Thai will exceed its pre-COVID frequencies on this route, which stood at 32 flights per week in each direction based on January 2020 schedules, with this new five times daily operation boasting 35 weekly services in each direction.

The Singapore – Bangkok route is also served by Singapore Airlines 42 times per week using Airbus A350 Medium Haul and Boeing 787-10 aircraft, all of which have the carrier’s 2018 Regional Business Class product installed.

Other carriers operating on the route include AirAsia, Gulf Air, Jetstar and Scoot. Prior to COVID-19, Cathay Pacific also operated a daily “fifth freedom” flight between Singapore and Bangkok, but this has not yet been reinstated.

Beware: It’s ‘Eurobusiness’

In case you were wondering what the passenger experience on board Thai’s ex-Thai Smile aircraft will be like – not a lot different to how it was with Thai Smile is the answer!

The aircraft cabins have not been reconfigured and are installed with 168 seats across 28 rows in a 3-3 configuration, but Thai Airways is blocking the middle seat in the first three rows, then selling the window and aisle seats in these rows as “Business Class”.

That gives the aircraft the following layout, with 162 seats sold:

• 12 Business Class (2-2 configuration, thanks to an empty middle seat)
• 150 Economy Class (3-3 configuration)

As you’ve probably worked out already, this will be a ‘Eurobusiness’ empty-middle-seat Business Class, so-called because it is most commonly found on airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa and Aegean.

Thankfully this is not a common arrangement for Asian carriers, but Thai Airways is embracing it with these 20 ex-Thai Smile jets, including on two out of five daily Singapore – Bangkok flights from February next year.

If you’re wondering how they will look, well there’s no need to be curious. Thai Smile was already offering this option on the aircraft as “Smile Plus Class”, and that’s exactly what you’ll get on Thai Airways A320 flights too, as pictured below.

In comparison, Thai’s three other daily Singapore – Bangkok flights are operated by the wide-body Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which have flat-bed Business Class seats more akin to long-haul products.

Clearly these products provide comfort that is world’s apart from the Economy seat with no neighbour you’ll be getting on the A320 flights in “Business” – which are priced identically to flights with the wide-body seats.

On Thai’s A350s, there’s even direct aisle access for all Business Class passengers, so these are arguably the best flights to choose where possible.

Don’t be fooled by Thai’s seat map for these A320 flights, which suggests a 2-2 configuration in the Business Class section.

The actual seat map is as follows, with middle ‘B’ and ‘J’ seats in these forward three rows simply blocked for selection and occupancy.

Bangkok redemption rates

These are the KrisFlyer miles needed to redeem Singapore – Bangkok flights on Thai Airways (Star Alliance award).

Remember when redeeming in Business Class there is no discount for these A320 flights, just as there isn’t for cash fares, despite the significant shortfall in hard product on board.

If you’re flying on this route with Thai Airways in Business Class from February 2024 onwards, be sure to pick one of the Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 services, otherwise frankly you’re wasting your miles, or your money if it’s a cash fare.

Thai’s Singapore lounge has permanently closed

As we revealed in February this year, Thai Airways permanently shuttered its Royal Orchid Lounge in Terminal 1 at Changi Airport, which temporarily closed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but in the end never made a comeback.

The small facility didn’t have its own toilets or showers, and only ever offered a limited food and beverage selection, including beer and spirits, but no wine or Champagne – so it’s not a significant loss, despite being the only Star Alliance lounge in Terminal 1.

Thai Business Class passengers are now directed to the Marhaba Lounge in T1 (see our recent review), located next to the Qantas First Lounge on Level 3 closer to the ‘D’ Gates.

Eligible travellers departing on Thai Airways can also make use of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris or KrisFlyer Gold lounges in T2 or T3 prior to their T1 departure.

When departing from a ‘C’ gate, it’s best to use SIA’s T3 lounges, while ‘D’ gate departures are better off using the T2 lounges in this case, with a short T3/T2 > T1 SkyTrain ride to both sections.

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Thai Airways is ramping up its Singapore – Bangkok flights to five times per day from February 2024, which will slightly exceed its pre-COVID frequencies on this popular city pair.

Unfortunately the airline is deploying ex-Thai Smile Airbus A320s on its two additional daily services, which have ‘Eurobusiness’ empty-middle-seat Business Class in the first three rows – basically an Economy Class seat with no one sat next to you!

With KrisFlyer redemption rates standing at 24,000 miles each way regardless of the aircraft used for your flight, it’s clearly going to become very important indeed to check the aircraft type for your flight on this route in future.

Redemptions like that will be a waste compared to the lie-flat alternatives on the carrier’s wide-body services, which will continue to operate alongside these A320 flights.

(Cover Photo: Thai Airways)