Reply To: Plane swap with no F cabin

[PB2]

Little trip report for anyone interested. Despite BA cancelling (after the scheduled departure time) the flight up from Madrid to LHR the night before, resulting in one long travel day (instead of breaking the journey with a night at LHR), we made it just in time for a nice CCR breakfast and a glass or two of Louise 2006. Both me and my guest managed to book a cabana for a much needed refresh. The flight to JFK was a little meh – I overheard one crew telling the other she’d forgotten how to plate the canapés…the wifi didn’t work and I was initially given female PJ’s haha. No slippers or bedding were provided, perhaps due to being a 1620 departure day time flight – I imagine they were available on request though? It did happen to be the new F suite with a door, which provided great privacy, washed down with some VC Grande Dame 2015 (reserved for the JFK route I understand). We made it into JFK in good time – and as you good people said above – quickly through immigration and security, so I had the bonus of visiting the Chelsea lounge for an hour. Whilst I wasn’t really in the mood for any more booze the friendly bar man had both Dom P 2013 and Krug 172 available as off-menu specials, neither of which I could refuse a try of! That’s 4 pricey drops in one day! The American Eagle flight down to DCA was really easy – comfy single seat on the left side of the plane, and big lockers on the right for my carry-on, as I was advised above. We landed 45 minutes early and (bar the odd power nap) after being awake for 24h my hotel bed at the pleasant Yours Truly DC was most welcome. For the 4 days away I’d noticed the late flight home continued to be either subbed to a 777 or cancelled, but thankfully my flight home remained on the 380. Nice late lunch in the First dining section of the IAD BA lounge however I was told you can only dine there once, unlike the CCR in LHR. Anyway I wanted to have dinner on board so that was fine. The regular section of the lounge served the same champagne and had a decent QR code made to order food offering. No door on the 380 F seat of course, but lots of foot and storage space, a great crew and a lovely night cap of the Duval Leroy 2006. At LHR after breakfast (too full to eat on board!) and shower in the arrivals lounge I was able to enter the CCR with my inbound F boarding pass and onwards economy BA boarding pass (separate bookings). I really wasn’t too impressed again with the service in the CCR dining area – lots of staff messing around and many had no clue what they were supposed to be doing. On that note, an honourable mention must go to the T4S Iberia lounge, as always, for buffet dinner food quality, cleanliness and wine selection – Arzuaga Crianza 2021 in particular. Despite the re-routing and change of ticket code, the 3 reward bookings credited as ineligible flights, which is fair enough of course. Really enjoyed Washington DC – great time of year to visit. If you can’t get individual tickets for the Washington monument, remember you can book as a large group, no matter your group size (we were 3). Highlights also being Joe’s restaurant near the White House and the incredible Air and Space Museum hangar at IAD airport.