EWR first impressions
#16
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
That is good to hear about the AirTrain, or at least good to be made aware of. I haven't had problems with it during daytime hours, even at ~06:00. First time on this flight in in May so like I said, happy to get the heads up.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Return experience at EWR
Pretty straight forward, no one else is around, only CX flight. As long as you are at the front of the plane getting through customs is a breeze. Then pick up your luggage, walk out. Much much better experience than JFK that if you are unlucky and get stuck behind a BA plane, expect a good 30-40 minutes at customs if you don't have Global Entry or something similar.
If you live in Manhattan this is golden, go out, get on I-78, Lincoln Tunnel, you're there, 10-15 minutes drive tops.
I heard EWR is getting major load and CX is so impressed by it it is considering adding another flight. All I have to say is: I TOLD YOU SO
If you live in Manhattan this is golden, go out, get on I-78, Lincoln Tunnel, you're there, 10-15 minutes drive tops.
I heard EWR is getting major load and CX is so impressed by it it is considering adding another flight. All I have to say is: I TOLD YOU SO
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,942
Wirelessly posted (beckoa's BB: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
Maybe 2nd flight with F?
Maybe 2nd flight with F?
Last edited by beckoa; Apr 8, 2014 at 1:14 am Reason: bb spelling
#21
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MarcoPolo (SL), BA Executive Club (GO)
Posts: 1,852
Pretty straight forward, no one else is around, only CX flight. As long as you are at the front of the plane getting through customs is a breeze. Then pick up your luggage, walk out. Much much better experience than JFK that if you are unlucky and get stuck behind a BA plane, expect a good 30-40 minutes at customs if you don't have Global Entry or something similar.
If you live in Manhattan this is golden, go out, get on I-78, Lincoln Tunnel, you're there, 10-15 minutes drive tops.
I heard EWR is getting major load and CX is so impressed by it it is considering adding another flight. All I have to say is: I TOLD YOU SO
If you live in Manhattan this is golden, go out, get on I-78, Lincoln Tunnel, you're there, 10-15 minutes drive tops.
I heard EWR is getting major load and CX is so impressed by it it is considering adding another flight. All I have to say is: I TOLD YOU SO
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
From HKG - plane was 77G, Y packed, Y+ packed, wasn't sure about J but a quick survey of heads that I can see suggests at least 70-75% packed.
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,704
I've flown once so far, and have 3 more EWR sectors in the next few months. 0 JFK. I never thought I'd use EWR to this extent but so far it's easier to get D and I fare tix to/from EWR than JFK, CX890 is an hour earlier than CX846, and it seems like EWR-midtown drive is at worst the same, but much likely faster into downtown or midtown. I'm not from NY so maybe this is wrong but that's how it seems to me. The downside is I can't buy J and use miles to upgrade to F, but that's really not the end of the world.
The other thing EWR enables for me I didn't realize was meetings in Philadelphia are easier. I can shave off 30-60 minutes of transport time by going ex-EWR instead of having to drive out to JFK. I'm ending two upcoming USA trips ex-EWR, whereas before I probably would've either gone ex-JFK or made the trip so that I ended in California and went ex-SFO or ex-LAX. EWR is a nice option.
My main concern about EWR is if a plane goes tech at EWR. I imagine it will suck given there's only one flight a day. Someone posted something like that the first week EWR was launched didn't sound fun. At least at JFK there is so much metal CX has some flexibility.
The other thing EWR enables for me I didn't realize was meetings in Philadelphia are easier. I can shave off 30-60 minutes of transport time by going ex-EWR instead of having to drive out to JFK. I'm ending two upcoming USA trips ex-EWR, whereas before I probably would've either gone ex-JFK or made the trip so that I ended in California and went ex-SFO or ex-LAX. EWR is a nice option.
My main concern about EWR is if a plane goes tech at EWR. I imagine it will suck given there's only one flight a day. Someone posted something like that the first week EWR was launched didn't sound fun. At least at JFK there is so much metal CX has some flexibility.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
When we went tech in YVR it was late, no metal, the YVR staff promptly put people in hotels, and ask them to return the next day. It all depends on how the staff handles the situation. But yeah, heard the first time EWR went tech there was nothing but chaos.
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,648
Looking at this post you were in Y class I am curious how you got upgraded from Y to C not Y+
#27
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
Just a heads up to those of us who would be taking the train to EWR, the AirTrain will be down on 5/1 for at least 75 days.
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/2520017...pended-75-days
Plan accordingly.
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/2520017...pended-75-days
Plan accordingly.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 100
We took this fight [J] in early March. No problems at check-in. As noted previously, lounge is shared w. BA. The meal/buffet is only for BA and the fruits and finger sandwiches for CX pax are tired looking. Plane was very clean and one of the best sleeper/beds we've encountered. Staff was good- very good but less so than SQ or Emirates. The food service is off for a 16 hour flight. The rapidly served snack [they whisk away the tray without asking if you'd like cheese, dessert or coffee' is about 1 hour into the flight and breakfast 14 hours later. The 'available snacks' were soup with insufficiently cooked noodles and a dry sandwich of indeterminate content. The beds win here but SQ and Emirates surpass in service and cuisine.
While some many be fortunate enough to arrive from Manhattan in 20 minutes, I certainly would advise allowing longer as the tunnel can be quite congested.
While some many be fortunate enough to arrive from Manhattan in 20 minutes, I certainly would advise allowing longer as the tunnel can be quite congested.
#29
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,704
The food service is off for a 16 hour flight. The rapidly served snack [they whisk away the tray without asking if you'd like cheese, dessert or coffee' is about 1 hour into the flight and breakfast 14 hours later. The 'available snacks' were soup with insufficiently cooked noodles and a dry sandwich of indeterminate content. The beds win here but SQ and Emirates surpass in service and cuisine.
CX J "cuisine" certainly leaves something to be desired, but end of the day I still prefer CX J to SQ J primarily on account of the hard product and the fact I don't have to flip the bed over to use it.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LONDON
Programs: CX DM, BA G4L, QR PLT, EK PLT, Hyatt CourtesyC, HH DM, SQ PPS, BonvoyTit, UK, VS, UA, DL, AA
Posts: 1,709
+1 I really can't stand that SQ seat, and find the CX seat far more flexible for lounging, watching movies and relaxing as well as sleeping... I think it is definitely the best business class out there and with the number of airlines going for the reverse herringbone, it clearly shows that this product is popular with both airlines and customers!!!