VS045 - Immigration Queues

Hi all. This might seem like a silly question seeing as I've already booked the flight- but did I make a huge mistake to choose the VS045 in Y? Looking at old TRs from this flight it looks like I might have a 2 hr wait.

Not the best in my two experiences of it,waited best part of 3 hrs with the first one but the flight was delayed an hour so that might have made a difference

If the 45 is running as a 747 (usually is) make sure you get a seat on the upper deck - one of the first off then

Cannot deny it is a busy time of day too, wait times go on for minutes or hours. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

I am sure it'll be fine, but just in case it isn't, pack a book in easy reach for the long snaking queue that will take you on a tour of the JFK immigration hall. 8D

Hi Tinuks

I travelled on the 45 a few times last year - usually took about 45 minutes. When are you travelling? My flights were (I think) when the 45 was leaving at 2 and arriving around 4.45 pm. A lot depended on to what extent the earlier flights from the Middle East had cleared through immigration.

I agree with Joey about the upper deck.

Thanks for the replies guys. I think I will take a book.

It is the 14:00 flight, and it is a 747. Upper deck is completely greyed out, but I'll keep checking in case I get lucky.

Serves me right for booking without checking first.

Sorry to keep going on about this, but would it help if I changed it to the VS001?

It's impossible to say, really. Last time on the VS1 it took me 45 minutes too! We were behind some European flights but ahead of a BA one.

So much depends on luck - for example, if flights are scheduled to arrive 40 minutes apart, it only takes small delays or early arrivals either side of you to create real congestion.

I'd take the flight that is best timed for your purposes and your destination (although if you're headed to Manhattan it doesn't really matter which airport you fly to). The VS1 might give you more CH time but after a Y flight you'll be hungry and so you might want more of the evening in NYC for dinner - in which case the 45 would win for me.

It's impossible to say, really. Last time on the VS1 it took me 45 minutes too! We were behind some European flights but ahead of a BA one.

So much depends on luck - for example, if flights are scheduled to arrive 40 minutes apart, it only takes small delays or early arrivals either side of you to create real congestion.

I'd take the flight that is best timed for your purposes and your destination (although if you're headed to Manhattan it doesn't really matter which airport you fly to). The VS1 might give you more CH time but after a Y flight you'll be hungry and so you might want more of the evening in NYC for dinner - in which case the 45 would win for me.

The reason I chose the 45 was so that I could get to the hotel in time for supper. So I figured I'd get to the hotel before 6 and grab a bite and drink before bed. Yes it is in Manhattan so EWR won't be a bad idea. Maybe I'll call VS and see if I can get a seat in the bubble.

The reason I chose the 45 was so that I could get to the hotel in time for supper. So I figured I'd get to the hotel before 6 and grab a bite and drink before bed. Yes it is in Manhattan so EWR won't be a bad idea. Maybe I'll call VS and see if I can get a seat in the bubble.

Hmm the VS1 gets into EWR around 7pm, depending on where you are staying you could very well be grabbing an uber pizza by 8 - sounds good to me

The 45 on the other hand usually gets in around 430/5pm. Even if you are out of the immigration area in record time you will still have to contend with traffic in rush hour. There is also underpass works on the expressway at the moment which slows everything down - even if you take the meadows route up to queensboro or, even as far north as, the triborough bridge (nice drive actually) will still take a fair while.. you should arrive in time for supper, but maybe with a few more grey hairs from the stress of it all.. sorry I always recommend against the VS45 :w

I'm sure it'll be fine, but do give VS a call to snag bubble seats, don't be afraid to use the FF/AU spiel on this one either Anything to avoid those queues ):

We were in Manhattan @19.10 after VS45 on April 5th and so in time for our dinner booking, but I could have done with the stress in the immigration / taxi / traffic queues.

I was on the 45 two weeks ago and we got into JFK around 5pm, it took us about an hour to get through immigration. The past two times I've used the 45, the wait was between 1.5 to 2 hours, so this latest trip was by far the shortest wait.

Hmm the VS1 gets into EWR around 7pm, depending on where you are staying you could very well be grabbing an uber pizza by 8 - sounds good to me

An hour from leaving your Y seat on the VS1 to a restaurant in Manhattan? Unless you've got a helicopter on standby for the transfer or your name's Clark Kent I'd say that's a little optimistic!

Assuming you're off the plane dead on time at 7pm, and allowing 45 minutes to get through the airport (could well be longer) and another 45 minutes to get to your hotel in a cab (longer if you take the train or airport express bus), you're looking at 8.30 at the earliest, probably closer to 9.

If you want to be in Manhattan for dinner I'd take your chances and stick to the 45.

