Thai Airways has earned a reputation for offering competitive fares and exceptional service, especially in Business Class. When I had the chance to fly on both the older Thai Airways 777-200ER and the retrofitted 777-300ER Royal Silk Business Class, I jumped at the opportunity. As an airline pilot and a fan of the Boeing 777, I was eager to compare the experiences.
My itinerary was from Denpasar, Bali (DPS) to Paris (CDG) via Bangkok, meaning I’d get about 4 hours to appreciate the 777-200ER and nearly 12 in the 777-300ER! Wonderful.
I was excited to compare these flights with my experiences in Emirates Business Class and on Ethiopian in Cloud9, thinking the Thai Airways Royal Silk experience would fit somewhere in the middle. Surprisingly, it didn’t.
Table of Contents
- Thai Airways 777-200ER vs 777-300ER: What’s the Difference?
- Booking an Award Flight on Thai Airways
- Seat Selection Tips
- Checking in for Thai Airways
- Boarding Experience
- Flight Experience: 777-300ER Royal Silk Business Class
- Transit Experience in Bangkok
- Conclusion
What’s the difference between the Thai Airways 777-200ER and 777-300ER?
Thai Airways 777-200ER vs 777-300ER: A Comprehensive Comparison
Thai Airways 777-200ERs are much older than their 777-300ERs, and the aging cabins on the 777-200ERs have not been retrofitted to match the much newer 777-300ERs. It’s a pretty substantive difference, and if I was paying for Royal Silk Business Class on Thai Airways, I would definitely be paying attention to the aircraft type I’m booking.
Thai Airways fits 292 seats total on the 777-200ER, designated as the 77E, with 30 seats in Royal Silk business class. With some of the 200ER’s approaching 17 years of age, these are the oldest aircraft in the Thai fleet and they feel even older and outdated once onboard.
Luckily, with only 5 200ERs in the fleet, chances are you’ll get to experience Thai’s renovated Royal Silk on their 777-300ERs for most routes. According to airfleets.net, Thai Airways does not have any active 777-200s or 777-300s (non ER) flying at the moment.
Thai Airways’ 777-300ERs, designated as the 77B, feature a much nicer, newer cabin, whether flying in Royal Silk or simply in economy. Despite a more comfortable 1-2-1 configuration in business class, Thai still manages to pack 348 passengers into the 300ER. This is a little higher than average simply because Thai does not offer any intermediary classes such as premium economy or an extra-legroom economy class.
Despite all of this, I was ecstatic to try out both products – a blast from the past and a beauty from today.
How I booked an amazing Thai Airways Royal Silk Award Flight deal using points (via Avianca LifeMiles)
Using Avianca Lifemiles, I was able to find excellent redemption rates in business class from Bali (DPS) to Europe on Thai Airways in business class. I compared redemption rates for Bali (DPS) to Paris (CDG) using Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus, and found that LifeMiles gave me the best rate at only 78,000 Miles + $41.80.
To obtain the miles required for this transaction, I transferred 78,000 ThankYou points from Citi ThankYou Rewards. The transfer from Citi ThankYou to Avianca Lifemiles was nearly instantaneous, taking only a few minutes.
Note that Avianca frequently runs transfer deals and specials. I’ve even as high as a 25% transfer bonus with Citibank ThankYou, meaning this award flight with Thai Airways could have been completed for only 63,000 miles + $41.80. Crazy good deal for 17 hours in business class!
I was able to use the PNR provided by Avianca directly on the Thai Airways website to select my seats and even pick out a special meal.
Why it’s so important to select your seat carefully and far in advance (using the website or the app)
The problem when booking Thai Airways is how much the seating configuration varies by aircraft, especially when considering a seat in Royal Silk class.
I generally prefer a window seat, and try to stay away from lavatories and galleys to optimize sleep. It’s important to know though that seats in row 19 on the Thai Airways 777-300ER have a bit of extra legroom because of the galley, so you may want to book one of these seats if you’re especially tall. Row 17 is also quite close to the lavatories.
Row 16 on the 777-200ER does not have any windows, so you’re losing out by not booking an aisle if you want to be as far back from the galley for noise and sleep concerns.
777-200ER (77E) Royal Silk Seat Configuration
- Configuration: 2-2-2
- Cabin feels straight out of the 90’s
- No privacy in seat
- At 60″ of pitch and with a 70″ long ‘bed’, not the best legroom
- Much enjoyed the window in the lavatory near door 2L
- Very old IFE, AudioOnDemand available
- Not much storage space
Make sure to avoid 16A or 16K as these are window seats without windows!
777-300ER (777B) Royal Silk Seat Configuration
- Configuration: 1-2-1
- Updated, more modern cabin
- Decent privacy. Tray table rotates from seat in front
- At 87″ of pitch, legroom is excellent
- Not the best seat cushioning
- Not much storage space
Odd number window seats on the left (‘A’) side, even number window seats on the right (‘K’) side are the winners for privacy.
