V-Flyer

As reported post-lunch for some FC Au's in New York here!

Great news, will be keen to see when. Nothing new on the EWR clubhouse though sadly.

Sounds good, like the idea of moving the CH airside.

Neil wrote:Sounds good, like the idea of moving the CH airside.

Yes that's good news for Au card holders. The TSA people always send me round the zig-zag if I'm in PE or Y and only let Upper pax through the (supposedly) fast channel. Does anyone have a timeframe for the new JFK CH? I've just booked a couple of trips leaving via EWR, but I'd like to check out the new place asap.

Nice, but the problem with JFK is all the shops are before security. Once you're in the clubhouse, you're stuck there.

I'm thinking of buying access for the Swiss Lounge at JFK, that's before security unfortunately, does anyone have good experience on this forum? Worth it?

I have read reports from other sites, but I value opinions of you guys

The Swiss lounge, and other Priority pass lounges are all ok, from what I recall. I like to lounge hop when I'm there, I get bored in one place too long. Comfy seats, which beat the concrete benches in the terminal, and wifi and nibbles available. I'd probably go for it. It was fairly quiet when I was there, and they serve hot food.

Is that also the 'London' lounge, if so it's very nice, good views, not real food but a well stocked bar and snacks.

If they move the JFK Clubhouse that will be a boon y) y)

The huge Terminal Roof just amplifies the constant clanging of the rollers as bags are put through the security machines on the other side of the Terminal making this Clubhouse anything but the haven of peace and quiet one normally expects in an Airline Lounge (not to mention the birds flying around v( )

buns

locutus wrote:Nice, but the problem with JFK is all the shops are before security. Once you're in the clubhouse, you're stuck there.

Are all the shops landside? Only asking as when I flew home from JFK last year, the check-in agent told me there were duty free shops both sides of security - but added the landside one was not the best of the two. Visited the landside shop & got 2 bottles of T10 Gin (each) on special offer... would have been rude not to .

Still very good news for JFK pax in Upper / Gold Card holders. Let's hope that the TSA staff working on this private security channel are friendly, helpful and approachable....

James

Kraken wrote:Are all the shops landside? Only asking as when I flew home from JFK last year, the check-in agent told me there were duty free shops both sides of security - but added the landside one was not the best of the two. Visited the landside shop & got 2 bottles of T10 Gin (each) on special offer... would have been rude not to .

I'd have said landside was better than airside. Airside has a few small shops, mostly selling snacks and re-selling the drinks that so many pax still seem to buy before security, and then have taken off them.

locutus wrote:

Kraken wrote:I'd have said landside was better than airside. Airside has a few small shops, mostly selling snacks and re-selling the drinks that so many pax still seem to buy before security, and then have taken off them.

no, no, take me airside any day. you can relax right up to the last minute and board.

good changes, bring it on.

Generally these are great changes - I too dislike the JFK clubhouse because it is not peaceful, and frankly it needed updating anyway. The single advantage of being landside is that those who like a bit a fresh air ( :w ) can nip out easily. But the private security channel should help that. So yes, greate peace and quiet, post-security and close to the VS gates, and a spa and it'll be great. Next I hope to see the VS25/6 back for greater choice of flights.

Although I quite liked the JFK CH at the beginning as time went by so much of it grated on me. I have arrived relatively early for the VS10 to find it chock-a-block and impossible to get served and equally I have arrived very early for the VS4 and in spite of a deserted area, I have been clothed in the Cloak of Invisibility. The more I was there, the more I became aware of the noise from the main airport area and the hassle of going through security.

In recent times I have appreciated more the shabby chic of the EWR CH as opposed to the funkiness of the JFK one and I certainly didn't appreciate that the JFK showers had no hairdryers. Don't women travel through JFK?

I hope all these considerations will be taken into account in the new CH

Give me EWR clubhouse over JFK clubhouse any day.

And as other people have said - it's all about the noise.

Personally I'm not bothered about the shops - for me it's all about the peace and quiet.

I don't really care if it's air or landside. My theory is that you've checked in, they know you're there and if you leave the landside clubhouse when called, you'll be fine.

So if they fix this by moving it to airside, I may switch back to generally flying out of JFK.

I'm trying to think of where the new CH will go airside in Terminal 4 at JFK - wherever it is, this is great news. And having seen those long security queues so often, the private security channel will be a huge selling point.