V-Flyer

This is the TR for the return part of my trip to NY after an outbound on a very empty VS003.

After 5 days in a very cold New York it was time to return home, we chose the VS10 as it was at a better time for a pick up at LHR to save me from another trip on a national express coach.

As we had large bags with us (and it was Martin Luther king day in the US) we decided to make our way to JFK to be there at 14:00 when check in opens to drop our bags.

We had checked in online the night before and after a few refreshes of the screen I achieved SEQ 1 and SEQ 2 for the first time.

We left our hotel in queens and took the E subway towards Jamaca station to change on to the JFK airtrain to terminal 4. And arrived at checkin just before they opened. We were quickly seen at the PE desk and bags were tagged. The agent on the desk was very polite and even phoned operations to get the gate number for us as it was not on the system and wrote it on to our boarding passes for us.

We then took our bags over to the TSA where they were taken from us and we went downstairs to find something for lunch.

After a quick mcdonalds we decided to explore the terminals of JFK so took the airtrain around stopping a couple of times to look in to another terminal eventually returning to terminal 4 to look around the duty free shops and get another light meal as we were not planning to eat on the aircraft.

After a while we went through security and experienced the full body x-ray machines for the first time.

Had a slight delay as there was a man infront of me who did not want to pass through security but still wanted to go thorough to the gate which of course ment that everything stopped until he was scanned twice.
There was not a very long wait and it did provide a few moments entertainment so not as bad as I was expecting from the TSA (as I am used to MCO and the rush to get through for the VS28)

We arrived at the gates in time to see the back of the VS4 leaving and the VS45 boarding and then waited for the arrival of G-VGOA to take us home as the VS10.

We waited and waited and waited some more watching the ground crew on the apron who were also waiting until eventually Indian Princess turned up late.
As soon as the aircraft arrived the ground crew sprang in to action and after checking over the plane with torches started to unload and re-fuel.

Our cabin crew turned up at this time and sat at the gate opasite waiting to be able to board.

Eventually 40 minutes behind schedule we started boarding and were offered a sparkling wine a moment after we had sat down. This flight was a little busier than our outbound with 263 pax on board.

Once the aircraft was loaded the captain came on oner the PA with an announcement saying that the weather was deteriorating and we would need to be de-iced.
This was followed around 30 mins later with another announcement saying that operations were unable to get in touch with the company responsible for the de-icer and so we would have a longer than expected wait.

After around another 10 mins we were pulled off the stand and taken to the end of the taxiway from the gates where we were greeted by the truck to be un-frozen, and then after the cabin was re-secured we were on our way around 1 hour 45 mins later than scheduled.

Takeoff was smooth but as we climed out of NY we did pass through a bumpy patch after which the crew gave out headsets and turned on VPort. Dinner was then served at around 11:45pm NY time 04:45 UK time so I was glad I had eaten earlier!
I managed to sleep through a few hours and was awoken over Ireland as the crew offered breakfast to anyone who was awake. The full English is a vast improvement from the muffin things I am used to in economy on transatlantic flights.

After circling over the Reading- LGW area for what seemed like ages we finally left the hold and flew out making the turn oner London to fly down the thames with a good view of the Olympic park on the way in to the northern runway landing at around 11:25.

On landing we proceeded to a taxiway where we could see VS aircraft to our left and a QF A380 to our right when the captain made his final apology for the delay out of JFK and for being unable to get to the gate at LHR as another VS aircraft was just pushing back from our stand. We were sat there for a few minutes before we finally arrived at the gate and were allowed to leave the aircraft.

The crew on this flight again were excellent responding to every request instantly.

I even got given an x-plane survey (another 1st)

On arriving to immigration I attempted to use the E-gates but as usual the chip in my passport would not work and I was directed to a proper person sat at a desk behind the gates to be seen. (only another 7 years until I can get a new passport )

By the time we got to baggage reclaim bags were just starting to appear and ours were out in the first batch so it was time to phone for a pick up.
My mum was sat in the coffee shop at Tesco (just south of LHR next to the Ashford hospital) so as to avoid parking charges at LHR so after clearing customs me and my sister waited outside Departures to be collected. (a tip I read on flyer talk IIRC)

In summary another good flight with a faultless crew but a little delayed due to the late arrival in to JFK and no de-icer.

Great TR thank you, and SEQ1/2 - I like the idea of touring JFK on the Air Train!

Hey glad you had another good flight. Look forward to your next trip

Blimy you were brave in lugging your luggage on the subway. I tried it once and went 'never, never, ever again !'

tontybear wrote:Blimy you were brave in lugging your luggage on the subway. I tried it once and went 'never, never, ever again !'

Was only a short trip and not as bad as I was expecting.
Not as bad as the Piccadilly line!!

Great TR - shame about the delays, though! Sounds like a decent flight with a very positive crew. would avoid bags on the NYC subway like the plague!

CHill710 wrote:As soon as the aircraft arrived the ground crew sprang in to action and after checking over the plane with torches started to unload and re-fuel.

Hopefully the torches weren't of the "flaming" variety...

CHill710 wrote: flew out making the turn oner London to fly down the thames with a good view of the Olympic park on the way in to the northern runway landing at around 11:25.

Such an excellent view..perhaps they should charge extra on this routing

Thanks for the TR - how was NYC itself?

pjh wrote:
Such an excellent view..perhaps they should charge extra on this routing

Thanks for the TR - how was NYC itself?

NY was amazing but very very cold. The day we went up to the top of the empire state building tere was a blizzard but nothing settled
As it was just after the busy Christmas period it was quieter than usual and the subway to get around was not a problem.
The only thing I would have liked to have done but didn't would have been to go across on the ferry to staten island to see the statue of liberty but as it was -4C we thought it would be a bit cold out on the water, and I would have liked to explore central park a bit more but again as the temperature was -11C that morning we decided to walk from top to bottom of the park and had to keep moving to keep warm.

tontybear wrote:Blimy you were brave in lugging your luggage on the subway. I tried it once and went 'never, never, ever again !'

I always use the subway now to midtown after finding how easy/cheap it is to use from JFK. Once caught the E train at 4am for the very early VS flight back to LHR. That was way too early.

Thanks for the trip report.

I too now take the E train into midtown. So much cheaper than a taxi and you don't have to sit in Manhattan traffic.