Thai Airways International, the flag carrier of Thailand, has been a prominent player in the aviation industry since its inception. Known for its warm hospitality and exceptional service, Thai Airways also offers a comprehensive loyalty program called Royal Orchid Plus. This article explores the Royal Orchid Plus program, highlighting its benefits, the status credit requirements for tier advancement, and details about Thai Airways’ partners.
Launched in 1993, Royal Orchid Plus is Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program designed to reward loyal customers with miles that can be redeemed for various travel-related services. Over the years, the program has evolved to offer a wide range of benefits and redemption options.
Status Tiers and Credits
Royal Orchid Plus offers several status tiers, each with increasing benefits. Members can move up through the tiers by accumulating Qualifying Miles (Q Miles) and Qualifying Segments (Q Segments). Here’s a breakdown of the requirements for each tier:
- Member: Entry-level membership with access to basic rewards and earning potential.
- Silver:
- 10,000 Q Miles or 15 Q Segments within a calendar year
- Gold:
- 50,000 Q Miles or 40 Q Segments within a calendar year
- Platinum:
- 80,000 Q Miles within a calendar year
Benefits of the Royal Orchid Plus Program
The Royal Orchid Plus program offers numerous benefits aimed at enhancing the travel experience for its members as shown in the table below:
| Benefits | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Priority service when contacting THAI Contact Center in Thailand, 24 hours 7 days a week | X | Yes | Yes |
| Priority reservation wait-listing on fully booked flights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed confirmed seating in Economy Class when contacting THAI reservation | X | Yes | Yes |
| Designated check-in counters | Yes | Yes | |
| Priority airport standby on fully booked flight where permitted by law* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority baggage handling and an additional checked baggage allowance | 10kgs | 20kgs | 30kgs |
| Access to THAI’s airport Royal Silk Class lounge, where available with one guest when departing on the same international THAI operated flight | X | Yes | Yes |
| Access to THAI’s Royal First Class lounge, where available with one guest when departing on the same international THAI operated flight | X | X | Yes |
| Priority boarding | X | Yes | Yes |
| Members Service Center assistance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated assistance by email | X | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary Round – Trip with THAI upgrades | X | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary Air Award Yearly Discount | X | Yes | Yes |
| Waiver of selected Royal Orchid Plus Service Fees | X | X | Yes |
| No expiring miles | X | X | Yes |
| Multiple Complimentary Upgrades when accumulating each of 50,000 Tier Miles, the miles flown in Royal First Class or Royal Silk Class on THAI. | X | X | Yes |
| Unlimited changes to a Platinum member’s Award Nominee list with 5 complimentary changes per personal year. | X | X | Yes |
Partner Airlines and Affiliations
Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Plus program benefits greatly from its partnerships, especially its membership in the Star Alliance, the world’s largest global airline alliance. Here are some of the key partners:
Other Partners: Beyond airlines, Royal Orchid Plus has partnerships with a range of hotels, car rental agencies, and retail brands. Members can earn miles through stays with Accor Hotels, rental cars from Avis and Budget, and purchases from various retailers.
Star Alliance Members: Royal Orchid Plus members can earn and redeem miles with any of the 26 Star Alliance member airlines, including:
- Lufthansa
- United Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Turkish Airlines
Non-Star Alliance Partners: Royal Orchid Plus has also partnered with several non-Star Alliance airlines, providing additional earning and redemption opportunities. These include:
- Bangkok Airways
- Emirates
- Japan Airlines
- Qantas
Points Calculation
The Royal Orchid Plus program by Thai Airways calculates miles based on the distance flown and the fare class of your ticket. The program uses Qualifying Miles (Q Miles) and Qualifying Segments (Q Segments) to determine tier status. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Q Miles are earned for domestic and international flights across different classes of service:
Domestic Flights
Distance Bands:
- 0-300 miles
- 301-600 miles
- 601-900 miles
- 901+ miles
Fare Classes and Multipliers:
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 100% of miles flown
- High Fare: 125% of miles flown
- Premium Economy: 150% of miles flown
- Business Class: 200% of miles flown
International Flights
Distance Bands:
- 0-1,000 miles
- 1,001-2,000 miles
- 2,001-3,000 miles
- 3,001-4,000 miles
- 4,001-5,000 miles
- 5,001+ miles
Fare Classes and Multipliers:
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 100% of miles flown
- High Fare: 125% of miles flown
- Premium Economy: 150% of miles flown
- Business Class: 200% of miles flown
- First Class: 250% of miles flown
Example Calculations
Domestic Flight: Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)
This route is approximately 430 miles one-way.
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 430 miles × 100% = 430 Q Miles
- High Fare: 430 miles × 125% = 537.5 Q Miles
- Premium Economy:
- 430 miles × 150% = 645 Q Miles
- Business Class:
- 430 miles × 200% = 860 Q Miles
International Flight: Bangkok (BKK) to London (LHR)
This route is approximately 5,965 miles one-way.
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 5,965 miles × 100% = 5,965 Q Miles
- High Fare: 5,965 miles × 125% = 7,456.25 Q Miles
- Premium Economy:
- 5,965 miles × 150% = 8,947.5 Q Miles
- Business Class:
- 5,965 miles × 200% = 11,930 Q Miles
- First Class:
- 5,965 miles × 250% = 14,912.5 Q Miles
Use this guide to calculate your Q Miles for any flight with Thai Airways, helping you understand and maximize your earning potential within the Royal Orchid Plus program.
The Royal Orchid Plus program, with its various tiers and broad network of partners, offers a rewarding experience for frequent flyers. Whether you’re embarking on a domestic trip within Thailand or an international journey, Thai Airways and its Royal Orchid Plus program provide the tools to make your travel experience more rewarding and enjoyable.
Source: https://www.thaiairways.com/en_TH/rop/index.page