Deaf passenger praises Thai Airways crew’s clever menu

A deaf passenger on a Thai Airways flight has commended the crew for using pictures to help him order his meal, making the experience more accessible for him. Jose Irish Pascual shared the encounter on Facebook, noting it was the first time he had experienced this method of communication during travel. The crew drew out meal options and placed them beside his seat, allowing him to select his choice without needing spoken language.

Pascual initially felt a bit self-conscious about the attention but was impressed by the crew's ingenuity and how it facilitated his understanding of the choices. He praised Thai Airways for offering "inclusive service" and described the crew's approach as "working smart, not hard." The airline lists assistance for passengers with vision or hearing loss among its special services.

Thai Airways recently ranked among the top 10 globally in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World’s Best Awards, highlighting its excellence in cabin comfort, in-flight service, customer service, and value. The airline plans to launch 66 international routes in the 2026/27 winter schedule, including more frequent flights on several regional services.