This New York – BA First Class and JFK lounges, is a review from our regular contributor, Gus.
NY-LON on British Airways First Class
British Airways First class from London’s Heathrow to New York’s JFK. It’s one of the world’s most competitive yet lucrative routes – apparently generating over $1 billion in revenue per year to BA alone – and every time I fly it, I still get a tingle of excitement. Given this was my first time in a First seat for a while and my first trip to the Big Apple for several years, it was one that I was thoroughly looking forward to. So much so that I kept checking the seating plan prior to departure, and I made sure to arrive at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 in very good time to enjoy both the First Wing and the relatively- recently renovated Concorde lounge.
Below, I will cover both flights (a daytime outbound and a red-eye back, both on a B777-300), as well as the lounges on offer, but tomorrow you can also see hotel reviews for the Ritz NoMad and the Conrad MidTown, which is where I rested up while racking up a decent step count in and around Manhattan.
Heathrow’s T5 first wing and Concorde lounge
So, on to the journey! The First wing was as sparkly and welcoming as ever, although only one of the two security lanes was working, which added a bit of time to the usual kerbside-to-lounge stopwatch (which can be done in around 7 minutes, according to Michele, when the First Wing is fully open). However, I did enjoy being able to keep my wheelie case moving through the First lounge – which was as busy as ever mid-week morning – and to go out of it and then into the Concorde lounge at the other end of the corridor. (Note the first wing security is now closed until Spring 24 – Michele will be covering what the new arrangements are like in reality shortly).
Despite its (fairly well-documented) flaws, I do enjoy the Concorde lounge, especially the bright and roomy terrace and even the booth-tastic dining.
So brunch was munched on, coffee, bubbles, and lounging was delivered, and a celeb was spotted.
(More on this to follow..). Fairly soonish, it was off to C gates (via the still-secretive walkway, of course) before getting in position at the gate for boarding. You can also take the train.
Group 0 was called (for Gold Guest list/GGL and pre-boarding, such as families and those with disabilities), and then an orderly rest of boarding followed. Sadly, the reverse did not happen in JFK on the way back, which is always a little irritating.
On board and without a care in the world
After being shown to my window seat by a smiley purser, I settled in and was offered the usual welcome drink, amenity kit, Meridian headphones and even Temperley PJs and slippers (not necessarily expected on a day flight).
The cabin was two rows of four but without doors for the outbound. (The return did have doors, and actually, it made a really big difference. The newness of the suite was clear in everything – from the large and crisp TV screen to the leather and even the electronics and the controls).
Despite the difference a door can make, the outbound suite was private and comfortable, and the food and wine were delicious. I also still really enjoy the double window blind that BA has and the discrete clothes hanger and seat lamp. It’s the little things, ha.
Also, it must be said that throughout the cabin crew was a notch up from my other, more recent first experiences and were absolutely cracking. They were attentive and personable, and there was a lovely atmosphere in the cabin as a result. It may have been helped by the fact that there was a proper Class celeb on board (a male and slightly now greying film star – who was different from the lounge spot and who I initially saw from the windows of the boarding area when two of the LHR VIP cars glided up to the apron steps), but the crew were really on it, friendly, and full of just the right amount of chat and service.
Food, food, glorious food
Worth mentioning the food. Despite a plane-wide announcement about a nut allergy sufferer, meaning that stage was skipped, I ate very well onboard.
This included simple but tasty canapes, a beef starter and lamb main, a crepe Suzette dessert and some excellent wine (alongside a brief chat about the master sommelier’s logic for choosing it..).
Towards the end of the flight, I also had the dainty sandwiches and a surprisingly filling charcuterie plate.
Beyond the chomping, I surfed the net (for free), drank, watched films, enjoyed the landing and take-off views, and all too soon, it was an early afternoon landing in the early winter sun of New York. Immigration at JFK was thankfully fairly light (a report from a family member the week prior was that it was 2hr+ queues for those without Global Entry).
Marvellous Manhattan
On arrival, it was a $75 taxi ride to Manhattan, followed by a few days of catching up with old friends and seeing some of the top sights of New York.
In no particular order, for this trip, these included visiting Ground Zero, taking in some skyscraper views, seeing the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge by boat, catching the lights of Times Square, eating at Ellen’s Stardust Diner and at Ray’s pizza joint, traipsing along the High Line, Chelsea Market and Wall Street, and mooching in Central Park.
Somehow or another, there was also time to pop into Grand Central Station, Chinatown, a speakeasy bar, an Irish bar (for the Rugby World Cup), and a Mexican restaurant, and even to catch a Yankees game.
For me, New York is not a place to stay still, so I was pleased to have ‘done it’ pretty thoroughly again. But this ain’t a destination travel guide, but an airline geek review. So next up is heading back to JFK for the red-eye back to London. And, more importantly for me, my first taste of the new(ish) Chelsea Lounge (the JFK Concorde replacement, and only for ‘true’ BA First passengers and GGL cardholders). For the purposes of this review, I also went into the Greenwich Lounge (for business class passengers) and the Soho Lounge (for OneWorld First passengers and BA Gold cardholders).
A trio of BA/OneWorld lounges in JFK
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’d read different things prior to going, but my main thought is that while the Chelsea Lounge is an impressive and serene space, for me personally, it is not a patch on the old JFK Concorde lounge. The former felt more refined and intimate, and while the dramatic bar in the Chelsea lounge is undoubtedly attractive, it lacks character and just seems like one fairly large open and disassociated hotel event space. Maybe I was unlucky, but when seated for the a la carte meal, the food took 45 minutes to arrive, and the service was lacklustre at best. I did appreciate how quiet it was and the generally reduced pace of the space, but it just seemed to be missing something (and I’m not talking about apron views, although it is indeed the case that it is windowless).
So, with mixed feelings, I left Chelsea and ‘downgraded’ to Greenwich. My first impression was the size. It is mahoosive. But I think in a good way. The various spaces are more effectively portioned, and walking deeper in, you find much less busy spaces and even gems like the Tasting and Bridge rooms, which are tastefully decorated and pretty comfy (for ‘just’ a business class lounge).
Then on to Soho, the ‘middle’ class of these specific three lounges which is available to BA good card holders and one world emerald members. This was also very busy but, again, an attractive space, with a number of seemingly more secluded spaces dotted around. Elements like the (false) log burners helped break up the otherwise fairly industrial scale of the place and a lot of staff were buzzing around.
Conclusion
Overall, my thoughts are that despite the well-documented failings of BA in general and BA in First compared to others, it really is a bloody brilliant way to cross the Atlantic.
Chuck in a top-notch crew (and a celeb spot or two), and it really is a great way to burn cash/points/time for sure. While JFK’s Chelsea Lounge didn’t hit the spot for me particularly, there are so many lounge choices it is a proper FWP (first-world problem) and nothing more.
Either way, NYLON mattered in the past; it matters now, and it will matter in the future. And here’s to getting back to the Big Apple again before too long!
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