Thacks Awards

23/09/2026

Three airlines. Three Business Class experiences. And apparently enough food photographs to conduct a small investigation. Qatar Airways Turkish Airlines

23/09/2026

This month a Thacks Awards panelist got to experience Business Class on 3 airlines: one was a bid upgrade, one was a paid upgrade and one was a business class booking (sadly no return flights!):

“Three airlines. Three Business Class experiences. And apparently enough food photographs to conduct a small investigation. 😂✈️🥂

After flying Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Philippine Airlines recently, one thing really stood out: just how differently each airline approaches Business Class dining.

🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines made the meal feel like part of the occasion — generous, beautifully presented and with that unmistakable Turkish hospitality running through it. 8/10

🇶🇦 Qatar Airways was much more restaurant-like: à la carte dining, proper individual courses, mezze, cheese, wine and the luxury of deciding what to eat and when. It felt less like an airline meal and more like dinner that happened to be served at 35,000 feet. 10/10

🇵🇭 Philippine Airlines was simpler and more traditional in its presentation, but still very enjoyable. On Taipei–Manila I chose the Chinese spiced beef with stir-fried egg noodles — although PAL had one slight disadvantage…
…I had already eaten. A LOT. 😂 9/10

The lounge PAL uses in Taipei turned out to be one of the best I’ve visited, with an excellent hot buffet, noodle soup and enough food to make having dinner again on the aircraft entirely unnecessary.

Naturally, I did my best anyway. 😇

Three very different approaches — and a reminder that Business Class isn’t only about the seat.
The food, wine, lounges and little bits of theatre around the journey can be half the fun.
Although after this particular run of flights, I may not need feeding again until Christmas. 😂🥂✈️”

Qatar Airways Turkish Airlines

20/09/2026

🏆 TAIPEI 🇹🇼
John is in Taiwan!

Sometimes the best food experiences aren’t the fanciest ones.

“Lao Shan D**g Homemade Noodles is very much no-frills: shared tables, a menu I couldn’t read (and absolutely no idea what I’d ordered beyond the first bowl).

The homemade beef noodles were superb. I then attempted to order a few dumplings… and accidentally ordered an entire SECOND main course of dumplings in hot and sour soup. 🤦‍♂️

Thankfully, they were sensational — genuinely some of the best dumplings I’ve had, and I’d put them ahead of the Michelin-rated dumplings I tried in Hong Kong.

The experience made it even better. I was sharing a table with locals who started laughing when Main Course No. 2 arrived 😂, and one gentleman told me he’d been coming here since he was five years old… 40 years ago. Later I ended up chatting with a French couple who’d just arrived in Taipei.

Nothing luxurious. Nothing staged. Just brilliant homemade food, strangers around one table and one very overfed tourist.”

Exactly the sort of place the Thacks Awards were made for. 🏆🇹🇼

20/09/2026

🏆 TAIPEI 🇹🇼 John is in Taiwan!

Sometimes the best food experiences aren’t the fanciest ones.

Lao Shan D**g Homemade Noodles is very much no-frills: shared tables, a menu I couldn’t read (and absolutely no idea what I’d ordered beyond the first bowl).

The homemade beef noodles were superb. I then attempted to order a few dumplings… and accidentally ordered an entire SECOND main course of dumplings in hot and sour soup. 🤦‍♂️

Thankfully, they were sensational — genuinely some of the best dumplings I’ve had, and I’d put them ahead of the Michelin-rated dumplings I tried in Hong Kong.

The experience made it even better. I was sharing a table with locals who started laughing when Main Course No. 2 arrived 😂, and one gentleman told me he’d been coming here since he was five years old… 40 years ago. Later I ended up chatting with a French couple who’d just arrived in Taipei.

Nothing luxurious. Nothing staged. Just brilliant homemade food, strangers around one table and one very overfed tourist.

Exactly the sort of place the Thacks Awards were made for. 🏆🇹🇼
And yes… I was still too full for dinner so my plan for popcorn chicken is tomorrow. 🍗

20/09/2026

🏆 TAIPEI 🇹🇼
John is in Taiwan!

Sometimes the best food experiences aren’t the fanciest ones.

Lao Shan D**g Homemade Noodles is very much no-frills: shared tables, a menu I couldn’t read (and absolutely no idea what I’d ordered beyond the first bowl).

The homemade beef noodles were superb. I then attempted to order a few dumplings… and accidentally ordered an entire SECOND main course of dumplings in hot and sour soup. 🤦‍♂️

Thankfully, they were sensational — genuinely some of the best dumplings I’ve had, and I’d put them ahead of the award-rated dumplings I tried in Hong Kong.

The experience made it even better. I was sharing a table with locals who started laughing when Main Course No. 2 arrived 😂, and one gentleman told me he’d been coming here since he was five years old… 40 years ago. Later I ended up chatting with a French couple who’d just arrived in Taipei.

Nothing luxurious. Nothing staged. Just brilliant homemade food, strangers around one table and one very overfed tourist.

Exactly the sort of place the Thacks Awards were made for. 🏆🇹🇼

And yes… I was still too full for dinner so my plan for popcorn chicken is tomorrow.

13/09/2026

13/09/2026

A panelist and three friends enjoyed the ‘4 for 3’ weekend brunch special at Manila’s ‘Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill’ - with unlimited starters, desserts and bottomless bubbles, white and red wine at a reasonable total of $60pp including service charge.
Some gems from the kitchen and a great day out!! 🤩🥂🍾💪😎☀️

22/08/2026

https://thacksawards.com/2022/07/16/if-you-won-the-lottery-and-could-fly-business-class-for-the-rest-of-your-life-which-airline-product-should-be-the-only-one-to-fly-if-you-compare-etihad-klm-qatar-and-turkish-airlines/

22/08/2026

It’s not every day that the panellists get to fly business class… but it’s a treat regardless.

On a recent two-leg business class journey with Turkish Airlines it was noted how different the overall experience can be depending on the age of the plane and the care of the onboard team.

The best airline to fly in Business Class with regards to service and product is still Qatar Airlines.

https://thacksawards.com/2022/07/16/if-you-won-the-lottery-and-could-fly-business-class-for-the-rest-of-your-life-which-airline-product-should-be-the-only-one-to-fly-if-you-compare-etihad-klm-qatar-and-turkish-airlines/