Thai Airways

I have obviously been booking and flying Virgin for too long! As I was needing to fly to Thailand (which sadly I cannot do with Virgin) I tried to book online. Unfortunately I needed to book First on way out and then Business for the day flight on the way back. Not possible on the website - and also not possible to book Business and then upgrade one sector. So I rang Thai Airways, only to be told that I would need to book two one-way tickets to achieve this - at a total cost higher than booking a return First Class trip! This is just not the correct information, but quite frankly I cannot face ringing them back to have the same pointless conversation. Doesn't else ever ring them and book different classes on the same route?! Even more tempted to fly VS and go via HK now; how lovely it would be to speak to the lovely ladies/gents at UC. It is either that or book through a travel agents (which I always try to avoid). I can't believe that I can even be contemplating spending £6000 on flights and getting this sort of service from an airline...

Thais new site is way much user friendly than before but thre are limits - but VS has quite a number of limits as well.
You know until last year the website would not accept bookings within 3 days of departure !!
It is much better now and you can see seats etc before you book (VS pls note).
I have also been able to book F one way and J return if that is all that is available. I agree calling them needs a lot of patience.

I go to Thailand 4 times a year and always go via HKG. It only costs about GBP350 roundtrip HKG-BKK in J .
This is one rpoute VS need to do somethign about even if just by way of partnership (*A or whatever)

If I book to HKG then on to BKK with Emirates, will I have to clear customs and Immigration at HK - and collect the luggage and the check in again?

I have a feeling you might have to do that as I think for interline baggage check to work it needs to be on the same ticket.
The EK flight is late - about 10pm so you will be hanging around for 4 hours in HKG which would give you plenty of time to do that.
Personally I would take the TG flight at either 7pm or 845pm and get to BKK earlier.
Better still - have a stopover in HKG - there is nowhere better.