This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
Check-in
My first ever experience of JFK airport has been a good one. Limo dropped us at the front door, with just a short walk over to the UC check-in. No queue and friendly smiles all around - in fact, there was virtually no queue at Economy check-in as well... interesting. Directed towards the Clubhouse, via the bag scan area, where the two bubbly TSA ladies cracked some jokes that we didn't really understand.. but nodded and smiled anyway!
JFK Clubhouse
Had a few hours here, and found it an easy place to spend time. Very open-plan and you're aware of the noise from the shopping mall area below.. but I understand the design had to follow airport requirements regarding 'transparency' towards the windows. Drinks were good, and service was reasonably good - a bit slow at times. Food was excellent - the steak was scrumptious, and the cashew rice pudding was just gorgeous. Music is on the loud and lively side. Free wireless broadband. Ben&Jerry's ice-cream.. yum.
Boarding and Sleeping
Another area where LHR could improve upon by copying the USA.. easily identified priority boarding lane, and we were straight on to Sweet Dreamer G-VSSG. I had selected seats in the snooze zone at online check-in 24 hours previously - 4K and 3K. Champagne and sleep suit handed to us almost immediately, which meant we could change straight away, and be ready for sleeping. Had the option of filling in a breakfast card and being woken 1h15 before landing.. we declined, preferring to sleep until the 20 mins warning! Which we did, and a most comfortable sleep I had. Suite all worked fine (thankfully!) and aside from a little turbulence mid-atlantic, all was quiet and undisturbed.
Arrival and Revival
Arghh.. UK immigration should be a breeze, but no, a 30 minute wait in the EU line. The foreigners line was never more than a few people deep.. and the Fast-track line also virtually empty, but no.. we had to stand in a long queue. *sigh* Thanksfully, we docked at Revivals shortly after, and had a wonderful shower/breakfast/massage.
So.. I am now a fan of the Snooze Zone for East Coast US flights home. The JFK Clubhouse dinner was excellent, and Revivals is under-rated and well worth visiting.
It's not like I shared the UCS with Jennifer Aniston and got her phone #....
