By RamonRamon is the creator of Traveling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.
Flight Overview
The Apartment experience featured the best lounge I have ever visited, the best seats I have ever flown along with thoughtful design touches and amazing in-flight entertainment. Pros- Great Lounge, Stunning Seat, Thoughtful Onboard Design, Amazing In-Flight Entertainment, and Unique Amenities Cons- Underwhelming Service and Tasteless Onboard Food First Class Honeymoon Trip Report First Class Honeymoon Overview Delta Sky Club DCA Review Delta CRJ 900 DCA-JFK First Class Review Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Review Singapore Airlines A380 JFK-FRA Suites Review Singapore Airlines A380 FRA-SIN Suites Review JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach Review Singapore Surprise Singapore Airlines 737-800 SIN-MLE Business Class Review The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort Review Etihad Airways A320 MLE-AUH Business Class Review Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Dubai Review The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Review Exploring Abu Dhabi Etihad Apartments A380 AUH-JFK Apartments Review 
Etihad First Class Entrance
Check-In
We pulled up to the First Class entrance at Abu Dhabi International (AUH) and were greeted by Etihad staff ready to help us with our bags. Since we had no more local cash left we decided to handle the bags ourselves. We walked into the terminal and were ushered over to seats for the check-in process. This was the first time I had ever completed an airline check-in process seated and it was a strange feeling. The agent checked in our bags and recognized our American Airlines elite status which is something I really appreciate about Etihad. Once our check-in was complete she insisted that we head through Pre-Clearance about 50 minutes before departure to make sure we didn't miss boarding. After check-in we headed through the First Class line at security which was a quick process. Once we cleared security we headed to the First Class lounge. 
Etihad First Class Lounge
Etihad First Class Lounge
Etihad's First Class Lounge is the nicest lounge I had ever visited even beating out the Virgin America Clubhouse at New York JFK. Some of amenities included a gym, relaxing chairs, and complimentary spa treatments. Because we wanted to make sure not to miss our departure we didn't have a chance to use any of these. 
Etihad First Class Lounge
However, the one benefit we did get to try was the al a carte dining. When were in the lounge they were serving breakfast which ended up being really good. We were seated at a table with great runway views.
Etihad First Class Lounge
For breakfast I ordered Kimchi pancakes and Christina ordered the Eggs Benedict. The Kimchi pancakes were very different than any other pancakes I had ever tasted. They were very savory and doughy almost like a soft flat bread crust, but I did like them. Christina also enjoyed her Eggs Benedict and said it was at the level of the one she really liked at the Al Maha.
Eggs Benedict
US Pre-Clearance and Premium Lounge
Etihad's First Class lounge AUH is located after the first layer of security but not after the second layer of security or the pre-clearance for US flights. This means that passengers have to leave the lounge early and then head through pre-clearance.We ended up taking the check-in attendants advice and leaving 50 minutes before departure which was way too early. While pre-clearance is a big benefit for most passengers it can actually be frustrating for those with Global Entry, since the process can sometimes take longer than using Global Entry on arrival. That was definitely the case at AUH. When we left the First Class lounge the terminal was crowded with people and it took us about 10 minutes to walk to the pre-clearance. Once we got to pre-clearance the entire process took us about 15 minutes since we had access to premium security and Global Entry. 
US Pre-Clearance Premium Lounge Drinks
Once we got through pre-clearance we headed to the Premium Lounge which is shared by First Class and Business Class passengers on US bound flights. This lounge was packed with people and it was a struggle for us to even find a seat. The lounge offerings were also really unimpressive compared to the First Class lounge. It offered coffee, drinks, and cold snacks only. It was better than being in the crowded terminal but a huge step down from the First Class lounge. My advice if you are flying First Class and have Global Entry would be to spend as much time as possible in the First Class Lounge.
Etihad A380 Parked at AUH
Boarding
When we arrived at the gate it was packed with people and the beautiful A380 was parked at the gate. The First Class Cabin on this flight was also full despite only four seats being full a day before departure. I assumed this was due to people getting upgraded. On this flight there was no passenger in The Residence which is Etihad's exclusive A380 experience above First Class which comes with your own apartment in the sky. When boarding commenced Etihad called First Class and Business Class at the same time which was frustrating and led to a hectic boarding process. Since we were in First Class we boarded via the upper deck. Shortly after we sat in our seats we were greeted by the onboard Chef, whom we believed was Australian. He handed us the food and drink menu and asked us if we wanted to shower onboard. We said yes to to the shower and gave our dinner orders. He also informed us that we could eat anytime starting one hour after takeoff. We asked to be served 3 hours into flight and to dine together. Once the chef left our flight attendant came by and handed us our amenity kits. The plane ended up having a technical problem which required a power restart. Before we pushed away from the gate Etihad ran a video with a Muslim prayer for the flight. Once the power was restarted, we took off for what the captain said was a 13 hour and 10 minute flight to New York JFK. 
Etihad A380 Upper Deck Boarding
Plane and Seats
The seats in the First Class cabin on Etihad's A380 are called the Apartments because they are so spacious. 
Ethiad Apartments
The cabin had 10 Apartments two of which can be lowered to connect 3K and 4K, our seats, and 3A and 4A. The cabin was quite beautiful and clearly Etihad put a lot of thought into its design. Sitting in 4K meant that I had to experience taking off sitting backwards which was strange and on takeoff almost made me feel ill but the rest of the flight I felt no difference.
Connected Apartments
There are big holes in the doors but generally the Apartments are quite private and have no overheads bins which makes each Apartment feel spacious. However, this means you can see lights from other seats when trying to sleep. The Apartment was quite large and featured a couch with a seatbelt to allow another First Class passenger to sit in the Apartment. This was great for dining since the tray table is large enough for two and Christina and I dined together for every meal. This even allowed her to stay in my apartment during turbulence because there is a seatbelt.
Ramon and Christina's Apartments
The seat itself was a large and very comfortable leather recliner. It felt like a high-end chair in a home and I loved it. The chair had numerous features some of which I did not even get to try on the flight. This included a big recline and options to change the firmness and softness of the chair. Shades were on the inside of the seat and were automatically set in the down position for most of flight which I liked.
Christina's Apartment
One downside of the seat was that it had no individual air vents. A lot of airlines do this in premium cabins and I think it makes no sense to exclude these. When we asked for water because we were hot the flight attendant asked if she should lower the cabin temp and we said yes. The seat had a ton of storage with areas hidden all around to store small items and two areas below the bench/bed. One of the hidden spaces was a drawer which stored sodas at room temperature. In this drawer there were two small bottles of water two cans of Sprite and two cans of Coke. The seat also had a vanity with a bright light which we used to store our amenity kits. Another space we didn't find until almost the end of the flight was a place to store headphones that could also fit a water bottle.
Drink Storage
The seat also had a closet with a hanger which I used after changing into my lounge wear. This further demonstrated the thoughtfulness of the Apartment design.
Closet
The Apartment also featured a bed that came out of the bench and when we were ready to sleep the attendant folded it out and added a pillow and a mattress pad. Overall, the bed was hard but certainly more comfortable than most airlines seats. I got no sleep but that had more to do with my body’s clock, noise, and light in the cabin than the seat.
