BA Club World Catering: New York JFK - London Heathrow

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A week after our first review of BA’s new Club World catering and bedding on London Heathrow – Philadelphia, here’s our second take on the new catering service.

Why a second review?

Well, BA uses a different catering company, Do & Co, on New York JFK from all other long-haul routes.

This review is also conducted on one of a handful of transatlantic day flights from the US to London Heathrow. Whilst these flights do necessitate an early start and a short day is lost to flying, it is infinitely more pleasant and relaxed than a red eye.

There’s no rush to get the seat fully flat after take-off. Nor any need for the crew to have to navigate the sometimes visible tension between those passengers who want to maximise every moment for sleep and those who want to sit back and enjoy the service.

It should also be said this particular flight only operated out of sheer luck. On the day of this flight, this was the only BA flight to operate between New York and London. All other flights were cancelled due to severe weather on the US East Coast. Had this flight departed a mere one hour later it too could have been cancelled.

Quick Links

BA at New York JFK Terminal 7

BA New York JFK Terminal 7 (Image Credit: London Air Travel)

On the subject of New York JFK, the interior of Terminal 7 is something of a construction site at the moment due to a planned refurbishment. The only complete part is the new First Class check-in. The Galleries First lounge is closed for refurbishment (and the Galleries Club lounge looks like it has acquired much of its furniture). Refurbishment is also underway in the Club World check-in zone, main security screening area and in the departures area.

Back to the catering and here’s the menu. For the avoidance of doubt, this menu is specific to this particular flight. For overnight flight the menu will be very different.

Club World Menu – New York JFK – London Heathrow

Starters

Chilled orange juice

An energising fruit smoothie
of watermelon and strawberry

Trio of salmon
horseradish crème fraîche and caperberry

Fresh seasonal fruit
blackberry and lemon sweet curd cream

Continental platter
jambon de Paris, proscuitto, Gruyère and Gouda

Bakery

A selection of warm breads and breakfast pastries

The service was run differently to how the new meal service was advertised. The starters were brought individually from the galley by hand to order rather than displayed on a cart in the aisle. I don’t know if this was the choice of the crew or due to this being a brunch service. As usual, solid professional and efficient service from the crew.

Starter – Trio of salmon – New York JFK – London Heathrow (Image Credit: London Air Travel)

Main Course

Mixed Grill
featuring pork sausage, grilled chicken, bacon and traditional accompaniments

Homemade tomato and mozzarella omlette
sautéed mushrooms and potato rösti

Cinnamon French Toast
citrus orange sauce

Again, the service was run slightly differently with the main course chosen after the starter. The mixed grill was largely the same as has been on this route for many years. I could not honestly detect any real difference in taste to any other brunch on BA. Perhaps that is due to the nature of the dish. It is a little heavy to start a long-haul flight.

Main Course - New York JFK - London Heathrow — Main Course – New York JFK – London Heathrow (Image Credit: London Air Travel)

As is standard, a second meal service was served around 60 minutes before landing. Mercifully, it was not Afternoon Tea.

Refreshments

Snacks

Tapas Plate
smoked salmon, beef tatami, Waldorf salad and seared prawn, watermelon and feta

Sweets

Dundee cake
Raspberry tartlet

One quick world about the self-service Club Kitchen on the main deck. Its contents did look quite scant at the time of my visit, with mainly crisps on display and no items in the fridge. It does seem pot luck on both route and in-flight timing as to what is available.

Overall, a very pleasant and civilised way to fly eastbound across the Atlantic. Again, I would reiterate that the coffee needs improvement. Even if it is beyond BA’s means to offer espresso or cappuccino, it could at least offer a cafetiere as Qantas do.

And once again, it is also infuriating to still have no WiFi on the flight. Despite the promise that 90% of the BA fleet would have WiFi by the end of 2019, it is proving very elusive. It is getting rather tiresome spending the first hour of the flight checking personal devices looking for clues of the presence of WiFi.

Disclosure: This review was carried out as part of self-funded trip.