Airline review: Thai Airways, Airbus A350-900, economy class, Bangkok to Melbourne

We skip the long queues at the serviced check-in counter and do it ourselves at one of the electronic check-in kiosks. The entire process for three of us, including bag drop, takes 10 minutes. If only it was always this efficient.

THE SEAT

Economy class, seat 39H. The economy cabin has 289 seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Seats offer 32 inches (81 centimetres) of pitch and are 18 inches (46 centimetres) wide. USB ports are beneath the entertainment screen and AC power ports are under the seats. I'm in an aisle seat, with no entertainment power box inhibiting legroom space. Happy days. All seats include fold-down leg rests.

BAGGAGE

Economy class baggage check-in allowances vary according to ticket fares. My Full Flexi Class fare allows for up to 35 kilograms of check-in baggage, plus seven kilograms of carry-on.

ENTERTAINMENT

Movies are a mix of Hollywood and world cinema new releases and classics, though they're more heavily weighted towards the latter classification. There's also a dedicated kids page with movies, TV, music and games. An Information facility includes flight progress, vision from a camera mounted to the tail fin, destination and food guides, travel listicles, and onboard health and well-being tips. Onboard Services includes food menus, a duty-free catalogue, mobile phone and Wi-Fi information.

SERVICE

We depart Bangkok 14 minutes after our scheduled time and lift off from the runway another 14 minutes later, making up lost time in the air so that we arrive in Melbourne early. Drinks are offered soon after the seatbelt signs are switched off, followed by the first of two meals. I rarely see the staff members otherwise, except when they offer bottles of water, though I have no need for them to help me with anything else. Despite almost every seat being filled, it appears to be a hassle-free flight.

FOOD

Breakfast of scrambled eggs with chicken sausage is served within 40 minutes of take-off. The onboard menu is supposed to be listed via the entertainment screen, but it isn't working. For lunch (or is it dinner?), we're given a choice of green chicken curry with rice or spicy fish with spaghetti. Drinks and snacks are available throughout the flight.

VERDICT

I've found economy class flights with Thai Airways flights to be consistently seamless. Stewards don't fuss over you, but nor do you feel like they're ignoring you.

OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE

★★★★

The writer was a guest of the Minor Hotels group that includes the Anantara and Avani brands.

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