Bed
Amenities and In-Flight Entertainment
When we sat at our seats there were very comfortable blankets waiting for us. 
Blanket
The flight attendant also came by with amenity kits and slippers. These kits contained very small portions of lip balm, lotion, cologne, and a toothbrush/toothpaste. Several of the amenities were made by Acqua Di Parma and I thought that the sizes were really small but the scents were really good.
Upon boarding we were also handed loungewear, made by Friend of Mine, which I thought was comfortable and unlike Singapore Airlines actually had pockets which I really liked. I appreciated that it had pants pockets but it wasn't as stylish or as durable as Singapore Airline's pajamas. I also did not like the slippers. I found them be insufficiently soft.
Friend of Mine Pajamas
When flying in the Apartments passengers have access to two large onboard bathrooms. These bathrooms had many fewer amenities than Singapore Airlines Suites. For example, there were no shaving kits and no mouthwash.
Bathroom Amenities
The real standout feature of the bathrooms though was the onboard shower which was only in one of the bathrooms. The onboard chef came around near the beginning of the flight to take shower reservations and when it was our time, we were told that we each had 15 minutes of water and that we could start and stop the shower. Etihad provided a towel along with Acqua di Parma shampoo and conditioner. The shower started off really cold but warmed up after a few minutes. It was really a surreal experience to shower in the air.
Onboard Shower
Another perk of flying in the Apartment was complimentary Wi-Fi, however, we found it difficult to connect to the Panasonic Wi-Fi and when we were able to connect it was so slow that it was almost unusable. The Apartment also offered an intuitive screen with an impressive array of options including movies, music, TV on-demand, live TV, and games. During the flight we watched Tag, Spider-Man, and Mary Queen of Scots. The selection was amongst the best I had ever seen and by the end of the nearly 14 hours we still had a lot of entertainment options.
Ethiad IFE
One of the coolest things about the TV was the ability to order food and drinks over the television. We ordered drinks through the TV during the flight and it worked seamlessly.
Food and Drink Ordering
Another fun feature of the Etihad A380 was the tail camera. During our flight we had mostly clear skies which lead to some stunning photos from the tail camera.
Etihad A380 Tail Camera
Two weak points of the in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience were the distance from the screen to the chair and the headphones. While Etihad generally nailed the design of the apartments one weak thing was that really responsive touch screen was too far to touch from the seat. To overcome this Etihad provided a controller which could also be used to watch another show or play a game. However, at times the controller froze requiring me to stand up and select content from the touchscreen. The headphones provided by Etihad had good sound quality but were small and uncomfortable. The noise cancelling was good but not at the level of Bose.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Food and Drinks
Before takeoff we were offered our pre-departure beverages of choice along with mixed nuts. The nuts were okay and the drink we selected was champagne but the onboard chef served us Rose Champagne which was bad despite being a 2006 vintage. We switched to the Brut for the rest of the flight which was better but not good especially compared to the Krug we had on Singapore Airlines. 
Pre-Departure Beverage
For dinner I selected the lamb while Christina selected the salmon. The dinner service started with a bread course. We had a pretzel roll and a twist. The pretzel roll was good while the twist was okay. We then enjoyed an Arabic Mezze. The Tabbouleh was good while the hummus was okay.
Bread and Arabic Mezze
I found that the sides with the lamb were better than the lamb itself. The sides were flavorful and rich while lamb was dry.
Lamb
Christina did not like the salmon. She found it to be dry, bland and only ate half of it.
Salmon
After dinner we asked for the caviar course which we enjoyed. During our travels we found that Caviar really pairs well with champagne.
Caviar
In between the courses it was nice to have drink drawer since the service was slow and not attentive. The flight attendants never proactively re-filled our water. At one point the flight attendant changed the table setting removed my napkin but didn't bring me a new one. For dessert we had the camel milk chocolate mousse, which was okay, and chocolate chip cookies which were yummy.
Later in the flight, we ordered off of anytime grill menu and I had the steak frites and Christina had the steak sandwich. I thought the steak was a bit rubbery and the fries were okay. Christina thought the steak sandwich was also only okay since it was a bit dry. We tried multiple cocktails and they were all really bad. We tried all three red wines and they were all decent but our favorite was the Bordeaux.
Onboard Lounge
When the flight attendants were changing our seats into bed mode we went and hung out in the onboard lounge. This is a shared space accessible to passengers in the Apartments and Business Class. It had leather padded seats and a television. We tried to order food and drinks here but were told this wasn't allowed. This was frustrating because I had seen other bloggers served food and drinks in the lounge. Not allowing food and drinks really limited the utility of the space for anything other than socializing with other passengers. While we were in the lounge, we did meet another nice couple that were also heading back to the United States after time spent in The Maldives. Overall, the dining experience was poor especially for First Class. While there was a wide selection, I found many of the dishes were of poor quality.
Service
The service on Etihad can be best described as underwhelming. No one was rude but it didn't feel like they went above and beyond in delivering service to First Class passengers. For example, early in the flight the onboard chef came by to take our orders and ask us if we wanted to shower. However, he didn't offer us any specific options for the shower reservation or explain how the process worked. This led to us being randomly called to shower during the flight. We also noticed that the meals all started with a caviar course with only one type of caviar offered so we didn't bother ordering it until our main course arrived and we hadn't been served the caviar course. We asked the chef and he said that it was something they only served when asked. This wasn't something he mentioned when he walked us through the menu. Another example was that we were never asked if we wanted breakfast. Instead, the flight attendants came around asking us to get ready for landing. Furthermore, the Etihad service was slow and not at all customized. In one case our dirty dishes weren't collected until 40 minutes after our meal was done. Also, we mentioned to the flight attendant that it was our honeymoon but during the whole flight there was no recognition. The food service was supposed to be dine on demand but every time we ordered food the flight attendants seemed to get annoyed and towards the end of the flight Etihad starting running out of food. Part of the problem is that the First Class cabin was full with about nine passengers served by two flight attendants and an onboard chef helping to prepare the food. At times they seemed overwhelmed.
Arrival
About 45 minutes out from landing the flight attendants allowed the blinds to be put up again and came around with hot towels. I found flying Westward during the day nonstop much easier and less exhausting than our trip to Singapore. One weird thing we found out near arrival is that one person on Etihad flight was also on our flight Singapore Airlines Suites flight to Singapore. About 30 minutes out Etihad turned off IFE which I did it like. We made a hard landing at 3:50 pm and got to the gate at 4:05 pm about 5 minutes late. The staff opened the door and allowed the passengers in the Apartments to deplane first. Finally, when we arrived at baggage claim Etihad unloaded the business class bags before the Apartments something which I found frustrating. 
