Fall Asleep in New York, Wake Up in London

Years ago, while backpacking across Europe with some friends, we decided to save money and time by sleeping on the trains en route between countries. While it was economical and adventurous, it was not exactly luxurious. In the time since, I've grown accustomed to a few more creature comforts, and as you regular readers know, I feel I'm "roughing it" if I'm overnighting in a hotel without a spa.

Enter "Club World Sleeper Service" on British Airways, direct from New York's JFK airport to London Heathrow's new Terminal 5. At about 6:00 pm on a Sunday night, I checked my luggage and headed up to the lounge, where I was treated to a pre-flight buffet supper including flank steak, pastas, salads, samosas and a cheese selection accompanied by red and white wines. Outside the dining room in the main lounge, all passengers had access to wine and smoothie bars, flat screen TVs (one room had a football game on the big screen), snacks, showers, and -- the best part -- the Elemis Travel Spa. Fifteen-minute treatments, like a facial or a scalp massage, were free. Yes, free! Even better, they were administered in a massage chair so fantastic I wanted to ship it home.

As you can imagine, I was in a pretty good mood by boarding time. That's where sleeper service really pays off. I was shown to my seat, which amazingly was able to recline completely flat; my "cabin" also had a footrest, TV screen, reading light and a privacy panel. I've never been able to sleep on a plane in the past, but after a nightcap and snack, privacy panel went up, lights went off, and I slept - soundly - until three hours later when, thanks to the time change, it was morning.

In all the travel I've undertaken, I've never, ever wished for a flight to last longer -- until this one. Thankfully, sleeper service includes breakfast and tea/coffee "in bed," which went a long way toward getting my early day started. Heathrow is one of three airports with an an "arrivals lounge" for a hot shower and even a full breakfast; unfortunately, I had to rush out for a meeting and didn't get a chance to see it this time. Still, with all the pampering, I felt ready to tackle a full day, despite waking up in another country after just a few hours of sleep.

Coming next: Landing in London Heathrow's new Terminal 5

^{Image of breakfast on British Airways Business Class to London copyright David Latt}