2015/03/16

Spending Chinese New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2015 ~ Section 4

Welcome to the fourth section of my Lunar New Year weekend vacation to Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2015. This will officially be the final segment of the entire trip report. There will be mainly two focus topics, excluding the concluding credits, that will be covered up in this final section of the entire trip report. They shall mainly be the road journey back to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the regional afternoon return flight back home to Singapore.

Part 1 ~ The Road Journey Back To Suvarnabhumi Airport

After spending six enjoyable days of shopping, dining and celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, for the Chinese New Year season, it was finally time to head back home to Singapore.

Part 2 ~ The Flight Back Home To Singapore

Airline: Thai Airways International
Flight No.: TG 413
From: Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK / VTBS), Bangkok, Thailand
To: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN / WSSS), Singapore
Aircraft: Airbus A340-642
Registration No.: HS-TNA (Named "Watthana Nakhon")
Class: Royal Silk Class (Business Class)
Seat No.: 2A
Date: Sunday, 22 February 2015

After spending about 1 hour 05 minutes of having some refreshments in the Royal Silk Lounge located near Concourse E, the clock was ultimately showing 10.30 a.m.. Knowing that boarding for Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore would commence in half an hour's time, we packed up our belongings and departed the Royal Silk Lounge by 10.35 a.m. for Gate No. E7. The entire walk from the Royal Silk Lounge near Concourse E to Gate No. E7 took not more than approximately five minutes.

Soon enough, we finally arrived at the entrance to Gate No. E7 at 10.40 a.m., which was just in good time to commence in 15 minutes' time. Entering the passenger waiting area, we could see that Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore would have a half-load today, with more passengers gradually beginning to fill the passenger waiting area. However, due to ground technical issues, the flight was delayed slightly by approximately five minutes, with the new departure timing shifted to 11.35 a.m..

Today, Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore would be operated using an Airbus A340-600 aircraft, with the registration HS-TNA and powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 556A2-61 engines, also bearing the name "Watthana Nakhon". HS-TNA was delivered brand new to Thai Airways International on 29 June 2005 as the first Airbus A340-600 and the third Airbus A340 for the airline. The overall delivery would make the aircraft approximately 9.7 years old today.

One final look at the Royal Silk Lounge located near Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport as we begin to make our way to Gate No. E7

Approaching Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport while heading in the direction of Gate No. E7

Walking across Concourse E to Gate No. E7 at Suvarnabhumi Airport

A Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330-243, registered B-LNJ, receiving her last-minute preparations at Gate No. E3 in preparation for her regional afternoon return journey back to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as Hong Kong Airlines flight HX 772 bound for Hong Kong

A Kuwait Airways Airbus A340-313X, registered 9K-AND, being serviced at Gate No. E5 for her continuing journey to the Philippines from the State of Kuwait as Kuwait Airways flight KU 411 bound for Manila from Kuwait City via Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)

Finally arriving at the main entrance to Gate No. E7 in Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The passenger waiting area at Gate No. E7 shortly after we had arrived for our flight back home to Singapore

Our aircraft for today, HS-TNA, being serviced at Gate No. E7 in preparation for her regional afternoon journey to the Republic of Singapore as Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore

A closer view of HS-TNA being serviced at Gate No. E7 in preparation for her regional afternoon journey to the Republic of Singapore as Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore

9K-AND about to be pushed back from Gate No. E5 for her continuing trip to the Republic of the Philippines as Kuwait Airways flight KU 411 bound for Manila

The passenger waiting area at Gate No. E7 slowly filled with waiting passengers for Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore

One final gaze at HS-TNA being serviced at Gate No. E7 in preparation for her regional afternoon flight to the Republic of Singapore as Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore

A Lufthansa Airbus A340-313X, registered D-AIFE, taxiing to the Main Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport after her long overnight trans-Indian Ocean journey from the Federal Republic of Germany as Lufthansa flight LH 772 from Frankfurt

A Thai Airways International Boeing 747-4D7, registered HS-TGO, being serviced at Gate No. E9 in preparation for her long afternoon journey to the People's Republic of China (Mainland China) as Thai Airways International flight TG 614 bound for Beijing

The passenger waiting area at Gate No. E7 shortly before the first boarding calls for Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore were made

After spending approximately 20 minutes of anticipated waiting in the passenger waiting area at Gate No. E7, the first boarding calls for Thai Airways International flight TG 413 bound for Singapore were finally made at 11.05 a.m.. The Royal Silk Class passengers, together with the Royal Orchid Plus club members and special needs passengers, were called out to board the aircraft first. As we were among the first passengers being called out to board first, we rolled up at the front for the boarding process to commence.

Walking along the jet bridge to Door A, we were finally on board HS-TNA at 11.10 a.m., in time for an 11.35 a.m. departure. At the front entrance, two cheery flight attendants warmly welcomed us on board and showed us the direction to our seats in the Royal First & Royal Silk Class cabins. The Royal Silk Class seats my mum and I would be using were the first generation of the new long-haul Royal First Class seats. Despite being Royal First Class seats, these seats are marketed as Royal Silk Class (Business Class) on regional runs (i.e. Bangkok to Singapore).

My dad and younger brother, on the other hand, were seated at the rear Royal Silk Class cabin just behind my mum and myself. Stowing our belongings in their respective storage spaces, I settled comfortably into my assigned Seat No. 2A for the regional early afternoon return flight of 2 hours 20 minutes back home to Singapore. This would indeed be a very special treat, as it would be my first time experiencing a First Class seat on a commercial airliner, though it was marketed as Business Class on shorter regional routes.

