Checking in

[SimonMaidenhead]

Flying with Thai Airways next Friday, and due to being a tight git am flying economy. Now I know that getting an upgrade is near enough impossible, so the next best thing is try for an exit seat, unfortunately you cannot prebook these or check in on line 24 hours beforehand, so is the only option turn up and start queuing 5 hours before the flight?
As I work in London what I was thinking of doing was driving to LHR on my way home and checking in at say 5pm, then dropping the car at home, down the pub for a couple then back to LHR at 8ish for a 9.30pm flight?
Pressume there's no problem with going anywhere I want after check in?

Cheers

[Puggit]

I'd suggest checking in online 24 hours before the flight, to ensure you at least don't end up with seats in the middle

Then get to the airport early and beg for an exit seat. Exit seats aren't normally given away online, as the airline needs to ensure that able-bodied adults are sitting there (and that means no 'large' people either).

Most airlines in Star Alliance try and keep exit seats back for gold status passengers - so you may be out of luck anyway. Hence checking in early and getting something adequate.

[schmalex]

As above. Check in online to at least get half decent seats (ideally in front of the engines to reduce the noise as much as possible). Check the plane type on the airline's website & then look up the seating plan on SeatGuru to steer clear of the crappy seats.

Get to the airport as early as possible to try & change for an exit row. Once you have checked in & dropped your hold baggage off, you can go anywhere you like, as long as you get through security around 60 mins prior to departure.

[LotusMartin]

and get there too early and they won't have opened the check-in desk! normally 2-3 hours before departure, but it varies with airline.

[Fas1975]

Thai online check in opens 24 hours before flight departure

http://www.thaiairways.com/plan-your-trip/internet...

[Nobby Diesel]

Also, as you're in steerage, make sure you have a DVD player, touch, pad or laprtop with you.
Most of Thais aircraft on the LHR-BKK route are OLD 747's with overhead screens. New planes are on order though!