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Hi all,
I have managed to get a return flight from London to JFK in First within my work travel budget. This is my first time flying First so I was wondering if anyone had any tips/suggestions, such as things to order/avoid on the menu, both on the flight and in the Concorde/Chelsea lounge or any services to make the most of.
I have an afternoon flight on the way out so I plan to make the most of the experience. However, I have a red-eye on the way back so plan to eat in the Chelsea lounge and then sleep the entire way home.
In addition, this return flight should get me straight to silver for the year which is great given the change in Tier Points!
Thanks!
Enjoy, make sure you are actually in the Concorde Room, it can be a bit confusing as to where it is.
Enjoy, make sure you are actually in the Concorde Room, it can be a bit confusing as to where it is.
THe lounge dragons are usually very good at pointing you to the correct escalator/door when you get the wrong one 🙂
Arrive early 😁 The CCR is a really nice experience – love sitting at the bar and drinking champers/cocktails (not been to Chelsea yet). Same on board – let them know you’re a First virgin and they’ll look after you. Let them know if you don’t plan to eat on the redeye and they’ll make your bed ASAP.
Obv use the First Wing at LHR if open, and don’t queue to board (just make your way to the gate desk and they’ll scan your ticket. If you’re boarding from B/C gates, then you can use the B lounge if there’s any delay in boarding as it’s right above the gates. And if you’re inclined, board early and ask for an invitation to the flight deck!
Otherwise enjoy! And don’t forget to use the MPC app https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control if you’re returning on an ESTA/Visa.
Eat plenty in the Concorde Room and enjoy a glass of Louise, followed by tipples on the plane and a pot of tea (with plenty of water if you’re drinking in the sky, but if you’re a frequent flyer you’ll know this!).
You can dine on demand in F, so feel free to, but often their usual routine is the one that works best. On one route, ask politely for an amenity kit for your partner instead of yourself (if you have one and they are the opposite sex) – otherwise you’ll end up with two of the same and no brownie points 😉
Be friendly to the bar staff at Chelsea and ask what’s on their champagne list (if you’re a fan) – they often hide the best stuff for regulars and it’s a good opportunity to sample a potential new favourite
You have the services of You First, who are very helpful. I think BA STILL hasn’t brought back the facility to pre-select meals, but if you call You First a couple of weeks before you fly they will email you the on board menu. Have you selected your seat? If you want a window seat I’d do this asap.
The CCR thread on Flyertalk is a good resource to find out what’s being served currently.
Kudos to you for getting Silver in one trip!
Oh yes, definitely the Timperley kits (AND pajamas) as @executiveclubber says. They’ve always given spares if they are available – otherwise ask for a ladies kit/size if you won’t use them.
Yes, amenity kits and pj but I’m not a fan of the new one, although better than the old white company ones, but worse than Virgin Upper Class.
And pinch the salt and pepper kit, but before doing that I always ask if I can take them. 🙂 They’re very good quality!
I would say on demand dining is perfect if you want to adjust to the new time zone, so make it work for you.
Enjoy, the first time in first is always very special!
If you do want to dine on demand then tell the CC when they come round and take your order so they can reserve your meal choice and they’ll appreciate an approiximate time as well so they can heat the ovens up and cook it.
I like to board early and as soon as the CC are free ask for the PJs and slippers (socks are in the amenity kit), then go and get changed before departure, avoids delay/queuing if others beat you to it after takeoff. Your seat has a mini wardrobe you can hang your clothes in.
You can ask for your pre-departure bubbly as the same time, it’ll be there at your seat by the time you’ve changed. Let the CC know you plan to sleep as soon as possible, once the seatbelt signs are off, convert to bed, the CC will help if you need, have another bubbly or two before zzz.
I also ask for a bottle of water, just for sipping if/when I wake in the night, as any glasses get cleared once you are seen to have dozed off.
You can ask to be woken for brekkie, you don’t need to choose what to have until then. Once you’e awake and they’re prepping it, go and change, you’ll probably return to find the seat tidied up and ready for you to eat,
Btw the earplugs in the amenity kit provide good protection against snorers etc., and the eyeshades are nice and soft. I change into PJs even for day flights, it’s comfier and I’m happy to sleep day or night!
I’ve had a few flights where I asked for a second kit for friends, always been ok.
Enjoy the experience!
I like the PJ bottoms, and quite often pack a pair just for a return night flight, but the tops I find scratchy and not a great fit, so I take a soft navy or black T-shirt to pair with them.
I don’t think there’s an F cabin on the 8 am JFK departure or that would have been a great way to travel home!
