At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Thai Airways used to depart from Changi Airport Terminal 1, and passengers flying in Royal Silk Class were invited to check in at the SATS Premier Check-in Lounge, where we were invited to a sit-down check-in process with direct access to immigration. Since COVID, the airlines have removed the sit-down check-in experience. The airline shifted its departures to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 in February 2025, with five check-in counters in Row 8 on the right side of the terminal check-in hall. This shift also allows the airline to use the self-service check-in kiosks in the front part of the row. The nearest entrance to the Thai Airways check-in counters is Door 6 of the terminal building. There was a long queue at the economy class check-in counter (termed as assistance). Thai Airways has two other lines at the airport, one for Business Class passengers and another for Star Alliance Gold members. There was no queue at the time of our arrival in these two lines. Thai Airways has one counter for Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members. The ground staff checking us in came across as impatient. There were no smiles from her, nor did she bother to establish rapport. She took a while to complete our check-in, did not even bother to give us information about the lounge that we could use or the boarding gate and time. She merely placed our passports and boarding passes on the counter table.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

Thai Airways used to operate its own lounges when it departed from Terminal 1. The airlines closed its Royal Orchid Lounge in 2023 and has been using a contracted lounge since. With its move to Terminal 2, passengers flying in Royal Silk Class were invited to use the contracted SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 2 (as printed on the boarding pass). Being a contracted lounge, SATS Premier Lounge is always crowded as it has to cater to airlines and lounge access pass holders. Fortunately, as Thai Airways is a member of Star Alliance, we were able to use the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2. I was pleasantly surprised to find a newly renovated SilverKris Lounge. There was much hype over social media about the renovation of the First Class Lounge, but not much was mentioned about the renovation done to the SilverKris Business Lounge. The moment we approached the lounge, the eagle-eyed staff took the initiative to approach us instead of waiting for us at the entrance of the lounge. The newly renovated lounge felt more polished and relaxing. The walnut brown seen in the wooden walls and the light grey carpeting accentuated the relaxing vibe past the staffed counters at the entrance of the lounge, a row of leather armchairs with marble top side tables lined up the corridor that leads to the main part of the lounge. SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2 is equipped with 10 shower rooms next to the toilet across its entrance. There is a counter which I guess passengers can approach the staff to get a queue number during busy times. As the lounge was not crowded at the time of our visit, we could just walk into any of the empty shower rooms. The newly renovated shower rooms, decked in light grey marbles, felt luxurious and spacious. There is a toilet facility in every shower room, on top of the walk-in shower cubicle fitted with both a rain shower and a regular shower head. I liked how the airlines fitted a small stone table in the shower rooms, catering to passengers with carry-on baggage.

Turning left from the corridor from the entrance, we came to the main part of the lounge. Singapore Airlines furnished the left side of this corridor with the same armchairs, arranged in groups of four, catering to families or larger groups, as those we had seen by the entrance of the lounge. This corridor extended all the way to the back of the lounge, where the buffet line is located. On the right of this corridor, we spotted dining tables, arranged to seat four at each table. The space just shy of the buffet line is also furnished with more dining tables, forming the main dining area in the lounge. Singapore Airlines dedicated the sizeable area next to the main dining area as the lounging area, mainly decked with armchairs. The natural lighting streamed from the frosted glass, making this area feel bright and less claustrophobic. A handful of dining tables are also found in this part of the lounge that can seat up to six. Overall, the renovated lounge is refreshing, comfortable and relaxing.

The buffet line is located at the back of the lounge, where we found cold food selection at the counters by the walls, and hot food options with a good mix of local cuisines laid out on the island. There is a small counter at the side of the buffet area, serving the must-try made-to-order Singapore Airlines Laksa. The beverage stations are located next to the dining area before the buffet line.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Check-in

Thai Airways dedicated the entire Row A to their Premium Passengers, with a bulk of the row set aside for their Royal Silk Class passengers, and a small corner carved out for their First Class passengers. Despite having the whole row of counters, only three were open for processing check-ins. Although there is only one passenger ahead of us, we had to wait a little while for our turn to check in. The ground staff was very friendly and processed our check-in efficiently. Other than the boarding time, she also recommended the nearest lounge that we could use while waiting for our flight. One benefit of flying Thai Airways Royal Silk Class is access to the fast-track immigration lane, located in the same area as their Royal Silk Class check-in counters. This fast-track immigration usually sees few passengers and is also open to passengers flying Business Class on other airlines. Despite being at a busy time when we arrived at the airport, we were through immigration in under 5 minutes.

