Transatlantic showdown AA J vs BA F (plus Splash Suite at Andaz 5th)

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Part 1: LCY-DUB and Conrad Dublin
Part 2: DUB-LHR-EWR BA J/F
Part 3: Andaz 5th Avenue - Splash Suite
Part 4: JFK-LHR AA J

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British Airways BA4469
London City (LCY) - Dublin (DUB)
Duration: 1hr20
Aircraft: Embraer RJ-170
(Economy Class)

A beautiful day in London

At least the bed was comfortable...




Turndown water. No Conrad toy though


Definitely not in England any more.




Given the other buildings in the area, I'm pretty sure this view is as good as it gets. I picked this room during online check-in.








Aromatherapy Associates amenities. We weren't given the option of switching to Tara Smith, Refinery or Shanghai Tang

This coffee machine plays classical music as it prepares your caffeine fix!

British Airways BA831
Dublin (DUB) – London Heathrow (LHR)
Times: 7:45 - 9:05
Duration: 1h15m
Aircraft: Airbus A319
Seat: 2A (Business Class)

There's plenty of cool traffic to spot at DUB


A beautiful morning in Dublin


Idyllic views shortly after take-off


Given that I hadn't really eaten yet I began to salivate like a Pavlovian dog, as the aroma of cooked meat and cheese filled the cabin.

The breakfast was pretty tasty although it was swimming in oil.


Seeing this picture I just remembered another thing. Nobody offered to hang my jacket on this flight. I had to be extremely careful with the oily breakfast!


Shortly after our trays were cleared we commenced our descent and landed into an uncharacteristically cloudless LHR

This lounge is definitely nicer than BA's J offerings but as you can see, it hardly exudes class. In this image alone I can spot numerous small details which I would immediately change. Details like replacing the trolley by the bar with one made of silver (or at least covering its ugliness by draping a linen cloth over it), keeping the bins next to that trolley covered, putting wooden borders around the screens so that the cables and fixtures aren't visible, adding some plants etc. None of these things is enough to tarnish the experience of the lounge individually but on the whole this lounge is sloppy in its presentation, very rough around the edges.


One thing that does stand out about the CCR is the alcohol selection. There aren't many lounges in the world that provide a champagne of the calibre of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle


We only had a 90 minute connection so after two glasses of LPGS we made our way to A10 (all you BA regulars will know what that means)

British Airways BA185
London Heathrow (LHR) - Newark (EWR)
Times: 10:35 - 13:15
Duration: 7h40m
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300
Seat: 1A (First Class)

The view from Seat 2A


Upon sitting down I immediately began to explore the controls, familiarising myself with the various storage areas and deciding where would be best to put my laptop, phone, camera and GoPro. Before I'd had a chance to even start taking my jacket off, a super friendly FA offered to take it for me and hang it in the large cupboard, if I felt that my personal cupboard wasn't large enough. As it turns out, the personal cupboard was just about large enough (It is built into the back shell of the seat in front).

I was also offered a drink and opted for a Kir Royal which was placed in front of me with the words, "that's lovely, Mr Jermyn". After hearing the industry standard, "please enjoy" on every other airline (except for AA where it's, "there ya go"), it was awesome to get some true British service ^

This FA almost single handedly made the flight for us. We still both talk about her to this day.


As I sipped on the Kir Royal an Irish FA came over to offer PJs and amenity kits. I thought my L PJs last time were a little large and told him I'd risk an M, "oh Mr Jermyn, you'll be grand with an M I'm sure". Awesome, although perhaps he's not seen how much I eat and drink when I fly F


I then began happily snapping away. Here we have the IFE and seat controls. The lamp was kind of in the way on the 747 but here the design works a lot better; it is well away from anything that you put on the side table.


USB ports and magazines on the side table.


AC power in the footwell


The BA slippers were much improved on this flight. They felt heavy and substantial, although I hope they weren't an indication of how wet we should expect the floors to be...


A huge difference between this and F on the 747, or indeed the reverse herringbones of AA, CX, BR, QR etc is that there is almost complete privacy. The way in which the centre and window seat are slightly offset and angled, means that you don't ever see anybody else. It is actually even more private that JL or NH, for example.