To maximise the First experience I’m surprised no one has offered the helpful tip of booking with a different airline 😀
Yes I know to JFK the options are limited, and if the budget only just stretches to BA it’s unlikely to stretch to anyone else (except AA).
To maximise the First experience I’m surprised no one has offered the helpful tip of booking with a different airline 😀
Wow! 😲 For those who haven’t experienced F in multiple airlines, BA has a completely excellent offering. I bet you wouldn’t refuse an upgrade 😊
I wouldn’t, and indeed didn’t, but I thought the well known punchline was that BA First is the best business class experience available.
To maximise the First experience I’m surprised no one has offered the helpful tip of booking with a different airline 😀
Wow! 😲 For those who haven’t experienced F in multiple airlines, BA has a completely excellent offering. I bet you wouldn’t refuse an upgrade 😊
@lhar – there is no way BA’s First offering could be described as “excellent” unless perhaps you have been smoking something this evening! First is a whole lot better than BA old or new Club and definitely worth the extra cost, but the long haul Club offering is absolutely dire in terms of service, food, drink, inevitably dirty seat and table etc. The inadequate staff/pax ratio is repeated in the inadequate loo/pax ratio. It’s just become quite grotty.
While some refer to ‘robotic’ service on airlines like Qatar, that’s because they have a service plan and protocols whereas BA staff make it up as they go along and have very little concept of service or hospitality and that can be the same in First as in Club. I will take robotic any time vs BA.
BA cabin crew’s systematic use of the First galley as a staff common room with endless loud chit chat, constant clattering and inability not to clomp when walking in the aisles is quite inexcusable and it really damages the quality of the product for staff to show such contempt for passengers.
While I would choose F on BA every time if I have to travel BA long haul it’s still a vastly inferior product vs any other airline that still has F.
Just realised I should have had some pajamas on my one and only flight in BA First as it was overnight. I am wondering how could I have missed them.
Just realised I should have had some pajamas on my one and only flight in BA First as it was overnight. I am wondering how could I have missed them.
I’m not sure you have missed anything! Aren’t they essentially what the Police give their overnight guests? We have never changed into those awful airline pyjamas!
I like the PJ bottoms, and quite often pack a pair just for a return night flight, but the tops I find scratchy and not a great fit, so I take a soft navy or black T-shirt to pair with them.
I don’t think there’s an F cabin on the 8 am JFK departure or that would have been a great way to travel home!
Re onboard attire, you are assuming one owns a T-shirt…
The 8am (or slightly earlier) does offer First.
Just realised I should have had some pajamas on my one and only flight in BA First as it was overnight. I am wondering how could I have missed them.
I’m not sure you have missed anything! Aren’t they essentially what the Police give their overnight guests? We have never changed into those awful airline pyjamas!
Perhaps I may have had an attack of good taste and refused them JDB but I just can’t remember.
Blanket statements about BA Club being dire are totally inaccurate – we have just returned from SYD on BA. Straight through in Club Suite and the return in the old seats with a stop in SIN. I had no complaints about the crew, cleanliness of the plane and with regard to the food I tend to eat in the lounge and only have starter and dessert on board.
First of course is a lot better with a more comfortable bed and better food.
Re onboard attire, you are assuming one owns a T-shirt…
They really don’t go with your waistcoat and bow tie.
Re onboard attire, you are assuming one owns a T-shirt
That definitely raised a good laugh.
The 8am (or slightly earlier) does offer First.
It’s the AA daytime flight which dropped First a while back, haven’t checked if that’s still the case
To maximise the First experience I’m surprised no one has offered the helpful tip of booking with a different airline 😀
Wow! 😲 For those who haven’t experienced F in multiple airlines, BA has a completely excellent offering. I bet you wouldn’t refuse an upgrade 😊
BA F is usually a lot cheaper than other airlines in F and there’s the added bonus of being able to use Avios to book it.
Blanket statements about BA Club being dire are totally inaccurate – we have just returned from SYD on BA. Straight through in Club Suite and the return in the old seats with a stop in SIN. I had no complaints about the crew, cleanliness of the plane and with regard to the food I tend to eat in the lounge and only have starter and dessert on board.
First of course is a lot better with a more comfortable bed and better food.
You are extremely lucky if you encountered a clean BA aircraft. Buy a lottery ticket this weekend.
Re flying to Sydney, I wouldn’t contemplate using BA on that route for all the above reasons but also the terrible outbound timings with two overnights onboard.
Re onboard attire, you are assuming one owns a T-shirt…
They really don’t go with your waistcoat and bow tie.
In my mind, evening/night wear for JDB is very much in the style of Noel Coward 😀
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