Royal Orchid Lounge (Concourse D)

The Thai Airways Lounge is the default lounge that the signs point to after clearing the fast track security and immigration at the back of Thai Airways check-in counters at Row A. There is an escalator that leads to the lower floor of the airside after immigration. A couple of ground staff at the reception welcomed us with the typical Thai warmth. From there, there are two lounges, the older Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge on the left and the newer and bigger Royal Orchid Lounge on the right. There are two entrances to the Royal Orchid Lounge, one after the escalator at the fast-track immigration and the other faces Concourse D. From the fast-track entrance, a bar counter where we could order cocktails and mocktails from welcomed us. The presence of green walls and the bright lighting made the lounge feel airy and spacious. The natural wood element seen in most Thai designs and the signature Thai Airways purple are the primary colours used to decorate the lounge. Most parts of the lounge are furnished with lounger armchairs that are dotted in front of the multiple green walls, with two dining areas found next to the buffet lines. There are lots of lounge seats spread across the lounge, mainly on the left side of the lounge, by the windows. The light purple and mustard yellow armchairs and the accompanying side tables made relaxing with a beverage here comfortable.

The Royal Orchid Lounge has two dining areas, one at the fast-track entrance and one near the Concourse D entrance. The dining area near the fast-track entrance is furnished with a number of round dining tables, where we had no problems finding seats. The buffet line at this entrance offered mainly Thai dishes with a small selection of vegetarian options at the hot food line next to the dining area. Desserts and beverages are found on the counters behind the hot food counters. The other pocket of dining area is near the Concourse D entrance, after the toilet and shower rooms. There seem to be more food options here, with a kitchen island filled with salads and fruits, and another with light snacks. The hot food section is found on the counters against the wall, offering similar Thai food options. There is an à la minute food counter here where chefs serve food cooked to order. The Shrimp Tom Yum Ramen was delicious with a generous amount of shrimp.

The shower facilities are situated in the middle part of the lounge, between the two dining areas. To use the shower rooms, I approached the staff at the reception outside the toilet, who ushered me to the next available shower room. The shower room was spacious and screamed of luxury. Other than the usual sink and walk-in shower, the shower room is also equipped with a toilet and, most importantly, racks for us to stow our carry-on baggage.

The Aircraft

Thai Airways flies six flights between Singapore and Bangkok daily, using a mix of B787-8, A350-900, their refurbished A320-200 aircraft, and their new A321neo. We flew in the A350-900 for this trip. Thai Airways has three configurations for this type of aircraft, and we got the v.1 of this aircraft featuring their signature Stelia Solstys seats that are also installed in most of Thai Airways’ long-haul aircraft.

Cabin

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin incorporated Thai design elements as seen in the heavy use of natural wood finishing. The wood element is seen the moment we step onboard the aircraft, where the galley floor is laid in wood panelling. This wood element flows into the Royal Silk Class cabin in the form of the side table, parts of the seat shell, and the seat pocket. Purple is the colour element used by Thai Airways, derived from the Thai orchid, which symbolises tropical beauty and a blend of modern elegance with traditional Thai culture. The cabin is decked in shades of purple to reflect the brand identity of the airline, as seen in the seats, seat shells, and carpet. There is even a large purple orchid motif on the bulkhead at the back of the Royal Silk Class cabin. The large windows used on the Thai Airways A350-900 let in a lot of natural light, which made the cabin look spacious and enhanced the purple hues used in the cabin, despite housing 32 seats at the front of the aircraft. The bright and airy vibe in the Royal Silk Class cabin is accentuated by the white colour used in the bulkhead and parts of the seat shell.

There are three lavatories serving all 32 passengers in Royal Silk Class, with one located up front and two between the Royal Silk Class cabin and the Economy Class cabin. These lavatories are pretty much standard-sized, but the mirrors used here made it feel larger than it actually is. Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class lavatories are located in front of the cabin. The wooden panelling on the floor and the sink not only pays homage to the Thai design element, but it also makes the lavatory feel premium. I like how the sink in the lavatories feels large, thanks to its rectangular, deep sink design. Thai Airways stocked their Royal Silk Class lavatories with house brand Eau de toilette and hand lotions. However, dental kits were stocked only on the morning SIN-BKK flight and not on our afternoon return flight.