The finishes on the seats, beige leather and high gloss surfaces, as well as the lamp also set this product into a far superior league than all of the aforementioned products, with the exception of QR J whose finishes I would argue are equally nice. However, you can see that aside from the staggering of the seats privacy is also afforded to passengers by the oversized leather surround, at the head level of each seat.


As I was midway through my first Kir the wonderful FA came over to ask if I would be needing another before takeoff. I said I wasn't sure we'd have time. She said, "don't worry about that Mr Jermyn, you'll be fine" and rushed back with another for me. I managed to snap this pic in the 10 microseconds between finishing my drink and her immediately clearing the glass.


A few minutes later we were airborne and as is usual in these circumstances, a wave of deep happiness washed over me. Even though it was sunny on the ground, it somehow always feels sunnier up here.


Once airborne we were offered more drinks and were also asked if we'd like our picture taken. The way the FA asked it was almost like we'd be doing her a favour by accepting

As a couple I think it always makes more sense to sit in two window seats like this. The centre seats on both the 777 and 747 are so much smaller, in addition to having no windows, that the possible upsides are totally overshadowed. We are still able to eat face to face which if anything is more intimate than eating next to each other through a small window anyway.


Our drinks came with warm mixed nuts. After leaving the hazelnuts the first time, the second dish came out with extra cashews in their place. Nothing was spoken of it. That is service.


K fully stretched out in the buddy seat. As you can see, you're hardly squished in when dining as a couple.


The meal service was wonderful, our FA was very attentive and paced the meal perfectly. I also love how she almost became a co-conspirator with us. Some gems:
"Go on have another bread, nobody's looking"
"If you're taking that long to answer it means you probably do want another glass of wine"
"I'll just leave these chocolates here, no one else is interested in them today"

The amuse bouche was a feta and watermelon salad. The presentation was great although the flavours weren't 100% to my liking.


The best FA at BA convinces me to eat more carbs. Bye bye abs, hello sleepy


Next up K went for the Sweetcorn, red pepper and chive soup. Which in the interests of trip reporting accuracy, I had to verify was indeed delicious.


My Sesame seared tuna with a citrus salad and olive tapenade was great. The tuna had that clear freshness that somehow is more refreshing than drinking a glass of water. The accompanying foliage was more garnish than salad but worked well nonetheless.


Few restaurants on earth can compare to experiences like this.


K's main course was the warm seared tiger prawns on a sesame and fresh shredded vegetable salad with basil and ginger dressing. The presentation on this wasn't particularly memorable and the prawns were quite small. This wasn't a bad dish but not really First Class either.


Having had run ins with the 'beef' on BA in the past, I erred on the side of caution and opted for the North Atlantic baked cod with orange and tarragon butter sauce and chervil creamed potatoes. The sauce was spectacular; the vegetables cooked to crunchy perfection; the fish was firm yet flaky, the only difference between this and a restaurant being the lack of a crisp skin. This is understandable though, given the lack of a directed heat source aboard.


To finish, we shared the cheese. I loved the cranberry and pistachio crackers but feel that in F the cheese could be improved. One of the two hard cheeses could easily be replaced by a goat's cheese or perhaps upgraded to a Manchego or Comte (my real preference would be for Epoisses or Vacherin but I understand that others in the confines of an airplane cabin may not agree ).


We also shared the Blueberry and nectarine crumble, which was insanely good


In order to try and stoke the fires of my metabolism I ordered a double espresso...


...which was accompanied by all the chocolates that the rest of the cabin didn't want. I'm glad to say that we didn't quite finish them all. Although it's fair to say we gave it a good go.


As 2pm UK time came and went, I was getting a little sleepy. I headed to the bathroom to get changed. My bed was already made upon my return, I didn't need to ask. You can see how I got the next shot by attaching the GoPro to my screen.


Belly full of food booze, no concern more pressing than relaxing and having a nap. Satisfaction.


I awoke after around an hour and a half. I then spent a few minutes just enjoying the feeling of the sunlight on my feet.


