On the Ground: John F. Kennedy International Airport on Long Island is usually chaotic, but traveling at 1:15 a.m. made the trip to the airport unusually calm once I reached the subway. I arrived at the terminal about 25 minutes before priority boarding began. Fortunately, the late hour meant there was no line at check-in or security.
At JFK, LATAM Airlines partners with American Airlines to provide lounge access for business-class passengers. Unfortunately, the lounge closes at 10:30 p.m., so a preflight visit wasn’t possible for my late departure. I reached the gate just as boarding started, joined the queue for Premium Business, and settled into my seat.
Pre-Flight: The business-class cabin offered generous space. On the Boeing 787-9, LATAM uses a 2-2-2 layout in business class, and my aisle-access seat made middle-of-the-night movements stress-free. Less than two minutes after stowing my carry-on, a crew member offered to take my jacket. Soon after, he returned with a tray holding Champagne, mineral water, and bowls of mixed nuts. I chose the Champagne and checked the amenities kit, which contained the usual essentials: a toothbrush and toothpaste, facial lotion, an eye mask, earplugs, and socks. Before long, we pushed back and took off.
In-Flight: Given the late hour, the cabin crew prepared meal service shortly after we reached cruising altitude. As a vegetarian, I didn’t see the full menu, but the crew honored my dietary request and served a satisfying meal: warm bread, vegetables with rice, a fresh garden salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and a fruit salad for dessert.
While waiting for dinner, I explored the entertainment system. A large screen and handheld controller provided a wide selection of recent and older films. I picked a familiar title because I knew I wouldn’t stay awake for an entire new movie. I ate while Kong: Skull Island played in the background. After the meal, the crew cleared my tray quickly. I arranged the pillow and blanket, set my seat to a reclined position, and turned off the screen. I fell asleep within minutes. The crew later joked that I slept so deeply they weren’t able to wake me for breakfast; I might have missed it, but the overall experience suggested the meal would have been good.
After landing, there was ample room to gather my things and access the overhead bins without jostling other passengers — the cabin’s spacious layout made deplaning more comfortable. The flight, which lasted just under eight hours, passed quickly.
Top Takeaways:
◆ The crew was highly attentive; any request was addressed within minutes or even seconds.
◆ The lie-back seating, combined with earplugs and a cozy blanket, made for a deep, restful sleep.
◆ An extensive entertainment library provided plenty of options to pass the time before dinner service.