Thai Airways’ A320 business class: Luxury or letdown?
Thai Airways is stepping up its game, rolling out regional business class on its single-aisle Airbus A320 jets, promising premium perks and a smoother flying experience. But is it the luxury upgrade travellers crave—or just a glorified economy seat with extra legroom?
Dubbed Royal Silk Class, Thai’s A320 business cabin features 12 wide reclining seats with a 38” pitch and 5” recline—a significant improvement over the standard economy. However, there’s one major drawback: no built-in entertainment screens. Instead, passengers must rely on Thai Vision Connect, an inflight WiFi-based system that streams content to personal devices.
This new business class experience will debut on eight domestic routes from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Krabi, with full fleet deployment across 20 A320 aircraft by mid-2025. Internationally, these aircraft will operate on select flights to over 20 Asian destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, India, and Malaysia.
So, what’s included? Royal Silk passengers will enjoy gourmet meals, a curated beverage selection, and amenity kits on flights longer than 3.5 hours. Additional perks include:
- Fast Track immigration
- Priority boarding & baggage handling
- Royal Orchid Lounge access
- 40kg checked baggage plus 7kg carry-on
- 125 to 150% Royal Orchid Plus miles
These A320s previously belonged to Thai Smile, where business class meant economy seats with an empty middle seat. The move to true reclining seats aligns Thai Airways with Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines, though it still falls short of Singapore Airlines’ flatbed-equipped Boeing 737 MAX.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways is also planning major upgrades, including the return of premium economy and a brand-new business class for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, reported Executive Traveller.
Members of Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Plus program can use accrued miles to upgrade their seats. The number of miles required depends on the original booking class and the flight sector. It’s important to note that certain booking classes, such as T, K, S, and Z, are ineligible for mileage upgrades.
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