The Jermyn position™ : In a flash of inspiration I sat at the far end of my seat so that I could look out of the windows whilst editing photos for one of my TRs. The FA was quite shocked to find me there when I called for another espresso. She said she had never seen anybody do this before. In future I intend to always do this, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face and being able to watch the world below is just about as perfect as it gets.


I wonder if I can buy an old seat and replicate this setup at home. I'm never as productive on TRs as I am when I'm in the air (which of course only serves to compound the problem).


Given that our bodies had yet to rupture like those of a pair of French geese, we figured it was only polite to accept an offer of afternoon tea. The enticing aroma of warm scones was too much to resist.


The scones, jam and cream were fantastic


The sandwiches however left a lot to be desired. They are the exact same scrappy little things that are served in J, only they have been removed from the packaging and placed on a plate. Surely BA can do better.

The hotel Entrance

At the entrance of the room, to your right, is this very modern glass coat rack


On the left is the minibar. The snacks are complimentary, although we had to ask each time we wanted them refilled. Beneath is a fridge filled with soft drinks which are also free, this is a brand standard for Andaz hotels.


Peeking around to the right from the reception area, you get your first view of the enormous living room. The close proximity to other buildings means that sheer blinds are required for privacy; they still let plenty of light through.


Turning left from the reception area you see the expansive desk, along with the Nespresso machine. Much like the mini-bar items, this was not automatically refilled, it always required prompting.


With our backs to the Nespresso machine we can really see how the living room opens up. There was so much space here that we could easily invite our New York friends to come and hang out for drinks. In my experience, most New York apartments don't have rooms this large.


You know you're in the USA when your hotel room has a 54" TV.


The layout of the Splash Suite is a little unusual, after the living room you head straight into the room for which the suite is named.


The Splash Room, with the free standing bathtub as its centrepiece, is also the room in which the wardrobes were located.


Given that we were staying in this suite I felt compelled to have a bath here. Although, for all the times we've had amazing bathtubs in hotel rooms, I think we've only actually found the time to use them 10% of the time. In a city like New York there's always something to see and do, for me the real upside of this suite was the entertaining space rather than the tub (cool though it is).




These sliding panels, decorated with numerous paintings, separate the splash room from the bathroom proper. It was necessary to keep these closed whilst showering as otherwise the aircon would blast right into the shower.


The bathroom features twin vanities and an enormous shower.

Go Pro for field of vision. Regular camera, for details...




This has to be one of the largest hotel showers I've ever seen. To the left is a stool. This isn't done to acommodate an obscure influx of hipster geriatrics. Underneath it is a large foot soaking tub, which can be filled using the waterfall tap on the wall. I guess this is pitched towards women who are looking to alleviate the consequences of indulging in 5th Avenue shopping sprees, whilst wearing Louboutins.


The suite is supplied with Beekman toiletries. My personal scale goes like this:

1. Aesop
2. Everything else

Beekman is firmly middle of the pack, within the Everything Else category.


The bedroom of the Splash Suite is only fractionally larger than the shower room, although I love how it comes with its own cozy little sitting area. Sometimes a large suite can actually feel weirdly impersonal, so it's nice that this little TV nook exists.


The bed was super comfortable, and the soundproofing was excellent. Despite overlooking a busy road, we never heard any noise at all


As you can see, this side of the building opens out onto the NY Public Library and Bryant Park. As well as being an awesome view, it means that you can fully open the blinds without any privacy concerns.


Little touches like the white marble table help to set the tone. Sleek, elegant and minimal, with a few quirky touches. Andaz is definitely a little more understated and luxurious than W, at least with its New York properties (not so sure about the luminous orange, plastic dog in the Andaz WeHo).


Another really cool aspect of this suite is the fact that it has views of the Empire State Building. I loved sitting on this windowsill in the evening.


In fact, the whole surrounding area is pretty magical at night.


The view from the window next to the bed.

Gym etiquette. No unaccompanied muscle babies allowed etc.


Paraphernalia


A reading station?!

Just around the corner from the Andaz is a great sandwich restaurant specialising in slow cooked meats. It is called Untamed. You can also take the sandwiches as Meat Plates, without the bread.


