Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
Cathay Pacific 777-300 ER First Class Los Angeles to Hong Kong
The Pier Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge
Le Meridien Bangkok
Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa
Thai Airways 747-400 First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
Conrad Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong
Air India 787-8 Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul
Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul
Asiana A380 First Class Seoul to Los Angeles
The premium options between Bangkok and Hong Kong are pretty outstanding for a 2.5 hour flight. You can fly Emirates' A380 service (with shower suite) for a cash rate of around $700 USD. Cathay Pacific offers a first class cabin on their 777 service and Thai offers their 747 first class. I debated between the Emirates and Thai offering but ultimately opted to save the cash and burn 70,000 United miles for the Thai flight and the spa experience.
Thai Airways 747-400 |
Up the stairs and into the nose |
After a great massage, we were soon climbing the stairs to the nose of the 747-400 that would be taking us to Hong Kong. Thai Airways actually has two different first class seats. These aging shell seats and "suites" on their newer 747s and their A380. For this short hop, Thai flies the older planes. These 747's are a total throwback but still in decent shape. The seats are old and not very private but very comfortable for a short flight.