Start spreading the News... - New York, Part 1

You know, there are some cities that really have a tough time. Take New York City for example. It's been hit by so many disasters over the last few decades that it just isn't funny anymore. I mean, Godzilla, King Kong, that Cloverfield Beast, and Hillary Clinton? What more can any city take? And, just when you think it couldn't possibly get any worse, I suddenly get the idea to hop over there!

Seriously though, Going to New York had been a dream for me ever since my childhood. The transatlantic route had held a special magic for me from the moment my interest in aviation came to the surface back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was the waning days of big names like Pan Am and Eastern Airlines, whose names had that special ring to it even over here in Europe.

It would take until 2011 for me to fulfill this dream. It started, unusually enough, with a major crisis! I had parted ways with my choir,  and gotten caught up in another major crisis in my family. Once again, I decided I had to get the hell out of here! Since all European options (Another minicruise, London, Oslo, or Vienna) were pretty expensive I thought "why not New York?"

After checking a few "well known" travel websites, I had found an offer I couldn't refuse! It would entail flying British Airways and American Airlines from Frankfurt to New York via London Heathrow and back, as well as three nights in a four star hotel in Lower Manhattan, all for significantly less than 1000€. That US budget crisis had it's advantages, I'll give you that.
So, after barely surviving my parents reaction to my plans, I applied for, and received, ESTA clearance, which is compulsory for anyone trying to enter the US under the Visa Waiver program. For all the noise that had been made about this new program here in Europe, the process was surprisingly smooth and straightforward. Just one little thing: Dear State Department, Get some decent web developers and programmers! That web interface is just hideous!
After that, my credit card was in for some real punishment, as I booked the flights and hotel. Within a couple of minutes, I had my tickets and hotel reservation. All that was left now was to wait for my departure in August. I hate waiting!
Finally, the day of my departure came. With a full shopping list and a half empty suitcase, I made my way to Frankfurt Airport, by train, as usual.

Take the A-Train, or the S6 to Frankfurt Central.

Connecting in Frankfurt. This toy train would take me out ot the airport.

Frankfurt airport was as it always was; chaotic. I made my way over to Terminal 2 and quickly checked in, which was not much of a hassle. I did get a knot in my stomach though as I watched my suitcase disappear into the dungeons of Frankfurt Airport. This was only my second connecting flight, and my first transatlantic one. Would I see my suitcase again in New York? Would it end up in Rio, or Hong Kong? Would it turn ap again at all? Only time would tell.
After finding my way through the redesigned departure area of Terminal 2, I decided on taking a little rest. Starbucks seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately, it was at the wrong end of the terminal, but I had more than enough time. After finishing up, I made my way to the gate, and after a seemingly endless wait, boarding began.

Frankfurt Terminal 2 Airside - I know that a separation from the food plaza above is necessary, but aren't there any other options than this net?

Hmm, a Speedbird Tail in the distance. Could that be my flight?

That Vietnam Airlines 777 doesn't look too bad either.

Next Stop London... Final Destination: New York.

First, I'll have to squeeze into this Airbus Shrink Jet.

Boarding was done via buses, as there still is a significant shortage of contact gates at Frankfurt. Not that I'm complaining. I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning! The Aircraft was an Airbus A319, registration G-EUPG, Built in 2000 and delivered directly to British Airways. For the statistics junkies out there: It was my third flight with BA; my 5th flight on this type, and my first flight with this particular machine. 
British Airways was the way I remembered it: Worn Interiors and next to no leg space! The flight itself was pretty straightforward though, and the catering... Well, even the Brits can't screw up Chips and Coke!

Seat Pitch is nothing to write home about, and neither are the seats!

The cabin has seen better days....

I do hope they close that hatch. It might get a bit uncomfortable otherwise.

Closing in on Heathrow Airport.

