V-Flyer

Our spring visit to youngest son (YS), DIL and 2 small daughters (10 and 4) seemed to go so quickly. They’ve a huge house over 4 floors including a basement. It amazes me that in England, with much less land than many countries, we don’t build with basements when USA and many European countries do. Seems such a good idea. Because we stay with family, it gives us a flavour of life in small-town USA, we meet their friends, ex-pat and American – everyone is so friendly.

Lots of retail opportunities too – and it really is dollars for pounds there. Some things you can’t directly compare but skincare, perfume, make-up are half the price of the UK. So naturally we took advantage, be mad not to do so!

All too soon it was time to pack suitcases. We had a limo from the house to JFK, heavy traffic apparently in Manhattan so the driver went south via Brooklyn and the Verrazano bridge and we were at JFK in 1 hour 20 which was very good time.

We normally fly from EWR so are newbies on the JFK scene. For any other newbies, when you go through the Virgin entrance, on your left is the desk you’ll recognise from LHR but be warned, that’s only for carry-on luggage. Look right, to the windows at the end of the building, to the DL sign and walk there. A row of DL desks and, tucked away in the corner, two nice smiley VS girls. We were welcomed, luggage quickly tagged and despatched and given our boarding passes marked with Lounge access. Quickly through security without a problem for OH, I got secondary pat-down as is usual with my wanted-felon appearance and then it was off to the JFK CH.
We enjoyed our time there, found it good. Yes, it pales in comparison to LHR CH but then that is the ne plus ultra so anything is going to fall short. JFK CH was very quiet when we arrived and stayed that way. We just had a couple of drinks and some tiny tapas.

Because the feed from VS to V-Flyer was down, there was no “Whiterose is scheduled to depart….” on the left-hand column of V-Flyer. I felt quite deflated by that! One of life’s little perks. Also we didn’t have information of which aircraft we would be on till she arrived. And was FAB, yes dear old Lady Penelope.

One of the great advantages of JFK CH is that it’s right over the departure gate so a quick walk down the stairs and you’re on your way.
We had our favourite 15A & K for the overnight flight. Seemed to be an all-female crew, didn’t see any males. But surprisingly no-one introduced themselves as FSM nor did anyone identify themselves as our named crew member. Nor was our Ag status recognised though we were identified as such on the pax list by the galley. That said, they were a friendly and helpful crew. All female does mean that I struggle to hear announcements – female register, spoken fast because they’ve done it so often, so I’ve no idea how many pax there were though one of the crew when asked said UC was full, PE pretty much and just a few seats in Y.

Pushed back on time at 1930, just a few yards. And sat there. Captain came on and said VS engineers had asked for an engine test. Ten minutes later apparently all was well (now 1940). So we moved fifty yards or so. And sat again. And then another 50 yards and sat again. Eventually it got to 2010, we’d gone the pretty way all round JFK by now and the Captain said you’ll have realised there’s congestion but we are now in the queue to take-off. Alas he didn’t say how long the queue was – we finally took off at 2040.

Amenity kit usual UC dark grey felt zip pouch, most uninspiring, with socks, eyeshades, toothbrush and paste, ear plugs, pen, tiny pack of tissues and The Mint (yes really, a little crimp-edged pack with one mint).

Crew try to serve a short meal so you can sleep, so it’s only two courses:

Main courses
Herb-infused seared fillet of beef
Pan-sauteed free-range chicken breast
Sweet pea and mint ravioli

Warm breads

Pudding
Oreo cookies and cream cheesecake

Cheese and port
Danish Blue
Tomme de Savoie
Chimay a la Biere

I opted for just cheese and port, OH the beef. But as it was after 9.00 before the crew were even starting to bring dishes round, I cancelled mine and bedded down. OH said beef was a bit dry.
To my surprise, I actually slept for a few hours, then dozed for an hour or so more.

Breakfast was a separate menu which you had to tick and hand in so from memory, several cereals (Kellogg’s this and that, Weetabix, muesli, etc), rolls, full English with ability to choose different items, bacon roll, yoghurt, fresh fruit, orange juice.

We both had a bacon roll and orange juice.

Landed on time (0750) which was surprising given late departure, but then VS arrival times always seem to be a bit up the creek, we always find we’re around an hour early. And to our astonishment, we went straight in, no stacking, no circling, first time this has ever happened to us.

Good flight despite the late departure and the slightly less engaging-with-pax attitude from the crew than we’d had on the outbound. But that said, they were still good.

Glad the flight was good for you ,the CH at JFK is very good and whilst not as big or glam as LHR for me it's at least on a par because of the exceptional service particularly their keenness to top up your glass every few minutes .
Shame about the long taxiing time but that's JFK for you .
Thanks for posting

Thanks for this. I've been looking out for recent 45 and 46 TRs.

With regard to the status recognition, I think it's the consensus is that there is no consistency. In all the flights I've taken, I've only had recognition 6 times and 4 of those were because I knew the crew. It doesn't bother me anyway.

Tinuks wrote:
With regard to the status recognition, I think it's the consensus is that there is no consistency. In all the flights I've taken, I've only had recognition 6 times and 4 of those were because I knew the crew. It doesn't bother me anyway.

TBH I've never given it thought before. The miles uplift is useful but otherwise it's meaningless. There's been some mention in recent TRs so I thought some people must find it of interest.