Last time I recommended Katz's Deli on Houston. I can't come to New York and not a get a Pastrami sandwich. However, near to the Andaz is 2nd Avenue Deli. The sandwiches are not quite as good but the service is absolutely fantastic and there is no wait at all for a table. Whilst we were here we got talking with people at other tables and didn't really see any other tourists. It was a very different experience to Katz's and just as cool but in a totally different way.




A New York institution. The original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park is always popular and more so when the weather is good. My tip? Go here for a late breakfast burger, there are no lines and the burger tastes just as good early in the day as it does a couple of hours later when the line is 50 people deep.


There are plenty of opportunities to take postcard style shots of the iconic streets of New York, in the immediate vicinity of the Andaz 5th


Central Park is infinitely more well known but Bryant Park is my favourite in Manhattan. In the summer you can bring your lunch and eat under the shade of a looming tree. In the winter the Park is transformed into a beautiful Arctic wonderland.




My favourite part of Manhattan to go drinking is Alphabet City. Mother of Pearl is a Tiki bar which opened in the last year. It is now a firm favourite, the spam spring rolls were insanely good (although it seems that the menu is now entirely vegetarian) and whilst there are plenty of Tiki drinks on offer there are also some stronger, shorter drinks too...


...although personally, I couldn't help ordering a drink which came served in a shark's head, covered in 'blood bitters'


As the night draws on, Raines Law Room is a great choice. It has a very dark and intimate feel (if you know the backstory, you'll know exactly what I mean). The venue is somewhat legendary, as it was one of the progenitors of the worldwide interest in 'speakeasy' bars. They execute the concept superbly, both in terms of decor and in the quality of the drinks they serve.


Sometimes it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. To get a view of the iconic New York skyline plus a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, head across the water to Jersey City's Liberty State Park.




If you're visiting for the first time (or if you're jet lagged and just want to see other people) then Times Square is only a 5 minute walk from the Andaz 5th


The closest sight to the Andaz is actually also one of my favourites: the New York Public Library.

An hour or so later we pulled up at AA's Terminal 8. This does not look very premium to me.

Cool airplane art on the way to the Admirals Club

Gotta love that Red, White and Blue lighting scheme

A wide variety of storage options. The net is very useful as a phone/ passport holder.

An amenity kit, sized for an iPad mini, was waiting at the seat. It was part of a series depicting all the airlines which preceded AA. Thanks to numerous Viking fares I've collected tons of these. The only one I ended up keeping was the US Airways one - for sentimental reasons (100K miles for RTW in F, those were the days)


Did they really need to add RCA and forego an HDMI connector?


American has Bose QC headphones in business class. The best of any airline. Few airlines supply these even in F. This is light years ahead of BA. The headphone jack is inside the little cupboard, so there is no issue with knocking into it whilst getting up or transferring to bed mode.




Fairly drab upholstery, certainly not a patch on the finishes of the BA F seat to which it is often compared. Nice to see the large, eye-level, privacy shield though. This is something missing from the original US airways seat as well as BR and QR seats


The avgeek in me loves the fact that the seat back has a herringbone weave


K enjoying her seat


This FA was very rude and curt. For some reason she seemed to have it in for me and K from the start. She addressed all other pax in the vicinity by name but chose not to do so with us. When taking the meal order she rolled her eyes when I asked for the speedy tray service to maximise sleep. "We do that as standard on this flight anyway. What main do you want?", she said.

There were PDBs of orange juice, water or sparkling wine offered.


Post take off I opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, which was accompanied by warm mixed nuts. Refills were offered.


Despite being billed as an express service, to maximise sleep on redeyes, it was over 2.5 hours after take off until I actually had a meal in front of me.


Unfortunately the food was not worth the wait. It was good to have a separate salad (bonus points for this not being slathered in sauce). The chicken however was super tough and try. The cheese was rubber.


The main thing you look for in a business class seat is comfort, particularly for sleeping. Here AA is on to a winner, the flat bed offers plenty of space to stretch out. The noise cancelling headphones block out all noise and the bedding is soft and comfortable. I slept very well.