The trouble started after we had landed at Heathrow. First order of business was the transfer from Terminal 5, where we had docked, to Terminal 3. I don't normally judge people by their looks, but the driver of the transfer bus looked like he had stepped right out of an Al Qaeda recruitment video, including a black beard that went to his waist. Still, he was polite and got us over to Terminal 3. 
This is where things started to get weird. Passengers heading to the US are processed by some kind of pre-screening in Terminal 3. As luck would have it, I ended up with someone who was pretty new on the job, and had to check every second step with his supervisor. Furthermore, he tried to compensate his heavy accent by speaking faster, with predictable results.After some very strenuous minutes, he mumbled something about a special security check and sent me on to the ticket counter. After some more debates because of my passport (valid according to the US consulate in Frankfurt), I had my boarding pass. Now, only eight ours of flight stood between me and New York City..... Oh, and the goddamn mess otherwise known as Heathrow Terminal 3. Let me tell ya, whoever designed that Terminal must have been high on acid. Either that, or his references include the Labyrinth of the Minotaur in Greece.
Still, after a fifteen minute walk, I arrived at the gate. I only really realized what was about to happen when I saw the silver fuselage of an American Airlines Boeing 777-200 through the windows of the gate. I was about to embark on my first actual trans-atlantic flight! Something I had dreamed about since I was 9 years old!
My anticipation was about to get the better of me when boarding was called. Once aboard, I quickly made my way to my seat. It turned out to be a surprise. I was seated right behind an emergency exit, so leg space was a non-issue. The foldout screen and table made that seat look like business class to an unseasoned traveller like me!
My seat neighbour turned out to be a nice fellow, a private security contractor heading home from Kuwait. We quickly got chatting about New York, and travelling in the US in general.
The time until pushback passed quickly. I was surprised about how little I felt of the cargo loading, or indeed pushback and taxiing. The bigger mass of the 777 surely made itself felt. Especially during Takeoff. The Takeoff run was powerful, something that could not be said about the climbout, which felt more like riding on a overfed pterodactyl than a jet aircraft. 
The flight itself was unremarkable. Leg space was no issue. Still, i could not help noticing that we were following a path that had been plied by the Constellations, DC-7s and Britannias of such legendary companies as Pan Am, TWA, Lufthansa or BOAC.
The food was actually quite good, considering it was erved in an aluminum tube racing across the hostile upper limits of the troposphere with 800 km/h. As for entertainment, the Inflight Entertainment System might be subpar compared to other carriers, it was more than enough for me though. The earphones were atrocious though, still I had to rely on them from the Mid Atlantic Ridge on, as I had managed to wreck my Sennheiser In-Ear buds.
A couple of hours later, after a session with Stephen Hawking's Universe and JJ Abrams' Star Trek reboot, we began our approach to New YorkS JFK Airport, in the golden rays of the setting sun. By the time we had touched down and left the runway, a knot had begun to form in my stomach. The words of that security creep in Heathrow (special security inspection) still rang in my ears. What would happen at the immigration desk.
The queue that I saw when I approached the counters discouraged me. Several other widebody flights had arrived at Terminal 8 along with ours, and their passengers all thronged to the counters. I was guessing it would take upwards of an hour to get out of that mess. I hadn't counted on US Customs and Border Control though. An Immigration officer, apparently a supervisor, saw what was happening and quickly ordered a number of extra booths to be opened. She herself directed travellers to the respective booths. That turned an hour long wait into fifteen minutes.
At the booth itself, the next surprise awaited. The immigration officer welcomed and adressed me in german! About a minute later, I was photographed, fingerprinted, and on my way to the baggage reclaim, where my suitcase was already waiting. Now I just had to hand in my customs form on the way out and that was IT! Quick, efficient, and very polite and friendly. That's how immigration and customs control should be like. I hope you guys at the german Bundespolizei are taking notes!
As quick as it had been, the whole process had still taken quite some time. By the time I got to the cab ranks in front of the terminal, it had gotten dark. Being a public transit fan, I had originally planned to take the train from JFK to Downtown, but those plans had ended up like so many High Speed Rail proposals in the US: shelved! So, after being shown to a taxi, off we went to Downtown New York City.
The cab ride was exactly what I needed. The driver took the "scenic route" on the Shore Parkway along Jamaica Bay, through Brooklyn and along the Verrazano Narrows. I'll never forget the view of the illuminated support towers of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge appearing out of the dark, or indeed, a little bit later, the lights of Manhattan at the end of the bay. I had actually done it! Continuing through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel brought me to my hotel, the Club Quarters World Trade Center a couple of minutes later. 
I quickly checked in, made my way to my room, and was ready to crash. I had one more thing to do though, so I powered up my netbook, logged into the hotel Wifi, and shot off an email back home. With that done, I made myself comfortable, and was out within minutes.

Quite a decent size room, considering this is New York.

Definitely a nice room. I have paid much more for much less.

That'll be all for part one of this trip report. I'll try to get the other two installments online as quickly as I can, but please note that this blog is one of my hobbies. I have a day job that keeps me busy, as well as another blog I need to take care of. I'll do my best though. Please feel free to use the comment section for praise or criticism.