VS045 LHR-JFK 15 MAY 10 (Premium Economy)

This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin

Ground Staff

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Seat

Cabin Crew

We stayed at the Heahrow Marriott and after a good breakfast left the hotel about 1030 on the "hopper bus" to T3. Check in area was fairly busy but the PE desk had no queue at all. Check in was very quick and efficient and it was not long before we headed upstairs to security. It took about 30 mins to get through security. This gave us time for some shopping. We had booked the Servisair Lounge before our flight. I know its not the Clubhouse but we like it, there were snacks and drinks available and the lap top worked ok with the wi-fi.
At about 1300 we left for Gate 18. At the gate it did not take too long before we were sitting in the loung waiting to board. Boarding started about 1330. We boarded fairly quickly and were directed to our seats (31 H&K). Not long after we sat down the glasses of bubbly appeared. The captain announced the details of the flight and we pushed back at 1405, with actual take off at 1435.
Soon after take off the drink service started, followed by the meal. The meal was a choice of beef stew, chicken curry or vegatarian. Having had a curry the previous night we both opted for the beef which was a good choice.
After the meal the was service of tea, coffee and brandy or baileys.
It was then time to watch some films on the excellent V-Port. Throughout the flight orange juice and water was brought through at regular intervals. At some point there was ice cream and before we landed more tea, coffee with a cookie. The cabin crew were brilliant and nothing ever seems to trouble them.
The cabin was secured for landing and we touched down at JFK at 1640 local time. Once at the gate it did not take too long until we were off the plane and heading to immigration. It would appear that some flights from Jordan, UAE & Pakistan had arrived just in front of us and immigration was packed. It took us over an hour to get through. Our previous trip to New York was at EWR and we were straight through. After collecting our bags and going though customs we exited the airport in time for the 1800 bus to Grand Central.

In summary, I think VS has a great product in PE. It's so much more comfortable and relaxing compared to Y. The Cabin Crew that we have encountered have all been great and this to makes a big difference to the whole experience.
We're already looking forward to our next trip with VS.

and hope you had a fab time in NYC too

Thanks for the TR. Glad you had a good flight. And I know what you mean about a packed immigration hall! Wish we were as lucky as the Irish who clear US Immigration at the Irish end!

Thanks for posting the TR. Yup, when VS get it right, PE is a really good daytime product.

Great to hear the flight was good and that the cc were on form too, quite often we hear of the crew being rather lacklustre but these cc sounded great.

cheers

alex

Thanks for the TR. Sadly the VS45 arrives at the same time as everyone else into T4 at JFK - an hour doesn't seem too bad given some waits that I have seen people have there.

Thanks for all the comments.

Regarding JFK, it's just worth remembering when planning a trip that you could spend over an hour stood in line. I don't know what the answer is unless they spread out the arrivals at T4 at JFK? ESTA does not seem to have speeded anything up.

Great TR, glad you enjoyed the experience.

JFK and immigration ... if I can avoid it, I'd head to Newark instead. If the VS45 gets in early, it's OK, anything else and it's not. Also I'm doubly avoiding JFK during this summer while one its runways is being repaired.

Great TR and very pleased to hear you had such a good flight. Getting into JFK is always a nightmare and I have had similar experiences at Newark so always work on the basis anything under 90 minutes is a bonus!

Thank you for the great TR. Sounds like you had a great flight.