Thai Airways business class review: I found the friendliest flight attendants in the sky
I feel like I've just been reunited with a long-lost dear friend.
She's standing inside the door of a Thai Airways plane, dressed head-to-toe in a stunning purple and gold Ruean Ton and sporting the warmest smile I've ever seen on a stranger.
'Welcome aboard, Mr Molloy,' she smiles, gently escorting me to my seat in the pointy end of the Airbus A350-900.
As we walk and I settle into my temporary home in the sky, we chat about how beautiful the weather is in Sydney at the moment, where I'm headed – Copenhagen via Bangkok – and the flight time, which is a touch under 22 hours.
I don't know this person, but she is so effortlessly personable and kind that it feels like I do.
Moments later, I'm approached by another delightful member of the cabin crew, carrying a tray of juices and water.
'Thank you for joining us, Mr Molloy,' she gushes, as though I'm bestowing some kind of honour on the airline.
In reality, I'm on a work trip and I've scored an upgrade, otherwise I'd probably be down the other end of the plane – a million miles from this slice of nirvana I find myself in.
'Could I possibly have a glass of bubbles?' I ask, trying my luck.
It's not the standard offering right before takeoff, but she nods gently, smiles and floats away, returning moments later with a flute of Laurent-Perrier.
Over the years, I've been lucky to fly long-haul a lot, and on a dozen or so different airlines. Some have been bad, most good, but very few great.
I don't know it for sure just yet, but this one is about to fall into the latter category.
Sure, the business offering on big-name carriers like Emirates and Qatar is flashier, but the Thai Airways experience still punches above its weight.
The business cabin on this aircraft is a one-two-one configuration, meaning everyone has direct aisle access.
On the first leg of my trip, I'm in a window seat, which offers a bit more privacy. The middle seats have a raiseable partition separating you from your next-door neighbour.
The cabin is bathed in lavender and gold tones, which is a nod to the official colours of Thailand, while seat pods have wood accents for an extra touch of class.
Cabin mood lighting in dazzling shades of purple, orange and pink mixes perfectly with the subtle scent of aromatherapy lingering in the air.
The seat is a lie-flat bed measuring just under 190 centimetres when fully extended and it comes with a soft pillow and warm blanket for bedtime.
When it comes to reclining, passengers are in full control of its orientation from start to finish, offering a host of combinations to get your head, neck, back, legs and lumber positioning just right.
I'm using much of my flying time to Europe to smash out some writing, so I'm impressed by the size and orientation of the fold-out tray table. There's room for my laptop, dictaphone and notebook, and handy USB and power outlets in proximity.
Dotted throughout my pod are a few storage nooks and cubbies to stash my belongings, including my shoes, which I swap for a pair of supplied cotton slippers.
There's a large screen offering 150 movies and 200 television shows, absorbed via noise cancelling headphones. In-flight Wi-Fi is available on most services for a charge, but I'm choosing to disconnect from the ground for a while.
The amenities kit, a beloved staple of business class flying, is one of the best I've seen.
Even the satchel itself is beautiful – a silk pouch made by the famed brand Jim Thompson, named after the American art enthusiast credited with reviving Thailand's silk industry in the 1950s onwards.
Inside are a selection of high-end Erb cosmetics including an intense hydration hand cream, moisturising lip balm, and aromatherapy relaxation oil.
There's also a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, earplugs, warm socks, and a biodegradable shoehorn.
And as a preview of the delicious treats to come, I'm gifted a KanVela chocolate bar.
Once we're at our cruising altitude and settled in, the first meal of my journey is served – and it's spectacular.
An amuse bouche of chilli and lime prawn skewers with goats cheese and onion jam on crackers, followed by smoked salmon and chive crème fraiche with a mixed salad.
For the main course, I select the braised beef short ribs with porcini mushroom, serviced with horseradish mashed potatoes.
A basket of breads makes its way through the cabin and I opt for a garlic loaf, which is warm and buttery.
For dessert, I'm blown away by a raspberry and coconut mousse dome with caramel crunchy pearls.
Throughout the flight, there are a range of snacks and drinks on offer, and it seems like the cabin crew can read my mind.
Just as I start to think about ice cream or a packet of chips, someone appears to check if I need anything. Magic.
The second meal a few hours out from Bangkok is just as tasty as the first.
In a sign of how basic I am, I skip past the duck breast and hoisin crispy pork belly bao buns and go for the lamb shepherd's pie, which has one of the fluffiest mashed potato tops I've encountered.
It's accompanied by fresh fruit, more bread, and finished with a jaw-dropping white chocolate brownie with crème anglaise.
I've absolutely gorged myself silly and before I know it, it's time to prepare for landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
The transit is an absolute breeze, with friendly ground staff on hand to point me in the direction of the Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge, where I can freshen up before my next flight.
I'm on the ground for three-and-a-bit hours before it's time to make my way to the gate.
The Bangkok to Copenhagen services is on an older Boeing 777 and the business class fit out is a more dated style.
But it's still fairly comfortable – and the service is just as top-notch.
I can barely keep my eyes open given I've not yet slept and I'm slipping in a food coma, so my memories of the 11-hour journey are a little hazy. I'm asleep for the vast majority of it, which means I can jump-start my whirlwind trip to Europe with ease.
Thai Airways flies twice daily from Sydney and Melbourne to Bangkok, and once daily from Perth, with connections to Europe and beyond.
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