Checking in for Thai Airways (online) – Bali
I was easily able to check in online and use digital boarding passes all the way through. Thai Airways also offers an app for more mobile convenience, and you can check in and receive your boarding pass this way.
I did not need to print a physical boarding pass in Bali (DPS), and I did not have check-in baggage – though two pieces of up to 30 kg (each) of check-in baggage is included with your Thai Royal Silk ticket.
Boarding Thai Airways on a Royal Silk Business Class Ticket: Stress-Free and Pleasant (a truly Royal experience)
Royal Silk customers have access to a separate line, and even their own jetbridge. This made the boarding process very efficient and streamlined, and I felt I could walk in whenever I wanted without getting bogged down in the jetway.
I walked as long as I could across the new Denpasar (Bali) airport terminal, then gleefully skipped the entire economy line and went straight into the business class jetbridge. The purser greeted me with charisma and grace, showed me to my seat, offered to help with my bags. Best part: once seated, I was offered some of the best champagne of my life.
Settling in: seat comfort, features, privacy, and overall rating on Thai’s 777-200ER in Royal Silk Class
Ever wanted to step back into the 90’s, adding a touch of purple upholstery and a seating configuration to match? Welcome to Royal Silk on the Thai Airways 777-200ER.
I actually enjoyed what felt like stepping into the 1990s, nostalgia offered by Thai Airways complimentary.
For this leg from Bali to Bangkok, I selected seat 12A for a window. I found the seat itself actually quite wide and very comfortable, and having a neighbor not too bothersome. There is plenty of legroom and the aisles are very spacious.
The tray table actually stays flat and holds weight on this old Thai Airways 777 thanks to a tab. A pet peeve of mine is when they sag, making it uncomfortable to work on a laptop.
With super old IFEs (you have to select the correct ‘channel’ to use the small, low-res screens), you may want to consider bringing an iPad.
Most importantly, there’s hardly any storage in Royal Silk on the 777E. So you’ll likely have to put your accessories in the small slot below the IFE or the overhead.
- Comfort: 9/10 (Reclined), 7/10 (Upright), 5/10 (Flat)
- Privacy: 2/10 (Almost None)
- Tray Table: 8/10
- IFE Experience: 3/10
Overall Thai Airways 777-200ER Royal Silk Seat Rating: 5.5/10
Amenities & Lavatory Experience (777-200ER)
The amenity kit offered by Thai was not anything special. It included only the usual products, and none were extraordinary.
I found the eye mask to be uncomfortable and not great at blocking light, but at least the earplugs were good. I’d definitely recommend you bring your own eye mask.
The lavatories on Thai’s 777-200ERs are quite spacious, and I noticed the lavatory near door 2L actually has a window. I absolutely love that.
Dental kits are provided, but I was definitely missing the face towels as included by Emirates in their respective business class.
Thai Airways Royal Silk Business Class Service: best I’ve ever had
I genuinely had the best service of my life on Thai Airways. Even better than what I experienced with Emirates, and certainly a warmer experience than I received on Ethiopian Airlines in Cloud9.
Throughout the flight, flight attendants were attentive, genuinely friendly, and great to talk with. They seemed smart, educated, standardized, and warm. I truly felt I was getting my moneys worth in Royal Silk. If anything, the excellent service made me forget the dated cabin, ancient IFE, and lack of privacy. I was happy to be there.
Spectacular food (even the western cuisine!): totally worth it
This section may reek of being used to the business class products on US-based carriers, but the quality of dining here felt like upgrading from the local Burger King to a Michelin-star restaurant in the south of France. I am frankly ashamed of what we consider “business class” quality dining back home.
The difference is striking. From the elegant china, quality silverware, beautiful tablecloth, to the incredible presentation, the food service onboard Thai Airways truly is as royal as it gets.
Food selection happens before departure. The purser comes to you not only with the selection of dinner courses available – but also pictures of the selections and explanations if needed. Amazing touch!
Once in the air, service started with warm nuts and wine. I found the nuts to be edible, fresh, and delectable, unlike what I’m used to with American carriers – salt with nuts attached to it.
The salmon and cream cheese appetizer was fantastic, rivaling some of the best sashimi I’ve had in freshness.
And the main course, jumbo shrimp and mashed potatoes, was quite good. I particularly enjoyed the way it was seasoned – not over salted like on other airlines.
For desert #1, I was offered a fruit and cheese platter. But they weren’t quite done yet. Desert #2 was a delicious chocolate cake accompanied with decaf coffee.
I was wholeheartedly impressed, and so were my tastebuds.
Transiting Bangkok: A haven for lounges
I’m not sure I’ve seen an airport with so many lounges – or at least so many lounges you can access for free with Priority Pass!
I had a nice 4 hour layover to try out a few of them. Here were my thoughts:
- Oman Air: good food, but it’s small, dark and cold
- Air France: better food, decent views and light, decent space
- Miracle Lounges: popular, but very large. Decent food. Showers available with toilet, but not super clean.
