At almost 100 years old, this old hotel built by the Vanderbilt family near the Grand Central Terminal still looks elegant and classy well into the 21st century.
How does it fair in the modern New York?
At almost 100 years old, this old hotel built by the Vanderbilt family near the Grand Central Terminal still looks elegant and classy well into the 21st century.
How does it fair in the modern New York?
After my previous stays in Crowne Plaza LAX and Crowne Plaza EWR, I was not having much expectation from this hotel. Afterall, it is just for me to stay for a night after arriving from Panama at 1230am!
Despite being the first to disembark and the had an all clear from the arrival machine, it took us more than 1 hour waiting to clear the CBP checkpoint!
Although Singapore Airlines does not maintain any lounge in either of the New York airports they operate from (JFK and EWR), passengers can access the Virgin Clubhouse in Newark Liberty (which I had written of here). In New York Kennedy, Business Class passengers will have access to Swiss Air Lounge while Suites passengers the Virgin Clubhouse.
After 2 flights on SQ 26, finally I get to try SQ 25. In the past, it was easier to redeem the Suites on SQ 26 but it seems to be the opposite now. Despite 2 devaluation, Suites on SQ 25 and SQ 26 remains elusive (except for Advantage tickets)!
The flight was previously operated using the All-Business class upper deck cabin but since June 1, it has been changed to the older A380 (with upper deck rear-economy section). Although this reduces the number of Business Class seats on this flight, the overall number of Business Class seats into and out of New York has increased with the reintroduction of SQ21/22 in October 2018.
Finally, the flight all (almost) flight enthusiast and probably businessmen had been waiting for – SQ22/SQ21. This is the direct Singapore-Newark flight that was terminated back in 2013 due to the rising fuel cost and the old A340-500’s thirst for fuel sealed the fate of this route….. until now!
Singapore Airlines has announced the resumption of this route, but it will be using the more fuel efficient dual engine modified Airbus A350-900XWB (morphing it into the A350-900ULR).
After a 24 hours flight on the majestic A380 in the venerable Suites class, it is back to reality for my next segment. Most of the short haul flights to Canada from New York originates from LGA. As I am connecting in JFK, I am down to 2 choices: Delta vs American. I opted for Delta mainly for the ease of connection (both Delta and Singapore Airlines operate out of Terminal 4).
I was quite lucky to be able to score another pair of Suites on SQ26 (which I guess could be the last as well). Suites / First class to North America is getting harder to come by (despite the recent devaluation). Instead of doing another post on SQ26 / Singapore Airlines Suites, I will focus on the difference from my previous flight. Paid about $900 for both tickets (compared to almost $1200 back in 2015).
Looking forward to my upcoming long trip (after my last one in 2015). Will be doing the following reviews:
Date : 10 to 14 November 2015 (4 nights)
Price : SGD $1,600 (inclusive of tax and 4th night free)
Type of room : Studio Suite
Inclusive : Breakfast
After completing my flight trip reports, I will now turn my attention to the hotels I have stayed in during my trip.
After 4 nights in New York, it was time to move on to Boston. New York in mid-November wasn’t particularly cold (about 12 to 15 Celcius) but it was cloudy and drizzling during my stay there. It wasn’t so bad that it affected my movement. On my day to Boston however, it was all bright and sunny! (New York probably doesn’t like me).
