Originally Posted by
ijgordon
As alluded to by others, I think the OP's expectations were unrealistic for a domestic U.S. first class flight.
I also think that if he looked at his itinerary, he should have seen that his flight arrived into T8 at JFK and his connecting BA flight departed from T7. This is really no different than many LHR connections, the difference being that there is no centralized "flight connections centre", partly because there are no airside transfers. It shouldn't be that hard to know "OK, I need to go from terminal 8 to 7, and if you can't figure out how on your own, just ask any staff member (who would direct you to the airtrain.)
I should have asked earlier, but expected to find signs. Eventually, when about to go landside, I asked and was told to go one-stop on the air train, not realising that it goes both ways and you've guessed it we headed the wrong way, so we had to get off and return on the stop everywhere 'til T7 train!
Originally Posted by
fastflyer
Because he was in international F on a connecting OneWorld carrier, the OP could have used the OneWorld premium lounge at MIA, nearby in terminal E. Not necessarily convenient to his departure gate, but an upgraded experience.
Admirals Clubs are considered "business" lounges, which in the US implies payment for food and premium booze. Separately, AA provides a small number of Flagship Lounges (Chicago, LAX, JFK, London) for international F customers. Admirals Clubs however are a pay-for-service, domestic business traveler lounge. International status and premium passengers are comped usage, but the vast majority of users of these lounges are business folk doing simple domestic travel, and they are accustomed to pay for what they consume (and bill to the end client). AA will provide free drink vouchers (as many as you ask for usually) to international premium passengers using the Admirals Club.
JFK is not designed for connecting passengers -- it can be done, but it is intended as an O & D airport. Changing terminals, as you experienced, is a pain. The best option in OP's situation is to fly MIA-LHR nonstop.
Perhaps check-in should have advised us that we could use the premium lounge, when tagging our bags thru to LHR and giving F boarding passes?
We were travelling on AMEX 2-4-1 tickets to go to a New York wedding, adding on a cruise from Miami. I tried to switch to MIA-LHR but no flights available.
Originally Posted by
Pinned
I just want to know why you were wearing Caribbean clothes for a flight back to London in the winter?!
Left cruise ship in Miami and thought we'd not go outside the terminals or aircraft until we reached LHR. I had a jumper in hand luggage.
Originally Posted by
FWAAA
To be fair to the OP, they saw the words "First Class" and didn't realize that on a domestic flight here in the US, all that means is a wider seat with more legroom, free booze and generally some food service. Food that is about what economy passengers used to get here on domestic flights many years ago before economy meals were scaled back and eliminated.
The people not in First Class on the OP's MIA-JFK flight received an experience not terribly unlike that found on RyanAir or EasyJet. The OP should be thankful they didn't have to endure that.
Our common language is English, but a lot of our words mean different things. Here in the US, domestic First Class ain't anything special, but it sure beats being in the back of the bus.
Connect at JFK in February when there are nonstops between Miami and London? Yikes.
I refer to my reply above.
We flew down to Miami with Jet Blue and the experience was excellent. We returned with AA for better protection with onward one world flight to LHR.