Neos Air 'Premium' Review: Milan MXP to New York JFK

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Neos is an Italian budget airline — and as the video puts it, they don’t have a business class. What they have instead is “Premium”: effectively a premium-economy cabin. We flew it from Milan Malpensa Terminal 1 to New York JFK Terminal 1 on a Boeing 787, and here’s what the experience was actually like.

What “Premium” gets you on the ground

At MXP, Premium includes fast track through security and lounge access. One thing to know: for USA-bound gates there’s only one lounge option, and it was very crowded on a Saturday.

Also note the lounge is after exit passport control, so budget your time: leave room for passport control and don’t get stuck shopping in duty free beforehand.

Boarding comes with priority for Premium/Group 1 (gate B55 on our flight). Boarding itself wasn’t perfectly smooth — we were stuck on the jet bridge for a bit while the queue moved.

The 787 premium cabin: 2-3-2, legroom, and a screen surprise

The aircraft is a Boeing 787, and the Premium cabin is laid out 2-3-2. First impressions were good — there’s lots of legroom.

One quirk: there are no seatback monitors. The entertainment screens pull out of the armrests instead. They hand out cheap disposable earbuds — nothing fancy, but they do the job. There’s also a small, basic amenity kit. And the best perk of the whole flight: free Wi-Fi included for the entire flight, via a voucher card handed out on board.

Food and drink: honest verdicts

Drinks started before takeoff with prosecco or orange juice. One caveat for the long haul: no complimentary soda — just juices and wines.

The meal service began with a salmon starter, though there were no options for vegetarians or kids. For the entree, the chicken option was served (they had pasta for the vegetarians).

A cheese platter followed, and then the verdict the video doesn’t sugarcoat: dessert was the only good part of the meal. Coffee came after dessert — served with creamer, not fresh milk. A small snack was served before landing.

Seat comfort: levers, leg rest, real recline

The seats have levers for both recline and the leg rest, and the recline is genuinely decent — a good amount to actually get some rest on the overnight crossing.

Bottom line

On-time arrival into JFK, and the video’s verdict: “I’d fly them again at premium economy prices.” That sums it up — Neos Premium isn’t business class and doesn’t pretend to be, but as a premium-economy product with lounge access, free Wi-Fi, and a comfortable seat, it’s a fair deal at the right price.

Delta One Business Class on a Narrowbody 757: JFK to Keflavik, Iceland — Flight Review and Europcar Car Rental

Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Delta flies a narrowbody 757 to Iceland — a long way in a single-aisle jet, but in lie-flat Delta One up front the cabin is the same premium seat the airline puts on much longer routes. This short trip video covers the whole journey: JFK Terminal 4 and the Delta Sky Club, the Delta One 757 seat and its trade-offs, the night flight across the Atlantic, landing into low clouds and rain at Keflavik, and the Europcar rental pickup — a Tesla Model Y.

JFK Terminal 4 and the Delta Sky Club

The trip starts at JFK Terminal 4, Delta’s home terminal. Before the flight there’s time in the Delta Sky Club — and the lounge is large, with a full bar, plenty of seating, and a buffet spread. It’s a comfortable place to wait out the evening before an overnight crossing.

Boarding the 757

Boarding is through the jet bridge for the narrowbody 757 — Delta One is up front, of course. It’s a striking thing about this route: no widebody, just the 757 stretched across the North Atlantic.

The Delta One seat: lie-flat, but limited storage

The Delta One cabin on this 757 is the lie-flat business seat — proper bed mode for an overnight flight — set up in the usual narrowbody premium layout. The trade-off the video calls out directly: limited storage, and a very basic amenity kit. There’s a side console with power outlets and USB to keep things charged, but cubby space for personal items is tight.

Amenity kit and onboard service

The amenity kit is a Delta-branded pouch with the basics: a Grown Alchemist skincare pouch, a Humble Co. bamboo toothbrush, and an eye mask. Nothing lavish — but it covers the overnight essentials. On the tray table there’s a pre-departure drink and the meal service to follow.

Departure from JFK, on time

Pushback and takeoff happen on time — the caption in the video makes a point of it. The 757 taxis past the lit-up Terminal 4 ramp and climbs out into the night over New York.

Arrival into Keflavik: low clouds and rain

Morning arrival into Keflavik comes with classic Icelandic weather: low clouds hanging over the lava fields and steady rain on the window. The descent shows the wide, empty Keflavik peninsula below — a stark contrast to the New York skyline left behind.

Getting through KEF: immigration, bags, customs

Keflavik is a compact airport and the walk-through is straightforward. The video’s captions walk the sequence: get through immigration, head down to arrivals — note that baggage claim is through the gift shop, a very KEF touch — and then finally cross the border at customs.

Europcar pickup: a Tesla Model Y

For the Iceland road trip, the rental is a Tesla Model Y from Europcar. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to rent an EV — cheap, abundant geothermal electricity and a solid charging network — so an electric crossover is a natural pick for a Ring Road trip.

Verdict

The narrowbody 757 is a smaller jet than you’d expect on a transatlantic, but Delta One up front makes it a genuinely comfortable overnight: a real lie-flat bed, on-time departure, and the lounge start at JFK. The honest downsides are the ones the video flags — limited seat storage and a basic amenity kit. On the ground, Keflavik is easy to navigate and the Europcar Tesla Model Y pickup gets the Iceland road trip started right away.

Flight Review on Visit Karma