I’ve written some trip reports in the past, however have been put of by time constraints and mainly by the fact that it was no longer possible to use Photobucket to share pictures.
However since I discovered that you can easily share photo’s through the forum, and as there are less SPA’s to write during these summer months, let’s give this another try!
After 2 COVID-years which largely limited travel to Europe, it was time to travel further and thus it was time for a citytrip to New York over the easter holiday.
As the Miles&More double status Miles promo, together with the Compensaid promo, would make us requalify as FTL, flights had to be booked in the Lufthansa family.
Living in Belgium, Brussels is the obvious point of departure, however as we live near Lille, Paris is not that much further.
For some reason (compeition with La Compagnie?), business class tickets from Paris were significantly cheaper than from Brussels.
In the end we flew CDG-VIE-EWR on OS outbound and EWR-ZRH-CDG on LX on the way back.
Having enjoyed some very good St-Regis stays around the world, we wanted to see the original, so the St-Regis New York was the obvious hotel choice.
So let’s get this trip started.
Of course, the last day before a holiday means tuingrond up as much loose ends as possible, so I was behind my PC untill well after midnight.
The drive to Paris thus started with very small eyes.
No traffic on this early hour, so shaved quite some time of the time estimated by the GPS and we were in CDG by 5 a.m., well in time for the 7 a.m. flight to Vienna.
However, flying to the US still in COVID-times, online check in didn’t work and also at the counter in CDG a supervisor had to be involved before we could be approved fit to travel and boarding passes could be released. The processen to check us in did take about 15 minutes.
Boarding passes in hand, we were quickly through security. Unfortunately, there is only one lounge in terminal 2B which is the Sheltair lounge. The lounge was a total dump, tired furniture spread around with no real ‘decor’. Not something to come early for. Fortunatly they had a passable Champagne to start the day, and after a short wait it was time to head to the gate.
Priority boarding started quickly, however only meant you could go stand in a holding pen and wait for all other groups to get organised in their respective lines.
After waiting in our line for 10 minutes, it was finally time to board and I quickly found my favourite seat for Euro-business class.
Take-off was 30 minutes behind the sheduled departure time, however we still arrived on time in Vienna.
Shortly after take off, a hot breakfast of Croque Monsieur was served, which, although not a real breakfast food in my book, was very tasty.
We arrived on time Vienna and with a very shot layover made our way to the non-Schengen Austrian lounge, which was completely packed. We found two seats at a dirty table from people who just left and had just enough time for a drink and a toilet break before heading to the gate.
Luckily we left on time because (unnoticed for me) my boarding pass had SSSS on it so I was sent to another gate for secondary screening where all my luggage had to be emptied and I had to be scanned barefoot.
After this it was back to the gate were boarding was imminent.
I was looking forward to this flight. My first international business class flight was on Austrian, and they always held a place in my heart.
Priority boarding worked as it should here, and we quickly were in the familiar Austrian business class cabin, were jackets were taking away and champagne was offered as a welcome drink.
Allthough not the most modern seat I still liked it, especially for a daytime flight. Good legroom and nice view of the 777 cockpit.
Do&Co catering was as tasty as always, and I took veal as a starter and the pasta dish for mains, to enjoy with the latest Bond movie.
After this, the dessert cart was rolled around and flight attendants went around offering port and a very nice dessert wine, as well as specialty coffees. Unfortunately I don’t drink coffee so opted for the dessert wine to finish the meal.
After this, the short night before and the drinks caught up with me and I was down for a couple of hours in the lie-flat seats.
I woke up with about 3 hours to go and reviewed some more contracts and by the time I finished those, it was time for the pre-arrival meal, consisting of a shrimp dish and a chocolate cake.
Being on the left side of the plane offered a great view of Manhattan on descent in the Newark and we quickly landed on time where we were among the first of the plane.
Immigration was quiet a walk and had some lines but we were quickly through after some standard questions.
Opposite to what we’re used to in Brussels, priority luggage actually worked here and our luggage was on the carroussel by the time we arrived.
We ordered an Uber Black which arrived in a couple of minutes and were quickly on our way to the St. Regis.