This is a rant about JFK, the Eastern gateway to the USA.....it is PATHETIC, and probably the worst airport I've been...including Mumbai.
In early June we arrived on a CX non-stop HKG-JFK on time. The chaos started as soon as we reached immigration. There was little signage and a couple of ladies trying to direct incoming passengers to the respective line-ups but no-one could understand what they said as most tourists were Asian. We stood in the wrong line for about 20 mins until I realized we should (Canadian Passports) be self-immigrating by machine, but no signage or instructions.
Some were confused as to what benefit their ESTA gave them as new Estas were supposed to line in a different place to where 2nd Esta users were supposed to line.
Our machine worked well and we were stamped with a 6 month stay.
At last we were in the open concourse where I decided to get a few US$ for drinks/tips etc...I had already TransferWised a bunch of money to our friends so the could get cash from ATM's but the Xchange at the airport was less than a US$ for a GBP. TransferWise gave me US$1.35 for every GBP.......and some say the Bali airport money exchange is a scam...gimme a break!
I asked how to get to Terminal 2 (Delta connection to Fort Lauderdale) and was told to take the skytrain. Problem...the 'Fffing' Skytrain was broken and wouldn't be running 'till midnight or later. The shuttle buses were all packed and by the time we got to Delta our booked flight had departed.
Not too worried I sat down and opened my tablet to book another flight an hour later...guess what...no Fffing internet! We then decided to go upstairs to the departure hall but the elevator was broken. My wife had to bump our suitcases up 2 flights of stairs as I'm not allowed to lift anything heavy.
We were really tired so decided to stay overnight and catch a flight early morning as I could then get internet. I used the hotel phone for the airport motels but all were full....except the Holiday Inn Express which quoted a rate of US$350...jeez, it's a motel not a fuckin' resort.
Back to Delta's counter I explained my predicament to the nice guy and he commiserated as he also travels a lot on his airline pass...including CX to HKG which he said was wonderful....at last a nice New Yorker!!!
I asked if he could use the system to get me the staff discount fare but he couldn't do that...in despair I asked what was the cheapest full-fare for the next flight to FLL. He said US$450...and I squirmed thinking that would be nearly US$1,000 for both. He said "No David, that's
for both but we charge US$5 for each check-in bag." I immediately gave him my Mastercard and walked away with our shiny boarding cards.
Suffice to say we were very pleased with Delta and although the aircraft was an old B737 it had been refurbished and the flight was uneventful.
Six weeks later (Sat night) we were back in JFK T8 for the CX 01:35 departure for HKG. We were early as our friends had to get back to the marina to use the yacht club's shuttle-boat to get to their anchored yacht, before they closed.
I tried to get a trolley but it cost 6 bucks....every airport in Asia I've been has free trolleys.
We had to wait a few hours before checking in and there are NO, repeat NO, seats in that area so everyone was lying on the floor...me too, but my wife refused to dignify the floor in her required business-class attire so sat on her suitcase.
The flight departed on time and we were pleased to see the New York lights diminish behind us.
I was surprised that the flight map showed us going North up the US/Canadian Eastern seaboard and over Greenland towards the Pole well North of Norway and Russia...it must have come South somewhere over Siberia or China, but I wasn't looking as I was tucked into the business-class bed with the duvet pulled-up and woke-up on descent into HKG....
