Cue forward some 2 months and it was time for another trip to the Big Apple.
This time in company with my adorable,(mostly) fantastic better half.
We try to do one or two long-haul trips on our own each year in a Premium cabin. On this occasion I had managed to grab two F return points (Avios) tickets from ARN via LHR to JFK over a long weekend in late august. Perfect.
This was a trip I thoroughly looked forward to. With three young boys at home after wonderful but also tiring summer with them we felt this was a deserved break together.
We were on the lunch flight out of ARN to connect on a late afternoon 747 across the pond, giving us (her) time for some shopping at Heathrow while I would explore the wines on offer in the Concorde Room.
As usual crew on the better side. In 2016 alone I probably did 50 sectors in Club Europe between ARN and LHR with consisently good to excellent crew.
Mrs P finishing off some work before going on to the Champagne.
Lunch is served. Duck. Edible, that's about it.
Concorde Room was pleasant. Place is getting tired in places, but service and staff up to good standard and one of the Polish ladies that I know from earlier visits looked after us.
Mrs Petrus opted to skip on a second lunch. Wines and Champagnes though was another matter.
Time flew by and I also had to run down and get some essentials for the trip. Mostly some twin-packs of the Perrier Jouet Grand Brut which we find very acceptable Non-vintage bubbles for everyday quaffing.
As usual boarding to JFK was from a B-gate and we headed out on the automatic train. Boarding was quick with Fast Track properly enforced and some stressed out Club/Business passengers tried to push past to which I politely asked if they are in a hurry? I suppose we're not going to leave without you. As we came down the jetty and we were turned left, escorted by crew into F, there were loooong glancing looks from the aforementioned pax.
We knew instantly we were in for a treat on this flight. Three super professional yet humorous ladies looked after the F cabin today. Occupancy was about 60% with 8 out of 14 seats taken. All PAX appeared relaxed and zero DYKWIA tendency. Every one as far as I could see opted for a glass of Champagne (LP Grand Siecle).
I was in 1K and Mrs P in 2K. 1A had been taken for a while (by it turns out after about half way of the flight a lovely gentleman who we later ran into in NY by coincidence). More on that later.
Mrs Petrus in a jolly good mood about switch into slippers. She begged me to not publish a photo with her feet visible... hence the art work.
Yes. 1K on a 747 to New York. Have I mentioned this is one of my favourite spots in the World? The LP Grand Siecle went down well in the summer heat.
Back to 2K for some chit chat and just taking in the good looks. Plane would be stuck on the ground for another 20 minutes. We also got chatting to two ladies sat in 4EF. Best buddies for 45 years, finishing off a trip to Europe together. They were super cool and nice. Hats off!
After some more bubbles it was time to depart so headed back to 1K and the excitement built up for the special feeling of taking off in front of the cockpit, hearing the RR engines scream ^
Here's an old video from BA's previous F cabin where you hear that amazing RR sound:
A great flight and more on New York coming right up. Thanks for reading so far!
