Thai Airways is a member of the Star Alliance and transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Diners Club. If you fly Thai Airlines regularly you might consider attaining their elite status. Unfortunately, the entry-level elite Silver tier hardly offers any benefits. The first sensible elite tier is Gold. Attaining Gold status is not easy, but the benefits are good even if they don’t include earning bonus miles.
To help you with attaining the status, Thai offers two options. You can aim for earning the required Qualifying Miles during the 12-month or 24-month period after enrollment. The system is automatic, so you don’t have to choose which method to try. Albeit, the second option requires more miles, but it also gives you a second chance if you haven’t earned enough in the first year.
Earning Status
There are three elite levels in the Royal Orchid Plus program: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Gold is considered the top level for most, since Platinum is reserved for a limited number of members flying in premium classes. Qualification requirements are as follows.
- Silver: 10,000 Qualifying Miles during a 12-month period, or 15,000 during a 24-month period
- Gold: 50,000 Qualifying Miles during a 12-month period, 80,000 during a 24-month period, or 40 international sectors on Thai Airways in a 12-month rolling period
- Platinum: 80,000 Tier Miles in each of 2 consecutive 12-month rolling periods. Tier Miles are the miles flown in Royal First Class and Royal Silk Class on Thai Airways flights only
Upgrades
- Gold and Platinum: One round-trip upgrade.
- Gold: One additional round-trip upgrade upon reaching 50,000 Qualifying Miles or 40 international sectors flown on Thai Airways within 12 months after getting status.
- Platinum: Additional unlimited complimentary round-trip upgrades (transferable to Award Nominees) on Thai Airways upon each accumulation of 50,000 miles for flights on Thai Airways in Royal First Class or Royal Silk Class.
Royal Orchid Plus Bonus Miles
- None
Fee Waivers
- Silver: Additional 22 lbs. baggage allowance
- Gold: Additional 44 lbs. baggage allowance or 1 additional piece
- Platinum:
- Additional baggage allowance of 66 lbs. or 1 additional piece
- Selected Royal Orchid Plus service fees
- Unlimited changes to an Award Nominee list with 5 free changes per personal year
Airport Services:
-
- Silver and above:
- Priority reservation wait-listing
- Priority baggage handling
- Priority standby
- Gold and above:
- Priority boarding
- Priority check-in at the Star Alliance Gold counters
- Guaranteed seating in economy for reservations made 72 hours prior to departure
- Silver and above:
- Platinum:
- Priority service when contacting Thai Airways
- Top priority reservation waitlisting on fully booked flights
- Top priority airport standby on fully booked flights
- Priority boarding at your convenience
- Guaranteed seating in economy for reservations made 48 hours prior to departure on Thai Airways
- Dedicated Platinum check-in at Thai Royal First Class check-in where available
- Immigration Fast Track at Suvarnabhumi Airport, when departing on an international Thai Airways flight
Complimentary Lounge Access
- Gold and Platinum:
- Access to Thai Royal Silk Class lounges worldwide
- Access to Star Alliance Gold airport lounges with a paid ticket for member and one guest
- Platinum: Access to Thai Royal First Class lounges worldwide with one guest
Star Alliance Status
- Silver: Silver
- Gold: Gold
- Platinum: Gold
Notable Additional Rewards for Elite Members
- Gold and Platinum: 5,000 bonus miles upon attaining and retaining status.
- Gold: Gold Birthday Award 2016
- One-time award flights redemption on Thai Airways for 50% less in 2016
- Partners’ benefits during your birth month
- Two-time award flights redemption on Thai Airways for 50% less in 2016
- Partners’ benefits during your birth month
Other Ways to Earn Status
- None
Status Match/Status Challenge
- None
Earning Elite Points on Partner Airlines
You can earn Qualifying Miles for flights on Thai Airways and Star Alliance partner airlines.