Flew on the inaugural flight BKK-JFK followed by the return a week later . . . not at all impressed.

THAI has obviously not given much thought to the service delivery on this ultra-longhaul sector and treats it like just another flight.

Consequence:

1. You end up dying of hunger at some stage in the flight. What you see on the menu may not be what's served.
2. You don't see a cabin attendant for long stretches of up to 5 hrs.
3. Although the A345 has mood lighting, the cabin is kept in the dark most of the time - so what is the point of having those mood lighting to help your body adjust to changing time zones?
4. Some IFE units are already non-functioning on HS-TLB (when I flew it JFK-BKK on 7 May) . . . can you imagine 17hrs without IFE?
5. PA System on HS-TLB squeaked irritatingly whenever the crew attempt to make announcements . . .
6. Two couples had crying babies . . . not once in the 17hr flight did any crew member offered any help or attempt to pacify babies.
7. Leg rest on Premium Economy seats do not raise high enough to support your feet - so actually the Economy Class seats with the footrests under the seat in front of you is better.
8. Premium Economy seats are over-wing - so you get to see next to nothing of the landscape you are passing over. A pity as you will miss the beautiful icy landscape of Canada's tundra region. This position also ensures that you clearly feel the main undercarriage being lowered.
9. Cabin crew service has not improved (at least based on flying 34 hours within a week). Still one set of service for Caucasian passengers and another for non-Caucasian passengers. Actually, there is one LCC set of service for Thais. Poor Thais.
10. The New York Express flights use Terminal 2 while all other TG flights use Terminal 1 at BKK.
11. Forward-looking camera (and viewable on video channel 97) is automatically switched to downward-looking immediately after take-off. Similarly, forward-looking camera is switched off almost immediately after landing.
12. Premium Economy seatback has a pocket that opens sideways for safety card, air sickness bag etc. I see things falling out. Main pocket containing inflight mag and other publications are almost flushed into the side of the IFE screen and not easy to access (pax next to be kept digging to access it - and he is a TG staff!).

Suffice to say that THAI has missed an excellent opportunity to refresh its product (to coincide with a rebranding exercise).

BTW, Thai gave passengers on the inaugural flight a measly keyring with a piece of glass (with a halogram of the Empire State Building). Don't sneeze or you will lose the keyring. If you do and loses your keyring, they also gave a 25th Anniversary namecard holder.