Introduction

This Thai Airways business class food review covers my first long-haul experience with Thailand’s flag carrier.

Flying from Paris to Bangkok, then continuing to Chiang Mai in economy, I wanted to see if this airline actually gets the difference between service and hospitality โ€”particularly when it comes to their dining program.

That distinction matters when you’re stuck in a metal tube for 11 hours.

The purser greeting me by name was a nice surprise – you don’t get that much these days.

A welcome drink and refreshing towel showed up within minutes of getting settled.

Thai Airways Restaurant Phuket Airport

A glass of orange juice, a rolled hand towel, and a Royal Silk menu are placed on an airplane's tray table.

Amenity Kit

The amenity kit comes from Jim Thompson, which makes sense given their Thai silk heritage.

Instead of generic airline stuff, you get something that actually feels Thai.

The pouch had elephant designs and came with a biodegradable toothbrush, socks, an aromatherapy roller, lip balm, and hand lotion.

A collection of in-flight amenities is neatly arranged on a tray table, including a patterned pouch, eye mask, toothpaste, toothbrush, ear plugs, socks, lotions, and a packet of disposable wipes.
A small, colorful travel pouch with an elephant design, contained within a clear biodegradable packaging, placed on an airplane tray table.
A colorful pouch with a repeating pattern of decorated elephants and geometric designs sits on a wooden surface. The pouch has a zipper and a label that reads "JIM THOMPSON".

It’s available on flights over four hours.

Inflight Drinks & Menu

Thai Airways serves Laurent-Perrier La Cuvรฉe Brut and Piper-Heidsieck Cuvรฉe Brut champagnes. Both are solid choices that show they’re not cutting corners.

A drink menu from Thai Airways' Royal Silk class, featured in a Thai Airways Business Class Review: Paris to Bangkok, with an image of glasses filled with beverages on a wooden table.
A menu lies open on a wooden table, displaying a description of Laurent-Perrier champagne alongside an image of a champagne bottle.
A menu on a wooden table lists various champagnes and red wines, each with a description and accompanying images of the bottles.
An open menu on a wooden table lists wines, spirits, coffee, tea, and other beverages along with their descriptions and serving details in neat columns.

Beyond champagne, there’s a good range of spirits, signature cocktails, and soft drinks covering most preferences.

The menu had quality dishes with clear Thai influences, but here’s the thing – virtually no vegetarian options per service.

Sure, people with dietary needs usually pre-order special meals anyway, but having at least one vegetarian choice would be nice.

A menu set on a wooden table, offering various meal options including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all-day dining choices written in both English and Thai.

Inflight Service

Right after takeoff, drinks came around. I ordered their signature “Violet Bliss” – butterfly pea flower with lime juice.

Which was perfectly balanced, not too sweet or sour.

A glass of purple-colored drink with ice sits on a tray table next to a small bowl of mixed nuts, both bearing the Thai Airways logo.

They served nuts and fish cake amuse-bouche, which was a nice touch before the main meal service.

A glass of purple drink is on an airplane table next to a plate with falafel patties, a small bowl of dipping sauce, and a few leafy greens. The airplane seats in the background are in neutral tones.

The crew set up my table with proper cloth service before bringing the foie gras starter.

A meal served on a tray includes toasted bread, a small pรขtรฉ, greens, beetroot salad, a dessert, and a branded napkin in Thai Royal Silk class.

It was smooth, rich, and typically French. The toasted brioche and accompaniments were spot on.

Bread was served silver service style.

A meal on a Thai Airways tray includes rice, two egg omelette slices, red curry with chicken, a stir-fry dish, and a small jar of butter, placed on a white tablecloth with cutlery.

Unfortunately, the chicken curry didn’t quite work.

The portion felt small, too, though with all the food available throughout the flight, you’re unlikely to go hungry.

The crew were brilliant throughout service – consistently attentive and gracious.

Empty glass and dishes with remnants of food on an airplane tray table. Control panel for seat adjustments visible in the foreground.

They were a bit slow clearing plates, probably because meal service was busy, but understandable given everything else they’re juggling.

A plate with assorted cheeses, grapes, walnuts, dried prunes, a dried apricot, and a dollop of jam. A packaged butter is visible in the background.

