My Return to Chelsea Lounge JFK

Chelsea Lounge JFK

Usually it’s biggest to go away one factor alone after doing it as quickly as, notably if the first experience was fulfilling enough.  Did we might like a Joker sequel?  Must I’m going to the Chelsea Lounge JFK a second time?  I can’t reply the earlier since I haven’t taken it in, nonetheless the lots have clearly spoken.  My curiosity led me to answer certain on the latter.  Proper this second, I’m describing my second experience plenty of days previously at certainly one of many additional distinctive house lounges accessible to certain American Airways and completely different Oneworld vacationers.

The First Two Hours

I arrived off my preliminary flight inside the early morning hours, and the Chelsea Lounge JFK entrance desk reps warmly welcomed me.  Initially, I requested if I moreover had entry to the Soho and Greenwich areas, and they also confirmed, as I anticipated.  Given my prolonged layover, I appreciated the selection of visiting these completely different two golf gear as soon as extra, as properly.  I consider to get a bathe first nonetheless didn’t ask about arranging that, realizing that an attendant was accessible inside the house all through my prior go to.

Upon Chelsea entry, I proceeded to the bathroom and bathe house.  I handed additional vacationers than every little thing my first go to, maybe 30 or so.  Nonetheless, the lounge was nowhere near functionality, and this was the busiest the Chelsea obtained all through this complete maintain.   After prepared about three minutes inside the lounge hallway throughout the showers, I returned to the doorway desk and queried.  The agent didn’t current any useful help – one factor alongside the strains of, “any person shall be there.”  I chosen to not push, opting to return to the bathe house, to no avail.

I’m moreover not one who enjoys trying doorways to wash rooms to see within the occasion that they’re accessible.  Oddly, the membership’s bathe rooms don’t have any vacant/occupied indicator, nonetheless the common bathroom stalls do.  A minute or two later, I talked with Chelsea waitstaff, who impressed me to have breakfast whereas prepared out the bathe uncertainty.  I acquiesced, opting to maneuver earlier the hamfisted bathe state of affairs.

Breakfast

My first meal this go to was advantageous enough.  I went with the lounge’s breakfast sandwich, realizing I didn’t want one thing too heavy to start off this longer maintain.  I’m in a bit of little bit of a breakfast sandwich renaissance as of late – two in as many months.  Fortunately, this one wasn’t the seen debacle of the first. The sandwich’s egg was utterly over-medium, Tabasco was plentiful, and contents behaved themselves.

My server was minimally attentive, targeted on completely different non-busy waitstaff merely exterior the consuming house better than checking on my beverage state of affairs.  Reasonably than taking that as a sign to steer clear of one different cappuccino, I extended my meal a bit to order a second.  Nonetheless ultimately, the server provided possibly in all probability essentially the most useful assist I hoped for – a bathe suite.  On the end of my breakfast, she supplied to rearrange one and did so promptly.

Bathe

The Chelsea provides three bathe suites, with one out of order all through my go to (immediately going by way of the walkway).  I vaguely recall this related unit was out of service all through my first go to in mid 2023.  When making an attempt on the 2 remaining suites, I obtained the left one; I used the correct suite on my earlier go to.  This journey’s room was markedly smaller than my first experience nonetheless nonetheless substantial enough.

Clearly, the room had been freshly cleaned, and I obtained a wash materials, tub towel, and mat.  I didn’t have a hand or face towel, though; apparently, the Chelsea deems the dispenser of paper towels as sufficient there.  Additional importantly, bathe stress was sturdy and tub merchandise had been stocked.

Now, I’ll sort out a few design nitpicks.  The bathe door clearance is just too low, as opening the door pushed the bathmat away from the bathe.  I craned my legs to achieve it and positioned myself solely a step from the sink.  Lighting inside the self-importance house is misaligned.  Whereas shaving on the sink, I couldn’t see the correct side of my face.  It’s as if my left half was beneath an interrogation lamp, and the alternative was peering out from a cave.

The Subsequent Few Hours

In search of to soar on my laptop computer pc for a bit, I chosen the center part of the lounge not faraway from the fireplace.  Nonetheless I found a lot of the lounge outlets on this house don’t accurately function – some USB ports are visibly broken, and I couldn’t uncover any outlets which actually current power.  I awkwardly hopped spherical plenty of seats nonetheless couldn’t uncover any juice to excessive off my cellphone. Unsurprisingly for AA, the fireplace wasn’t on, each.  I requested a waiter if the fireplace labored, nonetheless I merely obtained a shrug and an “I don’t know.”  (Actually, that they had been lastly able to flip the fireplace on solely a bit sooner than my departure.)

I flanked to a lounge nook on the small side of the champagne bar and was delighted to seek out a great deal of connectivity.  One different waiter promptly approached and provided impeccable service the next few hours.  She supplied drinks and light-weight snacks all by way of, with merely the right amount of consideration.

About an hour sooner than my flight, I beloved the restaurant’s decadent waffle sundae in my cozy nook.  It’s a selected splurge I encourage to others, notably for individuals who’re not full from separate endeavors.  Nonetheless what about these completely different experiences?

The Soho and Greenwich Lounges

I hopped over to the Soho a pair cases and the Greenwich as quickly as all through this Chelsea go to.  The Soho’s adjoining to the Chelsea, a quick stroll all through the hall, whereas the Greenwich is a short jog away, requiring a pair elevator rides or flights of stairs.  I’m an infinite fan of the Soho’s aesthetic, very like the newer designs of Admirals Golf gear nonetheless clearly a step above.  Soho mates have a great deal of self-serve meals and drinks selections, one factor nearly non-existent inside the Chelsea.

The Greenwich is a sprawling home – a bit patchwork, nonetheless nonetheless a pleasant experience.  Actually, components and journey hobbyists can have pleasant exploring all the nooks and crannies of the winding Greenwich – I do know I did.  Remnants of JFK’s Flagship First Consuming are nonetheless obvious.  This lounge provides plenty of meals and beverage stations, every self-serve and bartender-staffed.  With the pending departure of Flagship First, many vacationers will lose entry to the Chelsea.  Just a few of those individuals will then purchase entry to the Greenwich, and I’ll be blissful enough there.

Nonetheless not however.  After a bit of little bit of grazing in these two lounges, I opted out of an infinite lunch and into the Chelsea sundae I described above.

Chelsea Lounge JFK – Conclusion

The Chelsea and their two sister premium lounge areas are holding up correctly enough.  Nothing felt dusty or ignored, wanting the powered-off fireside for a few hours.  The biggest wild card with the Chelsea will on a regular basis be the extent of service one can rely on.  In my experience, this varies broadly by server and is clearly unattainable to predict.  That’s more than likely my ultimate go to to the Chelsea, though I acknowledged that sooner than.  I’m glad I returned, nonetheless I’m okay with it being the last word one for me.  I’m dropping the exclusivity and maybe a bit of little bit of stuffiness for the smart utility of the Greenwich.  In relation to those three premium lounges, that’s more than likely the place I most belong, anyway.

How have your newest experiences been on the Chelsea, Soho, and Greenwich Lounges?