Review of Thai Airways flight Chennai → Bangkok in Economy

Welcome to this Trip report from Chennai International Airport to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport in the old B777-200ER of Thai Airways.

Check out my previous trip report from Colombo Badarnaike Airport to Chennai International Airport with the A320 product of SriLankan Airlines

Chennai International Airport Departure Terminal

I arrived at the airport at around 23:15 and we could really see that it was the rush hour.

The worst part about the entry is about 80% of the people were going to T4(International Departure)

The picture above is a ticket check prior to check-in. The Indian aviation department has implemented a strict rule on ticket checking before entering the airport.

After we were done with the ticket check (which took around 25 mins) we visited the Purple Check-In counters. They had 4 for economy class passengers and 2 for Royal Orchid Passengers(Business class passengers). The Check-In was super fast and efficient and the only think that check-in agent lacked was a smile. The Check-In agent was working for Air India. Because they don't have many international flights at night(mostly during the evenings or the day) they work with their Star Alliance partners(Thai Airways ,Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines) and Scoot.

The departure board shows us the depatures for the day. If you see the domestic terminal they have 2 flights for the entire night.

After finishing the security check that took 1 hour and 15mins, we head to the old international airport. Airlines such as Lufthansa, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Scoot all operate using the old airport. We were originally supposed to visit the travel club lounge but because there was only 10 mins to boarding, we decided not to visit the lounge. This was affected because of the security check and the immigration time.


Few minutes later boarding started and the business class passengers were let in first, then followed by row 50-61? I Think. The Boarding Passes were scanned and I walked through the jet bridge to our aircraft. The FA welcomed all the passengers with a smile. I walked to the very end of the plane. Seat 61B. As seen in the picture below this is the old IFE. I believe that this was one of the first aircraft of Thai Airways that had an IFE back in the days. The seat did not include an USB port nor did it include an universal power outlet.

The IFE was very slow and took it about 6-7 seconds for each action. The selection of entertainment was in abundance though, ranging from Movies, TV Shows and Games for all ages and all languages. I think that Thai Airways should improve on their layout of the entertainment. The IFE included buttons to control the brightness and the volume but both of these buttons are barely seen.

There was a good headphone set, a comfy pillow and a not so warm blanket waiting for me on the seat.


The In-Flight Literature included a Safety Card for our aircraft, The Thai Airways Sawasdee Magazine and The Thai Airways Fashion Magazine.
The Thai Fashion is like a duty free shop but is only for people that live in Thailand, specifically Bangkok. The Sawasdee Magazine was filled with amazing articles and contained very few adds.

Did You Know: Some Airlines allow you to take the literature with you. See if you can find a sign that might say " Your complimentary copy"


The Cabin while taxiing to the runway

Next to us was Scoot B787-8 Dreamliner to Singapore. TR579 to Singapore

and in the distance is Cathay Pacific using the A330-300 aircraft with registration( B-HLQ)


As we head to the runway, we caught the sight of a Jet Airways A330-300 to their new service from Chennai(MAA) to Paris Charles de Gaule (CDJ)
It had the registration VT-JWS


Our Aircraft is a Thai Airways B777-200 to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi with registration(HS- TJV)
And a few minutes later our plane took off from the Indian Soil.


30 Mins after the plane took off, the meal was served. I opted the Indian Vegetarian Meal. The Vegetarian Passengers were served first then the rest of the passengers.

The meal consisted roti (Flatbread), Paneer( A form of Indian cheese), Rice and some Beans. They also served plastic cutlery, water and some weird tasting desert. They also had a choice of bread and some drinks.


Why do airplanes have a ash tray even though smoking was banned from aircrafts years ago?


As this aircraft is very old( as seen from the registration) the IFE for some seats did not work. This meant that some seats got the safety demonstration and some didn't.

The picture below is the cabin after the meal service.


And a few movies and a nice sleep later we landed at Thailand. The aircraft was actually 10 mins early surprisingly(usually this flight has a bad reputation of on time performance)


The business class passengers were let out first and then economy. The FA's said goodbye and we entered the jet bridge. The jetbridge let us to our terminal and we head to the transit centre.




Thank You for reading my trip report and check out my flight from Bangkok-Shanghai with Thai Airways.Kapunkah!!