Cheese and fruit were served 1 hour and 45 minutes into the flightโ€”excellent selection with proper accompaniments, including grapes, walnuts, and preserves.

A small bowl with Thai Royal Silk branding contains a berry dessert topped with whipped cream and a raspberry. A spoon and butter container are visible on the tray.
A small dessert bowl labeled "Thai Royal Silk" containing a partially eaten slice of cheesecake with a berry topping, whipped cream, and a single raspberry.

The red berry cheesecake was absolutely delicious – a perfect way to finish the meal.

Mid Flight Snack

Halfway through the flight, I tried Chef “Bo’s” pork pie with the Thai Airways logo on top.

A meat pie garnished with herbs is served on a white plate with a banana leaf, accompanied by a fork and knife on either side.
A cup of vanilla ice cream with a small bowl of fruit topping and a spoon on a white tray placed on a white tablecloth.

The pastry was flaky and tasty.

The crew also offered mango ice cream, which was a sweet touch that shows the kind of hospitality that Thai is known for.

Breakfast Service

About 1 hour and 45 minutes before touchdown, hot towels and beverage choices were set up for the breakfast service.

The omelette was the standout dish of the flight. Fluffy and delicious with sautรฉed mushrooms that had bite and a grilled tomato that balanced everything out.

A glass of yellow juice sits on a wooden airplane tray table, with an out-of-focus background.
Airplane meal tray featuring an omelette with mushrooms, a slice of ham, and a cherry tomato, accompanied by a croissant, butter, jam, a bowl of fruit, and yogurt, with "THAI" branding visible.
A meal on a tray with scrambled eggs, mushrooms, ham, asparagus, and a cherry tomato, accompanied by fruit, yogurt, and small jars of preserves in the background.
A bowl of mixed fruit, including grapes, melon slices, and a strawberry, sits beside a yogurt container and a small jar of honey, labeled "Thai Royal Silk.

Only weird thing was serving yogurt in the original container – felt inconsistent with how carefully everything else was presented.

Domestic Flights & Lounge

After arriving in Bangkok, I connected to my next flight to Chiang Mai in economy class.

Interior view of an airplane cabin with rows of empty seats adorned with headrest covers, overhead compartments closed, and ambient lighting on.

The “Anytime Treats” service, which includes a small snack and a water bottle, felt quite basic compared to what Bangkok Airways offers on similar routes.

Bangkok Airways Review
A paper bag labeled "Anytime Treats," a plastic-wrapped pastry, a bottle of water, and a napkin are placed on an airplane tray table.
A paper bag labeled "Anytime Treats" from Thai Airways is placed on a tray table in an airplane seat.
A hand holds a wrapped bun filled with a beige filling. In the background, there is a purple and white paper bag, a water bottle, and a small food packet on a table.
An airplane tray table displaying a paper bag labeled "ANYTIME TREATS," a small bottle of water, a packaged pastry, and a refreshing tissue packet.

The Chiang Mai Thai Airways lounge was small but decent.

Nothing spectacular, but it had reasonable seating and food options that covered your needs before the flight.

A vegetarian meal is displayed alongside condiments and a sign stating "Vegetarian meal available upon request" on a counter in a cafe or restaurant setting.
Commercial ice cream freezer next to a buffet warmer on a countertop, with a plant and a display shelf in the background.
Buffet setup with various food items on a counter, including baked goods, condiments, and a digital display warmer. A stack of plates is on the lower shelf, and a sign mentions self-service.
A buffet spread featuring covered platters with sandwiches, bowls of various sauces, and a display of salads on a black granite countertop with wooden cabinets and a vase with white flowers.
A coffee station with two coffee machines, a selection of cups, and various condiments in a lounge area.

Conclusion

Thai Airways’ business class offers authentic Thai hospitality, rather than just a generic premium service.

The welcome touches, cultural amenities, and crew warmth create something that pure efficiency can’t replicate.

Food quality was inconsistent – the foie gras and omelette were excellent, but the curry was disappointing, while the dessert was outstanding.

The beverage program and cultural touches consistently impressed.

If you want authentic Thai hospitality rather than just business-class travel, Thai Airways offers a cultural immersion experience from the moment you board.

Worth experiencing for the Thai cultural elements, quality partnerships, and crew hospitality that genuinely care about your journey.

About Thai Airways

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