Thai First Class: 9 Hours for 40,000 United Miles Wide Open

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Thai Airways First Class on its 747 operates daily between Bangkok and Sydney. Thai Airways First Class is luxurious with renowned Thai service, awesome Thai food, and free hourlong Thai massages for First Class passengers departing Bangkok.

The price for 9+ hours in Thai First Class: only 40,000 United miles!

For whatever reason, when United jacked up the prices of flying Business and First Class on partners in February 2014, it dropped the premium-cabin prices between Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

I flew First Class on the Thai A380 in September 2013–unfortunately I lost my camera, so I never wrote a trip report–and I was sufficiently impressed by the bed, food, massage, and service that I would happily fly Thai First Class again. On that trip, I even got an hour in First Class on a Thai 747 from Phuket to Bangkok, and I found this specific seat/bed combo to be very comfortable as well.

The Massage

Most international First Class, at least on Asian airlines, is going to have a great bed, great service, and delicious food. What sets Thai apart is the ground experience.

I connected in Bangkok and was met at the plane door by a Thai employee who escorted me to the lounge. Once there, I was handed off to another employee who took my food, drink, and massage order.

First Class passengers departing Bangkok get a free massage. You have four options, and I went with the hourlong Touch of Silk oil massage. I’m not much of a massage guy, but the time flew by, and I came out feeling relaxed and fantastic.

All else equal, you really want to fly Thai First Class out of Bangkok instead of into Bangkok to take advantage of Thai’s ground service.

Award Space

Award space is very good from Bangkok to Sydney for two passengers in Thai First Class. You can search on united.com. Here’s a search for November and December for only the direct Thai flights.

There’s premium cabin award space several days a week. There’s no way to distinguish from the calendar which days have Business and which have First Class, but my experience is that a lot more of the space is First Class than Business Class.

From Sydney to Bangkok, there is even better award space in February and March for two passengers.

Some days feature two flights between the cities on Thai. On February 4, there is award space on both flights in all three cabins for two people!

THINK BIG Options

In Bangkok, you can connect throughout United’s South Asia regions for zero extra miles:

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam

In Sydney, you can connect to New Zealand on Air New Zealand for zero extra miles.

Thai First Class could connect SE Asia and Australia into one trip. I’d look to fly to Australia in Etihad First Class on its A380,  Qantas First Class on its A380, or Virgin Australia Business Class with Delta miles. I’d look to fly to SE Asia in Cathay Pacific First Class with American Airlines miles.

Bottom Line

I mainly use my United miles these days for economy awards and United Business awards, but there are a few gems left on the chart for partner First Class. Thai First Class, nine hours in luxury preceded by a one hour massage, is available between Bangkok and Sydney for only 40,000 United miles. Award space is excellent in both directions.