Ted is pictured here in one of the 'throne seats' on an Aer Lingus flight from Manchester to JFK Airport

Ted here is seen in one the “throne” seats on Aer Lingus flights from Manchester to JFK Airport 

For most, a private plane from the UK to New York would be a prohibitive expense. But there is a much more affordable alternative – business class on an Aer Lingus single-aisle Airbus A321neo.

The aircraft recently made its debut on the Irish flag carrier’s new route between Manchester and New York and I was lucky enough to bag a seat on it in business class, discovering that it has a definite private jet vibe – as long as you don’t look behind the curtain into economy.

Snare, as I did, one of the coveted single ‘throne’ berths – they alternate with rows of paired seats – and the experience is elevated to feeling like royalty.

Although I wasn’t feeling so royally at the time, my Uber executive to London Euston arrived at 4:45am to pick me up. The driver then left at 5.01am to drive out the door.

I made it to Euston in enough time to take a picture by the Christmas tree on the concourse before getting on the Avanti West Coast Pendolino at 6.16am for Manchester Piccadilly.

Now it was almost 9am, and I was riding a train that seemed nearly empty from Piccadilly Airport to Manchester Airport. 15 minutes later I was walking through the hub in search of Terminal 2 where transatlantic Aer Lingus flight departs.

The Aer Lingus check in desks were located at the end with the most traffic, near rows of self-service screens.

The seats in the single-aisle Aer Lingus A321 business-class cabin are arranged in a 4-2-4 formation

A 4-2-4 arrangement is used for the seats of Aer Lingus A321 Business-Class Cabin.

Ted's Aer Lingus A321neo at Manchester Airport

Ted’s Aer Lingus A321neo in Manchester Airport

The chirpy official at the check-in asked me to show him my PCR certificate. This caused mild panic. I’d taken an (accepted) antigen test.

Then he admitted to thinking they were identical.

(I recommend some training.

After an exhausting hour in the security queue (though staff cleverly quickly tracked passengers with near flights), I was able to make my way to 1903 Lounge. This lounge is where my business-class tickets allowed me.

It was impressive. It’s spacious with plenty of comfy seating, there’s a nicely presented buffet of hot and cold food – including cooked breakfast items and 1833 vintage reserve cheddar from Somerset-based Barber’s, the world’s oldest cheddar-makers – and various alcoholic libations are proffered via eye-catching circular self-service counters. 

The long-range Airbus A321neo has a 15 per cent reduction in fuel burn compared to a regular A321 and 16 fully lie-flat business-class seats (stock image)

Airbus A321neo’s long-range A321neo offers a 15% reduction in fuel use compared with a regular A321 aircraft and 16 fully flat business-class seating (stock photo).

The new the 1903 Lounge at Manchester Airport, pictured, has floor-to-ceiling windows that afford glorious views of the Terminal 2 taxiway

The brand new 1903 Lounge in Manchester Airport has stunning views over the Terminal 2 taxiway.

The 1903 Lounge is named after the most important year in aviation history, when the Wright brothers cracked powered flight

Named after 1903, the year that the Wright brothers achieved powered flight, the 1903 Lounge was named.

Named in honor of Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright’s first sustained powered flight, the lounge was opened on December 17.

As can be seen from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge, you have stunning views of Terminal 2’s taxiway and runway.

I ensconced myself in one of the chic chairs arranged to face them and watched hi-tech A350s, A380s and Dreamliners trundling around – but my Aer Lingus A321neo remained tantalisingly hidden from view at an out-of-sight gate.

ON BOARD 

A plate of sausage, scrambled egg and beans later and I was gazing upon my ride to JFK – a brand-new state-of-the-art long-range Airbus A321neo, which has a 15 per cent reduction in fuel burn compared to a regular A321 and 16 fully lie-flat business-class seats.

After settling into the soothingly-green aisle-access seat on my throne, I narrowed my eyes to check for any niggles.

There is not much to be proud of.

There’s no in-vogue privacy screen, but no matter – the ergonomically designed seat wraps around and cocoons you very nicely indeed. Instantly, I felt comfortable and prepared for my transatlantic journey to New York.

Ted declares that his 'ergonomically designed seat [above] wraps around and cocoons you very nicely indeed'

Ted says that Ted is proud of his ergonomically designed seat [above]You are wrapped around and cocooned very well.

