Thai Airways Airbus A350 and A350-900 Royal Silk Business Class Review [SIN to BKK to IST]

Airline: Thai Airways (TG)
Aircraft: Airbus A350 (SIN-BKK) and Airbus A350-900 (BKK-IST)
Flight #: TG410 and TG900
Route: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Istanbul Airport (IST)
Date: July 28, 2025
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes (SIN-BKK) and 10 hours (BKK-IST)
Cabin and Layout: Royal Silk business class, SIN-BKK: 32 seats, 1-2-1 configuration; BKK-IST: 33 seats, 1-2-1 configuration
Seat: 17K (SIN-BKK) and 19K (BKK-IST)
Cost: Part of an around-the-world award redemption (typically from $1,782 or 80,000 points)

After an incredible few weeks exploring Southeast Asia on an around-the-world award ticket, I headed west from Singapore to Türkiye. Unfortunately, I didn’t fly with Singapore Airlines — my favorite airline in the world — for the long-haul flight to Istanbul. Instead, I connected through Bangkok and flew Thai Airways Royal Silk business class. I’d flown this product before and hadn’t been particularly impressed, but this experience turned out better.

Here’s an in-depth look at the Thai Airways Royal Silk business class experience, from the lounge in Singapore to the arrival in Istanbul.

Booking Thai Airways Business Class

I booked this award redemption through ANA Mileage Club as part of an around-the-world business class trip, but there are several other ways to book Thai Airways business class.

Thai Airways is a member of Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world, which includes All Nippon Airways (ANA), Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines, among others.

With so many partner airlines, you can utilize one of many airline loyalty programs to book Thai Airways award tickets, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish Miles&Smiles, and United Airlines MileagePlus. Of course, you can also use the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus loyalty program.

Although there were many solid options for booking, I favored Air Canada Aeroplan for this booking. It is a transfer partner of several transferable-point programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Using Great Circle Mapper, I calculated the distance between Singapore (SIN) and Istanbul (IST), connecting through Bangkok (BKK), to be 5,548 miles. According to the award chart, this redemption can be booked for 80,000 Aeroplan points.

Fortunately, finding award redemption on Aeroplan is quite easy. Using Seats.aero, I found award availability within a few minutes.

Hot Tip:

Air Canada Aeroplan points are valuable and can be redeemed in many ways. Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Aeroplan points for maximum value.

This one-way business class itinerary between Singapore and Istanbul on Thai Airways can be booked for around $1,780. We value Air Canada Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents, but redeeming Aeroplan points for this redemption would net a much higher 2.2 cents per point.

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Although the long-haul flight from Bangkok to Istanbul was what I was looking forward to most, I began my journey at what is widely regarded as the best airport on Earth: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

After a wonderful few days in Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, I arrived at the airport around 7 a.m., more than 12 hours before my scheduled flight time.

Check-In

The Jewel Early Check-in Facility on level 1 allows passengers to check in for their flights up to 24 hours before departure. Travelers can check their bags and get their boarding passes before exploring the airport.

The timeframe for when you can check in depends on the airline you are flying with. For Thai Airways, travelers can check in on the same day of the flight, 12 hours before the flight departure time.

The check-in process was straightforward, and I had my boarding passes for both flights within 2 minutes.

I had time to kill before boarding my flight to Bangkok, and there was much to do at the airport.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

After several hours of admiring Singapore Changi Airport, I headed to the Singapore Airlines KrisSilver Lounge in Terminal 2 (near Concourse E), where my flight was set to depart.

Although my boarding pass indicated access to the SATS Premier Lounge, which is also available to Priority Pass holders, I decided the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge would offer a more worthwhile experience. I was able to access this lounge as I was flying business class on a Star Alliance carrier.

The SilverKris Lounge is divided into 2 sections: the left for business class travelers and the right for first class travelers. I proceeded to the check-in desk, where the agent quickly scanned my boarding pass and welcomed me to the business class section.

The lounge was a large, open-concept area with seating for at least 200 people. It consisted of several rows of armchairs of various types in different designs and colors. Unfortunately, there were no windows in the lounge, which made it feel closed off.

