This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
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This flight was rearranged from our Upper reward flight to Tokyo. We decided not to travel there as it was to be our first trip to Japan, and we just didn't feel this was the right time for what would probably be a once in a lifetime holiday - luckily our travel company (Inside Japan) has allowed us to postpone until next year.
As our flight was the day after the cut-off date for full refunds, we risked losing a quarter of our miles (50,000) if we just cancelled the flights. We could have transferred to another destination with upper reward availability, but wanted to save as many miles as possible for flights to Tokyo next year. For this reason we wanted to travel somewhere (preferably New York) Economy or PE. Unfortunately we found the only way to downgrade an Upper reward flight is to change it to a revenue ticket.
An added complication was that our son was quite keen to come with us to New York! In the end, with the help of a very helpful agent in the Premier Team I managed to get my wife and I Economy tickets upgraded with miles to PE, and our son a reward Economy ticket upgraded to PE with my Amex upgrade voucher. Even managed to get these on the days I wanted only 10 days before the flight.
Now back to the Trip Report:-
I couldn't do OLCI for wife and I, but my son on a different reference did his OK - was to find out why later! We got the tube out on Sunday evening to Terminal 5 and booked in to the Sofitel - I'd got a good, but non-refundable rate some months before, and was determined not to waste it! Went over to Terminal 3 thinking it could be a quiet time to see if there was a problem with our tickets causing the inability to do OLCI. The Virgin area was absolutely heaving - I think due to the flight to Accra, so gave up that idea.
Next morning, knowing we had most of the day to kill, we got up in a very leisurely way and went back to Terminal 3. Found that the Heathrow Express was the only place I could get free Wireless Internet, so made full use of the 4 minute journey
.Met up with son, and went to PE check-in. No queue, our son quickly dealt with, but found the reason we couldn't check in was that new tickets hadn't been issued. So had to go over to Ticketing, where after about twenty minutes of continuous keyboard tapping and me parting with the cash for the tickets (having thought that had been done when I altered the booking), we were allowed back to check-in, where we were dealt with by the original agent. I suppose knowing I had so much time made me more relaxed about the whole procedure!.
Anyway, bags having been dropped, we went back to Terminal 5 (another 4 minutes of Internet), and for a leisurely lunch at Carluccio's, which I think is probably the best of the pre-security eating options at Heathrow. Eventually back to Terminal 3 (yes, 4 more minutes of Internet), and quickly through security. Wandered around for a while, feeling a bit sorry for myself missing out on the Clubhouse that I was looking forward to on my original flight.
After sitting for a while, reading and people watching, flight was called on time, and boarding by the time we arrived at the gate. Two airbridges, so quickly on to Mystic Maiden and in to our seats - 20D,F,G. We'd been booked in to row 22, and was pleased I'd been able to move forward - I can see why people don't like row 23 next to the toilets! Sparkling wine served promptly.
Took off pretty much on time, V-Port soon up and running with no problems, and a little while later had a G&T in my hand, which is the point at which I start to feel on holiday
.I thought the food was perfectly inoffensive - a small smoked salmon salad starter, followed by fishcake, and an oversweet mousse type dessert. A couple of glasses of wine helped it down, but no wine is going to taste of much in those tiny glasses. Had the offered brandy (served by the FSM would you believe), and managed to doze a little after watching 'Red' which was easy to watch but complete nonsense.
Fruit, juice, ice cream and sandwich rounds kept the cabin crew busy - they all seemed friendly as well as professional.
The final approach to JFK seemed to take an abnormally long time. I had the impression that we had to do a circuit or two before finally landing at about 20.30. (This was just after the Air France A380 had clipped another plane so maybe that had something to do with it).
Had about a 10 minute wait at Immigration, bags were amongst the first batch off, then into a cab to take us to the Eventi Hotel in Manhattan.
Sorry for the long report, but as a very occasional longhaul flyer I was very happy with the PE product for a flight of this length.
Mike
