I hope you don't mind me posting a trip report from a couple of years back but so far the highlight of flying career. I wrote this back when I was 18 and it was my first trip report so please bear with me!

After finishing my A Levels instead of like most opting to fill up a 65 litre rucksack and jump on the next Qantas flight out of Heathrow I opted to do something a little different. A city break to New York. As far as I was aware I was flying Club World both ways, no big deal but a couple of days before the flight Dad told me I was flying on Concorde. A very pleasant surprise indeed!
He chose to give me an extra day in New York and had opted not to take the BA002 flight home and opted for the BA116, leaving JFK at around 10pm. Glad I wasn't picking up the tab for these!




For those who haven't flown aboard British Airways finest, Concorde is the most hassle free way to fly you could come across. But then it has to be, I mean you could never have top celebrities or business executives lifting a finger could you!

The Concorde check-in is combined with British Airways First passengers (as well as other oneworld partner First Class and Elites) in a small alcove at the end of the departure hall in Terminal 4.



Concorde passengers take further priority over First passengers, this caused dismay as a 18 year student (myself) was jumping past executives queuing for the later Los Angeles and Dubai flights. Check-in was a no queue affair and 10minutes after arriving in Terminal 4 I was already in duty-free. Fast-Track immigration (open to Concorde, First and Business Class passengers) was worth its weight in gold as I breezed past the 1 hour queue for regular immigration.

I then made my way to The Concorde Room opposite Gate 10; exclusively for Concorde and British Airways First passengers.



The place was quite empty scattered with leather sofas and a great view over Concorde parked on the apron below.




As soon as I was seated I was greeted by waitors offering free food and champagne which I obviously accepted.




The Cattier Clos du Moulin was the same as served onboard and despite being a non champagne connoisseur I found it rather nice and coupled with my breakfast it got me through to boarding at 10.15am. Boarding was direct from the lounge and security on the jetway was tight as I was once again searched by security. Upon getting in my seat 16A (in the rear cabin)

I kept my eager eye out for any celebrities and film stars that frequent the transatlantic Concorde flights. There was one A-list actress who shall remain un-named as she did a pretty good job at avoiding recognition. The usual safety briefing over taxiing could begin and yet more champagne flowed this time Cattier Clos du Moulin 1996 Vintage (chosen from the Concorde cellar) I had a nice few glasses. During the taxi to the northern runway we had a briefing for 'Concorde virgins' on how the take-off run was a little sportier than your average subsonic plane. It certainly pushed you into the back of your seat more and then noise of the engines coming to full throttle was fantastic

Inflight you hardly notice the transition from subsonic flight and despite what some say I didn't feel the nudge of the afterburner pairs being engaged for the acceleration through the sound barrier.



The Concorde fleet had been refurbished while it was grounded throughout much of 2000 and 2001 and as such new blue leather seats had been introduced. The seat pitch on Concorde is about the same Premium Economy on British Airways (38 inches). There is not the usual First Class pleasures on Concorde such as personal TV, just good old radio but then on a three and a half hour flight you don't need movies or masses of legroom. The food was served on Royal Doulton china and began with canapes and a variety of upmarket brunch type meals. Several courses of what can be described as bonsai meals were served, all very delicious that wouldn't look out of place in a semi-decent London or New York restaurant.
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MENU:

Brunch

Canapes

Appetiser

Greek Yoghurt, fresh berries, toasted muesli and honeycomb

Entrees

Farmhouse brunch of scrambled eggs, pork sausage, grilled bacon, tomato and sauteed wild mushrooms

Sea bass with a leek and saffron reduction

Aubergine, red pepper torte with grilled courgettes, mushroom polenta, basil and tomato coulis

Caesar salad with free range chicken breast, quails eggs and shaved truffles

Dessert

Chocolate and banana mousse on a hazelnut crust

or

Cheese

Stilton, goats cheese and unpasteurised Kirkham Lancashire

Selection of bread rolls

Coffee, decaffinated coffee, a selection of tea with chocolates

As an alternative to the full menu, we are pleased to offer a selection of freshly made sandwiches including salmon and cucumber, chicken salad and pastrami

WINE LIST

Champagne: Cattier, Clos du Moulin

White Wine: Corton-Charlemagne 1991 Domaine Bonneau du Martray

Red Wine: Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafite 1994 Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Port: Dow's 1978 Reserve Tawny Port

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The introduction of plastic cutlery aboard Concorde appeared somewhat comical compared to the rest of the food, but a necessary precaution after September 11. The toilets at 58000ft are pretty ordinary and short on space like trying to go in your wardrobe with all your clothes hung up in it is the best description I can come up with!

The view from Concorde is spectacular. The plane climbs slowly throughout supersonic cruise and reaches a peak of around 58000ft just before descent into JFK. The window though very small gave a great panoramic view across the sky.



The gentleman beside me said that on a day when the cloud, some 30000ft below is plain flat you can see the spots that are the 747s and 777s on the cloud below. He was a regular Concorde passenger as the cabin crew were freely chatting to him. He was from Paris and shared his time between his homes on Long Island and the French capital. He said he used to use Air France Concorde but found out the British Airways was more superior and now flies with them. He told me he flew from Paris to London that morning to catch BA001 and that he flies on Concorde around 30-40 return trips a year Above eye-level the sky became very dark and somewhat intimidating. The claims that you can see the curvature of the earth are probably just the windows playing funny tricks as it wasn't clearly visible from 16A. You can also see how long you can hold your hand against the window for as it gets pretty hot at 1300mph.

Upon arrival in New York I watched as the Concorde shadow appeared on the water below us and the Marilake displays did not continue to show the altitude. We made a speedy landing at JFK and the noise of the reverse thrust being engaged was near to deafening. During the taxi to the terminal my name was called over the PA system. What was wrong with me? I held tight as all the other passengers left the aircraft. My Dad who has contacts at British Airways managed to get Chief Concorde Pilot Mike Bannister for my flight which was a complete surprise. So after we landed I had a tour of the cockpit and a chat for around fifteen minutes with the man who in my view has probably the best job in the world.



I was due to pick up special stationary and pack of other goodies for Concorde passengers but the flight was near full (90+ passengers) so they had run out. The cabin crew did say they would send one to my house and they did, it had arrived by the time I got home four days later. Good old British efficiency!

Immigration was a breeze as BA001 is one of the first international flights into JFK so the terminal was clear when I picked up my cases and caught the limo into town! On the way home I had the reality check of flying at the back of a 747, didnt quite live up to the outbound leg!

A few bits from my flight....and what was sent afterwards: