V-Flyer

After a very chilly time in NY, it was time to head home. Got the A and the airtrain out to JFK to find an empty check-in area. Dropped bags off, switched to the bulk head row and off to the lounge. This was very quiet when we arrived - it got busier around the bar as everyone was watching the superbowl that was on. There was one celebrity in there - which made some people go over and have a photo taken with him, and others to sit right next to him, even though there was loads of space elsewhere (some people are odd when they see someone famous!).

Grabbed a seat by the window and a glass of champagne was soon in my hand. Noticed that the menu was very different - only three cocktails listed now, rather than the usual number. After my champagne, I had a lovely shower and freshen up before the flight home.

We had dinner in there - similar to the drinks list, the food menu now has three starters, three mains, one desert and cheese - there are no specials available. The food was very good, especially the prawns with cheesy grits. There were only two other tables used in the dining area the whole time we were in the lounge tonight.

Asked how much it was to upgrade - 849 case or about 330 plus 20,000 miles. Decided to save the cash and miles and remain in premium.

Flight was called - busier than normal in the security area (usually thought that most of the flights had left by then). There was no queue at the gate and so it was straight on board. Premium was only about a third full, and overall there was only 160 people on board (the first section of economy was empty). Very short taxi and no hanging around on the ground today.

Not long after take-off, dinner was bought around:

Caesar salad

Lamb curry with tumeric pilaf rice and mixed lentil daal

OR

BBQ chicken breast with red skin mashed potato and green beans

OR

Red pepper gnocchi in creamy garden pesto

Strawberry swirl cheescake.

The salad was much better than the outbound, the lamb was a bit too fatty and the cheesecake had no swirls and had never seen a strawberry. Having said that it was very tasty!! Asked for a hot chocolate instead of tea/coffee, which was made in a lovely mug for me.

Settled down after this to sleep, which I managed until we were over Ireland and the pre-landing service started. Did try to watch a bit of TV, but the colours on the monitor were very odd and a strange shade of blue (reported to CC, so hopefully it will get sorted). Declined anything on the plane, as was heading off to Revivals.

We arrived early, straight through IRIS, bags already off had showered and eaten and were off to the tube by 11:15 - not bad given we were supposed to only land at 10:25!

All in all a pleasant flight and the CC were very friendly and helpful throughout the flight.

I love that you asked for hot chocolate and got it. Might try that in March

you are quick with your TR! (a certain 'N' from 'Hull' take note )

Looke like you had a good trip and beat the snowstorms !

quote:Originally posted by gingerflyer
There was no queue at the gate and so it was straight on board. Premium was only about a third full, and overall there was only 160 people on board (the first section of economy was empty).


Quite an empty flight then!! When it is empty, the front half of economy is blocked off to balance the aircraft for take-off. People can move to these seats and spread out once the seat belt sign has been turned off once in the air.

How often do they change the menus? The menu was exactly the same as we had when we few to MCO on 16/12/09. Had the BBQ chicken on our return journey it was vile![:$] Basically was boiled chicken smothered in a not too nice bbq sauce. At the time i wished i had had the lamb but now ....maybe not!
So who was the celebrity...?

IIRC I'm sure the PE and Y menus change about every six months.

Thanks for the TR god bless IRIS, I only have two bugbears about it; 1. People going 'but I have a biometric passport of course it will work' and people forgetting to take their glasses off!

quote:Originally posted by seanpep
Thanks for the TR god bless IRIS, I only have two bugbears about it; 1. People going 'but I have a biometric passport of course it will work' and people forgetting to take their glasses off!


You do NOT need to take glasses off. I've been using IRIS since it opened in T3, and not once have I had a problem with wearing glasses.

Thank you for the TR.