Thai Airways to introduce waistline restrictions on its business class

Thai Airways received it’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner back in September, and currently has two in its fleet. The new B787-9 Dreamliner will allow Thai Airways to fly longer distances direct from Thailand, such as a non-stop flight to North America. Although the current schedule has the Dreamliner remaining in Asia-Pacific.

The biggest change in Thai Airways’ 787-9 Dreamliner is the Royal Silk class (business class). Changing from a 2-2-2 configuration to a 1-2-1 configuration, enables each business class passenger to have direct aisle access. Thai Airways have also increased the number of business class seats to 30 from the previous 787-8 Dreamliner’s 24 seats.

The most controversial change to Thai Airways business class would be the decision to install airbags in the seatbelts, leaving passengers subject to waistline restrictions. These waistline restrictions only apply to the 787-9 Dreamliner business class cabins.

In order to comply with the set length by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards, any passenger whose waistline exceeds 56 inches will not be able to fasten their seatbelt. The seatbelt length restriction also means that business class passengers will not be able to carry infants on their laps. The airline won’t be offering seatbelt extensions either for passengers to accommodate larger sizes or babies.

The move to introduce waistline restrictions has been met with a lot of negativity and feelings of discrimination. In particular for those plus-size, pregnant or those travelling business class with babies. Understandably people are getting upset by this, when the new aircraft only offers two classes, business class and economy,.

There are still many other airlines that offer business class flights in and around Asia without the seatbelt restriction.

Is this new restriction going to affect you?

If so, contact us today and we’ll be able to find you an alternative airline to fly business class with. Call us on 0203 805 4599 or complete an enquiry form for one of our team to get in touch with you.

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