The seat's plug points and USB slot

There are two USB slots and plug points on the seat.

While it isn’t the most spacious seat available, its dimensions are perfect for my 5-foot-10in frame. There was plenty of legroom. Even for the most discerning of travelers.

You have many options for custom adjustments.  

To my left, by my elbow, was a panel that required a slight twist in order to reach from an upright position. It had three-touch buttons for each mode – upright’ or’relax’ and’sleep’. There were also lumber control, which could be pressed up and down for leg-rest maneuvering and massage, as well as a button to turn a mood lamp on/off.

You can adjust the position of the seat using the separate panel located further down the pod wall. This will reduce the hassle when reclined.

It was impossible to feel uncomfortable.

A picture taken as Ted's flight passes over Long Island on the descent into JFK Airport

Taken as Ted’s plane passes Long Island during the descent to JFK Airport

Ted's starter for lunch - 'flavoursome prawns, Marie Rose sauce and sun-dried tomato'

The main - 'succulent roast Parmesan chicken breast with steamed spinach, carrots, baby potatoes and wild mushroom sauce'

LEFT: Ted’s lunch starter – “flavoursome Prawns with Marie Rose Sauce and Sun-Dried Tomato” RIGHT: The main – ‘succulent roast Parmesan chicken breast with steamed spinach, carrots, baby potatoes and wild mushroom sauce’

This panel is at elbow height when in the upright position

This panel is handy for when the seat is reclined

The control panels are shown in these images. When the seat is upright, the panel to the left can be seen at elbow height. While the panel on its right allows for recline, the panel to the right will come in handy. 

It's not the widest seat on the market, says Ted, but the dimensions were fine for his 5ft 10in frame - and the legroom ample

Ted says it’s not wide enough, but Ted found the dimensions to be adequate for his 5-foot-10in frame. The legroom is ample.

IS THE AER LINUS BUSINESS CABIN A TWO -TIER OFFERING 

The Aer Lingus Business-Class cabin has a distinct difference in how the solo “throne” seats are compared to the paired ones. They have more storage, but less privacy.

The divider is at your head, so anyone sitting beside you can see which guilty pleasure film you are watching.

Of course, anyone who is near the window does not have aisle access.

They are a good choice for couples.

My outward flight was interrupted by a couple of passengers who had to choose between an aisle or throne-seat. A single traveller asked them both to exchange seats by the window so that they could share their space.

Notice: I did not sit in any of the paired seating, so my observations are only a close observation. 

You can charge your phone or laptop at the plug points. The crew also gave you a coupon code which worked great.

The storage space available is ample, including a small cupboard to my left and a water-bottle-sized tube below my right leg, as well as a cubby hole under my right knee and an open pocket underneath my (excellent) entertainment screen.

A large and smaller table are located to the right. More than enough horizontal surface area for all your in-flight flotsam and jetsam – phone, tablet… Champagne glass.

Unfortunately, the aircraft was too crowded to allow the crew to put preflight bubbles in (this isn’t a turning left business-class class). However, once the passengers were aboard the cruise, service began and I couldn’t resist the fizz.

In this instance, it was a Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut Reserve (£35 retail) made from Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay grapes – and it’s a splendid taste-bud tickler. It is refined, light and citrusy with an aroma of roasted almonds.

Onions jam and pecorino rosemary, seaweed biscuits ‘Drinks Biscuits’ from Drinks Bakery complemented the fizz stage. Delightful.

It was also delicious with all the other items on the menu.

For lunch, I enjoyed the starter – flavourful prawns, Marie Rose sauce, and sun dried tomato. I loved the main course, a succulent Parmesan roast chicken breast served with baby potatoes, wild mushroom sauce and steam spinach.

The raspberry white chocolate cheesecake was delicious.

Aer Lingus hadn’t finished feeding me just yet, though – a most inviting afternoon tea arrived about an hour before we landed. As we flew down America’s east coast I tucked into egg and rocket and roast beef sandwiches, plus a trio of delicious mini cakes – lemon and poppy, chocolate opera and Raspberry bakewell.

The only non-fizz beverage I tried was a Cotes-du-Rhone Domaine Clavel, a perfectly serviceable red – soft and fruity.