View on Arrival to New York City
Take Away
Our experience flying Etihad Apartments onboard the A380 was very inconsistent. On one hand Etihad had the best First Class lounge I have ever visited, the best seat I had ever flown in, stunning design choices, amazing inflight entertainment, and unique amenities including an onboard shower. However, on the other hand the execution by the staff was poor with underwhelming service and tasteless food which we often found to be too dry despite having an onboard chef. Etihad's ground service, and inflight hard product on the A380 have the potential to be among the best in the world but Etihad needs to improve its execution including its staff training and onboard food and drinks. 
Etihad A380 Parked at JFK
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By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.
Flight Overview
I was blown away by the Singapore Airlines Suites experience and this was the best flight I have ever taken. This was the ultimate experience for any traveling companions and the culinary adventure along with the kindness of Singapore Airlines flight attendants got our honeymoon off to an amazing start. Pros- Speedy Boarding, Spectacular Service, High-End Amenities, High-Quality Noise-Cancelling Headphones, Wide Selection of Five Star Cuisine, First Class Meal Service, Krug and Caviar, Honeymoon Cake, Connected Suites Cons- Dated Hard Product, Damaged Bathroom Interiors, Weak In-Flight Entertainment System First Class Honeymoon Trip Report First Class Honeymoon Overview Delta Sky Club DCA Review Delta CRJ 900 DCA-JFK First Class Review Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Review Singapore Airlines A380 JFK-FRA Suites Review Singapore Airlines A380 FRA-SIN Suites Review JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach Review Singapore Surprise Singapore Airlines 737-800 SIN-MLE Business Class Review The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort Review Etihad Airways A320 MLE-AUH Business Class Review Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Dubai Review The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Review Exploring Abu Dhabi Etihad Apartments A380 AUH-JFK Apartments Review 
Singapore Airlines JFK Check-In
Location and Check-In
As I wrote in my last post our Delta CRJ900 flight from Washington Regan National (DCA) arrived at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 4. While our flight on Singapore Airlines to Frankfurt (FRA) also departed from JFK Terminal 4. JFK Terminal 4 is known as JFK's international terminal and also houses Delta Airlines JFK long haul flights. Shortly after arriving we collected our bags and headed to the Singapore Airlines check-in desk. We arrived about four and a half hours before our fight to make sure we could soak up the entire Suites experience and enjoy the airport lounge. Singapore Airlines begins online check-in 48 hours in advance unlike the standard 24 hours in advance for U.S. airlines, however, because we were flying from the United States we could not access our boarding passes until 24 hours in advance. Because we were early the Suites specific check-in was closed and there was no one else in line for the general check-in. The woman who served us seemed to be German and was training another check-in agent. The trainer was very matter of fact and not very friendly. The check-in experience was fast but didn't really feel very welcoming. The best part of the check-in was when we received our white and gold colored boarding passes which had Suites written on them. It felt like we just received a golden ticket. 
JFK Terminal 4
Since we were flying in the Singapore Airlines Suites we were invited to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK which serves as the lounge for Singapore Airlines Suites passengers departing JFK. The lounge is located on the upper level of Terminal 4 between gates A4 and A5 next to the Air India Maharaja and Emirates lounges. The food and drink I had at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK were the best I ever had at an airport lounge. You can read about the full experience in my previous post by clicking here. On our way to the lounge we spotted the A380 which was going to be our ride to Frankfurt, Germany then on to Singapore. We were in awe by the size and design of the aircraft which had a hump like a whale and we were ready to ride the largest passenger aircraft ever built.
Singapore Airlines A380
Boarding
We left the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK and headed to gate A7 for our departure. When we arrived at the gate area it was packed and there was not a single seat in sight. We assumed that the A380 was mostly full and in fact there ended up only being two empty seats in Suites Class. We lined up in the boarding area to ensure we would be the first to board the plane. When we got into line the gate agent gave us a strange look as if something was wrong with us since the first to board were Suites Class passengers. She asked us why we standing in line and if someone had called us up to the desk. We told her no and showed her our Suites class boarding passes and she looked back at us shocked that a young American minority couple were traveling in Suites Class. This prejudice really annoyed me and sadly is a normal experience being a minority in the United States. Christina and I reflected upon this later and recognized our privilege to be flying in First Class but how it was even more of a privilege as young minorities. Once boarding started we were the first passengers on board. There were two separate boarding bridges one for the lower deck and one for the upper deck. We took the lower deck boarding bridge since the legacy version of the Suites are located at the front of the lower deck of the A380. Something that was very impressive about Singapore Airlines is the speed of the A380 boarding process. Singapore Airlines was able to complete the boarding of this A380, which can hold up to 293 passengers, in 20 minutes and our flight departed five minutes early. This boarding time is faster than the vast majority of domestic U.S. flights with a fraction of the passengers. 
JFK Gate A7
Plane and Seats
The Suites are exclusively available on Singapore Airline's A380. Our A380 sported the legacy version which has 12 suites located in the front of the lower deck unlike the new version which has 6 suites located in the front of the upper deck. The center Suites can be connected and turned into a double suite which is ideal for traveling companions. We chose seats 3C and 3D so we could turn our suites into a double suite. All of the other Suites, except for the second set of double suites (2C and 2D), were occupied and all of the other passengers seemed to be business travelers. 
Singapore Airlines Legacy Suites Seat Map
The Suites had an impressive amount of space allowing us to fully stand up straight, moreover, there were no overhead bins giving the cabin an airy and open feeling. Storage was available in bins in-between the two seats and below the ottomans in front of our seats. The ottamon was affixed to the Suite with a seat belt. It served multiple functions including as a comfortable foot rest and a place where a traveling companion could sit to talk or have a shared meal. The seats were very plush and comfortable and could be turned into double beds though we ended up not using that feature on this flight since we wanted to adjust to the time in Singapore. Another great feature of the Suites was that they featured individual air vents allowing us to control the temperature if we got too hot or cold. I was impressed by how good of a condition the Suites were in since the legacy product was launched in 2007. However, the hard product clearly needed a refresh.
Singapore Airlines Suite
Shortly after we were seated we were greeted by a very friendly flight attendant who would be the primary person serving us on this flight. He offered to take our picture after he noticed we were snapping photos. This was just one of the many impressive service qualities we experienced on our flight. Another flight attendant came by prior to departure with a hot towel which was much appreciated. As we sat in our seats I was in awe and it felt surreal to be traveling in the Singapore Airlines Suites.
Singapore Airlines Suites Seat 3C and 3D (Courtesy of Flight Attendant)
Amenities and In-Flight Entertainment
This flight was chock full of amenities. Christina and I received identical amenity kits full of high-end Lalique amenities. The Singapore Airlines and Lalique branded kit came in a black zip bag and included lip balm, hand lotion, soap, and a candle (with a clear warning not to light it on the plane) from Lalique's Neroli line of products. The Neroli candle included in the amenity kit had scents inspired from Morocco and retails for $69. 
Lalique Amenity Kit
However, the amenities did not end with the kit. We were also handed Lalique branded pajamas, which we ended up not using on this flight, and slippers.
