Preface:
During my last epic trip (click link for report) to the Great Country of USA, while running around Nordstrom in Bellevue Square of Seattle, shopping for Mrs Petrus and the kids, we decided over the phone that it was time for a trip together on our own to NYC early next year (2014).
We had still not managed to fly F together without the little ones and the plan was to use a 2-4-1 voucher and go ARN-LHR-JFK-LHR-ARN in CE/F/F/CE, stay at a great NYC hotel, shop like crazy, eat like there is no tomorrow and make lots of sweet moments together. Cultural, of course.
An early March weekend was pinned down as suitable, being able to arrange for the in-laws to look after our first and second offspring. As February began, still no seats available. We flexed days around the designated weekend. No luck. Then about 4 weeks out availability appeared online for all sectors, bar one seat on one sector. Asked revman to open the missing seat, the answer took time. There was an ex-SWE sale also. Club ARN-LHR-JFK return 1400GBP all in. CWLCY service included.
The problem: sale ended Sunday, and it was Sunday and still no reply from revman. Revenue it is then, with BA1 on the outbound. Why not? 70 extra Tier Points, more avios and with a chance to try CWLCY again just over four years since the previous and only occasion. That experience was good, but the service was still suffering from some teething issues as it was only a few months since launch. Report of this trip here: Petrus rides the BAby
Other than that, the trip 4 years ago was a wonderful journey together with Mrs Petrus and my gift to her for her 30th birthday. I was genuinely happy to do it with her again :)
Also, due to the re-timing of BA1 certain days you can make a perfect connection from ARN, with arrival at LCY 09:00 and departure to JFK 09:50. For the return we opted to fly via LHR and on the upper deck of the 747, which is still my favourite cabin of all. Will be a sad sad day when they are all retired. Next trip this year has to be in F with Mrs Petrus in the nose of a BA747.
Please note all photos are taken with an Iphone 5, so there won't be any crystal clear and crisp D800E snaps for the fans of my other reports. Sorry to disappoint but I could not be bothered to carry the monster kit for this trip.
_____________________________
Links to some of my other reports:
Lufthansa New First on the 748i - October 2013
BA Dreamliner CW/WT+ x3 in 4 days - August 2013
London Olympics with BA - August 2012
BA 777-300 G-STBF Delivery from Everett - February 2012
Boys trip to NYC in New BA First - October 2011
BA F to DXB with an infant - February 2011
Caught in the snow; BA F + CW - December 2010
BA F Binge trip to Cape Town - July 2010
BA all business class Airbus 318 to JFK - December 2009
My First BA First to JFK - July 2009
On with the report then:
The journey started at the ungodly hour of 05:45 as the ARN-LCY service departed at 07:30. A quick shower, pack the final necessities, await arrival of in-laws. Mom stays at the house, dad drives us to Arlanda, which is a 14 minute drive at this time of the morning. Both of us had the buzzy feeling in the stomach, super excited about this trip. It would be our first long-haul trip together on our own since nearly 4 years when we travelled to NYC and Mustique.
BA use Terminal 2 at ARN these days.This is a fairly new Terminal which also had major rebuilding and refurbishment made a year or so. BA, AY and AB are the main OW carriers in this terminal, which they share together with some Scary Team riff raff. Qatar use the main international terminal 5.
Even with up to 8 daily BA flights and probably 10 AY flights there is no dedicated One World lounge.
Approaching ARN T2
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We got to check-in 50 minutes before departure and got our three half empty suitcases tagged all the way to JFK. Security was a breeze as there is a fast track lane allowing you to jump the entire line before using the same X-ray machines. A pair of Sennheisser in-ear's were procured before heading up to the 3rd party Menzies lounge ad a coffee. Breakfast would be had on board the BA Cityflyer Embraer 170. Full English? Check. Champagne? Check.
The Lounge was calm, coffee drinkable
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Boarding lit up on the screens so we made our way to Passport control which is on the same, second, level as the Menzies lounge. It was quick and our departure gate next after Passport control.
Today's chariot to London City
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We got a friendly and warm hello by the male Purser on this flight. This is usually a good thing, meaning they are on the ball and in the mood for providing great service. The hunch was right. Superb he was. Always addressing by name and title, making sure glasses where full.
We had claimed row 1 early on for a quick exit in case delays should occur, plus I like to stretch my legs.
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Breakfast was out quickly, service friendly. Not the best Full English we've had on BA, but edible and filling.
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Champagne, yes, please. More? Sure...
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Flight was pleasant, both of us nodded in and out of sleep. Approach and landing to LCY is steep which freaked out Mrs Petrus a bit. I just enjoyed the ride :D Parking was done and stairs connected. There are no bridges at LCY.
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We disembarked just before 09:00 am so a little stress was present. We headed through the corridors and then through immigration (empty) before heading up the stairs through security.
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BA CWLCY check-in desks (nostalgia)
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Up to security
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It was a bit busy at Security and there is no Fast Track at LCY (?!) however we made it through in about 6 minutes, just enough time to buy some Champagne for the hotel fridge. Mrs Petrus then had to go the ladies room which one does not contest. Now time was tight and we did not stroll as leisurely as would be befitting people of our stature and importance. And, it would likely mean no time for another glass at the Gate Lounge. The gate for the LCYJFK service is dedicated and as such serve two purposes; departure gate and lounge.
A not so leisurely photo of the BA A318...
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Yeah, boarding!
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In the next part we fly to Shannon, drink more Champagne, meet a fantastic crew, get some bad news and what not... stay tuned.