Seat Features

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin is fitted with 32 seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration across eight rows. These seats have a pitch of 60″ and measure 20″ wide, and are the narrowest Royal Silk Class seats the airline has. Despite not being installed with a side door (or panel), these Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats offer a good amount of privacy, with the high shell back design that somewhat hides passengers, especially those sitting next to the window. Like most Business Class seats, these seats come in three preset modes – the upright, flatbed and the lounge mode, which can be converted with a touch of one of the nine seat control buttons located at the side table. In upright mode, the seats felt comfortable thanks to their thick padding and the fabric used in the seats. Another button reclined the seat 180°, converting it into a flatbed. In bed mode, the seat also felt comfortable. My favourite mode is the mode in between, which I termed the “lounge mode”. I was able to get comfortable and relaxed in the angled seat back and the seat positioned closer to the ottoman for us to rest ur feet on. To ensure passengers get more comfortable in these Royal Silk Class seats, four of the eight seat control buttons allowed us to adjust the angle of seat recline and calf rest, and the position of the upper and lower lumbar support. With such versatility, I was able to find a position of the seat that made me feel comfortable. The other two buttons adjust the reading light and the light at the side table.

The storage situation in the Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class cabin is a bit of a let-down. There is only one deep cubby under the inside armrest of the seat for us to stow our stuff. This cubby is ideal only to stow “taller” items such as a thin book or iPads. The deep design does not allow us to stow smaller items such as our mobile phones, charging cables and passports as fishing them out would be challenging. The only other place we can stow our stuff is on the side table. However, this side table cannot be used for stowage during taxi, take-off and landing. The space under the footwell is another storage place which we can use to stow our carry-on. The seat pocket in the Royal Silk Class seats is found next to the headrest. However, due to the rigid design and the awkward position, I find storing anything here challenging.

The seat table in Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats is stowed on the seat shell in front, secured with a ledge. The table is of a good size, which gave us sufficient space to dine on or work on our tablets or laptops. I like how the seat table can be swivelled for us to exit the seat without putting it away in its stowage position. The side table in the seat not only serves as a cocktail table, but we were also able to use it for stowing at cruising altitude, keeping our stuff within reach. To keep our devices juiced up, Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats are fitted with two USB-A charging ports under the personal TV. But I find the charging speed on these USB-A ports to be slow. There is an additional international power outlet at the seat. In addition to the overhead reading light, Thai Airways installed another reading light at the headrest of the seat.

Inflight Entertainment

Thai Airways A350-900 v.1 Royal Silk Class seats are fitted with a 16″ touchscreen personal TV. The picture quality on the personal TV is good, but it can be a tad reflective when the window shades are left open in the day. The touchscreen function on the PTV is very responsive, giving us the option of selecting our entertainment options directly on the TV. The IFE controller, stowed above the armrest, is very intuitive to use. Designed to resemble a PSP handheld device, entertainment options can be selected via the touchscreen panel. The IFE controller also switches on the overhead reading light and has a service button designed into it. The noise-cancelling headphones supplied by Thai Airways in the Royal Silk Class are comfortable to wear for a prolonged period of time and are very effective in blocking out ambient sound. However, the headphone protectors had a very bad fit on the headphones. My protectors keep falling out on both legs of the flight. The Thai Airways IFE is stocked with a large library of entertainment options, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to movies of yesteryear to TV serials. We found a good range of genres to occupy our 2-hour flight. There is even a menu of Thai movies to keep us occupied. The Thai Airways A350-900 aircraft is equipped with Wi-Fi offering a 60-minute complimentary internet to Business Class passengers, accessible with the Wi-Fi code printed on our boarding passes. However, as the Wi-Fi code was not printed on our outbound boarding pass, we only had internet access on our inbound flight. The internet speed offered is only sufficient for social media browsing and chatting.

Meal

Due to the short flight time between Singapore and Bangkok, instead of serving our meal course by course, the meal was served all at one go. Thai Airways offered three meal options on both legs of the flight.