Perhaps you’re forgiven for believing that I ate, drank and traveled the whole flight.

Not quite true.

My Voya amenity kit included lip balm and hand cream as well as a toothbrush, an earplug, pen, flight socks, mints, eye mask, and a pen. I took a moment to examine it. Although not the best bag in terms of luxury, it is very useful and can be reused many times.

The in-flight entertainment system, which fully works from gate to gate, occupied a bigger chunk of my time.

The afternoon tea of egg and rocket and roast beef sandwiches, plus a trio of delicious mini cakes – lemon and poppy, chocolate opera and Raspberry bakewell

The afternoon tea of egg and rocket and roast beef sandwiches, plus a trio of delicious mini cakes – lemon and poppy, chocolate opera and Raspberry bakewell

The Aer Lingus lounge at by Gate 26 at JFK. Ted liked the raindrop-shaped lights and the grass-effect carpet

Aer Lingus Lounge at Gate 26 JFK. Ted enjoyed the raindrop-shaped lights, and the grass effect carpet.

'There's a definite private jet vibe,' writes Ted, 'as long as you don't look behind the curtain into economy.' He snapped this picture just after he'd boarded at JFK for the flight home

Ted writes that there is a distinct private jet vibe. He advises not to look beyond the curtains into economics. After boarding at JFK, he snapped the above picture.

A salmon main on the flight back to Manchester, served with 'the freshest of fresh salads – plus strawberries'

A salmon main on the flight back to Manchester, served with ‘the freshest of fresh salads – plus strawberries’

Fresh fruit and a hot bacon roll with coffee 'proved a most satisfying breakfast'

The amenity kit, by Voya

LEFT: A hot breakfast of fresh fruit and bacon with coffee. RIGHT: Voya’s amenity kit

The menu page for the mains and desserts

Ted enjoyed afternoon tea around an hour from New York

The main courses and dessert options are shown to the left. Ted enjoyed afternoon tea right about an hour away from New York.

Ted can vouch for the Cotes du Rhones from the red list

The white list offers libations from New Zealand and Spain

Ted can attest to the quality of Cotes du Rhones from red list. There are libations available from Spain and New Zealand on the white-list.

TOUR FACTS 

Ted was hosted at Aer Lingus by Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus flies every day from Manchester to New York JFK. Economy class fares start from £179 each way and business class fares start from £1,550 return, including taxes and charges. Visit aerlingus.com. 

Verdict for a Business-Class Throne Seat, with Service, Comfort, and Food: 

Rating:

Blacklane chauffeurs  

Ted relied on the excellent Blacklane chauffeur service to get him from the airport to his hotel in New York. This service operates in more 200 cities across the globe and offers a user-friendly reservation system. Visit www.blacklane.com/en.

New York Hotel

You are looking for somewhere luxurious and exclusive to call home? Ted checked in to The Mark (review soon). Visit www.themarkhotel.com. 

Avanti West Coast

One-way fares London to Manchester from £35.90 (£108.80 first class), return from £71.80 (first from £217.60). Click here for more details. 

Tests 

Qured has all the information you need for PCR and antigen testing. See the FCDO website for the latest USA travel guidance.  

It was a joy to use – not the biggest in its class but big enough, super-clear and with an intuitive, easily reached touch-screen operating system.

The freebie headphones were one of the blips on the niggle radar – their sound quality was a bit average and they didn’t muffle the cabin noise terribly efficiently. 

They were still good enough for me to get lost in the movie. It was done.

(Airlines generally seem to skimp on headphones, with American Airlines being one notable exception – its business class passengers get amazing Bang & Olufsen cans.)

There was no danger – at any point – of the crew becoming a blip. 

The pair that crewed the flight were top-notch – friendly, professional, very smartly turned out and eagle-eyed with the Champagne refills.

THE RETURN JONEY – THE VERDICT

Before boarding the red-eye return leg on the Air Lingus A321neo I popped into the carrier’s lounge, by gate 26, which is pleasingly secretive – beyond an easy-to-miss frosted door.

The interior is stylish, relaxing, and chic (I loved the raindrop-shaped light fixtures and grass-effect rug), but it doesn’t offer much in terms of food or drinks.

