Thai Airways Business Class Review: Bangkok Bound in an A330

Continuing my around-the-world journey from Taipei, I experienced Thai Airways A330 Business Class for the first time on a short-haul flight to Bangkok. Though the aircraft was an older model, this Thai Airways business class review highlights the comfortable seating, the unique service touches, and, of course, the iconic Thai Airways hospitality. Was this a memorable flight? Read on to decide if Thai Airways Business Class is worth it.

Here is my full Thai Airways business class review between Taipei and Bangkok.

Thai Airways Business Class Taipei Ground Experience

Check-In Process

After a wonderful three days exploring Taipei, including a memorable climb up Elephant Mountain and a wet but scenic bike ride around the city, I headed to the airport via the efficient Taipei MRT train. I hadn’t realized that Thai Airways business class check-in counters don’t open until two hours before departure. I found myself stuck with the airline’s app trying to check in. It was, unfortunately, buggy and crashed multiple times so not a great experience.

If you plan on checking in digitally, expect patience-testing moments, as it took several attempts to get my boarding pass.

Lounge Access: Plaza Premium Lounge

Thai Airways flights depart from Taipei’s Terminal 1, which, surprisingly, has no EVA Air Lounges, or Thai Airways lounges for that matter. This was disappointing as after an enjoyable EVA Air business class flight from Singapore, I was excited to check out their flagship lounge in Taipei.

Instead, Thai Airways A330-300 business class passengers get access to the Plaza Premium Lounge. Unfortunately, this was one of the trip’s more underwhelming lounge experiences. It was crowded, the food was limited, and the drinks menu was basic at best. On the positive side, I did get a much-needed shower before boarding my Thai Airways business class review flight.

If you are interested in the full lounge details, I cover the experience in my Plaza Premium Taipei Lounge review.

Boarding Thai Airways A330-300 Business Class

Despite an initially straightforward boarding plan, my Thai Airways A330-300 flight encountered a frustrating one-hour delay that eventually stretched closer to two hours.

Tired and eager to move forward, I checked into delayed flight compensation options with AirHelp, a site dedicated in such matters.

For travelers in or originating from the EU or USA, such delays can work in passengers’ favor, as European regulation EC 261 entitles travelers facing delays over three hours to compensation of up to $650 (€600), depending on the specifics. While U.S. airlines don’t mandate monetary compensation, they may offer meal vouchers, accommodations, or future travel credit. Unfortunately, flying within Asia meant these options didn’t apply to my situation, even if I hit the time threshold.

The extended delay allowed me to return to the Plaza Premium Lounge—though, as mentioned earlier, it wasn’t anything particularly special. Still, it provided a quiet spot to wait out the last leg of the delay near my gate.

When boarding finally resumed, the priority boarding perk for Business Class allowed me to skip the long lines, which was a welcome relief after the extended wait.

READ MORE: Visiting ChangChui Night Market: Bangkok’s Airplane Night Market

Thai Airways Business Class Seats

Stepping into the Thai Airways A330-300 Business Class cabin, I was greeted with the airline’s traditional warm hospitality and directed to my seat.

The cabin features an alternating layout of 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 configurations, ensuring both privacy and accessibility for all passengers. The 1-2-1 layout allows for direct aisle access from every seat, which is especially convenient for solo travelers, while the 1-2-2 arrangement provides a more spacious feel for those traveling with companions. This thoughtful design enhances the overall comfort of the cabin, making it an inviting space for relaxation during the flight.

That said, the Thai Airways A330-300 business class’s unique layout has fewer desirable seats for solo travelers like myself. Similar to my last-minute seat selections for my Singapore A380 business class flight, there were only a few options when I selected my seat. That said, I lucked out with seat 16J, which is a “throne seat,” that offers enhanced privacy and workspace.

Features of the Thai Airways Business Class Seats

My seat for this Thai Airways business class review was well-appointed, with a large desk area that provided ample workspace to stretch out. The deep storage compartment on the left was spacious enough to hold various items, but be cautious when using the latch; it’s easy to pinch your fingers as I found out the hard way.

On the wall side of the compartment, I found convenient features like a reading light, a headphone hook, seat controls, a standard power outlet, and a USB 3.0 port. There was even a small, oddly shaped cubby for keeping my phone close at hand.

