A swift change at JFK, British Airways lounge and Pre-Flight Dining – Summer Tier Points
In this… epic.
- When will I learn to jump on a fare?
- Wednesday Afternoon.. off to the airport
- EI273 Birmingham to Dublin Airport
- Into Dublin for some Donuts. And Pokemon
- The Travelodge in Swords, Dublin Airport
- Pre-Clearance fun at Dublin airport, 51st and Green Lounge
- AA291 Dublin to New York JFK – Business Class
- A Manhattan Char Siu Adventure
- Back in the Secure Area, Flagship Lounge and AAdmirals Club
- AA2652 New York JFK to San Francisco International – Transcontinental Business Class
- The Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
- Do the BART into San Francisco, The Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, San Francisco
- Sausalito: Which ferry to take?
- Halfway across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Fooding around San Francisco
- The Crowne Plaza, San Francisco Airport
- Early start at San Francisco airport
- AA164 San Francisco International to New York JFK – Transcontinental Business Class
- The joy of terminal swaps, BA Pre-departure dining
- BA174 New York JFK to London Heathrow – Club World (Business Class)
- An Early Morning Change at Heathrow
- BA828 London Heathrow T5 to Dublin Airport – Club Europe
- Doughnuts and coffee shops – Exploring Dublin
- Once more with feeling at Dublin Airport
- FR666 Dublin Airport to Birmingham Airport
- 600 TP: Done
Let’s to a JFK shuffle
With the plane coming in at the T8 satellite, there was a shuffle to do over to Terminal 7.
As we’re all probably aware – is an impossibility that eludes a lot big US Airports (as the mere thought that a passenger would use more than one carrier is beyond them – which in the days of multi-alliances and deep joint ventures – isn’t great).
Therefore, one has to leave the secure area, travel to another terminal and re-clear security.
I had built-in a lot of time for this in the schedule – as, in the past – I’ve been stung by a JFK transfer. Therefore, the timing was going to be critical this time.
With no luggage to pick up, I headed straight out of the T8 Satellite, into the main terminal – and through the upper TSA exit in T8 (a good timesaver). From there I took the well-worn path of heading back to the AirTrain for a one-stop ride to T7.
And someone must have been smiling on me – as a train was about to depart.
One stop later – and I was in the more integrated home of British Airways in Terminal 7.
Yes, Terminal 7 is a bit of a building site – and the cheap tape was being used to cover up fading airlines is just a wonderful touch.
White tape is so classy. Obviously, there’s a shortage of yellow tape in the New York state area.
With no boarding pass to pick up and not luggage to drop off, I headed through the priority security lane.
check.
The TSA was in a good mood that day – in that they were doing their job, rather than it being a shout-fest at the airport (like the TSA normally do).
With security completed without the hassle, I headed into the lounge – and was through the doors 40 minutes after I landed at T8.
That my friends – is a minor miracle all by itself
British Airways Terminal 7 Galleries Lounge.
It seems British Airways are completing the refurbishment work of the lounge at the time of writing – but going into the lounge – you could see it needed more than a little love, to put it bluntly.
I’ve seen this wavy thing before…
As I was travelling on a business class ticket – I had access to pre-flight dining. And as you know – I wouldn’t deprive me readers of what was being offered in the lounge.
And there was a fair selection – with some Ramen being offered, as well as Tortillas and a salad option.
An interesting mix, although I take serious debate of what British Airways caterers at JFK call “Tonkotsu Ramen” (that’s pork bone ramen kids… and kimchi doesn’t factor in).
What’s wrong with this? Where to being. Noodles too thick, kimchi, hard-boiled egg, and minimal broth…
The tortilla options were nice and flavourful, with a nice fresh salad bar.
The desert options didn’t call out to me much – I’ll be honest.
With food in me, I headed out of the pre-flight dining area and into the main lounge. Sadly, the lounge is very disconnected from the world here – where there’s no sign you’re at an airport (so watching planes is impossible.)
I found a nondescript armchair to collapse into whilst catching up on a few things. About 10 minutes later a call went out for BA174 for boarding.
My timing remains impeccable.
I headed out of the lounge and started to make my way over to the gate – via the wonder of Duty-Free (and not stopping for anything … nothing in the store grabbing my eye).
Arriving at the gate – boarding in full swing, with priority passengers cleared and general boarding commencing.
Ooh. A Gogo 2ku dome… Have I struck gold this trip?
With a beep of my boarding pass, I was cleared to board. It was time to head to the upper deck of a British Airways Boeing 747.
NEXT: BA174 New York JFK to London Heathrow
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