Lalique Pajamas
Also, on the A380 there were two restrooms at the back of the Suites Class cabin. Each of the restrooms were large and had full sized bottles of Lalique Neroli body mist, body lotion, eau de toilet, and non-Lalique branded mouthwash. The bathrooms also had individually sealed Singapore Airlines branded toothbrushes and combs. I was impressed by the job Singapore Airlines did branding items in the cabin and providing a wide array of amenities. However, the one down fall with the bathrooms was that they were in need of refresh. The panelling showed some wear and tear and in one of the bathrooms the garbage bin was broken and instead the flight attendants were using a plastic bag. These conditions make sense given that this A380 was about two decades old and the cabin design hadn't undergone a full refresh since then. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic Singapore Airlines took delivery of five new A380 aircraft with the new Suites, retrofitted two older A380's with the new Suites, and planned to retrofit the rest of the fleet by the end of 2020. However, it is unclear if the remaining retrofits will happen given the significant decline in demand for long-haul international travel.
A380 Bathroom
Another area where the age of the plane really showed up was the in-flight entertainment system which Singapore Airlines calls Kris World. First on the hardware front the television was very low resolution and the remote was really old.
Kris World In-Flight Entertainment System
The one bright spot was the Bang and Olusfen noise-cancelling headphones, which had a three prong jack made specifically for the airplane, and I found to be high quality. On the software front the movie and television selection was very weak. There were very few new release movies and the ones that were included I had mostly already seen. We did end up watching a funny movie called What do Men Want? which was funny but the selection dropped off dramatically after that. I was very surprised by the weak selection given the length of this flight.
Bang and Olufsen Noise Cancelling Headphones
Food and Drinks
Once we leveled off our flight attendant came by to get our drink orders. We decided to continue our champagne theme of our honeymoon and started off with a 2009 Dom Perignon (~$160 per bottle) which was served with mix nuts. The Dom was better than the Lanson I had earlier in the day in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK but left a poor after taste. 
2009 Vintage Dom Perignon
Next, we tried the 2004 Krug which I can only describe as amazing. This vintage retails for about $300 per bottle and I can say if you have the money to spend, it would be worth every penny. This was by far the best champagne I have ever had.
2004 Vintage Krug
Our First Class culinary adventure got off to a start about five months before the flight when we chose our dinner from the Book the Cook menu. Singapore Airlines allows many Suites, First, and Business Class passengers to choose from an expanded menu of options in advance called Book the Cook. The menu was extensive and was like choosing from a menu at a Michelin star restaurant. I went with the Roast Rack of Lamb while Christina chose Singapore Airlines popular Lobster Thermidor. Once we were onboard the flight attendant confirmed our Book the Cook orders and us asked to choose between two appetizers, two soups, two salads, and a selection of breads. I chose the caviar, tomato soup, and garlic bread while Christina chose the caviar and chicken soup. Before our food was served there was a second towel service and our tables were set with a table cloth just like at a restaurant.
Table Setting
The branding continued with the Singapore Airlines branded plate.
Singapore Airlines Branded Plate
First up was the caviar course which was so savory and when paired with the Krug tasted like a slice of pure luxury. I had caviar and champagne before but it couldn't approach the level of the Krug and caviar on this flight. Christina and I realized how much we really like good champagne and caviar. On the side of the caviar was a slice of garlic bread which was the best garlic bread I have ever had.
Caviar and Garlic Bread
The next course was the soup course. I am not a big fan of soup but I liked my tomato soup. It tasted fresh and had just a hint of spice which was a nice touch.
San Marzano Tomato Cream Soup
Christina did not like her Double Boiled Chicken Soup and found the style it was served in different than any chicken soup she had ever had.
Double Boiled Chicken Soup
Next was the main course which we paired with a 2016 O'rida Shiraz wine from Australia which was amazing an had a unique flavor. I was served the Roast Rack of Lamb which came with natural jus, roasted vegetables, and garlic mash. I am a huge fan of lamb and I can confidently say this is the best lamb I had ever had.
Roasted Lamb with Jus Sauce
Christina also really liked her Lobster Thermidor. It is so impressive what Singapore Airlines was able to do in the sky better than most restaurants can do on the ground. I still can't understand how Singapore Airlines keeps the food tasting so fresh and flavorful but it is extremely impressive.
Lobster Thermidor
Only a continental breakfast was offered as a part of this flight which is understandable if you had a full dinner the night before but disappointing if you slept and wanted a First Class breakfast. However, it ended not being an issue for Christina and I since we were too full and declined the offer of breakfast. Before we departed the flight we were offered mints and mini-boxes of chocolate and happily accepted the mini-boxes of chocolate.
Service The service on this flight was just as spectacular as the food. We were simply blown away by the kindness of the flight attendants. We were always addressed by name by all of the flight attendants. They were so extremely friendly and continued to joke with us throughout the flight. For example, when our primary flight attendant realized that I really loved the garlic bread he jokingly brought around some more and dropped it onto my plate without asking. Prior to the flight I let Singapore Airlines know it was our honeymoon since I heard they can recognize this with a cake. After our meal was complete the flight attendants came around with a honeymoon cake on a tray with dry ice, two glasses of Krug Champagne, and two Singapore Airlines bears. Christina was shocked since I didn't let her know about this surprise and she thought this was a really sweet moment. The kindness of this Singapore Airlines crew really cannot be overstated. One of the flight attendants spent 30 minutes talking to us about what to do in Singapore when he heard we were heading there for the first stop of our honeymoon. He wrote down a list of suggestions for activities in Singapore and even gave us his phone number! He said that we could Whats App him if we wanted more suggestions for things to do in Singapore. I was so blown away by this act of kindness. I know that the flight attendants are paid to deliver service but this felt genuine and he didn't need to go out of his way to make us feel welcomed or provide his phone number. On this flight Singapore Airlines delivered some of the best service I have ever seen on the ground or in the air. 
Singapore Airlines Honeymoon Cake
Take Away
Simply put I was blown away by our first experience on Singapore Airlines and can't wait to fly Singapore Airlines Suites again. While this legacy version of the Suites had a dated hard product and a weak in-flight entertainment it was still the best flight I have ever taken. The Singapore Airline's Suites provided an impressive amount of space and Singapore Airlines brought us on a Michelin star restaurant quality culinary adventure. I ended up having several of the best dishes I have had in the air or on the ground. Singapore Airlines topped it off with world class service and blew me away with this experience. I strongly recommend Singapore Airlines for anyone looking for a truly First Class honeymoon. By RamonWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Ramon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.
