This is a Trip Report from the Premium Economy cabin
Ground Staff
Food & Drink
Entertainment
Seat
Cabin Crew
We were booked on a ‘K’ class premium economy ticket, but asked at reservations about whether there were any deals on upgrades etc (we knew that PE was full but not oversold on the flight). The cost quoted was £2,033 plus 10,000 miles each – an easy decision then – NO! Proceeded to check-in where we were then asked….”would you like to upgrade to Upper today for a special discounted price of £1,100”. Not quiet sure why the price had dropped in the time it took us to walk over to the check-in desk but it was still a no! There were four checking in – two with gold cards and two without. The check-in agent who checked me and my friend tagged both bags Upper and then personally carried them to the trolleys; the other check-in agent who checked in my partner and the other friend tagged one bag Upper and the other Premium, and said that the non-Upper tagged bag had to be taken by the passenger to the security screening area. Not sure why she was less helpful – not very customer orientated!
Then it was through the maze of the building work, noticing the old Clubhouse has gone / is part of the rebuilding work and down to the A piers…..confused as the VS flights used to go from the B piers. Security was a breeze and soon we were through and off to the Club House. What a change this place is – the old one was great but this is amazing! It was our first time here and we had plenty of time to enjoy the whole place. We started off with a drink at the bar, followed by a meal in the restaurant over-looking the gate. We saw the earlier flight pushback a little late and then not long afterwards, our plane park up after its flight from LHR. After dinner it was time to move to some of the seats on the other side, whilst my partner had a haircut (missed the opportunity on the way out at LHR). I had a great shower. The experience was finished off by the “kitchen table dessert” – a real experience watching the server put it together where we were sitting. There was an announcement for those in Upper that they could change into a sleep suit pre-boarding – easier than the inflight toilet I suppose! Boarding was called and it was a short 2-3 minute walk down to an empty gate area. Overall impression – having the Clubhouse airside makes for a much more relaxing experience as no made rush through security towards the end and the new Clubhouse is definitely amazing!!
Flight left on time – cabin crew seemed to be fairly friendly and attentive throughout the pre-boarding time. Noticed champagne being delivered to someone/a couple in economy. To be honest this continued throughout the flight – several times a tray was carried through PE to economy with a couple of Upper Class champagne glasses and Upper Class nibbles. This obviously was to a crew member or crew family – I doubt it was to a Gold Passenger as there was no recognition of the two of us in PE.
Shortish taxi for JFK and then we headed off. The seat-belt sign stayed on after take off for about 90 minutes due to turbulence. To be honest the slight bumps would only have been enough to slightly mix a gin and tonic! I had planned to sleep after take-off as heading into work from the airport but couldn’t as desperate for the toilet…..nothing worse than staring at an on seat belt sign waiting for it to go off!! Eventually I asked a CC could I use the toilet – NO, about 15 minutes later asked the FSM – YES…..phew!!
Tried to sleep for most of the rest of the flight – the person behind me wanted to look and try lots of the duty free, which meant that the trolley was parked next to me and the CC kept talking loudly and each time they bent down to get things out of the trolley they bumped into me.....managed overall a couple of hours on and off as a result. I can’t really comment on the food (our travelling companions ate the meal after take off which was salmon followed by Chinese chicken and dessert – was reported to be “ok”).
Arrived about 45 minutes early to a short route march from the plane to immigration, where IRIS was closed and the immigration officials were arguing with each other about when to close the automated passport readers (immediately after us thankfully). There was a lot of police and immigration officials out, and I do wonder if they were on the look out for one or two people in particular as they all had papers in their hands they kept referring to. Bags were off very quickly and short visit to revivals to shower and change before heading off to work.
Overall not a bad flight (can’t really comment on the actual flight much) but definitely would recommend the JFK Clubhouse!
Gradings made up as follows:
Ground staff average - check-in below average; clubhouse - excellent
Food and drink - based on clubhouse only
Cabin Crew - based on the bumping into me and talking loudly whilst trying to upsell as much duty free as possible!
Coming from someone who usually gets lost in the transport system of other countries, granted.. but still 