The armrest had a flip-up panel that revealed a basic remote for the in-flight entertainment system, alongside additional table tray storage. To the right, the expansive table area was a highlight for me, allowing for easy access to snacks, drinks, and personal items. However, the literature pocket on the seat wall was only big enough for magazines and brochures, lacking space for a laptop.

Below the table, there was extra storage where I managed to carefully stow my laptop and even my soggy shoes from my earlier adventures. In front of my seat was the inflight entertainment screen, accompanied by a small mesh pocket just wide enough for light items. On the left, a coat hook was a useful addition, and to the right was another literature pocket, which held Thai Airways’ information and magazines.

While I appreciated the generous storage options and workspace, the seats did have their drawbacks. They are older and definitely showing signs of wear, with my seat controls functioning inconsistently and the tray table feeling a bit flimsy. Additionally, although the footwell was long enough for sleeping, it narrowed significantly, which could pose a challenge for taller passengers looking to find a comfortable sleeping position. Overall, the thoughtful layout of the seat offered many conveniences, but the aging elements could detract from the overall experience.

For the best solo experience, opt for one of the “throne” seats in odd-numbered rows. If you’re traveling with a companion, the center seats in rows with a 1-2-2 configuration provide proximity for a shared experience.

Service and Amenities

My Thai Airways Business Class service began with a warm welcome, hot towel, and a pre-departure drink choice between tamarind tea, orange juice, or champagne. Although there was no amenity kit for this short-haul flight, pillows and blankets were provided, which made up for the lack of slippers—a comfort I’d have especially appreciated after my earlier rainy bike ride.

Thai Airways A330-300 Lavatories

The lavatories onboard the Thai Airways A330-300 business class were clean but basic, with hand lotion, small embroidered towels, toothbrush kits, and a light floral fragrance.

Thai Airways Business Class Food and Drink Menu

The Thai Airways business class food and drinks menu offered a range of options inspired by Thai cuisine. Thai Airways meal options included a nicely plated salmon and cream cheese roll for an appetizer, which was visually impressive and delicious. For the main course, I selected the Massaman curry with beef, though I found it disappointing due to its chewy texture. The meal came with a hearty helping of coconut rice and an unexpected but tasty omelet.

For dessert, the cheese plate was a lighter choice, which I enjoyed after the heavy main course. Drinks-wise, my Bloody Mary was a bit too spicy, so I ended up switching to a beer instead. This was a step down from my experience with EVA Air business class.

Thai Airways a330-300 In-Flight Entertainment, Wi-Fi, & E-SIMS

The Thai Airways A330-300 offers a recently upgraded entertainment screen that’s bright, responsive, and quite large. However, the content selection didn’t match up to other airlines, like Lufthansa’s Allegris business class or United Polaris Business Class, with a more limited choice of movies and shows.

There were only a few new releases and no HBO Max, Disney+, or Apple shows similar to what you would find on other airlines.

The headphones were surprisingly decent; however, mine had a short. The noise canceling was just OK, so I switched to my AirPods using my handy Bluetooth adapter, a must-have on this trip.

Although Wi-Fi was technically available onboard, it didn’t function properly, leading to several failed attempts to connect. This was disappointing, especially since with working in-flight Wi-Fi, you can easily purchase and install an eSIM, ensuring connectivity right upon landing in Bangkok.

eSIMs are a great travel hack—they bypass long queues for SIM cards and avoid high roaming fees. For Thailand, I found an eSIM plan called ‘Happy Tourist’, which truly lives up to its name. You can find it on MobiMatter, a marketplace offering over 1,000 eSIM plans to fit every traveler’s needs.

READ MORE: Visiting ChangChui Night Market: Bangkok’s Airplane Night Market

Wrapping Up This Thai Airways Business Class Review

While my Thai Airways A330 business class review reflects some minor issues, the friendliness of the crew and the spaciousness of the Thai Airways business class seats were positives. Thai Airways’ A330-300 Business Class is a solid option, especially for short-haul flights or if you’re flying as part of an affordable award ticket. But for longer trips, the aging seats and lack of functional Wi-Fi could be factors to consider.

For myself, this was a great teaser flight as I was flying Thai Airways again on my return, this time in 1st class which included access to the amazing Thai Airways First Class lounge in Bangkok.

Need A Hotel in Bangkok?

I loved the Staybridge Suites Thonglor for its amenities, location, and overall value. You can read my full review of Staybridge Suites Thonglor here.

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