V-Flyer

Hello everyone.

Am on an OpenSkies flight to Paris and got my Prem Plus seat upgraded to Biz Bed for some dollars, not overly extortionate, but worth it to get a full 7 hours sleep.

This is my first time in the Galleries Lounge at JFK and I have to say - it sucks. Having only used the Concorde Lounge once before and finding that 'ok', I was really expecting something different to what I'm experiencing now, and before anyone barks at me for appearing to have heirs and graces... this is not the case.

I don't know whether it's because I am so VS orientated and usually only fly VS, or whether I am simply just not 'ok' with BA, or are not open to change...

Food... The check in to the 'Pre Flight Supper' area is quite ridiculous IMO. You get checked in on entry to the lounge and then again to the canteen, which is exactly what it was - nothing special, just a canteen. They have chefs which in my opinion 'pretend' to prepare your hot meal - (very limited choice) - in front of you. This evening was Mac and Cheese 'as you want', some pork, pots daph and roasted parsnips/carrots.... A 5 min wait (not moaning about that) only to receive something that could have quite frankly come out of a can. Stodgy and tasteless. It was a clearly a busy time when I arrived and so the queue was quite lengthy... again - who wants to queue in a lounge when you're used to service with VS?

The staff when inside the lounge were very cool, very helpful and eager to please. The desk staff on the other hand are rude, much like many of the old guard cabin crew of BA. Not helpful, lack of care as to your status, really quite bad and not a patch on Virgin, in my honest opinion.

The space, which is spacious I have to say is ok and what with being quite unfamiliar. The 'Pub' was dead, beer on tap and crisps might appeal back home or to the average pub drinker, but in a lounge.... wasted.

WIFI is a disaster.. I know VS has issues when there is high demand, and especially at JFK - but here - I reverted my my phone's LTE hotspot. Why can't people get that right - it's not rocket science for any airline.

On a good note - the cheese was PLENTIFUL... which as a hater of sugar was most welcome.

I really can't see me ever choosing BA over VS, even if things do change dramatically with the DL stake and rumored influence. I live in NYC and travel to LON frequently.. Something would have to go terribly wrong with VS before I ever contemplated another airline.

VS - Still RULING!

Thank you for a most interesting series of observations and I must say I am rather surprised . Not that you rate the VS CH so highly - but that the Concorde room didn't come up to expectation and Galleries failed to impress in any way except the cheese ! I know the Terraces at LGW is nothing much but somehow I thought that might be the exception not the rule !!

Using the VS CH at LHR as a baseline, most airline lounges are going to disappoint! It is known to be one of the best lounges in the industry worldwide.

Saying that I have visited many lounges across the world and have to say the BA lounges are usually very good. I even found the LGW BA Terraces acceptable (albeit at 5.30 am ).

I do think though that pre-flight dining, if advertised to replace the in-flight meal, should be on a par with what is offered on the aircraft. But Business Class dining on western airlines is never that exciting is it? better than economy certainly, but not fine dining by any stretch of the imagination.

Maximus wrote:Saying that I have visited many lounges across the world and have to say the BA lounges are usually very good. I even found the LGW BA Terraces acceptable (albeit at 5.30 am ).

The Galleries Lounge at T3 we used last year was, save for the lack of champagne, fine. Spacious, good selection of wines but in relation to the food though I agree that

Maximus wrote: Business Class dining on western airlines is never that exciting is it?

I would be severely hacked off if an airline served me "the tempting choice of gloop, slop or sludge" (copyright Gumshoe) that was on offer.

Also, one way BA are different, you might be eligible for lounge access, but not pre-flight dining, that is why you are checked again.

The food & drink offer in the new United lounge at LHR T2 is better than any BA Club lounge I've ever been in.

And it's a Priority Pass lounge.

How embarrassing ...

The open skies flight was superb! I got a full 7 hours sleep, service was excellent, the bed super comfortable and the wake up breakfast was spot on! I'm a very happy man in Paris.