Well, had to fly to Kuala Lumpur, so decided better to fly Thai than Malaysian. Unfortunately, yet again I encounter silly problems which aren't difficult to resolve.
I get to the airport slightly late due to early-morning traffic, but still plenty of time to make the flight. Heading into rows H and J, the area reserved for Thai economy class, I can still see lines on both sides - but I remember that they have a counter for internet check in, as well as a counter for no checked baggage.
Good, I think to myself, I qualify on both counts.
But when I head for the counters, both of them are closed - during what is normally a busy period - well hell, what's the point of internet check-in if you still have to wait in line?
Fortunately, the standby counter next door is open so I ask the lady why the other two counters aren't open, she shrugs and motions for me to give her my passport.
To her credit, she had me checked in within two minutes. But then I discover another niggling problem - having checked in online, I had already reserved a seat - and my boarding pass indicated a different seat, even though the plane was far from full. Again, what's the point of online check in?
The other problem with online check in is that once you have checked in, you cannot access your reservation again - and worse, if you have started the process and allow it to time out, it will automatically create the reservation based on the last available data - and then not allow you in to modify it.
The flight itself wasn't so bad, though one stewardess in particular seemed totally disinterested in her job. But we'll see how it goes on the way back.
added -> The flight back was on a newer Airbus - and the staff were much better, though one stewardess inexplicably raised my seat before meal and before landing without asking - kind of strange since she was otherwise polite and friendly. All she had to do was ask in either Thai or English and I would have done it myself.
Seems to me that being on the newer planes makes a difference. It's their Boeing fleet which is aging, so if you have a choice timewise try to find out which of their flights are flying the Airbuses.
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