SIN-BKK

Thai Airways served their Royal Silk Class passengers two appetisers. I thought the Tiger Prawn with Smoked Duck was a tad tough, but the overall flavour profile was good. The Pommery mustard did not come across as overpowering and complemented the dish well. The other appetiser on the plate was the Foie Gras, which I only took a bite from as I am not a Foie Gras person. The Foie Gras has a buttery but gamey aftertaste. Out of the three options of main course from the in-flight menu: chicken with jasmine rice, braised beef with wine sauce, and prawn with salty egg yolk, I opted for the Chicken Breast with Garlic Chilli Sauce. The chicken was a little tough, but the sauce was flavourful with a hint of spiciness that goes very well with the Jasmine Rice. The dessert comes in two separate bowls, one with the cheese platter and the other with the Mango Creme Brûlée Tart, which was sweet and refreshing.

BKK-SIN

For this leg of the flight, we were served crab meat and salmon tartare as the appetiser. The crunchy roll had more of a vegetable taste rather than the taste of crab or salmon. Nonetheless, the appetiser tasted fresh. The three options for the main course on this flight comprise Duck Breast with Red Curry, Beef Fillet with XO Sauce and Pan Seared Turbot. I opted for the Turbot, which was well seasoned and moist. The Tarragon Shallot Cream Sauce tasted a little thick and heavy, but it goes very well with the fish. Despite being fried, the fingerling potato was saggy due to a prolonged period of mixing with the sauce. However, the paprika powder packs a punch to the otherwise plain potato. It is a pity that the amount of paprika powder scattered on the potato was insufficient. Like our outbound flight, we were served with two desserts. As I am not a cheese person, I skipped the cheese platter. In the other dessert bowl sit two small dessert dishes. I did not quite like the Caramel Jelly as I find it overly sweet, but I enjoyed the Mango Sticky Rice. The mangoes were sweet, while the pandan flavour used in the sticky rice was flavourful.

Service

We were very well taken care of by the cabin crew in Royal Silk Class on both legs of the flight. The cabin crew portrayed the warmth and hospitality that the Thais are famed for.

SIN-BKK

The service onboard this leg was nothing short of impeccable. Apart from the mandatory welcome at the door during boarding, the friendliness of the crew and the excellent service were also experienced throughout the entire 2-hour flight time. The moment I settled into my seat, another cabin crew came around with pre-departure drinks, while another came around with hot towels. The cabin crew working on my aisle introduced herself to us while taking our lunch order. I thought it was very thoughtful for her to inform us of the location of the lavatories. All the crew were very friendly, wearing their smiles throughout the flight, keeping themselves busy patrolling the cabin and clearing the tables. They were very responsive to passengers’ call buttons. The cabin crew working on my aisle constantly asked if I needed more drinks and coffee after the meal.

BKK-SIN

The crew on board this flight also made passengers feel welcome. The warmth and hospitality were immediately felt at the door when the cabin welcomed us on board with the widest smile that one can ask for. The observant cabin crew working in the galley at the front of the aircraft noticed us walking past the galley to our seats, dropped their work immediately and made way for us with a smile. We were served welcome drinks the moment we settled into our seats. When dishing out pre-departure towels, the cabin crew explained to every passenger that they were giving out cold towels due to the hot weather. I find this to be a very thoughtful touch. Cabin crews were smiling all the time when interacting with passengers. Throughout the short 2-hour flight time, the cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin very frequently. All four cabin crew working in Business Class were seen helping each other, serving passengers with food or drink, or clearing trays for passengers. Before landing, the cabin crew would go around thanking every passenger for flying with the airline.

Afterthought

The last time I flew on Thai Airways was before the pandemic. Back then, I found the service level on both Economy and Royal Silk Class to be inconsistent. This time round, I found consistent service on both legs of the flight. The cabin crew were welcoming and sincere. Other than serving food and drinks to the passengers, these diligent cabin crew made flying with Thai Airways very pleasant. The seats looked outdated and showed signs of ageing, and storage in these Royal Silk Class seats was rather limited. However, I find them very comfortable, especially in lounge mode. They are so comfortable that I dozed off while watching movies on the IFE. The food served was of high quality and very delicious. Overall, I had a very pleasant flight on board the Thai Airways A350-900 Royal Silk Class.