June 2024. For our first visit to the United States of America since the COVID-19 pandemic, we flew to New Orleans via London Heathrow with British Airways. After two days of exploring NOLA, Amtrak‘s Crescent overnight train brought us from Louisiana to New York, where we we stayed one night only before flying home.

Our flight home left from New York’s John F Kennedy Airport, probably one of the best known gateways to the USA. British Airways recently moved from their ‘own’ Terminal 7 into American Airlines Terminal 8 to be under the same roof with their principal transatlantic partner and offer easier flight connections through JFK, avoiding the need to switch terminals when changing between both carriers.

Terminal 8 is a fairly modern structure, but of the masterplan only half of the building was actually constructed, with British airways moving they built some small additions but they didn’t finish the full terminal as originally intended.

We arrived from New York Penn Station using the LIRR to Jamaica where we changed for the Airtrain to JFK. We first visited the iconic TWA Hotel before passing through security in Terminal 8. Despite the line to pass through TSA looked like a hot mess it wasn’t nearly as chaotic as last time in Terminal 1 and we were through relatively fast.

Once airside we looked for a place to eat but where a bit underwhelmed by the choice in the terminal and ended up eating at the table service steak restaurant near the exit of security. It was an acceptable meal but it won’t win any awards.

Our plane, one of British Airways Boeing 777-300ER’s was parked at a gate in the far corner of the terminal, thus we could not see the plane from inside the terminal as the view was fully obstructed (the photo below is of a similar, but different 777-300ER).

Flight BA172
From New York JFK (JFK) 20:55 (21:33) to London Heathrow (LHR) 09:05+1 (08:45+1)
Flight Time 6 hours 12 minutes
Boeing 777-300ER G-STBG
Delivered to British Airways in september 2013

Unlike the Dreamliner on our way to New Orleans this 777 received the new British Airways cabin. While the new business class Club Suites looked very impressive, our seats in Economy where much less impressive.

The comfortable cushioned seats where replaced by more slimline seats. And because of the 3-4-3 configuration used by British Airways in the 777 Economy class the seats where really narrow. During the night whenever Timothy tried to find a better position to sleep he bumped into me and ended up half over my seat.

Resulting in a very uncomfortable flight. Luckily we know each other well, imagine having to sit this close on a true 12 hour long flight next to a complete stranger. The one redeeming feature is the big crisp IFE monitor, providing a much improved image compared to the previous generation of seats. On the seat we could find a small pillow, light blanket and earphones.

As British Airways has a very premium heavy configuration on its planes there where relatively few passengers on board for a plane of this size, thus boarding was relatively fast. Even the taxi out to the runway was short for JFK standards.

After take-off we first received a drinks service along with some sour cream pretzels as appetizers.

The main meal was a choice between chicken and something vegetarian (I forgot what exactly as we both selected the chicken). The chicken was a sort of stew along with mashed potatoes and some cooked vegetables. On the tray where also some crackers, some cheddar cheese, a bread roll and butter, a small bottle of water , a small salad and a chocolate mousse for dessert.

All in all it was a good quality meal, especially coming from a North American caterer.

Throughout the flight the crew regularly passed by with cups of water and orange or apple juice.

Before landing we had the choice between two types of empanadas, one with meat and the other with vegetables. They were warm and filled the hole in the stomach. Considering the flight time of only 6 hours this was more than sufficient.

We had a nice smooth landing in Heathrow, and us being one of the first planes to land of the morning bank transfer security was quick and quiet.

In the end British Airways once again provided us with a solid flight, in the future I would prefer flying on one of their 787’s over their 777’s in Economy as the seating on the 777’s is very cramped.

From New Orleans to New York on Amtrak’s Crescent – USA 2024

1. REVIEW | British Airways Brussels to London Heathrow.
2. REVIEW | British Airways World Traveller London Heathrow to New Orleans.
3. NEW ORLEANS | Streetcars, Garden District, Algiers Point, Riverfront, Jackson Square.
4. REVIEW | Louisiana State Museums – the Presbytère and the Cabildo, in New Orleans.
5. NEW ORLEANS | French Quarter ft. Bourbon Street.
6. REVIEW | voco St. James Hotel.
7. NEW ORLEANS | Riverwalk and Riverfront at the Mississippi River.
8. REVIEW | The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
9. USA | A Sunday and a Monday in New Orleans, Louisiana.
10. REVIEW | Amtrak’s Crescent overnight sleeper train from New Orleans to New York in a roomette.
11. REVIEW | Hyatt Herald Square.
12. REVIEW | SUMMIT One Vanderbilt panorama / observation deck in New York City.
13. NEW YORK | The High Line and Little Island.
14. A look inside the TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK Airport.
15. USA | 25 hours in New York City.