Much of the seating area consisted of armchairs and small tables with lamps dividing them. There were more than enough AC power outlets throughout the seating area.

Although there was ample seating, the lounge was crowded, especially in the evening.

The self-service food and beverage section was to the far left of the lounge. The buffet offered a variety of international food, with an emphasis on Asian cuisine.

The first section consisted of a salad bar with various toppings and dressings. You could also find some sushi rolls here, but unfortunately, they didn’t taste fresh and seemed to have been sitting out for quite a while. A small bakery selection included various pastries, cakes, muffins, and even some dried fruit.

A hot food section featuring a diverse mix of snacks, including chicken nuggets, potato curry puffs, French fries, medu vadai (spiced fried lentil doughnuts), potato samosas, onion pakoras, aloo tikki, and pappadam (crispy thin wafers often served with Indian meals).

More hot food options included sweet and sour fish with pineapple and roasted duck breast. The sweet and sour fish was delicious and the highlight of the entire food offering.

Next was a noodle station, which included freshly blanched seasonal vegetables, wanton noodle soup, and signature laksa. I opted for a bowl of laksa.

Overall, the food was decent, with a good variety of options. While not everything tasted fresh — a bit disappointing — the wide selection helped make up for it.

After eating, I took a shower in the lounge. The bathroom and shower area were small, and I could not fully open my carry-on bag. I resorted to putting it on the floor.

The shower was well-equipped with shower toiletries, but the water pressure was weak. Still, it was refreshing to freshen up before the upcoming flights, especially after a long day of exploring the airport and walking around.

Bottom Line:

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 was a solid way to relax and pass a few hours before my flight. There were plenty of food options, but I wish the lounge staff did a better job keeping the food warm.

Boarding at SIN

After several hours in the lounge, it was time to head to the gate. After checking the international departures board, I was ready to head to gate F58 for my flight to Bangkok.

I left the lounge a bit early to give myself enough time to walk to the gate and go through the secondary security screening.

Unfortunately, the gate was a 15-minute walk away. In fact, gate F58 was the second-to-last gate in Concourse F, at what felt like the end of the airport.

Fortunately, everything ran on time, and security screening began promptly at 7:40 p.m. After checking my passport and boarding pass and clearing security, I made my way to the gate’s waiting area, ready to board the flight.

Connecting Airbus A350 From SIN-BKK

Although the flight from Singapore to Bangkok is only about 2 hours, it’s operated by an Airbus A350, a wide-body aircraft typically used for long-haul routes (like Bangkok to Istanbul).

I was excited to compare the Royal Silk business class product on a short-haul flight to the much longer one. This A350 featured the same layout as the Royal Silk business class flight I had on the Boeing 777-300ER in 2024.

Unlike the previous long-haul Royal Silk flight, I selected a window-facing window seat to ensure a better experience, and it delivered. I loved being closer to the window with the console separating me from the aisle, which provided me with more comfort and privacy.

In fact, I appreciated the separation from the aisle enough that I wouldn’t book long-haul Thai Airways business class again unless I could get a window-facing window seat, especially for an overnight flight.

Since I already looked through every nook and cranny of the seat on the last flight, I sat down and patiently waited for us to begin moving.

Unfortunately, we left about 30 minutes behind schedule due to an unknown issue. I was somewhat worried as my tight 85-minute connection in Bangkok got much tighter. However, everything was smooth once we got in the air.

Meal service began shortly after takeoff. Food and beverage menus were placed in the seat pockets, and I knew exactly what I wanted to order for the main course.

The meal service began with a Tamarind tea, my beverage of choice, and an assortment of fruit and nuts, including cashews, macadamia nuts, almonds, and raisins. 

A few minutes later, a flight attendant asked what I wanted for the main course: I chose the tiger prawns in red curry, which was served with Thai jasmine rice and stir-fried eggplant with sweet basil.

The flight attendants also delivered the amuse-bouche with the main course. It consisted of a seared tuna and herb salad with Thai-style dressing and beef bresaola with honey-roasted sweet potatoes and sour cream.