The flight attendants then distributed the pre-departure beverages, newspapers and in-flight dining menus to the Royal Silk Class passengers. Upon receiving my dining menu, the flight attendant came by to take my main meal order for the in-flight lunch later on. I chose the classic sweet and sour red snapper with egg-fried rice and oriental vegetables as the main course. As for my pre-departure beverage, I had my normal pre-departure glass of champagne and settled down for the return trip back home to Singapore.

A view of my seat, 2A, during the boarding process at Gate No. E7 in Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The 'fasten seatbelt' sign illuminated during the boarding process at Gate No. E7 in Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

A pre-departure glass of champagne to commence the return flight to Singapore with

The cover page for the in-flight dining menu for the segment between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Singapore

Reviewing the in-flight dining menu for the segment between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Singapore

The cover page for the wine list for the segment between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Singapore

Reviewing the wine list for the segment between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Singapore

Planning out the final segment for the return flight on my blog at Gate No. E7 in Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Reading through the most comical sentence in the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" on iBooks, where Harry's Uncle Vernon throws a temper tantrum at the breakfast table after Harry tells Dudley to say 'please' to attain more bacon – "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU," thundered his uncle, spraying spit over the table, "ABOUT SAYING THE 'M' WORD IN OUR HOUSE?!"

Awaiting pushback from Gate No. E7 at Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The flight route indication map indicating our stationary position at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The view of the Thai Airways International Airbus A340-600 Royal First Class cabin (marketed as Royal Silk Class seats on regional routes) from my seat shortly before pushback from Gate No. E7

After the clock struck precisely 11.30 a.m. sharp, all the aircraft doors were closed, and the aircraft finally pushed back from Gate No. E7, which was just as scheduled. With the safety briefing information video being shown on our personal video screens, the aircraft began to make its taxi to our assigned runway in preparation for the regional afternoon trip back home to Singapore, taxiing past several local and foreign aircraft parked at the Main Terminal and on the tarmac close to the aircraft hangars along the way.

It was not that long until we finally approached our assigned runway for take-off after taxiing for approximately 10 minutes. Soon enough, the four Rolls-Royce Trent 556A2-61 engines spooled into action, and the aircraft finally lifted off from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11.40 a.m. for its regional early afternoon flight duration of 2 hours 05 minutes over the West Malaysian Straits to the Republic of Singapore. We then climbed into the bright early afternoon sky for a regional early afternoon return flight of 2 hours 05 minutes back to the Republic of Singapore.

Finally pushing back from Gate No. E7 at Concourse E at Suvarnabhumi Airport

A Thai Airways International Airbus A330-343X, registered HS-TBE, about to be serviced at Gate No. E9 at Concourse E in preparation for an early afternoon journey to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as Thai Airways International flight TG 638 bound for Hong Kong

A Thai Airways International Boeing 777-2D7/ER, registered HS-TJW, resting near the Main Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. She will soon have a mid-afternoon regional journey to the Republic of Singapore as Thai Airways International flight TG 407 bound for Singapore later that afternoon

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-3DZ/ER, registered A7-BAP, being serviced at Gate No. E1 at Concourse E for her continuing journey to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from the State of Qatar as Qatar Airways flight QR 828 bound for Hanoi from Doha via Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)

A Thai Airways International Boeing 777-3AL/ER, registered HS-TKO, resting near the Main Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. She will soon have a long mid-afternoon transpacific journey to the United States of America via the Republic of Korea (South Korea) as Thai Airways International flight TG 692 bound for Los Angeles via Seoul (Incheon) later that afternoon

Taxiing along the tarmac past the Main Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport to our assigned runway for take-off

A Thai Airways International Airbus A330-343X, registered HS-TBF, being serviced at Gate No. B6 at Concourse B in preparation for her regional domestic journey to northern Thailand as Thai Airways International flight TG 110 bound for Chiang Mai

Finally approaching our assigned runway for departure to Singapore

Thai Airways International Flight 413 ~ Afternoon Departure From Suvarnabhumi Airport

Finally climbing into the bright early afternoon sky back home to Singapore

All the seatbelt signs were switched off at 11.45 a.m., which was approximately five minutes after taking off from Suvarnabhumi Airport. As the flight attendants sprung into action so as to commence the in-flight service, I went to the lavatories and got out my laptop for the purpose of self-entertainment during the flight. Soon enough, a flight attendant came up to my seat to ask me what I wanted to have first before the main courses for the in-flight lunch service were served to the Royal Silk Class passengers.

To commence the lunch service, I decided to have my usual glasses of orange juice

After a short taxi on the main airport tarmac of approximately 10 minutes to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1, we finally docked onto our arrival gate, Gate No. D46, at 2.55 p.m.. With the seatbelt signs being turned off, we unbuckled our seatbelts and retrieved our belongings from their storage areas in preparation for the disembarkation from the aircraft to commence. The aircraft doors were also opened by the cabin crew members once the jet bridges were completely connected to the aircraft.

Thai Airways International Flight 413 Score Report

Seat: 20 / 20
Food: 14 / 20
Service: 16 / 20
Aircraft cleanliness: 15 / 20
Legroom space: 20 / 20

Belt No. 20.

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