19:00 isn't so bad to get to the Maybe I'll give the Au line a call and try for the last row. That might very well shave 15 minutes off my time. Also maybe to avoid starvation, I'll nick a few cookies and muffins from the CH for afternoon tea. Lord knows that I cannot abide onions and would be unable to eat the sarnies.

Hmm the VS1 gets into EWR around 7pm, depending on where you are staying you could very well be grabbing an uber pizza by 8 - sounds good to me

An hour from leaving your Y seat on the VS1 to a restaurant in Manhattan? Unless you've got a helicopter on standby for the transfer or your name's Clark Kent I'd say that's a little optimistic!

There is a method to my 'madness' gumshoe.

Historically speaking the VS1 arrives a fair time earlier than the 7pm scheduled, but let us assume that you arrive at 7 on the dot. The VS1 is served on balance by a 747, therefore upper deck Economy off either before or straight after UC. You can be curb side inside of 30mins - immigration is served soooo much more efficiently than over at JFK (wish they would teach them a thing or two). You could be over in the west village (no idea where Tinuks is staying - could be longer, could be shorter if staying over in Hoboken for example..) assuming clear(ish) roads inside of another 30 (maybe less if you have a cabby that thinks the state DMV issued 'rules of the road' are more guidelines than law ii) ) .... thus pizza by 8 in the west village

Also "grabbing an uber pizza", not checked into hotel, shower, dress for dinner and then take a leisurely stroll to restaurant. Lol!! Grab a couple of slices or entire pie ): from the local pizza joint on your way to check in. Not that I have done any of that before mind :w

Hmm the VS1 gets into EWR around 7pm, depending on where you are staying you could very well be grabbing an uber pizza by 8 - sounds good to me

An hour from leaving your Y seat on the VS1 to a restaurant in Manhattan? Unless you've got a helicopter on standby for the transfer or your name's Clark Kent I'd say that's a little optimistic!

There is a method to my 'madness' gumshoe.

Historically speaking the VS1 arrives a fair time earlier than the 7pm scheduled, but let us assume that you arrive at 7 on the dot. The VS1 is served on balance by a 747, therefore upper deck Economy off either before or straight after UC. You can be curb side inside of 30mins - immigration is served soooo much more efficiently than over at JFK (wish they would teach them a thing or two). You could be over in the west village (no idea where Tinuks is staying - could be longer, could be shorter if staying over in Hoboken for example..) assuming clear(ish) roads inside of another 30 (maybe less if you have a cabby that thinks the state DMV issued 'rules of the road' are more guidelines than law ii) ) .... thus pizza by 8 in the west village

Also "grabbing an uber pizza", not checked into hotel, shower, dress for dinner and then take a leisurely stroll to restaurant. Lol!! Grab a couple of slices or entire pie ): from the local pizza joint on your way to check in. Not that I have done any of that before mind :w

I get the feeling that you have done this before. I'm going to the east side of manhattan the UN area to be precise.

If you want to eat in the evening, then personally I really would take the earlier flight, because even if the immigration delay is on average longer (and I have never been out of EWR in 30 mins whereas I have managed it a few times at JFK) you still have a 2 hour head start. If the 45 is delayed by say 2 hours, you still have some time in the evening. If the 1 is delayed, your evening starts to vanish rapidly.

Of course, now that I've tempted fate there will probably be a 3-hour immigration wait for the 45...

If you want to eat in the evening, then personally I really would take the earlier flight, because even if the immigration delay is on average longer (and I have never been out of EWR in 30 mins whereas I have managed it a few times at JFK) you still have a 2 hour head start. If the 45 is delayed by say 2 hours, you still have some time in the evening. If the 1 is delayed, your evening starts to vanish rapidly.

Of course, now that I've tempted fate there will probably be a 3-hour immigration wait for the 45...

Please no. I'll be one of those really lucky ones that gets through in an hour

I take the vs 3 as I've had some nightmares on 45 when it comes to immigration lines. I agree with the comments about vs1 though - Newark is a much swifter airport ... NOT Vs17 though. If that lands late, usually greeted with two immigration officers and a cleaner!!

Good to hear your thoughts on vs17 ,I'm on it on the 25 th may !

Good to hear your thoughts on vs17 ,I'm on it on the 25 th may !

There are some nice elements to 17 ... Healthrow is often a much nicer pace in the evening and London security is usually quicker post dinner

I will be there very early to show my two eldest the delights of the CH and I do mean early For me the CH is a massive part of the vs experience ,I absolutely love the place

Just bear in mind it'll be well past midnight, possibly nearer 1am by the time you get to Manhattan which'll feel like 5 or 6am. Get some sleep on the flight!

I'm sure I will after a visit to bar gumshoe