Flights with Thai Airways:
An overview of Thai Airways
Thai Airways is Thailand’s national airline and operates from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways has several flights operating between Los Angeles, New York and Bangkok etc. The airline has also been the recipient of the award for ‘World’s Best Cabin Staff’ as well as ‘Best Airline in the World’ by SkyTrax in 2006.
The original name for Thai Airways was Thai Airways International and it was established as a venture between SAS and Thai Airways Company. The company’s first flight took place on the 1st of May 1960. Then, in 1977, the Thailand government purchased all the SAS stakes. Eleven years later, on the 1st of April 1988, the two parties that made up the venture merged to form Thai Airways International.
It was the procurement of the Airbus A340-500 that brought a new image to the airline company. On the 1st of May 1995, the new aircraft was used to operate a continual flight service between New York and Bangkok. The route started at New York and navigated through Bergen, South Moscow, Stockholm, Kabul, Baltic States, Delhi and then to Bangkok. A continuous service of flights from Los Angeles to Bangkok followed on the 2nd of December 2005. The three Thai Airways flights that are operating on a weekly basis between Bangkok and Johannesburg were launched in October 2006.
Thai Airways has a frequent flyer programme called Royal Orchid Plus. This is touted to be one of the quickest growing frequent flyer programmes in the world. The number of qualifying miles points earned, determines the status of a passenger’s membership on the Royal Orchid Plus frequent flyer programme. There are several status levels such as Member, Silver and Gold. Each status has its own unique benefits and privileges. Qualifying Miles refer to the total number of miles flown, added to the service miles earned on flights operated either by Thai Airways or by members of the Star Alliance.
Once 10,000 Qualifying Miles have been earned the passenger’s Royal Orchid Plus membership is upgraded to Silver status. Once Silver Status is reached, the passenger receives a personalised membership card, a handbook and 3,000 bonus miles.
In order to earn Gold status on the programme, the member needs to accrue 50,000 Qualifying Miles. When Gold status is attained, the member gets a membership card, luggage tags and 5,000 bonus miles.
The miles earned can easily be used to secure class upgrades on Thai Airways flights. For example, you can use the miles either to upgrade from economy to Royal Silk or from Royal Silk to Royal First Class.
Book a Flight on Thai Airways:
To Book a flight type in where you are leaving from, where you want to go to. Edit the date range and number of passengers and just click on the submit tab.
Globe Trotting with Thai Airways :
Thai Airways has direct flights operating from Johannesburg in South Africa thrice a week, on a regular basis. The airline operates from the OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, which is its primary hub in South Africa.
Thai Airways is a member of the Star Alliance. Star Alliance consists of many partners, which include airlines like Lufthansa, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian airlines, BMI, LOT Polish Airlines, Shanghai airlines, Singapore airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, Tap Portugal, Swiss International Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United airways, U.S. Airways, and more.
Some of the Star Alliance partners, such as Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air, Lufthansa and South African Airways all have regular, direct flights operating to and from South Africa.