BA116 JFK-LHR 14 JAN 13 (FIRST)

After 4 nights at the Mandarin Oriental NYC (again, highly recommend the suites), it was 4 more nights of stuffing ourselves in Manhattan at Jean George, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel and Per Se, it was time to go back home .

We checked out and got our car to JFK, we arrived at about 19:15 and up to First Class check in. We had noticed earlier in the day that our flight BA182 was going to be fitted with the Old First seat, so we got to the airport early to eat in the CCR so we could go straight to sleep on the flight.

At check in we had a desk each and they looked concerned when we said we were on the 182, they asked if we would mind going on an earlier flight. We replied yes as long as we got window seats. They tapped away and said there were no window seats available, by this time the check in supervisor had come over and again asked if we would mind getting an earlier flight. She then got on the phone and was saying “I’m putting 2 more on the flight, I’m sending down 5 more bags”. So we were then told she had got us on the BA116, window seats together and the flight would be leaving in 35 minutes, so there was just enough time to get a drink in the CCR. They were worried about LHR closing due to the Snow so were moving all First Class passengers off the last flight. Fantastic! New first and would get home about 3 hours earlier.

There was dedicated security for BA Club and First, very quick and the CCR just to the left once through the lane. Handed over our boarding passes in the CCR where they remarked that we will have time for a drink and even a starter as they will call us as late as possible.

We had changed our plans; we would now eat on the plane and just have a drink in the CCR. The CCR was great, much better than all the other lounges we have been to in the US. It was very quiet in the lounge, had a drink and sent a quick email to inform people of our earlier arrival. Boarding was announced so we made our way out of the CCR and towards the gate. Priority lane in use, small queue on the jet bridge, to the door and once again welcomed by name and escorted to our seats.

Drinks were offered along with sleep suits and amenity kits. Something I forgot to mention in the outbound, there are slippers and a blanket already at the seat. Great slippers, makes it nicer walking into the toilets. Our cabin crew chatted to us, asked what we had been up to, what were we doing when got home etc. Once again the IFE was already on; interrupted for the safety demo and then we were off into the sky.

Cabin crew came around, took drinks orders and asked if people were going to be eating. Most of the other passenger (cabin only half full) decided to go to sleep. We and a few others did take up the offer of food. I had salad for starter and main, I was after a light meal after all the tasting menus! After eating I asked for a glass of Baileys and for my seat to be turn into a bed while I got changed. The First PJs were very comfortable and so was the bed. Much more so than both the Upper seats (“old” and new). I think that the BA seat is ok at being the same surface for sleeping and sitting as they aren’t leather so you don’t get so hot.

I turned onto the IFE and as we were on a 777 and it was fitted with the latest version. It had LOADS of content; you could spend the whole flight looking through it all! There seemed to be the entire collection of James Bond films. After watching TED I got some sleep. Upon waking I was offered breakfast which I declined. A while later the 20 minute announcement was made, so the cabin crew were clearing up and severing breakfast. At about 5 minutes to landing a passenger had asked for some breakfast! The cabin crew did decline him, advised him of the arrivals lounge, but she also offered him a coffee or juice! He declined, she sat down and we landed.

On the ground we waited about 5 minutes for our gate on B (BA are the same as VS in insisting on a certain gate for a certain flight, rather than using a free gate or stand). Off the plane and a quick march to the train. Back into A and another walk to the immigration hall, again expecting it to be packed at 07:30, but again, empty. No stopping and straight through. Into baggage claim, instantly the belt cam on and bags off, ours some of the very first out. Then it was through to the arrivals lounge and the Concorde Breakfast room where we had a lovely breakfast.

Once properly awake it was sadly time to head back to the Sofitel and down to the car park to drive home.

It was a fantastic holiday, and, strangely, made better by Virgin making me try BA out.

[buns]

Hamster

Well you did make to most of the MO portfolio of hotels in the States

Nice touch to put you onto the earlier flight As it was the new configuration you seemed to not only get home earlier, but also have a more comfortable bed

Obviously, it is not right to compare BA First with VS UC, but the $60,000 Question has to be is the product worth the extra dosh??

buns

Well I think the "old" UCS is good, not so much the new one. First is better than both and that is expected, but the service, thats amazing, I think the gap in service has been exaggerated by my perceived decline in VS service, but it is truly great.

As to the price, I think that if you can get a decent price for first, or use avios, it is well worth the difference. I now have no desire to fly UC or VS (apart from using up my miles) so I will find always fly F now, obviously I find it worth it.

Having read your wonderful outbound TR I was expecting there to be a let down on the return leg for some reason. But no, even more cause for me to feel green.
I can only dream ....... And keep doing the lottery !
Do keep posting your First Class trips so I can live them vicariously !

Thanks for a great set of TRs, which vividly bring back my own memories of BA F from a couple of years ago. The BA set up at JFK is impressive and the staff are good - moving you onto the earlier flight proactively was smart. I also found the onboard service very good (the difference between VS and BA crew is overplayed a bit sometimes, in my view).

But is it worth it? With Avios, absolutely. Cash? Not for me!

The cash outlay can seem absurd, but there are occasional great fares around for F. Not that I would be doing it, but it needn't be as scary as it usually is.

I'm impressed at the restaurants you lined up in NY, I hope you have someone to work the reservation mill for you, as planning for those is likely to have been by far the most challenging aspect of your trip!

I'd love to try Per Se, and we definitely miss Daniel Humm in SF.

The cash outlay can seem absurd, but there are occasional great fares around for F. Not that I would be doing it, but it needn't be as scary as it usually is.

I agree that the absolute outlay can be (just about!) manageable. But I am thinking more comparatively -- yes it is better than J but you are starting to get a much poorer return on additional money spent, which (in my view) is not the case as you move from Y to W to J.

The thing is to buy F at the right price especially on the longer flights. I managed to bag F to BKK for less than a flexible J. But agree at full price eye watering.

I'm impressed at the restaurants you lined up in NY, I hope you have someone to work the reservation mill for you, as planning for those is likely to have been by far the most challenging aspect of your trip!

I'd love to try Per Se, and we definitely miss Daniel Humm in SF.

Oh yes it was a challenge! Well worth it though.

Definitely try Per Se if you can, absolutely amazing! I was so full! Thankfully the hotel was in the same building so not far to waddle! Be prepared for the bill, it somehow managed to trump Meadowood, the booze might of hekped that though!

There's a Keller Tax in effect with Per Se and the French Laundry, no doubt. Friends who went tell us Meadowood is wonderful too, haven't tried myself.

I'm just grateful I have access to a lot of the purveyors that supply Keller's restaurants, especially the cheese and dairy they use, which even I can't mess up. Once in a long while I can bring myself to eat at these places, not too often tho'

Thank you for the great TR.