A340 or A330 to New York

I am looking at booking the above flight. Which is the best aircraft for a day flight, also what flight time would you recommend to enjoy the clubhouse when it's not too busy?

Thanks,

Cath

Having taken most of the flights to NYC, if you want to make the most of the clubhouse I’d avaoid the pre-12pm flights. My favourite is either the 4pm or 8pm departure.

- 4pm will give you time to get to LHR at a reasonable hour, enjoy lunch, drinks, treatments before the flight, avoiding the pre1pm clubhouse rush! You do land in JFK at 7pm and probably won’t do much that evening except head to bed.

- 8pm is similar to theabove, but you get to have an early dinner in the clubhouse (FYI- it does get busier from 4pm again). This flight is my favourite as I’ve found it is also great to minimise jet lag - stay awake for most of the flight (maybe sleep for a couple of hours), land in JFK at 11pm, get to bed, and wake up in the morning on local time!

I’d always prefer the A330 in UC as it’s a newer seat and newer plane, but I’d choose departure time over plane config as the A340 is still a great product!

I tend to agree with Chrisfinch in that the later you travel the easier it is for me to crash on arrival and get into the time zone I’m going to!

I love the Clubhouse mid afternoon as it’s so quiet and relaxing after the morning departures have gone!

330 interiors in Upper is virtually identical to the 787 so it’s the newer product! The cabin feels more personal and private compared to the 346 that seats 45. That being said I love the 346 personally it’s a magnificent looking aircraft!

I also enjoy the 4pm departure. Seems a more reasonable time to enjoy a beverage, too.

Whilst the A330 is newer, I much prefer the bar layout on the A340, so it depends what you plan on doing during the flight. I don’t bother with the IFE and a few scratches don’t bother me, so I’d opt for the 340.

We travelled on a A340 VS46 JFK to LHR earlier this month in PE.

My impression a very tired plane along with arm rests having to be tapped down with duct tape (then removed to get the table out, poor performing IFE, toilet doors that wouldn't lock, toilets that flushed but left all the paper in situ, head rests with a mind of their own.

Having flown PE in a refurbished BA777 in the summer the VS product in my opinion is very inferior

[mitchja]

I'd concur with the above. The A346's are not good at all. G-VNAP especially, G-VWIN isn't much better either

G-VNAP has no WiFi either.

I flew on G-VNAP to ATL and back on G-VWIN (both the A346's VS brought back from retirement) last year also in Premium and there where numerous faulty IFE screens in the Premium cabin (including mine) along with broken arm rests.

I love the A340. Seats are comfy, entertainment system isn't the best but there's something very reassuring about those planes.