During my last epic trip (click link for report) to the Great Country of USA, while running around Nordstrom in Bellevue Square of Seattle, shopping for Mrs Petrus and the kids, we decided over the phone that it was time for a trip together on our own to NYC early next year (2014).
We had still not managed to fly F together without the little ones and the plan was to use a 2-4-1 voucher and go ARN-LHR-JFK-LHR-ARN in CE/F/F/CE, stay at a great NYC hotel, shop like crazy, eat like there is no tomorrow and make lots of sweet moments together. Cultural, of course.
An early March weekend was pinned down as suitable, being able to arrange for the in-laws to look after our first and second offspring. As February began, still no seats available. We flexed days around the designated weekend. No luck. Then about 4 weeks out availability appeared online for all sectors, bar one seat on one sector. Asked revman to open the missing seat, the answer took time. There was an ex-SWE sale also. Club ARN-LHR-JFK return 1400GBP all in. CWLCY service included.
The problem: sale ended Sunday, and it was Sunday and still no reply from revman. Revenue it is then, with BA1 on the outbound. Why not? 70 extra Tier Points, more avios and with a chance to try CWLCY again just over four years since the previous and only occasion. That experience was good, but the service was still suffering from some teething issues as it was only a few months since launch. Report of this trip here: Petrus rides the BAby
Other than that, the trip 4 years ago was a wonderful journey together with Mrs Petrus and my gift to her for her 30th birthday. I was genuinely happy to do it with her again :)
Also, due to the re-timing of BA1 certain days you can make a perfect connection from ARN, with arrival at LCY 09:00 and departure to JFK 09:50. For the return we opted to fly via LHR and on the upper deck of the 747, which is still my favourite cabin of all. Will be a sad sad day when they are all retired. Next trip this year has to be in F with Mrs Petrus in the nose of a BA747.
Please note all photos are taken with an Iphone 5, so there won't be any crystal clear and crisp D800E snaps for the fans of my other reports. Sorry to disappoint but I could not be bothered to carry the monster kit for this trip.
_____________________________
Links to some of my other reports:
Lufthansa New First on the 748i - October 2013
BA Dreamliner CW/WT+ x3 in 4 days - August 2013
London Olympics with BA - August 2012
BA 777-300 G-STBF Delivery from Everett - February 2012
Boys trip to NYC in New BA First - October 2011
BA F to DXB with an infant - February 2011
Caught in the snow; BA F + CW - December 2010
BA F Binge trip to Cape Town - July 2010
BA all business class Airbus 318 to JFK - December 2009
My First BA First to JFK - July 2009
On with the report then:
The journey started at the ungodly hour of 05:45 as the ARN-LCY service departed at 07:30. A quick shower, pack the final necessities, await arrival of in-laws. Mom stays at the house, dad drives us to Arlanda, which is a 14 minute drive at this time of the morning. Both of us had the buzzy feeling in the stomach, super excited about this trip. It would be our first long-haul trip together on our own since nearly 4 years when we travelled to NYC and Mustique.
BA use Terminal 2 at ARN these days.This is a fairly new Terminal which also had major rebuilding and refurbishment made a year or so. BA, AY and AB are the main OW carriers in this terminal, which they share together with some Scary Team riff raff. Qatar use the main international terminal 5.
Even with up to 8 daily BA flights and probably 10 AY flights there is no dedicated One World lounge.
Approaching ARN T2
We got to check-in 50 minutes before departure and got our three half empty suitcases tagged all the way to JFK. Security was a breeze as there is a fast track lane allowing you to jump the entire line before using the same X-ray machines. A pair of Sennheisser in-ear's were procured before heading up to the 3rd party Menzies lounge ad a coffee. Breakfast would be had on board the BA Cityflyer Embraer 170. Full English? Check. Champagne? Check.
The Lounge was calm, coffee drinkable
[/url]
Boarding lit up on the screens so we made our way to Passport control which is on the same, second, level as the Menzies lounge. It was quick and our departure gate next after Passport control.
Today's chariot to London City
We got a friendly and warm hello by the male Purser on this flight. This is usually a good thing, meaning they are on the ball and in the mood for providing great service. The hunch was right. Superb he was. Always addressing by name and title, making sure glasses where full.
We had claimed row 1 early on for a quick exit in case delays should occur, plus I like to stretch my legs.
Breakfast was out quickly, service friendly. Not the best Full English we've had on BA, but edible and filling.
Champagne, yes, please. More? Sure...
Flight was pleasant, both of us nodded in and out of sleep. Approach and landing to LCY is steep which freaked out Mrs Petrus a bit. I just enjoyed the ride :D Parking was done and stairs connected. There are no bridges at LCY.
We disembarked just before 09:00 am so a little stress was present. We headed through the corridors and then through immigration (empty) before heading up the stairs through security.
BA CWLCY check-in desks (nostalgia)
Up to security
It was a bit busy at Security and there is no Fast Track at LCY (?!) however we made it through in about 6 minutes, just enough time to buy some Champagne for the hotel fridge. Mrs Petrus then had to go the ladies room which one does not contest. Now time was tight and we did not stroll as leisurely as would be befitting people of our stature and importance. And, it would likely mean no time for another glass at the Gate Lounge. The gate for the LCYJFK service is dedicated and as such serve two purposes; departure gate and lounge.
A not so leisurely photo of the BA A318...
Yeah, boarding!
In the next part we fly to Shannon, drink more Champagne, meet a fantastic crew, get some bad news and what not... stay tuned.