The flight attendants also brought a selection of bread. Fortunately, garlic bread (one of my favorites) was readily available.

The onboard dining experience was fantastic—the food was incredibly fresh, and the tiger prawns were absolutely delicious. Thai Airways is known for having some of the best food in the sky, and they did not disappoint on this flight.

Before I even realized, we were already making our descent into Bangkok. We landed at the Satellite Concourse at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which was my first time landing there.

Unfortunately, I had to take the train to the main terminal. After reaching the main terminal, I had to reclear security, which took about 30 minutes from when we landed. On top of this, there was no priority service for Royal Silk passengers, which is a shame considering Bangkok is Thai Airways’ home base.

After clearing security, I rushed to gate C10, the last gate in the C Concourse. I arrived 1 minute before boarding. Fortunately, priority boarding was available for Royal Silk passengers, Thai Royal Orchard Plus Platinum members, and Star Alliance Gold members.

On Board the Airbus A350-900 From BKK-IST

After scanning my boarding pass, I went down the jet bridge. First class and business class passengers could enter through the door on the left.

I was greeted by a smiling and friendly flight attendant who welcomed me and directed me to my seat. I was immediately surprised by the cabin, as this was a style of Royal Silk cabin I did not even know the airline had.

I walked down the left aisle of the plane towards my seat, 19K, the last business class seat in the cabin.

This version of the A350-900 offers 33 Royal Silk business class reverse herringbone seats in a single cabin.

The business class cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring all business class passengers have direct aisle access.

The reverse herringbone seats are angled towards the window, ensuring that passengers face away from each other. When I was seated, I could not see the passenger across the aisle from me, which was a major plus.

This cabin felt noticeably more private than the Royal Silk flight I had just taken. With this layout, all the seats were just about the same, unlike in the other Royal Silk product, where specific window seats were much better than others.

Business Class Seat

I settled into my seat and began exploring all its features. The inflight entertainment (IFE) system was directly in front of me. The screen was decently sized, although slightly far from the seat.

The retractable bifold tray table was just below the IFE screen. It was fairly large, but couldn’t be moved away from the seat once it was set up, which made getting in and out a bit inconvenient.

The footwell was directly below the screen and tray table, which was fairly deep and far from the seat. Below the footwell, there was also some additional storage for smaller items. Unfortunately, my personal item (which is on the larger side) could not comfortably fit in the storage space.

The spacious seat console was directly to the right of the seat and divided into 2 sections.

The seat controls were against the console and featured clickable buttons and a touchscreen for more sensitive movements.

The seat console featured buttons that would open the console’s storage areas when pressed. The right section was empty and was a good place to store small items throughout the flight.

Meanwhile, the left section of the console featured the headphone jack, a USB-A port, an AC power outlet, and the seat’s inflight entertainment remote.

The controller featured a touch screen and was easy to use. It was extremely responsive and didn’t have any input delay.

Of course, the seat could also be converted to a fully lie-flat bed. The staff provided a mattress pad, which made the bed much more comfortable.

Overall, I was satisfied with this version of the Thai Airways A350-900 Royal Silk business class cabin and seat. The seat’s reverse herringbone configuration provided a good amount of privacy.

Food and Beverages

Although the option to preselect meal service is available for passengers traveling in Royal Silk business class and on international flights departing from Bangkok, I did not take advantage of it this time.

Inflight Dining Experience

When I got seated, a flight attendant offered me a predeparture beverage. Options included Champagne, apple juice, tomato juice, orange juice, and Thai Airways’ signature drinks, which included tamarind tea and butterfly pea limeade. She also provided me with a box of Thai desserts made with sweet mung bean paste.

I opted for both of the signature drinks. The tamarind tea was excellent, but the butterfly pea limeade was not tasty.

Since we had a late-night flight, the meal service began after reaching cruising altitude, about 15 minutes after takeoff. Menus were provided in the seat pockets.

The flight included both a dinner and a breakfast service. After looking through the options, I knew exactly what I wanted.

A separate beverage menu was provided, with an extensive selection of Champagne and wine. Many nonalcoholic options were also available, including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sparkling water, fruit juices, and soft drinks.