By far, Thai Royal Silk lounge was my favorite. Fresh coconuts, juices/mixes, western and Thai food, and huge. Private rooms, WiFi, comfortable chairs and plugs. However, it was definitely the most crowded lounge – a common problem these days.
Modernity awaits: seat comfort, features, privacy, and overall rating on the 777-300ER in Royal Silk Class
Seats on the Thai Airways 777-300ER (77B) are far improved, and much more modern than on the 777-200ER (777E). Thanks to 1-2-1 staggered seating, privacy is much improved and it’s a lot easier to sleep in peace.
One thing I truly appreciated is how clean the plane seemed. Unlike most American carriers I fly (sadly including one I work for), Thai Airways seems to actually clean at least business class in detail, including the usually forgotten areas like crevasses and the tray table.
I selected seat 21K for this leg, nice and tucked in almost all the way aft within the Royal Silk cabin. Far from any lavatories, seat next to the window, great privacy, with no loud galley noise present. It was definitely my first choice seat.
The tray table rotates from the seat in front and lays flat, supporting a decent amount of weight. I found it also doubled well as a privacy divider from the aisle.
With 81 inches of pitch, legroom was excellent, the bedding was decently comfortable and cozy (cushioning could be a bit softer), but once again there was not a lot of storage. I found myself going into the overhead a couple times during the 13 hour flight to Paris to retrieve items.
Food and service were just as good as on the previous flight, but I spent most of my flight from Bangkok to Paris on Thai Airways in the best way possible – asleep.
- Comfort: 8/10 (Reclined), 7/10 (Upright), 9/10 (Flat)
- Privacy: 7/10 (Not a ‘suite’, but still quite good)
- Tray Table: 8/10
- IFE Experience: 7/10
Overall Thai Airways 777-300ER Royal Silk Seat Rating: 8/10
Summary: Thai Airways 777-200ER vs 777-300ER in Royal Silk Business Class
Thai Airways 777-200ER Business Class
- Seating Configuration: 2-2-2 layout
- Cabin Age: Older, not recently retrofitted
- Seat Comfort: Less comfortable with 60″ pitch and 70″ long beds
- Privacy: Limited privacy, no direct aisle access for window seats
- In-flight Entertainment (IFE): Older, low-resolution screens, limited functionality
- Storage: Minimal storage space
- Overall Seat Rating: 5.5/10
- Best Seats: Avoid 16A and 16K (window seats without windows)
Thai Airways 777-300ER Business Class
- Seating Configuration: 1-2-1 layout
- Cabin Age: Newer, modern and recently retrofitted
- Seat Comfort: Very comfortable with 87″ pitch and improved cushioning
- Privacy: Good privacy with direct aisle access for every seat
- In-flight Entertainment (IFE): Updated, high-resolution screens
- Storage: Limited storage space, but generally more spacious
- Overall Seat Rating: 8/10
- Best Seats: Odd-numbered window seats on the left (‘A’) side and even-numbered window seats on the right (‘K’) side for best privacy
Key Differences
- Comfort: The 777-300ER offers significantly more comfort and modern amenities.
- Privacy: The 1-2-1 layout on the 777-300ER provides better privacy compared to the 2-2-2 layout on the 777-200ER.
- Cabin Age: The 777-300ER has a newer, more modern cabin.
- Seating Configuration: Direct aisle access for every seat on the 777-300ER enhances convenience and privacy.
- In-flight Entertainment: The 777-300ER features a more updated and user-friendly IFE system.
Conclusion: Thai Royal Silk Business Class is worth it either way, but the 777-300ER is a massive plus
- Thai Airways Business Class is worth flying in, regardless of aircraft, due to the outstanding service and high-quality food.
- For a significantly better experience, choose the 777-300ER for its superior comfort, modern amenities, and improved privacy.
In almost every way, Thai Airways Royal Silk business class exceeded my expectations. Even on the super old 777-200ERs, the impeccable service far made up for the outdated interior and unfavorable seating configuration.
But on the 777-300ER, you get to keep the impeccable service and gain modern business class seating. Best of both worlds.
If your main focus is to sleep, you’ll appreciate the drastically improved privacy and comfort on the 777-300ER. But if it’s a daytime flight, or you have a lot of work to do, you’ll love the service in Royal Silk, without too much of a hit comfort-wise even if you book the older 777-200ER.
Answered in this guide:
What’s the difference between the Thai Airways 777-200ER and 777-300ER?
How do I get the best flight award deal on Thai Airways from Asia to Europe using points?
Which seats should I choose for my flight on Thai Airways?
Can I check in online for a Thai Airways flight?
Is booking Royal Silk on Thai Airways worth it?
What is the best transit lounge in Bangkok?
Why is the 777-300ER so much better than the 777-200ER?
Conclusion
