable chair.
Arrival
Descent began at 12:40 PM.
View of Chiang Rai. Hazy. Smoke? Maybe burning fields. Common here.
Wheels down at 1:05 PM.
Deplaning was instant. Bags? They arrived three minutes after I walked off the plane.
Three minutes.
Record time. Maybe a conspiracy to make domestic first-class look good. Or just an efficient airport.
We walked out. Met a driver from Four Seasons Tented Camp. The birthday trip continued.
Verdict
Was it necessary? No.
Could I have flown economy? Yes. Would I have survived? Yes.
But I liked the premium. I liked the silence. I liked the chair that wasn’t a prison.
$330 is cheap for this product. Thai Airlines is keeping its game tight. They upgraded the metal. They upgraded the seats. They kept the service warm.
Not over the top. Never trying to be wide-body class on a narrow body.
It works.