One counter can be used to steal (tiny!) sandwiches, snacks, coffee, and other alcoholic beverages.

It was amazing that the crew from the flight above were on board and maintained the high standards.

Pre-flight champagne was sent this time.

Foodwise I thoroughly enjoyed a salmon main with the freshest of fresh salads – plus strawberries. 

A hot bacon wrap with coffee and fresh fruit made for a very satisfying breakfast.

My only problem was not getting enough sleep. 

It is comfortable and has a pillow and blanket. However, the jetstream had caused havoc in my body clock, and I was unable to fall asleep due to the many bumps.

It didn’t stop me from concluding the Aer Lingus A321neo “throne” seat is an amazing experience. This is especially true considering the plane’s one-aisle dimensions.

“YOU DIDN’T ANSWER THE PHONE”, SO I CANCELLED IT”: THE PERILS of BEGINNING A JOURNEY WITH A UBER (EVEN IF PRE-BOOKED WITH THE EXECUTIVE DRIVER).

Aer Lingus wanted me to make my New York trip fancy, so I booked an Uber for my executive level. I would be picked up from South London by 5 a.m. and taken to London Euston. I will then take Avanti West Coast Pendolino to Manchester Piccadilly. The 6.16am service is my preferred time.

I hadn’t booked an Uber for a “executive” before but had read some reviews about them on Uber’s blog. It was a feeling of elation that I felt.

According to the blog, Exec drivers must maintain consistent driver ratings of at least 4.9 in order to deliver consistent quality services. Exec riders appreciate a superior service, which goes beyond the use of a car or impeccable manners. We hope you will deliver an exceptional service as Exec driver!

I had extra peace of mind, because I’d pre-booked the Uber – a week in advance – which the company states would give me 15 minutes of wait time.

All was fine once a driver was hired.

However, things didn’t turn out as planned. None of it.

Ted booked a so-called 'executive' Uber, but it left after a call to him from the driver at the pick-up time went unanswered

Ted booked an Uber for a “executive” job, and it left when Ted made a phone call from the driver during the pickup time.

My driver arrived 15 minutes before my scheduled time at 4.45 am. In a Mercedes-Benz. He also received a 5-star rating.

Professional, evidently.

When I got up at 5am, I was just about to get out the door. I had been doing last checks to make sure I had everything I needed when I heard my phone ring. The phone rang but I wasn’t there in time to answer it. Because it wasn’t a mobile phone number, I thought it was the driver.

Because I was only seconds from leaving, I did not call him back.

He was moving up the road as I turned the lights off, but he appeared just seconds after I did.

Eh?

I rushed down the stairs with my packed bags and out into the middle of the road – this would be at 5.02 or 5.03am – and frantically waved at him. He kept going.

 I got to Euston in time for a selfie by the concourse Christmas tree before boarding the train thanks to the 484 bus to Camberwell, the 176 to Tottenham Court Road and the Northern Line. The drivers were gracious and didn’t ask me to respond to their call before I got on the train.

Then, I called the number that he had used five times at 5.04am to 5.05am. But Uber just sent me an automated message saying “sorry, we don’t know who you’re trying to reach, please make sure you’re contacting someone on an Uber ride from your Uber account number.”

Next? Next?

He lowered his window when I met him. I wanted to know where he was headed.

He replied, “You haven’t answered my phone. I’ve cancelled the job.”

He told me what happened to my waiting time.

He replied, “I have waited forever.” “And now it is 5.06 AM.

My time was to last 15 minutes. Not 30.

As I needed to fly, I asked him to allow me to drive.

He says, “I have cancelled my job.”

With that, I ran to catch the night bus and screamed into the cold air what I thought about this driver…

Thanks to the 484 bus from Camberwell to Euston, and the Northern Line 176 to Tottenham Court Road to Northern Line, I made it to Euston just in time to take a photo by the Christmas tree on the concourse. I was surprised that the drivers did not expect me to return their calls before they let me go.

A second driver, an ‘executive,’ messaged me while I was on the bus. He informed me that he had been given the job. It turned out that it had not been cancelled. 

Uber Merry Christmas 

Uber spokeswoman said that they were sorry about your experience. This service was unacceptable, and it falls below our high standards of customer care. We’ve credited your account with Uber credit in a gesture of good will.’