The water pressure at the Westin is woeful and the temperature varied between tepid and cool.
The breakfast was similar to the Sheraton at DFW and filled a hole.
I checked out and was able to grab a shuttle that pulled up almost immediately. A woman with two small children got on with at least 2 large suit cases and 4 smaller bags that the porter loaded for her.
At the airport the area where the bus would normally pull up for the Southwest gates was boarded up and they shuttle had to use a temporary stop further down in between terminals. The driver offloaded all her luggage and she was left to somehow move it all and her two kids back up to the terminal. I didn’t envy her that task.
The bus made its way around to the AA terminal and I hopped off and went over the F desks where I had to wait around 10 minutes before being served. The agent said do you do this F trip to JFK often and I said I didn’t. She informed me I could have used the Flagship check-in that was behind an unmarked set of sliding doors. Well thanks for that a bit of signage might have helped.
She did the deed with the bag and BP and sent me upstairs to security. Again it took around 10 minutes to clear and I was once more on my way to the Flagship lounge inside the AC.
I had a drink or two and some sandwiches before heading down to the gate early again.
AA Flagship Lounge LAX
AA Flagship Lounge LAX
AA Flagship Lounge LAX
Bad move, again. After waiting at the gate around 5 minutes the doors opened and the passengers off the inbound started to walk off. Ok this is not going to be an early boarding situation.
Twenty minutes or so later the agents sent a wheel chair down and then I heard them say that F only could board as they still readying the rest of the aircraft. I went on down and stood in the air-bridge until they finished cleaning the plane. What?
Flight AA 0004 LAX-JFK Seat 2A (First)
Aircraft: A321
Departure time: 12:35
Finally they let us on and I made myself comfortable at my seat around 5 minutes before our scheduled push back time.
The bose headphones, an amenity kit and pillow and duvet were all at the seat. The crew dropped by and offered OJ or water before push back. The captain announced a flight time of 5 hours and 21 minutes.
AA A321 F Seat
AA A321 F Seat
The purser handed out the menu and dropped back a while later to confirm my meal choice and enquire about a post take-off drink.
Menu & Wine List
We pushed back at 12:47 and taxied out for a take off time of 13:04.
After the gong and then some, the crew got about the service with a hot towel first. This was followed by my S&D and the warm nuts.
S&D and Warm Nuts
My drink was refreshed later with not a S&D but an S&S but I let it slide. This particular crew member was just going about her business and was not at all interested in making this a true F flight. I got the impression she didn’t really want to be there.
View
The meal tray was set and each course served separately from the galley. The starter of salmon and tuna was quite nice and I opted to play safe and stick to the white wine today choosing the chardonnay. Pretzel bread was again my choice of carb.
Lunch Tray
Starter
After the starter the salad with Caesar dressing was placed before me. This again was tasty and fresh.
Salad
The stuffed chicken was also very nice as were the accompanying potato and beans.
Main
Again the AA sundae made an appearance with yes, the butterscotch and nut with no whip selections. Also a cup of very strong bitter coffee was delivered to my seat.
Dessert
The crew put some snacks and fruit at the front of the cabin for us to self serve from. I watched a movie and read some of my book and nabbed a banana on the way back from the loo.
Later in the flight the crew member offered a chocolate chip cookie and some milk. I nibbled on the former and declined that latter.
Soon after this we started our decent and the captain announced we would be landing a good 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Then we start to play here we round the holding pattern and we didn’t touch down until 15 minutes after the captains announced landing time. He didn’t bother to come back and tell us this though.
I begrudgingly thanked the crew as I got off and made my way over to the main terminal building and down to the carousel to await the bags. I was there probably around 5 minutes before it came to life. My bag was out within the first dozen or so and I made my way up to the AirTrain.
At Federal Circle I called the hotel and asked them to send a shuttle. This came around 15 minutes later and another 10-15 and I was at the hotel.
I was checked into the room I booked with no upgrade here at the Sheraton JFK. There was no mention of being able to use the ‘what they call a club lounge’ for breakfast. The room was dire. The heating barely worked and they seem to have an aversion to lights. There were no bedside lights and no light at the desk. When I went to bed I needed to turn off the lamp at the corner of the room and then go back to the bed. Daft.