Traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok with kids? As parents, we all worry about airport wait times and flight comfort, especially with little ones.
Our family (my husband, 5-year-old daughter, and I) recently flew this route on Thai Airways Flight TG111.
In this article, I’m sharing our complete, unfiltered experience: from discovering an incredible “hidden gem” lounge before security, to the comfortable Airbus A330 cabin, and the… unforgettable coconut cake. If you’re a family traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, I hope our story helps your journey.
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Pros and Cons
The Good & The Bad: Flying Thai Airways TG111 (Chiang Mai to Bangkok) with Kids
Before we dive into the full story, here’s a quick and honest breakdown of what our family loved—and what we didn’t.
The Pros:
- The Comfort of an A330 Aircraft: Even on this short domestic hop, we were on an Airbus A330, a wide-body jet used for international routes. It was spacious, stable, and the flight felt incredibly smooth. That peace of mind is priceless when flying with kids.
- The “Perfect” Flight Time (1h 20m): For a 5-year-old, this flight duration is magic. By the time she was about to ask, “Are we there yet?” we were already descending.
- A Complimentary Snack on a Domestic Flight: We were pleasantly surprised to receive a snack bag (water and a coconut cake). Getting a little something on a plane is always a treat for kids and adults alike.
- “That” Lounge (More on this below): This isn’t about the airline itself, but a discovery at Chiang Mai airport dramatically upgraded our entire travel day.
The Cons:
- The Coconut Cake is… Aggressively Sweet: This is purely a matter of taste, but the provided coconut cake was one of the sweetest things I have ever eaten. My daughter took one bite and was done. Even as a sugar fan, I struggled.
- No Specific “Kids” Services: As expected on a short domestic flight, there were no special kids’ meals or amenity kits. (However, the flight attendants themselves were lovely and very kind to our daughter).
- The Post-Security Area is Chaotic: This isn’t specific to TG111, but the main domestic departure hall and lounges after the security checkpoint at Chiang Mai airport were extremely crowded.
The Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge (Pre-Security)
Before I even talk about the plane, I have to share the most important discovery of this trip. This lounge access was a complete game-changer.
The two biggest hurdles for family travel at an airport: the security line and the “dead time” waiting at the gate.
After checking our bags for our flight, we were standing in the Chiang Mai domestic terminal, feeling a bit lost. The security line looked long and chaotic. “Are we just supposed to wait on those hard benches by the gate?” my husband sighed.
On a whim, I opened my Priority Pass app, not expecting much. And then I saw it.
“Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge: Landside (Before Security).”
Wait. Before security?
Half-believing it was a mistake, we headed toward the entrance, located before the security checkpoint, and sure enough, there was the sign. We showed our Priority Pass, and the staff welcomed us in with a warm smile.
Stepping inside was like entering a different dimension. The chaos of the terminal disappeared, replaced by a calm, quiet, and wonderfully empty lounge. We easily snagged a comfortable sofa by the window.
But the real shock was the service.
This “Boutique Lounge” offers more than just packaged snacks. While you can help yourself to drinks and small bites, the highlight is the made-to-order food menu.
We looked at the (helpfully illustrated) menu at the counter and couldn’t believe our eyes: “Khao Soi” (Chiang Mai’s famous curry noodles) and other Thai noodle dishes.
We were already mourning the fact that we wouldn’t have one last bowl of Khao Soi, so we ordered it immediately. Meanwhile, our daughter was mesmerized by the fresh popcorn machine. A smiling staff member happily filled up a cup for her.
It was bliss. We sat there, sipping hot, delicious Khao Soi, while our daughter happily munched on her popcorn. We were completely relaxed, watching the stressful, crowded security line from our peaceful oasis.
This is why this lounge is a “god-send” for families: You get to wait in total comfort, eating real food, right up until the moment you need to go through security.
Think about it: at most airports, you’re forced to go through security and then hunt for a lounge. If that lounge is far from your gate, it’s just another “are-we-going-to-miss-our-flight” stressor. Here, the security checkpoint is literally steps away. We simply left the lounge when it was time, cleared security in minutes, and walked straight to our gate.
I later learned that the main “Coral” lounge after security is often packed. If you have a Priority Pass and are flying domestic from Chiang Mai, I cannot recommend this pre-security Bangkok Airways lounge highly enough.
TG111 Cabin Comfort and Family Service
Recharged from our lounge feast, we breezed through security and headed to the gate.
Our ride for flight TG111 was an Airbus A330.
You might be thinking, “An A330 for a domestic flight?” But since Thai Airways routes many flights through its Bangkok hub, it often uses these larger, long-haul (wide-body) jets on popular domestic legs.
The benefit of a big plane? Stability and space.
As a family with a young child, we prefer to board last, minimizing the “trapped-in-a-seat” time. When we stepped onto the plane, we were impressed by how spacious it felt. The seating configuration was 2-4-2, and we had pre-selected a two-seat row by the window.
And as I mentioned, the flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes is the “sweet spot.”
We took off, the seatbelt sign turned off, the cabin crew started their service, and just as things were wrapping up—and right before my daughter could even think* about asking for the iPad—the captain announced our initial descent into Bangkok. It perfectly short-circuits the kid-boredom cycle.
The cabin crew was exactly what you’d expect from Thai Airways: professional, efficient, and gracing us with those warm, kind Thai smiles. They were sweet to my daughter, and that hospitality made us feel welcome and secure.
Coconut Cake and In-Flight Service
Once we reached cruising altitude, the in-flight service began.
We were surprised when the flight attendants handed everyone a small paper bag, not just drinks. “Ooh, a present!” my daughter cheered.
Inside the bag was a small bottle of water and a plastic-wrapped coconut cake. Our 5-year-old received the same snack as the adults.
The cake itself looked like a moist pound cake topped with coconut flakes. My daughter happily took a bite, but quickly decided it was far too sweet for her.
I tried it as well and agreed—it was incredibly sweet. While the texture was nice and moist, the sugary taste completely overpowered the coconut flavor. Even I was craving a black coffee to balance it out (sadly, only water was served on this flight).
Still, receiving a complimentary snack and water on a short 1-hour-and-20-minute domestic flight is a very generous gesture. That unique sweetness has simply become another memorable story from our trip to Thailand.
The Verdict: Is Thai Airways TG111 the Right Choice for Families?
So, here’s the final verdict: For a family traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, is Thai Airways TG111 a good choice? YES. Absolutely.
The stability of the A330 and the perfect flight duration were great, but the real game-changer was our discovery of the pre-security Bangkok Airways lounge.
That lounge experience single-handedly eliminated all the usual airport stress, allowing us to relax right up until our flight.
It was a comfortable, stress-free end to our Chiang Mai trip, and we stepped off the plane in Bangkok feeling refreshed and ready for our next adventure.
