Planereality
Jan 6, 09, 4:10 pm
Hey Guys & Gals- Just returned from the HBA Expo in Las Vegas, where I did some due diligence for http://www.luxuryairandsea.com/
I opted to try United’s PS First Service: JFK-SFO (with a Ted connection in SFO to LAS)
Terminal 7 at JFK was quiet and calm, considering it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and storms wreaked havoc on the East Coast the day before.
I was checked in and through security at least 2 hours before departure, so after a look around the boarding area, I headed to United’s Red Carpet Club. Adjacent to the Red Carpet Club is United’s First Class International lounge, which the agent graciously offered up when I showed her my boarding pass. I was happy to have the access, but more pleased to find the lounge empty, clean and generously stocked with Moet Chandon, several varieties of juice, soda, liquor, beer, cappuccino, fresh fruit, cereal, smoked salmon, sushi, finger sandwiches and a full spread of Pepperidge farm cookies to top it off!
Wherever you were from, no matter what time zone you were on, there was food and drink to please. The only quam I have with this lounge is the view or lack thereof; the lounge actually looks out to a roof which obstructs anything someone may wish to view. As I sat there, I remembered I was in NYC and a roof view may be considered a bonus in some Burroughs….
Boarding was crowded even though 1st class, “global….” and “1K” got priority. I passed the problem while boarding: business class passengers and anxious nellies crowding the boarding lanes… glaring at me as I blew by them.
First class sat 12 on this 757, configured 2-2. My initial impression was how roomy the cabin was. I saw on my seat (bulkhead 1A) two pillows and a Westin duvet. There was more than enough legroom, but virtually no storage for anything. Water and juice were offered before push back (no booze offered on the ground like on Delta)
Once airborne, menus were passed out without a word from the flight attendant. Another FA passed through the isle with headphones and portable in flight entertainment devices. Warm nuts were placed at each seat and our real drink orders were taken, then a hot towel was passed to each 1st class passenger. The menu consisted of field greens and asparagus with cous cous. The entrees were a choice of hamburger, salmon cakes or honey garlic chicken. Oddly the enough, the FA took meal orders in what appeared to be in a random pattern, then I realized when she took my order and only two of the options were left, the folks she attendee to first were much more important than me. (when I say “important” I mean higher FF status of course)
When I reclined to get some rest, I realized how narrow the foot rest, an in fact the whole seat, was. Although it layed almost entirely flat (nice when flying domestic), it was too narrow for my liking.
Before the return flight, I spent an hour at United’s enormous Red Carpet Club at SFO; Terminal 3. It is well appointed and clean with two business centers on each end, both containing cubicles and plenty of A/C outlets. A twelve seat bar (with a greater variety of liquor than found in most airline lounges) anchors the east side of the lounge. Surprisingly, coffee on this side of the lounge is poured, self service, from grimy coffee pots on burners; both appeared to be 25 years old AND the coffee was luke warm! Fountain soda was available, but the only cups available were 6 or 8 oz little plastic jobs. Juices came from a machine (presumably concentrate mixed with water) and mini bagels, bananas, apples and some type of gas station pastry rounded out the food choices. Some irrelevant magazines were on a rack, but no newspapers.
The return flight was much of the same drill (including a rock hard bagel that I could not even break apart with my hands, much less bite a piece off) except that the equipment (plane) was dilapidated. My window frame was falling off the wall, the feux leather was torn up and the air vents were so dirty, I did note even want to touch them.
Overall, a positive experience with Untied, but what concerns me is the lack of attention that FA’s give to the first class passengers. As soon as breakfast was over, the FA’s went about more important business: eating meals themselves, preparing meals for other crew members, chatting in the galley and even brushing their teeth. Clearly, United’s FA’s realize that PS 1st is merely a perk upgrade for United frequent fliers (which is fine); surely no one would pay $6,000 (USD) for this level of service; if so they could potentially be disappointed.
Pictures can be found at:http://planereality.blogspot.com/
I opted to try United’s PS First Service: JFK-SFO (with a Ted connection in SFO to LAS)
Terminal 7 at JFK was quiet and calm, considering it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and storms wreaked havoc on the East Coast the day before.
I was checked in and through security at least 2 hours before departure, so after a look around the boarding area, I headed to United’s Red Carpet Club. Adjacent to the Red Carpet Club is United’s First Class International lounge, which the agent graciously offered up when I showed her my boarding pass. I was happy to have the access, but more pleased to find the lounge empty, clean and generously stocked with Moet Chandon, several varieties of juice, soda, liquor, beer, cappuccino, fresh fruit, cereal, smoked salmon, sushi, finger sandwiches and a full spread of Pepperidge farm cookies to top it off!
Wherever you were from, no matter what time zone you were on, there was food and drink to please. The only quam I have with this lounge is the view or lack thereof; the lounge actually looks out to a roof which obstructs anything someone may wish to view. As I sat there, I remembered I was in NYC and a roof view may be considered a bonus in some Burroughs….
Boarding was crowded even though 1st class, “global….” and “1K” got priority. I passed the problem while boarding: business class passengers and anxious nellies crowding the boarding lanes… glaring at me as I blew by them.
First class sat 12 on this 757, configured 2-2. My initial impression was how roomy the cabin was. I saw on my seat (bulkhead 1A) two pillows and a Westin duvet. There was more than enough legroom, but virtually no storage for anything. Water and juice were offered before push back (no booze offered on the ground like on Delta)
Once airborne, menus were passed out without a word from the flight attendant. Another FA passed through the isle with headphones and portable in flight entertainment devices. Warm nuts were placed at each seat and our real drink orders were taken, then a hot towel was passed to each 1st class passenger. The menu consisted of field greens and asparagus with cous cous. The entrees were a choice of hamburger, salmon cakes or honey garlic chicken. Oddly the enough, the FA took meal orders in what appeared to be in a random pattern, then I realized when she took my order and only two of the options were left, the folks she attendee to first were much more important than me. (when I say “important” I mean higher FF status of course)
When I reclined to get some rest, I realized how narrow the foot rest, an in fact the whole seat, was. Although it layed almost entirely flat (nice when flying domestic), it was too narrow for my liking.
Before the return flight, I spent an hour at United’s enormous Red Carpet Club at SFO; Terminal 3. It is well appointed and clean with two business centers on each end, both containing cubicles and plenty of A/C outlets. A twelve seat bar (with a greater variety of liquor than found in most airline lounges) anchors the east side of the lounge. Surprisingly, coffee on this side of the lounge is poured, self service, from grimy coffee pots on burners; both appeared to be 25 years old AND the coffee was luke warm! Fountain soda was available, but the only cups available were 6 or 8 oz little plastic jobs. Juices came from a machine (presumably concentrate mixed with water) and mini bagels, bananas, apples and some type of gas station pastry rounded out the food choices. Some irrelevant magazines were on a rack, but no newspapers.
The return flight was much of the same drill (including a rock hard bagel that I could not even break apart with my hands, much less bite a piece off) except that the equipment (plane) was dilapidated. My window frame was falling off the wall, the feux leather was torn up and the air vents were so dirty, I did note even want to touch them.
Overall, a positive experience with Untied, but what concerns me is the lack of attention that FA’s give to the first class passengers. As soon as breakfast was over, the FA’s went about more important business: eating meals themselves, preparing meals for other crew members, chatting in the galley and even brushing their teeth. Clearly, United’s FA’s realize that PS 1st is merely a perk upgrade for United frequent fliers (which is fine); surely no one would pay $6,000 (USD) for this level of service; if so they could potentially be disappointed.
Pictures can be found at:http://planereality.blogspot.com/