One of our First Class travel specialist just returned from his vacation to Thailand. Read on to find our what he has to say about his overall trip.
Melbourne First Class Qantas Lounge
When thinking about the great first class QF lounge in Sydney, I was wondering how this would compare in Melbourne and it was really good! It is essentially like the Sydney first class lounge just a slightly smaller scale – all the amenities and excellent service was there. Only downside was the lounge closed at 9pm, and with my one world partner flight out at midnight I had to move to another, much lower quality lounge next door. The amenity kit was lacking toothbrush and eye guards for nighttime sleep.
Malaysian Airlines
Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur Business Class
I had not flown on Malaysian airlines for a number of years, and their once stellar reputation for both hard and soft products has diminished. The A330 was an older plane (ex Air Berlin plane) that was in need of a serious refresh. Can’t even come close to Singapore airlines or any of the Japanese carriers. Only one bathroom for the entire business class. However, service was quite good and made the best out of an ordinary product. Food was very good though lengthy service times mean little time for sleeping. The plane arrived on time and upon arrival, an excellent lounge in Kuala Lumpur.
St Regis Bangkok Hotel
I was eager to compare my first stay at the St Regis to my favorite Marriott brand the Ritz Carlton. Unfortunately, the Bangkok branch of the St Regis was not up to the 5-star standards I’d have expected. The check in service was quite good and personalised – I was able to use a free night certificate and also received a nice upgrade to a Deluxe room (no suites available for upgrade though the hotel was fairly empty). The facilities and décor were nice but nothing special. Food and beverage service have dropped post-covid and the food quality was average. For a better experience, I’d recommend the Marriot Marquis in Bangkok at half the price.
Thai Airways
Bangkok to Perth Business Class
This was my first flight into Australia from Bangkok via Perth. Overall a nice flight and easy to get through immigration in Perth, nice to break up the onward trip to Sydney. The plane was fairly new but still had the older 2-2-2 layout which meant I had to climb over the person next to me. Entertainment system seemed behind the current technology even for a new plane. Two meals service on a 6 hour flight – very tasty and friendly service). Amenity kit was premium and included all the essentials.
By Jack. W