Lounge Overview
The food, drink, and service at this lounge was the best I have had at any airport lounge. Pros- Tasty A La Carte Menu, Creative Cocktails, Good Champagne, and Fantastic Service Cons- Dated Decor, Funky Seating, and Dirty Bathrooms First Class Honeymoon Trip Report First Class Honeymoon Overview Delta Sky Club DCA Review Delta CRJ 900 DCA-JFK First Class Review Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Review Singapore Airlines A380 JFK-FRA Suites Review Singapore Airlines A380 FRA-SIN Suites Review JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach Review Singapore Surprise Singapore Airlines 737-800 SIN-MLE Business Class Review The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort Review Etihad Airways A320 MLE-AUH Business Class Review Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Dubai Review The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Review Exploring Abu Dhabi Etihad Apartments A380 AUH-JFK Apartments Review 
Singapore Airlines JFK Check-In
Location and Check-In
Our Delta CRJ900 flight from Washington Regan National (DCA) arrived at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 4. While our flight on Singapore Airlines to Frankfurt (FRA) also departed from JFK Terminal 4. JFK Terminal 4 is known as JFK's international terminal and also houses Delta Airlines long JFK haul flights. Shortly after arriving we collected our bags and headed to the Singapore Airlines check-in desk. We arrived about four and a half hours before our fight to make sure we could soak up the entire Suites experience and enjoy the airport lounge. Singapore Airlines begin online check-in 48 hours in advance unlike the standard 24 hours in advance for U.S. airlines, however, because we were flying from the Untied States we could not access our boarding passes until 24 hours in advance. When we arrived at the check-in desk there was no one waiting in line and only one check-in area was open. Because we were early the Suites specific check-in was closed and there was no one else in line for the general check-in. The woman who served us seemed to be German and was training another check-in agent. The trainer was very matter of fact and not very friendly. The check-in experience was fast but didn't really feel very welcoming. The best part of the check-in was when we received our white and gold colored boarding passes which had Suites written on them. It felt like we just received a golden ticket. 
JFK Terminal 4
Since we were flying in the Singapore Airlines Suites we were invited to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK which serves as Virgin Atlantic's JFK airport lounge. The lounge is located on the upper level of Terminal 4 between gates A4 and A5 next to the Air India Maharaja and Emirates lounges.
International Airline Lounges Sign JFK Terminal 4
On our way to the lounge we spotted the A380 which was going to be our ride to Frankfurt then on to Singapore. We were in awe by the size and design of the aircraft which had a hump like a whale.
Singapore Airlines A380
Access and Hours
All Virgin Atlantic lounges worldwide including the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK are temporarily closed due the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to COVID-19 this lounge was open daily 4:15-7:15 am and 2:30-10:30pm. This lounge was accessible to a number of passengers including the following passengers:
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Entrance
Decor, Amenities, and Seating
My first impression of the JFK Clubhouse was not a positive one. I found the seating and decor to be dated. The majority of couches and seating in the lounge were worn and in need of refresh. Despite this poor first impression I did like the mood lighting and hip music playing in the lounge which felt very on brand for Virgin Atlantic. The JFK Clubhouse is much larger than the Washington Dulles Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and at the center is a large bar flanked by funky seating and a pool table. 
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK
In addition to the funky seating near the bar the lounge also had strange wallpaper with tractors and apples on it. In general, I found the lounge's decor to be too funky for me.
 Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Wallpaper
Near the windows facing the tarmac was a dining area and additional couches. When we first entered the lounge it was fairly empty, however, as the night went on and the boarding times approached for multiple Virgin Atlantic flights the lounge filled up. Very few people were seated in the dining room and instead most people were seated on the various couches and chairs. We decided to spend our time in seated on a brown leather couch near the windows with a view of the tarmac including the Virgin Atlantic planes. Something we found really annoying was the lack of power plugs. It was hard to find plugs and they were not nearly as accessible as the Delta SkyClub DCA. This was ironic since the Delta SkyClub DCA only serves domestic passengers and this was an international business passenger lounge. This pointed to the need for a renovation. One interesting seating option was a Herman Miller chair. I had never heard of this type of chair but Christina noticed it walking around the lounge. This chair costs around $5,000 and it seemed to be occupied the vast majority of the time we were in the lounge. When I saw the chair was free for a few minutes I decided to try it out. It felt very comfortable but I still didn't think it is worth $5,000.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Seating
The lounge also had several amenities including a wellness spa which offered some complimentary treatments for Virgin Atlantic passengers along with paid treatments for all passengers. Since we were flying Singapore Airlines we didn't have access to the complimentary treatments and decided not to pay for any treatments. The lounge also had a small business area with several computers and printers. Additionally, about half of the bathrooms had showers that were stocked with Cowshed amenities. These bathrooms were dirty and needed repairs.
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Bathroom
Food and Drinks
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK serves restaurant style a la carte meals and drinks including non-alcoholic drinks, beer, wine, champagne, and spirits. When we sat down on the sofa we were immediately greeted by a very friendly server who asked us if we wanted anything to drink. Christina asked for cocktail recommendations and the server recommended we get some tequila cocktails which were a special for Cinco de Mayo. We both took her up on her offer and we loved the creative drinks including the Pink Slipper which had Codigo 1530 Tequila, Rose Wine, agave syrup, and lemon. 
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Menu
The service in the lounge was fantastic and we leaned heavily on our server's recommendations with the exception of any spicy food she recommended. Next up we ordered the ribs which I must say were the best dish I have had in any airport lounge.
Dried Rubbed Beef Spare Ribs
Without us asking our server sent over croquets and a salad. The croquets were great while the salad was okay. I thought the salad we had earlier in the day from the Delta SkyClub DCA was better.
Croquets and Pink Slipper Cocktail
Our server asked us if we wanted anymore food and when we said yes, she ordered us a 50/50 burger which was half beef and half chicken. This was the first time I had such a burger and I only ended up getting to try the chicken half since Christina liked the beef half so much she ate it before I could try it. The burger also came with fries on the side but the best part was the BBQ sauce which came with the fries. The sauce was sweet and we really liked it.
50/50 Burger and Fries
For dessert we ordered the pumpkin pie, Christina's favorite, and a muffin. After this we were stuffed and stopped ordering food and instead turned to champagne for the rest of our time in the lounge. The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK served Lanson Black Label champagne which was lovely. We realized that we both really appreciate good champagne and that would be our go to drink on our honeymoon.
Lanson Black Label Champagne
The food and drinks at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK were very impressive featuring a wide variety of options, amazing service, and five-star restaurant quality. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK food and drink service really impressed me and I found it to be the best offering of food and drinks I have ever had at any airport lounge.
Take Away The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK had the best food, drinks, and service of any airport lounge I have ever visited. Despite its dated decor, lack of power plugs, and unimpressive seating I would hesitate to visit the lounge again. Passengers taking off in the Singapore Airlines Suites from JFK have a reason to get to the airport early. I really hope the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse JFK access continues after COVID-19 pandemic has ended. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further.
Flight Overview
I found my first Delta CRJ-900 First Class experience to be average. Pros-Friendly Gate Agents, Well Placed Power Plugs, Impressive Amenities, Fast Baggage Service Cons-Limited Storage, Poor Sparkling Wine, Weak Snack Selection, Subpar JFK Arrival Experience First Class Honeymoon Trip Report First Class Honeymoon Overview Delta Sky Club DCA Review Delta CRJ 900 DCA-JFK First Class Review Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK Review Singapore Airlines A380 JFK-FRA Suites Review Singapore Airlines A380 FRA-SIN Suites Review JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach Review Singapore Surprise Singapore Airlines 737-800 SIN-MLE Business Class Review The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort Review Etihad Airways A320 MLE-AUH Business Class Review Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Dubai Review The St. Regis Abu Dhabi Review Exploring Abu Dhabi Etihad Apartments A380 AUH-JFK Apartments Review
Boarding
We left the SkyClub DCA in high spirits and with a great impression of Delta which we hoped would continue once we were onboard. We got to the gate early and it was empty. When boarding started it was 3 minutes after the scheduled boarding time and since we were sitting in First Class we were among the first people to board. I loved being able to board first and settle into my seat. However, in the COVID-19 era I imagine I would also appreciate the option to board last and hang out in the lounge. As we boarded the plane the check-in agents were very friendly something that was not always the case on American Airlines. 
