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Thai Airways has unveiled a new product called Premium Economy Plus in a Facebook post. The cabin class that appears to blur the line between traditional Premium Economy and Business Class. Details are limited, but it’s something to watch as it goes into service later this month.
Announced only in one social media post, the new product promises passengers the chance to “upgrade [their] senses for smoother journeys” and features “spacious seats, generous legroom, and exclusive services.” The rollout begins October 26th on select regional routes from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Chennai International Airport (MAA), Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Dhaka (DAC), Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD), Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), and Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM).
While the airline hasn’t yet published official pricing details, it has been noted that Premium Economy Plus will occupy what was previously the Business Class cabin on Thai’s recently acquired Airbus A330-300 aircraft that were formerly operated by Virgin Atlantic. These aircraft retain their original interiors that include 31 lie-flat Business Class, 48 Premium Economy, and 185 Economy Class seats. Historically, Thai Airways has not offered a true Premium Economy product, but these leased aircraft introduced that cabin for the first time. Now, instead of marketing the 31 lie-flat seats as Business Class, the airline appears to be repositioning them as a higher-tier Premium Economy option.
The decision likely reflects market realities on the regional routes listed above. Business Class demand tends to be limited. Rather than operating a full-service Business Class cabin with premium catering and amenities, Thai Airways seems to be offering the same physical seats but cutting back on service elements. The move may also appeal to corporate travelers whose employers prohibit booking Business Class, allowing them to enjoy a lie-flat seat without breaching travel policy. However, this strategy could be difficult to sustain on routes where overall premium demand remains low.
The Facebook post appears to be the only mention of Premium Economy Plus found anywhere and there is no formal press release or media announcement. Details about pricing, mileage redemption via Royal Orchid Plus or Star Alliance partners, lounge access, and baggage allowances remain unconfirmed. Thai Airways’ cabin segmentation now includes Economy, Premium Economy, Premium Economy Plus, Business, and First Class.
Anthony’s Take: If successful, Premium Economy Plus could signal a broader industry trend toward flexible cabin branding or it could simply be Thai Airways’ short-term solution to managing inherited aircraft layouts. Either way, it’s one of the most unconventional product experiments in the airline world seen recently. Let’s see what it costs once those details are provided.
(H/T: Live and Let’s Fly.)
(Image Credits: Thai Airways.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
Thai Airways did previously offer a pretty awesome Premium Economy on their A340-500s. Was great for the super long LAX-BKK or JFK-BKK flights