This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
I am so grateful to these forums for making me aware of the early morning flight from Newark. It leaves at 8am in the morning and I decided to try it, as 2 years previous we returned home via a JFK evening flight, which was good, but for the whole journey we had the underlying stress of trying to get our excited children to sleep for bit, or, if they don't sleep then we needed to keep them in a good frame of mind so they didn't get frustrated through tiredness, and promptly start howling in a cabin of passengers who probably really want to sleep on a overnight flight to London. So this time we went with the 8am Newark option.
We had booked into to the Marriott hotel at Newark which is on the airport site. For a multiple of reasons we arrived at the hotel far later than I would have liked, so wife and kids headed for dinner whilst I returned the hire car to Hertz. (Just as a tip, whilst the dinners in the Marriott are a little pricey, children eat for free – meaning it worked out a reasonable price!)
Due to running late, I had not refuelled but fortunately there is a petrol station opposite the entrance to the Hertz drop off. I used the airport light railway to get back, checking out if I could get from the airport to the terminal without using the hotel shuttle. Just for the record, It is possible with one main obstacle- you cross several roads by pedestrian crossing, then I crossed a quiet road, a crash barrier in the middle (do-able with a suitcase if it’s not too heavy and you are reasonably fit ) and cross one more road and then walk into the Marriott via its road entrance.
Anyway after dinner we went to bed, with everything ready for a 4:30 wake up call. (Which in effect is already getting you used to UK time!!) We checked out , and walked out of the hotel just as the courtesy shuttle was pulling away. We were just about to have a crack at walking to the terminal, when the next shuttle was ready to go and quickly delivered us to terminal B - which is having a lot of modernisation work. We checked in, and then went for breakfast in the shops that were open, as the Marriott does not start breakfast until 6.
(Above: Newark Clubhouse. I'm not entitled to use it, so I could only photograph the outside.
)The airport was really quiet at that time of day. We went through security (about 15 minutes) and waited at the gate (55). Boarding should have started at 7:05 but it turned out that was the time the crew arrived. Announcements were made that promised that this would not delay the departure, but this was not to be. Boarding started at 7:30 and people with children were called first. (I'm pretty certain we were called before UC, surprisingly)
In fact PE was busy with children, I'd say at least 25% were under 18, and there were a lot of children making their way through the plane so maybe as a day flight it's particularly popular with anyone taking children.
On board vbug (Lady Bird), either the crew has done a great Mary Poppins-esque job of getting everything set up quick, or the previous crew did it for them. Everything was in place, including water.
Push back was at 8:05 and we had to queue before we took off on runway 22r at 8:34.
Annoyingly, as the captain throttled up for take off, the seat in front reclined quickly right onto my 6 foot 4 frame causing me pain as the seat back pushed back onto my knees. Ouch.
In fact I thought maybe he had a faulty seat, but no. Just couldn't wait to lay back. We hadn't even taken off. One of the benefits of flying with children is I could happily move the water and any other junk out of the seat pocket to reclaim precious legroom. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind people reclining, they've paid for the seat, but a) do it slowly b) do it when take off is complete and the belt sign is off 
The seats we had were starting to show their age, so good job the refit programme is in swing. The arm of the seat was a bit scuffed, my daughters lumbar support button was jammed and my heart sank when I plugged her earphones into her seat, as there was no feeling of any catch and I doubted they would work. Mine caught very slightly but if knocked the sound cut out. It wasn't too much of a problem, and my daughters worked fine but fell out easily. However it is a good job the aircraft are being refitted or retired soon.
The crew in the PE cabin were excellent as usual and on this trip particularly good humoured with the passengers – very natural
The crew served coffee before the breakfast run saying that breakfast was going to take a bit longer so they decided to do a coffee run before. I was glad they did! Breakfast was served at 9:15. Great meal but my eldest daughter did not like the mushrooms. (yes, the mushrooms...)
The crew served water and orange a couple of time until serving a stiffer drink around 11:30 with lunch soon after.
A visit to the toilet after lunch presented a state. Wet tissue all over the floor, and very untidy unlike a few hours earlier. Not wishing to cast blame, but maybe due to the number of youngsters? (I usually fly on a route not frequented by children (to PVG), maybe this is more common than I think)
Decent started at about 14:09 us time, and we landed ten minute ahead of schedule at 7:50. Immigration was kind and I frog marched the family across T3 through busy lifts to the 5th level of the car park for the meet and greet.
Something seemed wrong. I stood there and could vaguely recall 2 weeks previous, at drop off, the man from Purple Parking saying “It’s all changed for the Olympics”. A quick faf about for the paper work confirmed that pick up is now on level 3. Urg. Back to those lifts.
So overall was the jet lag any better taking a day flight? I’d say definitely. I felt a little lagged the next day around 11-1 but other than that I was ok for the majority of the following day times. With the children I noticed no ill effects, other than not being hungry at the right times. They dropped straight into their home sleep pattern.
The real benefit thought was that the flight was a more relaxed affair with the children than taking the night flight from JFK, I would definitely do this flight again.