Boarding DCA Gate 18
Plane and Seats
This flight was on a CRJ-900 regional jet, operated by Delta affiliate Endeavor, with 12 First Class seats arraigned in a 1-2 configuration. We were seated together in the bulkhead seats 1 C and 1 D on the right side of the plane. These seats had approximately 37 inches of pitch and 20 inches of width. Since we were in the bulkhead there was more limited legroom than the other First Class seats but I thought the legroom on this plane was still sufficient. One of the downsides to First Class in the CRJ-900 is that the bathrooms are too small for me stand up straight. This is an annoying feature on many regional jets but wasn't as a big of a deal on this approximately 50 minute flight. Another annoying part of the First Class experience on this plane was the lack of storage space. There wasn't enough storage space to store both the bottle of water at my seat and my noise cancelling headphones. As we took off we waived goodbye to our home city Washington D.C. which we wouldn't see for three weeks. 
View of Washington D.C. Metro Area
Amenities and In-Flight Entertainment
Upon boarding we were greeted by several amenities at our seats. These included a blanket and a pillow. This was the first time I had ever seen a pillow on a domestic First Class flight. Also waiting at our seats were small plastic bottles of water. I was very impressed by the amenities provided by Delta especially considering that this was a sub-one hour flight. These amenities blew away the CRJ-900 First Class flight I had on American Airlines were there weren't even blankets in First Class on a three hour flight. 
CRJ-900 First Class Seats
Another downside to the CRJ-900 regional planes is that unlike Delta's mainline planes this plane had no seat back in-flight entertainment (IFE). Delta did offer in-seat power and streaming IFE on this flight. We were so excited about our trip that we didn't even bother watching the streaming IFE. A really good feature of the seat was two 110 volt power plugs. We ended up using these plugs to charge our devices and I loved the placement which I found to be much better than the awkward below seat placement on many planes.
In-Seat Power Plugs
Food and Drinks
The food and drink service started shortly after we sat down with a pre-departure beverage. I chose the sparkling wine so I could compare the difference in taste between the other sparkling wine and champagne offerings available later in the day. Christina passed and said she was waiting for the good stuff at our next stop. She was smart to wait as the sparkling wine was really bad. Shortly after takeoff the flight attendant came around with the snack basket. I found the snack selection to be weak with just a handful more snacks that economy. The snack selection was so weak that I ended up selecting Biscoff Cookies the same snack I would have received in economy. I can say this is one area where American Airlines did better pre-COVID-19 since they had much larger variety of snacks on short flights. One interesting thing I noticed about Delta's service is that every drink they served was handed over on a tray. I liked this tray service and think it made the experience feel more refined. 
Biscoff Cookie
Service
While I have been very impressed by Delta's in-flight service in the past there wasn't much to note about the service on this flight. I appreciated the pre-departure beverage but I had come to expect that on Delta. Generally the service on this flight wasn't bad just unremarkable. Arrival at JFK We arrived about 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival and upon landing we got the first glimpse of our ride to Singapore. Out of the window we could see the Singapore A380 parked next to a Virgin Atlantic plane. Our excitement grew immensely as we saw the giant plane which was going to be our ride for almost 24 hours. 
View of Singapore A380 from JFK Runway
After deplaning we had to take a shuttle bus to the terminal. Generally, I don't like having to a take a shuttle especially if I have a tight connection and I hope this is part of the experience Delta eliminates in future JFK renovations. However, the big upside of doing so today was we got a chance to see many of the big planes at JFK up close. This included a Qatar Airways plane which was taxing during our shuttle ride. I really enjoyed this as a travel lover. We headed to the baggage claim to retrieve our bags since we were booked on separate reservation for our next flight on Singapore Airlines and impressively our bags were out in five minutes. I really love how fast bags are available after a Delta flight.
View of Qatar Airways plane from JFK Runway
Take Away
I found my first flight in Delta's CRJ-900 First Class to be average. I thought the boarding experience was smooth, the gate agents were friendly, liked the placement and availability of power plugs, the baggage service was very fast, and I was very impressed by the amenities provided by Delta on such a short flight. However, Delta could improve the CRJ-900 flight experience by adding additional storage, improving the sparkling wine, improving the weak snack selection, and improving the arrival experience by not requiring a shuttle. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight reviews, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary My first flight on the American Airlines transcontinental configured A321T and in lie-flat business class seats (sold as Main Cabin Extra) was short but enjoyable. The seats could use a refresh but were the most comfortable seats I have ever flow in. Pros- Comfortable lie-flat seating, amazing legroom, large IFE monitor, easy JFK connection. Cons- Scratched and dented interiors, and unresponsive in-flight entertainment. Trip Overview: European Adventures 2018 Flight Review: American Airlines A330-300 Economy CLT-LHR Hotel Review: London Marriott Regent's Park Food in London Flight Review: British Airways A319 Economy LGW-BCN Hotel Review: AC Hotel Irla Barcelona Train Review: Renfe Clase Turista Barcelona-Valencia Exploring Life in Valencia Exploring Life in Barcelona Flight Review: American Airlines 777-200 Economy BCN-JFK Flight Review: American Airlines A321T Business Class Seats JFK-DCA American Airlines JFK Connection When we landed at New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) on our flight from Barcelona I was not looking forward to the connection at JFK. JFK served the largest number of international passengers in the United States in 2017 and I expected long lines at immigration and did not look forward to having to retrieve and re-check our bags. However, the process was relatively quick and simple as we used the Global Entry kiosks and once we exited customs American Airlines had a dedicated airport staff and kiosks to process customers arriving on international flights with JFK connections. We simply dropped off our bags at the counter went back through security and in total were back in the terminal in about 30 minutes from our plane landing. The longest part of the process was waiting for our bags. All American Airlines flights at JFK arrive and depart out of Terminal 8. American Airlines dominance in the terminal is reflected in a timeline outlining the history of the airline which as you enter the terminal is emblazoned on the terminal wall.  AA Terminal 8 JFK Despite this dominance since the merger with U.S. Airways American Airlines has reduced its operations at JFK which once served served as an important hub for the legacy American Airlines. In the past year the airline has cut a large number of routes out of JFK and shifted much of its connecting business in the Northeast to the legacy U.S. Airways hub in Philadelphia (PHL). American Airlines strategy is to focus on high margin business route out of JFK, such as JFK-Los Angeles (LAX) and JFK-London Heathrow (LHR), and shift lower margin traffic to PHL which has cheaper operating costs. As a part of this strategy American Airlines also closed its second Admirals Club serving Concourse B(gates1-16) in JFK on September 1st, leaving only one Admirals Club in Concourse C (gates 31-47), and used this space to expand its Business Class lounge at JFK. Admirals Club JFK After we exited security we headed to the Admirals Club in Terminal C which I found to be large and empty. This was likely due to the American Airlines continued reduction in service, the opening of the Flagship Lounge at JFK which serves international and transcontinental First and Business Class passengers, and that were were flying on a Saturday afternoon.  Admirals Club JFK This was definitely the largest Admirals Club I had seen. The lounge had a wide variety of seating including chairs with a small table attached, high tops, and small chairs for dining.  Admirals Club Seating The lounge also had a large kids playroom, shower stalls, and great views of the tarmac.  