JFK First Lounge: reviews and photos
Jan 14, 2019, 11:24 pm
#91
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
I am traveling in IB biz class later this week - also OWE but booked using IB+ so my AA EXP status will not be reflected on the BP. Are they still combining J/F access so that there is nothing to be gained in trying to get my AA status reflected? I’ll have access to dining anyway, so just checking whether I need to harass IB check-in agents to change my FF# (or show OWE card along with IB BP to the BA lounge staff).
Jan 17, 2019, 5:35 pm
#92
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
I am traveling in IB biz class later this week - also OWE but booked using IB+ so my AA EXP status will not be reflected on the BP. Are they still combining J/F access so that there is nothing to be gained in trying to get my AA status reflected? I’ll have access to dining anyway, so just checking whether I need to harass IB check-in agents to change my FF# (or show OWE card along with IB BP to the BA lounge staff).
Jan 26, 2019, 3:52 pm
#95
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver, UA 1K, DL Platinum
Posts: 696
Extremely crowded tonight exacerbated by a late running ANA flight (supposed to leave at 4:55 but showing 7:10).
Entrance staff recommending the business lounge which appears to be partially open. Luckily in J tonight and the main dining room is not busy. The smaller dining room with the Asian food appears to be used as an overflow from the First lounge and is rammed.
I’d definitely like to avoid BA until this is sorted out but the pricing is too good for my route so I’m stuck with it.
For Golds in W/Y it’s really bad.
Entrance staff recommending the business lounge which appears to be partially open. Luckily in J tonight and the main dining room is not busy. The smaller dining room with the Asian food appears to be used as an overflow from the First lounge and is rammed.
I’d definitely like to avoid BA until this is sorted out but the pricing is too good for my route so I’m stuck with it.
For Golds in W/Y it’s really bad.
Feb 11, 2019, 1:48 pm
#96
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,744
First time in here and it's not good.
1/2-3/4 full at 3:30pm (although some people putting coats on chairs possibly making it look fuller), and some loud American woman who can probably be heard clearly in next door's Alaska lounge. Might go and sit at her table and loudly talk to my phone, sarcastically shouting that "sorry I have to shout but I need to be heard over some loud mouth".
Definitely far more people in here than I've ever seen in the previous first lounge. Must get a CCR card again should I ever to decide to fly out of JFK again (will preferably catch an AA flight to LAX to avoid this in future and use the QF F lounge).
Loads of Asian people for an ANA flight? Remember seeing them in GC rather than in here so are they letting most people in with status and/or cabin class?
Lack of power and when there is some, half the points need a good 2-3m long lead to reach you.
Very friendly staff on the front desks with some miserable git near the drinks bar.
Two wash basins just aren't enough. Not sure why there's 3 in an earlier picture unless I've missed something or that's the women's restroom.
Not sure how the pre-flight dining works. Seems to be a "boutique dining" room with a load of tables and some white bar. Do you go behind it and join the masses pigging from a trough?
Added: There seems to be a large side room where pre-flight dining occurs.
Not too bad with bangers and mash (sort of tinned hot dog sausages with lumpy mash. Onions were lovely as we're the ones on GF at LHR the other day).
Cranberry juice drinks being passed around that aren't too bad. Spritzer + cranberry juice?
Chinese Char Sui etc. meats warm rather than hot.
Much prefer the AA flagship lounge. Ok the food isn't amazing but the soda machines beat the cans of Coke etc. on offer here and it's far easier to find somewhere to sit and there's power everywhere.
1/2-3/4 full at 3:30pm (although some people putting coats on chairs possibly making it look fuller), and some loud American woman who can probably be heard clearly in next door's Alaska lounge. Might go and sit at her table and loudly talk to my phone, sarcastically shouting that "sorry I have to shout but I need to be heard over some loud mouth".
Definitely far more people in here than I've ever seen in the previous first lounge. Must get a CCR card again should I ever to decide to fly out of JFK again (will preferably catch an AA flight to LAX to avoid this in future and use the QF F lounge).
Loads of Asian people for an ANA flight? Remember seeing them in GC rather than in here so are they letting most people in with status and/or cabin class?
Lack of power and when there is some, half the points need a good 2-3m long lead to reach you.
Very friendly staff on the front desks with some miserable git near the drinks bar.
Two wash basins just aren't enough. Not sure why there's 3 in an earlier picture unless I've missed something or that's the women's restroom.
Not sure how the pre-flight dining works. Seems to be a "boutique dining" room with a load of tables and some white bar. Do you go behind it and join the masses pigging from a trough?
Added: There seems to be a large side room where pre-flight dining occurs.
Not too bad with bangers and mash (sort of tinned hot dog sausages with lumpy mash. Onions were lovely as we're the ones on GF at LHR the other day).
Cranberry juice drinks being passed around that aren't too bad. Spritzer + cranberry juice?
Chinese Char Sui etc. meats warm rather than hot.
Much prefer the AA flagship lounge. Ok the food isn't amazing but the soda machines beat the cans of Coke etc. on offer here and it's far easier to find somewhere to sit and there's power everywhere.
Last edited by xenole; Feb 11, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Feb 24, 2019, 6:15 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 41
I am traveling in IB biz class later this week - also OWE but booked using IB+ so my AA EXP status will not be reflected on the BP. Are they still combining J/F access so that there is nothing to be gained in trying to get my AA status reflected? I’ll have access to dining anyway, so just checking whether I need to harass IB check-in agents to change my FF# (or show OWE card along with IB BP to the BA lounge staff).
Feb 24, 2019, 6:28 am
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 860
I’m flying in J to DOH on the morning (1105) QR flight in May. I presume there will be no pre-flight dining available, but as a non-BA pax would I be able to enjoy it if it was offered? I’ve read conflicting reports and this post seems to indicate non-BA pax can access pre-flight dining.
Feb 24, 2019, 6:33 am
#99
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 41
Last edited by Rhinopia; Feb 24, 2019 at 6:40 am Reason: Add screenshot
Feb 25, 2019, 6:52 am
#100
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
I’m flying in J to DOH on the morning (1105) QR flight in May. I presume there will be no pre-flight dining available, but as a non-BA pax would I be able to enjoy it if it was offered? I’ve read conflicting reports and this post seems to indicate non-BA pax can access pre-flight dining.
Originally Posted by Rhinopia
The evening flight leaves from T8, but the morning flight leaves from T7. I should also clarify I’m OWE so can access the F lounge instead of the Galleries lounge (which I’m not even sure will be finished by May...?)
Feb 25, 2019, 11:57 am
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,899
Travelling In F you have the separate Concorde Room ( CCR) with dining facilities so you can have a meal in the CCR and on board if you so desire.
Regards
TBS
Feb 25, 2019, 12:00 pm
#103
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,283
Feb 25, 2019, 5:37 pm
#104
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 41
I was NOT able to access pre-flight dining at the BA lounge - it's exclusively for BA passengers, regardless of status.
Correct, you will be in T7 (sadly). Not sure when the Galleries lounge will open, but for now everyone gets the F lounge, which is not set up to serve the number of people visiting. However, I imagine the experience is much better in the am as there are not a lot of flights leaving at the time of the morning QR flight.
Correct, you will be in T7 (sadly). Not sure when the Galleries lounge will open, but for now everyone gets the F lounge, which is not set up to serve the number of people visiting. However, I imagine the experience is much better in the am as there are not a lot of flights leaving at the time of the morning QR flight.