V-Flyer

Return leg of short business trip across the pond.

Headed for airport by usual daylight hour method - E train from corner of 51st and 8th. Breakdown of trip as follows for those interested in the public transport method to JFK:

Down to platform and wait for train: 10 minutes
E Train to Sulphin Blvd: 30 minutes
Transfer to Air train and wait: 10 minutes
Air Train to T4: 10 minutes

So 1 hour from midtown to T4 at 4pm for 7 bucks. I could've sat in comfort with a car service but hell at least I know I'm going to get there on time.

Check-in was non-descript. At one point the agent checked with a collegue about something and I heard something along the lines of 'not with silver' and cursed by luck - oh well. So I dropped my single bag and, gazing longingly at my favourite haunt that is the JFK clubhouse, I turned left instead of right and headed downstairs to look round the shops (again).

They've just opened a Christmas shop in the terminal so I was greeted with 'jingle bells' but resisted the tempation to look around. Instead I headed to the Duty Free shop to buy a few bits and pieces. Now I normally opt for one of the later JFK flights so it has been interesting on this and my previous flight to see how congested the terminal is at 5:00. Unfortunately this is made worse by the seemingly ill-trained staff at Duty Free check-out - They're really good at selling you things but pretty awful at taking payment. The first till managed to serve two people in 15 minutes before I gave up and headed elsewhere. The next till was a little better but still took 10 minutes to serve 2 people - not helped by the fact that passengers never seem to have their boarding passes available despite standing there when the previous passenger is asked for theirs. So I finally headed through security at about 5:30 and then had to wait for 20 minutes at the DF counter to wait while my purchases caught up. I finally arrived at the gate at 5:58 (for a 6:30 departure).

Flight pushed back 15 minutes early at 6:15 and remarkably (for JFK anyway) we left the ground at 7:10 - not exactly on schedule but not bad. Just before take-off we were informed by the steward that as they would be dimming the lights but that we could operate our reading light by flicking the switch above the panel in our heads - ripple of laughter before he corrected the statement. Was also pleasantly surprised to be informed not only of the a/c registration (VYOU) and name but also its capacity and load - for the record a relatively light 208 pax on board. The only somewhat unprofessional aspect of the crew was the incessant laughter coming from the cabin crew during the entire taxing and take-off. As they were tucked away in their own little alcove between the galley and UC they obviously felt that they could let their hair down but seemed oblivious to the rest of the passengers.

So I sank back into the standard short overnight flight routine - quick meal (chicken) with a reasonable film (The Prestige) then settled back for a couple of hours snooze. Few empty seats around PE (about 60% full) meant that I had no-one in front and no-one behind so made things a little more comfortable. Landed at about 6:30am and taxied to gate number 1 (having left 5 days earlier from gate 3) - good to see these new gates. Despite leaving the plane behind the UC pax I was second to the carousel largely due to my breezing throught the IRIS checking. Bag quickly retrieved I headed for home.

Next trip in April.

Phil FM

Thanks for the good TR!

JFK duty free was a shambles when I was there in June, the whole airport was heaving, as it was July 4th weekend! Never again! [:(!]

Thanks for the TR a good read.[^]

I am so glad not to travel through JFK anymore.[y]

Originally posted by DMetters-Bone
Thanks for the good TR!

JFK duty free was a shambles when I was there in June, the whole airport was heaving, as it was July 4th weekend! Never again! [:(!]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the TR. I know what you mean by the duty free, not the best at service. Thankfully this one is not operated by our staff but all the Runway & Bijoux Terner branded shops are. I hope they were ok [:I]

Thanks again for the informative TR

Iain

I tend to pass on American Duty Free for either the reason you state - slow service, and then having to hang around at boarding for your goods to show up, or pitifully small stores with naff selections - usually at locations where international flights were an afterthought (i.e. international flight leaving from a domestic terminal).

There are certain times on the G pier at SFO where there is no means pass back to landside for departing pax (other than with airline assistance) - so once you've passed through the search comb, 'you're going' and therefore I've had duty free purchases handed to me in the store, which suprised me at the time.

Ironically, I've been on a flight from T3 at LHR which got CANXed, and I just walked back into the country through arrivals as usual, picked up my bag, and didn't have any duty free purchases taken off me. Given we had closed the aircraft door before the CANX, and it was a US registered aircraft, had I technically been out of the country? [;)]

Thanks for the TR. Useful info on the public transport route to JFK. Good if you've not got lots of luggage, I'm sure.

Shame about the 'giggling schoolgirl' behaviour from the crew on jumpseats. VS are particularly bad for this, as I don't recall hearing it on most other airlines (SK, LH, BA, UA, BD, LX, SQ, TG, etc.).

If only VS could pass some hint to their crew about this without appearing draconian and upsetting morale or it seeming like a stupid rule. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Did you get a breakfast on this flight?

Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Did you get a breakfast on this flight?

No breakfast as such Mike - just a cup of tea/coffee and either a breakfast bar or muffin. Personally I would prefer a good breakfast to an evening meal.

Phil FM

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by mike-smashing
Did you get a breakfast on this flight?

No breakfast as such Mike - just a cup of tea/coffee and either a breakfast bar or muffin. Personally I would prefer a good breakfast to an evening meal.

Yeah, it's pretty shabby isn't it? VS food and drink really does seem a bit nasty at times, and then shines at others.

A friend recently flew back from YHZ on Air Canada. Because his booked flight was totally overbooked, he took a vol-off to the next day, got a free round trip on AC, a paid hotel stay, and an op-up to J on the next day's flight.

Because of the short flight from YHZ to LHR, the J service consisted of drinks and a quick cold meal (sandwich platters) after departure, and then a proper breakfast before arrival. He said there was *lots* of breakfast.

Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing
[Because of the short flight from YHZ to LHR, the J service consisted of drinks and a quick cold meal (sandwich platters) after departure, and then a proper breakfast before arrival. He said there was *lots* of breakfast.

It would seem to make sense, certainly on the later JFK flights, to have a light snack on boarding and a bigger breakfast - especially if this is clearly advertised and passengers have a chance to eat before boarding. I used to always eat in the CH and really just wanted to sleep as soon as I boarded, the long wait for take off at JFK normally meant I was asleep by take-off and didn't want to eat anyway - 5 hours later I would be ready to eat the seat.

Phil FM

Completely agree with you all about the breakfast. I was really dismayed to find that the breakfast was a flapjack or cereal bar in PE. I'm much more a savory over sweet person and so I passed, knowing that i'd be heading to Revivals on landing. If I didnt have that option i'd be really miffed at starting the day on a light snack. I know the breakfasts in PE were never popular, that's because they were rubbish! Normally some greasy egg omelette thing.

Could we not compromise by offering something simple like Croissants/Danish pastries with OJ or Toast/English Muffins as well?

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Could we not compromise by offering something simple like Croissants/Danish pastries with OJ or Toast/English Muffins as well?

I love coffee and croissants.

That's my usual breakfast, and has been since I first visited France when I was about 8 years old.

I'd be over the moon if that's what we got in the W cabin.

Anyone listening at VS?

(Actually, I doubt it, as I've tried to correspond directly with people in the Inflight Service/Food and Drink areas, and I've been ignored, and not even referred to customer services. Shame on you.)

Mike

Good TR, Thank you. [y]