The one problem I had with the lounge was the service. Given that the only had a handful of people lounge you would expect the service to be excellent, however, it was not. We were in the lounge for an hour and the staff never cleared away our empty plates or glasses. However, despite the poor service I would recommend using this lounge because I found it to be a peaceful oasis from JFK airport and throughly enjoyed the plane spotting available from the lounge. Plane And Seats  JFK Gate 42 Our flight departed from Gate 42 the closest gate to the Admirals Club. We boarded quickly and passed through the A321T first class cabin into Business Class cabin. JFK-Washington National (DCA) is normally served by a mixture of regional aircraft and a Boeing 737-800, however, sometimes there is a substitute and the aircraft is used on some short haul flights out of JFK such as our flight to DCA. We got a notice of a schedule and equipment change a few months before our flight and I was very happy as the aircraft is normally used on American Airlines premium transcontinental flights from JFK to LAX and San Francisco (SFO). The biggest reason I was happy about this swap was that the first and Business Class cabins feature lie flat seating which is rare on domestic routes. If I was able to get one of the Business or First Class seats it would be my first time ever flying in a lie flat seat. On this flight the Business Class seats were sold as Main Cabin Extra and normally as American Airlines Gold elites we can select these seat free 24 hours before the flight and they can also be purchased in advanced by any Main Cabin passenger for an extra fee. However, on this flight these seats were blocked only for elite and at check-in we were able to select the bulkhead seats 6D and 6F!  A321T Business Class Seat Map The A32T is premium heavy and only has 102 seats compared to 181-187 on other version of American Airlines's A321's. The first class cabin is arranged in a 1-1 configuration while the Business Class cabin is arranged in a 2-2 configuration and the rest of the main cabin is arranged in a 3-3 configuration.  A321T Business Class Seats The first time I saw the lie-flat business class seats it brought a smile to my face because I was so excited to be trying out lie-flat seats for the first time. The 2-2 layout of American Airlines' A321T Business Class seat are great for traveling companions. It allowed us to talk with each other easily by putting down the privacy partition between the seats. It was also nice to have the ability to get up and access the aisle without disturbing a stranger.  The seats already had amazing leg room in the seated position and because we were in the bulkhead the legroom seemed endless even with the seat in the upright mode. Christina was also very excited and as soon as the plane took off turned her seat into lie-flat mode.  A321T Lie Flat Position The seats were very comfortable in lie flat mode and when fully extended my legs fit comfortably into the footwell. However, the seats showed their age. First, the seat controls were not responsive, did not have many pre-set options, and were slow to go into lie flat mode. Second, the table between the seats had a lot of wear and tear. You could clearly see the scratch and dents all over the table. While this was the most comfortable seat I have sat in because of the great leg room, great width, and the ability to lie flat, the seats were clearly showing signs of there age and could use a refresh.  A321T Footwell In-Flight Entertainment All of the seats in Business Class had an in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitor which was about 15 inches wide. The screen was touchscreen but was affixed to the bulkhead so it was very difficult to you the touchscreen while seated. Instead, I relied on the remote which allowed me to select content on the IFE and control the volume. However, the handheld remote did not function well and the whole IFE was glitchy. For example, the remote showed episodes that were unavailable on the main screen. This plane certainly could use a new IFE system as I have seen better functioning systems on American's non-transcontinental configured A321 S aircraft.  A321 T IFE Monitors Take Away
I enjoyed getting a taste of the A321T Business Class on my short JFK-DCA flight. My connection at JFK was simple and painless. While I was unable to experience any of the Business Class amenities since the seat was sold as Main Cabin Extra I still enjoyed my first lie flat seat experience. The seat had amazing legroom, was comfortable both in seated and lie flat positions, and had a large IFE monitor. Despite these positives the A321T Business Class seats had significant wear and tear, the IFE remote was not very responsive, and the IFE system was glitchy. Overall, I would love to connect again at JFK on AA and to have the full A321T Business Class experience including the access to the Flagship Lounge. I believe that the seat would make for a comfortable ride on a transcontinental flight and I hope American Airlines brings a similar transcontinental experience to its DCA-LAX flights. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight reviews, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary My first flight on a 777-200 was the best American Airlines I have ever taken. My experience reinforces how stark the differences are in equipment and service American Airlines offers at its various hubs and aircraft. Pros- Great in-flight entertainment, good food, friendly flight attendants, mood lighting, widely available power plugs, efficient boarding. Cons- Low quality wine selection Trip Overview: European Adventures 2018 Flight Review: American Airlines A330-300 Economy CLT-LHR Hotel Review: London Marriott Regent's Park Food in London Flight Review: British Airways A319 Economy LGW-BCN Hotel Review: AC Hotel Irla Barcelona Train Review: Renfe Clase Turista Barcelona-Valencia Exploring Life in Valencia Exploring Life in Barcelona Flight Review: American Airlines 777-200 Economy BCN-JFK Flight Review: American Airlines A321T Business Class Seats JFK-DCA Check In After our terrible stay at the AC Hotel Irla Barcelona we eagerly checked out of the hotel and headed to the Barcelona El Prat airport (BCN). The airport is located on the western edge of Barcelona and we took a taxi to the airport which cost about 41 dollars (35 euros). Barcelona El Prat has two terminals and Terminal Two primarily serves low cost carriers. Our flight departed out of Terminal One which was built in 2009 and I was impressed by the bright, beautiful, and modern terminal. We checked in at the American Airlines desk which was manned by contract workers. As was our experience at London Gatwick, the priority line was longer than the standard check in line but this time we waited in the priority line. After checking in we headed to security. One note of caution, once you clear security at this airport you once again need to pass through passport control to get to your flight at gate C or Gate D.  BCN Duty Free Shopping Joan Miró VIP Lounge Barcelona El Prat has four VIP lounges, three of which are in Terminal One. These lounges serve many of the travelers flying in business or first class leaving on flights in their respective terminals. However, these lounges are all also accessible to passengers with Priority Pass membership. I am going to talk about the benefits of Priority Pass in future post but for frequent international traveling companions it is a potent membership.  Elevator to Joan Miró VIP Lounge We had access to the Joan Miró VIP since we departed on an international flight. We took an elevator down one floor from the departure level to second floor to access the lounge. The check-in agent scanned our boarding passes and we quickly entered the lounge. This was the nicest lounge I have ever been to though I don't have much to compare it to since most of my lounge experience has been Admirals Clubs in the U.S. The lounge had a rest area which was dark and quiet. This was a great place for a weary traveller to take a nap. The lounge also had a small kid's play area with pink and blue chairs though no kids were in the lounge during our visit. Other amenities in the lounge included a shoe shine machine, the first time I have ever seen one, and shower stalls. The main part of the lounge featured worn but comfortable large black leather chairs. This part of the lounge also had views of the terminal and lots of natural light.  Lounge Seating The lounge had a separate dining area which had several food stations. These stations featured cold items such as Iberian ham, various cheeses, bananas, oranges, chocolate cookies, and chocolate croissants. The lounge's drink selection was particularly impressive and included a variety of alcohol and alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, juices, soda, and chocolate milk.
