There is a video trip report as well - Click
https://youtu.be/yz1YlNdarDwThis is a trip taken in December 2019
All photos are ©TravelWithDan and were taken by me.
Airline: British Airways
Flight Number: BA178
From: New York JFK (JFK/KJFK)
To: London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL)
Aircraft: Boeing 747-436
Registration: G-CIVX
Cabin: Club World / Business Class
Seat Number: 63B (Forward Facing Upper Deck)
As with any day flying from the east coast of the United States, the day started very early with a drive in not that nice morning from the city of New York to John F Kennedy. We promptly arrived at terminal seven just before 6 am and made our way into the terminal.
A New York Morning by
Dan, on Flickr
Terminal 7 by
Dan, on Flickr
After a quick check-in we walked through the priority security lane, and experienced (unfortunately) typical US security. It took 10 minutes to get through, which in itself isn't that bad but it was the attitude from one TSA member!! He was shouting at people, and not in a friendly way. This one person was simply asking a question and got berated! After leaving and walking into the main Terminal, we made our way round to the Hudson news outlet and I purchased my normal pre-flight purchases (American chips) and hovered around the gate while they prepared for boarding.
Hudson News, JFK Terminal 7 by
Dan, on Flickr
Boarding started promptly and we made away on board and up the famous staircase.
IMG_2016 by
Dan, on Flickr
Today's flight, BA178 was operated by India Victor x-ray, a Boeing 747–436 delivered to British Airways in 1998.
G-CIVX by
Dan, on Flickr
On the Upper Deck in Club World for this flight I was sat in a aisle seat. I always try for a window for obvious reasons but was unlucky today and was being gracious and giving my partner's mother the window seat (could not take a photo of my seat at the time as the neighbour was settling in)
Upper Deck Club World 63J by
Dan, on Flickr
The welcome champagne and amenity bag promptly arrived, and I asked the question any avgeek would ask.
IMG_2026 by
Dan, on Flickr
As it was a busy flight, and I noticed that the cockpit door was open and boarding would still be sometime, so I went and I asked the upper deck cabin crew if it would be possible to visit the flight deck. The Boeing 747 is one of my favourite aircraft and I always ask (because if you don't ask you don't get) after a quick call to the cockpit I was lead down the aisle and greeted by the captain and first officer of the flight. We had a quick chat about this amazing aircraft, the planned retirement (which at that time was a few years away) and the captain even gave up his seat and let me sit down and took my photo. Apparently on the walk back to my seat I was grinning like a Cheshire cat!
IMG_2028 by
Dan, on Flickr
We pushback on time and made the taxi to the runway and took off into the skies of New York.
Menu's had already been handed out, and as this was the day flight back to London the service on board would be in breakfast followed by a light meal before landing.
I chose the fruit plate to start followed by the mix grill which I always choose and always enjoy (although I am not a tomato or mushroom fan) the meal was filling and washed down with a cup of tea and maybe another glass of champagne.
IMG_2047 by
Dan, on Flickr
IMG_2050 by
Dan, on Flickr
I settled in for the flight across the Atlantic and watched a couple of TV shows and movies on the in-flight entertainment screen and also took a walk a few times. I naturally visited the club kitchen on the main deck once or twice and grabbed a snack for my movie viewing.
IMG_2055 by
Dan, on Flickr
Midway across the Atlantic we hit a little chop, it wasn't that bad but the seatbelt signs did go on and I did have to drink my jack and Coke a little too fast to make sure it did not spill and go to waste. That did mean I had to order another one when the seatbelt signs turned off a little while later, what are you going to do!
About an hour and 30 minutes outside of London the final meal was served which was the toughest plate, now I'm not a fan of some of the things that were on it however I did pick up a little bit and did also get an extra scone (scone or scone?) The Dessert was stunning!!!
IMG_2072 by
Dan, on Flickr
IMG_2076 by
Dan, on Flickr
We touched down a little past 7 pm and taxied to the B gates in Terminal Five where we took the short walk to the transit train to Terminal 5A and immigration which for that time a night was very quiet picked up our bags and waved goodbye to the airport.
IMG_2082 by
Dan, on Flickr
IMG_2083 by
Dan, on Flickr
IMG_2084 by
Dan, on Flickr
Little did I know that less than three months later the UK due to Covid and Indian Victor x-ray would be retired from the British Airways fleet, along with the rest of the Boeing 747 fleet. India Victor x-ray was retired in March 2020 and is now stored in Terul, Spain
IMG_3446 by
Dan, on Flickr
There is a video trip report as well - Click
https://youtu.be/yz1YlNdarDwThank you for reading. Other Trip Reports available:
British Airways Boeing 767 Club Europe LHR-EDI -
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1457671British Airways Boeing 747 Club World LHR-JFK -
https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1457499