This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I arrived at the check in desks at around 07:45. I waited for maybe a minute or less until a member of ground staff came over and asked me if I had checked in. I told her yes and I just needed to drop a bag and she walked me over to a UC desk where I was seen to immediately. The agent was very nice, took off my old bag tag and put the new one on.....except she didn't priority tag my bag!!!!! (More on that later)
I entered security at 07:50 and was through 8 minutes later, even though there was a lady ahead of me in a wheelchair. A quick stop at Boots and Dixons to buy headphones for my sister (couldn't find the model she wanted at the Apple Store, but managed to find it there.)
I arrived at the gate at 08:15 to no queue in the UC/PE area, and my BP was scanned and I was through in an instant. I waited around for a bit and saw three festively dressed VS cabin crew doing a gift wrapping charity drive. No one was getting anything wrapped, so I thought it would be nice if I had them wrap the headphones for my sister, which they were excited to do, and did a good job of it, putting it in a purple bag with pink tissue paper.
Shortly after that, an announcement was made apologising for the delay as the "aircraft was not ready when our cabin crew arrived". About 10-15 minutes later, another announcement was made saying the same thing. Finally, at around 08:50, boarding for UC was called, and a few minutes later PE boarding. I made my way quickly on and took seat 22K. A few minutes later one of the cabin crew came around offering drinks. It was 9 in the morning, and the sparkling wine isn't great, but I figured it would be a nice kickoff to the holidays, so I had some.
Shockingly, even with the delay, we pushed back on time at 09:20. We had a 21 minute taxi, taking of at 09:41, but it felt quicker than that.
About an hour and a half after takeoff, lunch was served. I had the beef, which was ok. The salad was good, and so were the roasted veggies, but the beef seemed a little tough, even though it was flavourful. I had the red and a glass of sparkling water to wash it down. I thought the mousse dessert was good, but the caramel made it a little to sweet for my taste. After dinner I had tea, and then a glass of Bailey's on ice.
Shortly after lunch the seatbelt sign was turned on because of turbulence and remained on for most of the flight....
I tried to get iMap to work, but it wouldn't, everything else on V:PORT worked though, and I didn't care enough to ask for it to be reset. Shortly after lunch I put the seat back and went to sleep for a good few hours.
My seatmate and I talked for quite a bit. Oddly enough, he was also an American living in London, grew up near where I did, went to a rival boarding school, and used to spend the summer on the same lake I did in upstate NY. Small world!
About an hour and a half before landing, afternoon tea was served. This was a cheese and onion sandwich, a scone with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and of course tea. It was all pretty good and went down well.
The usual sweets were handed out right before landing. No ice cream though! I kind of missed that....
Now for the fun part..... We were on final approach, gear and flaps down at about 1000 feet or so in clear view of the airport, when suddenly you heard the engines roar and were pushed back into your seat...going around!! It was my first go around, and I expected there to be a lot more force pushing me back in my seat, but there wasn't. I took a quick look around the cabin and everyone seemed quite calm. The captain announced we were going around but didn't give a reason, instead joked it was to give us a nice view of Jamaica Bay, though I assume it was because of traffic. After another 15 minutes we touched down at 13:08, 40 minutes late, with gate arrival at 13:19, 8 hours and 59 minutes after we left!!!
My macbook pro decided it would fall out of the overhead when I took my bag out, tumbling across the floor. Luckily it was just a small dent... I was quickly off the plane and it was about 5 minutes from aircraft door to through passport control...a JFK record for me. However that is where the speediness stopped... I waited for about 10 minutes staring at the TV screens waiting for it to show the baggage reclaim belt...but it never came. We were directed to belt 5, where the flight number was shown as I walked up to it, but still not on the main screen directing everyone! A few minutes later UC bags began to come out, then PE bags, and at the tail end of the PE bags, my bag. It was then that I discovered the agent didn't priority tag it, and I was probably very lucky it came out with the PE bags!
Soon after I was through customs and on the way to my parents' house, which shockingly at 14:00 on the Friday before Christmas took 2:15hr. (usually 1.5hrs).
All in all it was the longest flight to NY I have ever had, and probably the most turbulent, but thankfully the most relaxing. I'm dreading flying back in Economy! Should have taken that UC upgrade offer for £358!! (I would have if i had £358 to spare!!!!) Maybe there will be some PE upgrades available at checkin....
Happy Christmas to all of you!!
