WE is the new airline code designating Thai Airways International subsidiary Thai Smile. It will help the carrier to have more autonomy to fix prices but also to establish proper code share with Thai Airways.
BANGKOK – Thai Smile Airways Company Limited (THAI Smile) received the Air Operator Certification (AOC) from the Department of Civil Aviation, Thailand on 31 March 2014. From 10 April 2014 onwards, THAI Smile will operate using the airline code WE with flight three-digits for domestic flights, and continue to use the TG airline code followed by the number 2 using a four-digit flight number.
Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, Senior Executive Vice President, Strategy and Sustainable Development, and Acting President, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), declared that Thai Smile is Thai’s new way to provide service with new products and services which suits customers traveling short distances. Thai Smile’s brand character is Trendy-Friendly-Worthy, which characterizes new generation lifestyle that is modern but places importance on selection of good products and services. There are two classes of service on Thai Smile flights: SmilePlus and Smile, operated with brand new Airbus A320-200 aircraft. Passengers flying in SmilePlus can experience more privacy than offered in Smile class, receive 30 kilograms in baggage allowance, and have lounge access. In Smile class, passengers receive meal service and beverages, as well as 20 kilograms in baggage allowance. Thai Smile passengers can select their seat and accumulate mileage on Royal Orchid Plus, just in a similar way as when they travelled with Thai. Such a facility was necessary to avoid seeing a leaking of passengers to other carriers if they had lost their member privileges.
For both Thai Airways and Thai Smile passengers, “Smile Girls” are on hand at Suvarnabhumi Airport check-in counters at E11-E19 to provide assistance to passengers who wish to conduct internet check-in, or iCheck-in on an iPad through both airlines’ websites or at the automated check-in kiosks.
Currently, Thai Smile serves 10 domestic routes from Bangkok: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phuket, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, the route Chiang Mai-Phuket, and seven international destinations: Macau, Mandalay, Chongqing, Colombo, Hyderabad, Phnom Penh and Delhi; Thai Smile already announced to start a daily service between Bangkok and Vientiane in Laos beginning 26 October 2014.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
