This is a Trip Report from the Upper Class cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
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Cabin Crew
The night before we'd travelled down to Heathrow, and stayed at the Crowne Plaza - got a ridiculously cheap stay and park type deal. The room was spacious and quiet, and gave us a good nights sleep, not waking until 9am.
I'd splurged miles on a CDC to check out the check in! Many would consider this a waste, but fortunately for me it was yielded through 3-4 months of expense spending to my VS AMEX instead of my BA card.
The car arrived at 10am (we wanted a good spell in the CH, and had treatments booked at 11.15 anyway), and we were wisked T3 bound. Having not used the DTCI since the renovation, I wasn't a 100% sure of the entrance location. However, when we entered the T3 drop off zone I had to query this with the driver. We stopped whilst he called the DTCI lane, and this slightly took the cream off the experience as we had to do another circle to get back to the entrance. (cue a letter to VS CS)
However, once the car came to a stand still, the experience went back to A+. Check in procedures were flawless and speedy, the dedicated security was incredibly brisk, resulting in ~12 minute car to CH.
We headed straight to the brasserie, and I had a full English breakfast - spot on (service and food). I particularly liked having streaky and back bacon.
A brief shopping trip to duty free, collection of currency, and IRIS registration followed before our treatment time.
I had a haircut, which was a 6/10. Not close to the quality I get for 15 locally. However, I needed a trim, and it was a good excuse for a shower and hot tub visit (Paul Smith trunks GJ...) to wash away the stray hairs!
The mandatory Mojito was consumed once midday struck, and the remainder of our time in the Clubhouse was spent at the bar.
I think we departed from gate 3 (near the Emirates lounges), and priority boarding was working. Cabin crew were smily and friendly, but the offer of drinks once seated wasn't as prompt as I have experienced.
We pushed back on time, and took off 30 min later (27L) into a cloudy sky. Fortunately the seat belt signs were quickly off, in fact, noticably sooner than all of my A340-600 flights prior to this, after all, we'd made the most of the CH bar!
The flight passed with good food (Roast Lamb), flawless V-Port, and my first experince of the 5 seater bar. The OH noted that the seats in zone A would have been fine (typical), and this now means we can fly UC to the Carribean...
I was very keen to deplane quickly to minimise the delays at immigration, which helped get the blood flowing to the legs, and resulted in no queue! The typical questions ensued but the procedure took no more than 2-3 minutes. Looking back from baggage claim, we both agreed the brisk walk from the plane was worthwhile - the line growing to 3-4 deep very quickly.
The CDC service was very efficient at JFK, and we were at our hotel (room overlooking Central Park [y]) on 59th street within 50 minutes.
Would I consider an alternative TATL carrier? Maybe, but probably only if flying an F cabin. [:)]
