I arrived at T3 via the Heathrow Express and cast an envious glance to the Virgin check in area and made my way to the AA check in desks. I was a little early and it was very quiet, with only one person in front of me in the Business class queue. I was quickly and efficiently checked in and then made my way up stairs to the fast track security queue. There was quite a line of people, but the lanes next to it (the non fast track queue) was deserted. So I walked back out and went back through the normal way and was through within a couple of minutes. (The people who were in front of me in the fast track were still waiting to go through!)
I popped to Boots to buy a couple of things and headed off to the AA lounge. Again, I was teased by Virgin as the AA lounge is directly underneath the clubhouse, so again casting envious glances up the stairs knowing what delights lay up there as I headed through the automatic doors to the AA lounge.
My first impression of this place was one of a function over form. Muted greys and whites gave it the feeling of a bank foyer and sadly this colour scheme was followed through the entire lounge. It’s big and it seemed very quiet. In the centre of the room there was a hot ‘buffet’ (lemon chicken and rice and a pasta dish) then sandwiches, soup, and the usual help yourself bar.
I settled myself in a corner with a beer and some lemon chicken and got online to check emails. Now this was a surprise – the wifi was excellent. I ended up streaming two football matches at the same time (one from the BBC and one through Sky Go) and the quality was excellent. Something the lounge upstairs doesn’t often get right!
Boarding was called so headed off to the gate and onto the plane. My first impression of the business class cabin was it wasn’t very big – there was a first class up the front, then maybe six rows of business. The seats were big, and whilst they are ‘lie flat’ they weren’t ‘lie horizontal’
Anyway, we were offered a glass of champagne and we left the gate pretty much on time. The amenity pack is already on your seat, and contained pretty much the same as the VS and BA ones. Headphones were offered round and the TV switched on. (Which is great as we could start using the IFE before take off.) The screen was large and the touch screen type, with a big choice of films and TV programmes. They also had a projection screen at the front of the cabin showing the flight map.
At this point one of the announcements made was ‘to those passengers in Business – please don’t put anything valuable in the space underneath your arm rest such as wallets or phones as it will slide off and disappear under the seat – and we may not able to retrieve it.'
So I carefully checked, nothing there – my wallet was in my bag in the overhead bin, and my phone was off and in my pocket. All good. (this feeling of smugness of complying with the instruction came back to bite me – but more on that later)
Drinks were served, and dinner order was taken. I opted for the fish starter and the Chicken main. When it arrived – it was ok. The fish was over chilled but ok, but the chicken was probably the worst meal I’ve ever eaten on a plane. Completely tasteless and the Garlic mash that came with it stank and was so over powering. However they redeemed themselves with the dessert – a huge bowl of Ben and Jerries ice cream. Not a pathetic little pot of it at all! So overall it was very American – of sometimes questionable quality but quantity in spades.
So at this point I decided to have a little play in the seat and have a snooze. (I’d watched ‘Ides of March’ with dinner – very good). About an hour later I woke up, and climbing over the chap sat next to me went into my bag to grab a pen and my passport so I could fill in my I94 form. Filling it in was going well until I came to having to put my hotel address in – I couldn’t remember it, but knew it was on my phone. So I went for my pocket – and yes – you’re probably ahead of me here – my phone was gone. I knew it had been in my pocket and a quick feel around the seat – no joy. So I climbed back over the person next to me again to find the Flight Attendant.
I have to say, they were excellent. Four of them came down to my seat (And after many apologies to the chap next to me) he stepped out the way and they proceeded to pull my seat apart, and lo, my phone was retrieved from the bowels of the seat. Relief!
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful, the pre-landing ‘snack’ was a pizza about the size if my head (God bless America!) So fearing I was turning American from the neck down before I had even stepped of the plane I only ate a quarter of it.
We landed at JFK pretty about half an hour late, but were soon on the stand and off the plane and through security and in to America.
So, in conclusion, the experience was good – I prefer the seat in UC as it has never eaten my phone…… The staff were great, the food plentiful and the seat comfortable.
BA Club World on the way home on Friday.