Thai Airways also offers its signature Thai iced tea with grass jelly, a favorite of mine. I fully planned to enjoy it throughout the flight.

A few minutes after the meal service began, a flight attendant brought me my drinks of choice, which were served with the amuse-bouche: Thai-style seasoned minced chicken wrapped in egg net and goat cheese-stuffed grilled zucchini with romesco sauce.

The minced chicken was surprisingly good, but I did not enjoy the grilled zucchini.

The amuse-bouche was served with nuts, including cashews, almonds, walnuts, and raisins. 

About 10 minutes later, the flight attendant served the starter course. There were several options, but I chose the premium caviar served with poached tiger prawn. The tiger prawn was fresh and delicious.

A bread basket was also offered, and I chose 3 pieces of garlic bread.

Shortly after, it was time for the main course. There were several options, and I opted for the salmon-stuffed minced prawns in chu chee curry. It was served with egg fried rice, Vietnamese-style fried chicken, and sautéed vegetables.

The main course was pretty good, but I was quite full from eating at the lounge in Singapore and the flight prior.

Although I was pretty full, I made some room for dessert. Options included coconut milk panna cotta and raspberry vanilla diplomat cake. I opted for the latter. The dessert was an excellent finishing touch on the dinner meal service.

About 2 hours before landing, the flight attendants began the breakfast service. I opted for the stir-fried seafood Hokkien noodles with gravy sauce. A small fruit bowl and croissants accompanied the meal.

Bottom Line:

The onboard dining experience in Thai Airways Royal Silk business class was solid but not near the top. The presentation was excellent, and the cabin crew did a fantastic job checking in every few minutes to ensure everything was good and to refill my tea.

Amenities

Basic amenities were offered for business class passengers. However, they were also severely lacking in some places, especially in some critical categories.

Inflight Entertainment

The IFE selection was adequate but offered a limited selection of television shows and international movies.

The IFE screen was perfectly sized and had high resolution. The remote control was responsive, which made the experience much better.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

Each business class passenger was provided with a pair of Marshall-branded noise-canceling headphones. They were relatively comfortable, with solid padding, and offered decent noise cancellation.

Amenity Kit

Business class passengers also received a Jim Thompson-branded amenity kit. The kit was durable and felt relatively high-quality.

Inside were a pair of comfort socks, a sleeping mask, a shoehorn, a dental kit, and earplugs. It also included several products, such as moisturizing lotion, lip balm, and facial mist.

A pair of slippers was also provided, which was a nice touch. They proved useful when using the bathroom on board.

Onboard Wi-Fi

Unfortunately, this Airbus A350 did not offer Wi-Fi, which was a major letdown. It’s one area where the airline lags behind many of its competitors. For many airlines worldwide, onboard Wi-Fi has become a standard expectation.

In 2025, there is no excuse for not offering it, particularly for business travelers who need to stay productive and connected in the air.

Service

This time around, I found the onboard service to be fantastic. The cabin crew were courteous and professional and went out of their way to ensure I had a good experience.

The flight attendants put a lot of effort into the meal presentation when they saw me taking many pictures. They were also quick with the meal service and checked on me to ensure I had everything I needed.

Arrival at Istanbul Airport

We arrived in Istanbul slightly before 5 a.m., about 30 minutes ahead of our scheduled arrival time. I headed straight to immigration as the airport was quite busy and I did not want to wait too long in line.

Final Thoughts

I flew Thai Airways Royal Silk business class in 2024 and thought it was a mediocre product, particularly due to the seat layout and average-at-best service. However, this time around, the experience was much better.

I was even more delighted with the product, as I did not expect to fly in this version of the A350-900. The cabin layout and configuration were excellent, making the experience much better. Unfortunately, there is still no onboard Wi-Fi, which just doesn’t fly (pun intended) in 2025.

While Thai Airways is still behind many of its competitors, particularly the many incredible international airlines in Asia, I found this experience much better than my previous time.

I expect to fly Royal Silk business class again. However, Thai Airways will hopefully have introduced a newer, more refined product by then.