My biggest disappointment was the lounge did not have any hot food items. However, I was able to piece together a decent breakfast from the variety of cold food items. Overall, the lounge was comfortable and a good place to spend time waiting for our flight. The meal and drink selection was extensive enough that we did not buy breakfast or any drinks in the terminal. I would recommend that anyone with a Priority Pass membership departing on an international flight from BCN visit the Joan Miró VIP Lounge. Boarding Our flight departed out of D21 the closest gate to the lounge which was very convenient and allowed us to maximize our time in the lounge. Boarding for our flight began two minutes late and was very efficient even though one boarding machine was broken. No one boarded when group one and two were called and after a small group three we boarded very quickly in group four as this flight was very elite lite in economy.
 AA 777-200 Plane and Seats We boarded the plane through the second door on the left side of the plane walked straight and turned right and passed through the rear business class cabin. I was immediately impressed by how modern this plane felt compared to the A330-300 we flew to London. The business class seats were lie flat and very impressive and I hope to try them on a future flight. We passed through the business class cabin and took our main cabin extra seats 14 J and K on the right side of the plane. The economy cabin had five lavatories. Three of these were at the center of the economy cabin and two were at the rear of the cabin while the business class cabin had two bathrooms at the center of the cabin and one at the front. This design was much more intuitive than the A330-300 and meant that the closest lavatory to someone at the front of the cabin was in the economy cabin and not in business class.  777-200 Economy Cabin Christina and I once again were able to score complimentary main cabin extra seats at check in thanks to our American Airlines Gold status. The main cabin extra seats had about 5-6 inches of additional pitch on the 777-200. The additional legroom made a huge difference on this eight and a half hour flight. However, unlike our flight from Charlotte (CLT) to London Heathrow (LHR) we chose seats in row 14 and not the bulkhead which I think was definitely the right decision on this aircraft. While bulkhead seats offer additional legroom they do not have moveable armrests which prevented us from putting up the armrest on our flight from CLT. This is an annoying feature if you are traveling with a traveling companion. Also, the bulkhead seats had in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens stowed in the arm rest which means that the seat width is reduced and you are unable to watch the in-fight entertainment gate-to-gate. I think we made the right decision choosing row 14 main cabin extra seats.  7770-200 Main Cabin Extra Legroom However, a word of caution if you fly on a future American Airlines 777-200. American Airlines is streamlining its fleet of 777-200 aircraft and plans to install premium economy on all 777-200 aircraft. This means that row 14 will no longer be Main Cabin Extra and instead will have premium economy seats. While it is positive that American Airlines is giving customers a choice between economy and business class on international flights this mean a reduction of the number of main cabin extra seats for elites and other willing to pay for additional legroom. If you fly the 777-200 the plan is to start the economy cabin start at row 17 and feature this seat map.  777-200 Cabin In Flight Entertainment Our seats featured seat back in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitors with one USB and one standard charger below the screen at each seat. This allowed for the charging of multiple devices at each seat and did not require sharing outlets which is common on American Airlines domestic flights.  In-Flight Entertainment System These monitors were touchscreen and similar to the monitors you will find on some American Airlines A321s and 737-300s with a few enhancements. First, they had a remote which could be used to scroll through and select media on the touchscreen. I found the touchscreen easy to use and very responsive so I primarily used the touchscreen to control the IFE but I appreciated having the option to use the remote. Second, the selection of movies and TV shows was significantly expanded over what is an already impressive selection on American Airlines' domestic IFE. Third, the screens allowed for a second person to plug into your IFE monitor and watch the same movie, TV show, or listen to the same music. The ability to share entertainment on the same screen with a traveling companion was a very cool feature. Meals Lunch meal service began with a bag of mini pretzels. Before the entree was served the flight attendants announced the entree choices in English, Spanish, and Catalan. The choices were turkey chorizo meatballs in tomato sauce or pasta penne with yogurt sauce. I appreciated that the flight attendants actually announced the ingredients in the dishes unlike the flight from Charlotte where they simply said chicken or pasta. Given my experience with the pasta dish on the flight from Charlotte I chose the turkey chorizo meatballs and it was a very good decision. The meatballs came with a serving of rice and vegetables including carrots, corn, and green beans. This was a very good entree particularly for an economy meal on a U.S. airline. The meal service also included a side salad which was boring and a piece of bread which was okay. The meal also came with cherry crumble cake for dessert which was good.  AA Economy Lunch BCN-JFK As I mentioned previously, on flights to Europe and select international destinations American Airlines offers free wine and beer in the main cabin. On the flight from Charlotte I selected red wine and I did not enjoy it so this time around I chose white wine and it was just as bad. The wine was way too sharp and after two fails I have learned my lesson in economy on American Airlines flights don't order wine. About four hours into the flight the flight attendants served a snack of vanilla bean ice cream which of course was very good!
Service The biggest surprise of this flight was the great service by the flight attendants. I am so used to dismissive if not mean service from American Airlines flight attendants in economy that this service surprised me. The flight attendants were very efficient and completed meal service for the 215 seat economy cabin in less than one hour. They also worked really hard and passed through the cabin for three drinks services and two snack services. Also, the flight attendants were actually friendly. The flight attendant working our aisle noticed that Christina was cold and asked is she wanted another blanket. I believe that a significant factor in the improved service was that we were served by a New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) based crew. JFK is a legacy American Airlines hub while Charlotte is a legacy U.S. Airways Hub and nearly four and a half years into the merger the flight scheduling for the flight attendants has not been merged. This means that legacy U.S. Airways flight attendants can only work legacy U.S. Airways aircraft and vice versa. I believe this really shows up in the service provided by the legacy U.S. Airways versus legacy American Airlines crew. American Airlines plans to merge it flight attendant scheduling system in October 2018. However, until then I would strongly encourage you to connect through legacy American Airlines hubs to improve your chances of getting better equipment and service. However, flying through JFK in American Airlines is going to be more difficult as American Airlines continues to reduce their presence at JFK. Take Away This flight showed American Airlines at its best and I would definitely take this flight again. I really enjoyed my first flight on the 777-200 and the plane was modern, had ample power, and great in-flight entertainment. The crew surprised me with their friendly and efficient service. This further reinforced the inconsistency of American Airlines fleet and service. I would recommend that you take the flight out of JFK if you are flying to or from Barcelona. |
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