Supersonic vs. long and leisurely: Which way would you rather fly to London?
While no one likes sitting on a plane and getting hit with a flight delay, once you're in the air sometimes you just don't want the experience to be over — especially if you've cashed in your hard-earned points and miles to fly one of the swankiest products in the sky.
With the recent addition of JetBlue's Mint product on the airline's New York (JFK) to London (LHR) route, whose A321LR aircraft will feature JetBlue’s brand new Mint Suite and Mint Studio business class products, you may find yourself looking forward to having plenty of time to enjoy all the bells and whistles. Not to mention nearly seven hours to sit back and relax — whether that means bingeing on TV shows, catching up on emails, or taking in the view from 35,000 feet.
United's recent announcement that it has signed a deal with Boom Supersonic to purchase up to 50 of the company’s planned passenger jet could shake all that up. While we don't know much about the hard or soft products just yet, we do know that the new aircraft would greatly reduce the window during which to enjoy said products.
So, we polled the TPG Lounge: Would you rather fly from NYC to London in three hours, or enjoy a business class experience for the full seven? A clear favorite emerged faster than Boom Supersonic thinks it can fly you across the pond. Here's what the group had to say.
Supersonic (by a landslide)
For many, it was the shorter flight time that did it.
"I flew Concorde a few times, the speed beats everything." — Carla P Blanco
Related: Going Boom: What it’s like to fly supersonic
"Definitely get me there quicker!" — Carol Bean
"Speed over business class any day." — Brett Belair
"I fly to get where I’m going. Business-class for sure on a long-haul flight. But if that long-haul becomes short, I’m in." — Bryan Nalette
"I would rather get there in three hours. Otherwise, I’m too comfortable to enjoy the service and sleep through the whole flight." — Aasim Dewji
"The less time spent on a United flight in any class, the better..." — James Curtis
"Three hours. Gives them less time to lose my luggage." — Dave Lewis
"Three hours is doable for me, seven hours is not with my sitting disability." — Mary Shaw
Others chimed in with route preferences:
"I want quicker to Hawaii!" — Katie Scarlett Edwards
"Seattle to Tokyo in 4.5 hours. I am in!" — Jeff Cabbage
"When they start flying from JFK to SYD in eight hours sign me up! Even from LAX to SYD in eight hours would work for me." — Justine GP
Related: United Airlines announces deal with Boom Supersonic for faster-than-sound commercial flights
For the AvGeeks, it's all about the unique experience:
"I was too young to get an opportunity to fly Concorde so this could be the nearest thing I could get to that." — Matthew Tasker
"Supersonic all the way!" — Gail Foust Winterfeld
"I’ll be on one in the first year for sure." — Harvey Schinkal
Long and Leisurely
Still, a few TPG Loungers expressed the desire to take things slow if that means a better flight experience.
"I flew Concorde. It was like being in a tuna can. Squished. It was nice getting to Paris in just a few hours, but I don’t know that it was worth it." — Stacy Raphael
"We prefer the longer run. Nice to sleep on the overnight flights. Helps us bounce on arrival." — Nivek Seyah
"I enjoy the travel. In our busy world, taking a few beats in a luxe lounge, napping or catching a movie mid-flight is an excellent on-ramp to a vacation, or a deep calming breath before hitting the ground on a business trip." — Chris Lovejoy
"I really enjoy the business class experience… the lounges, food and comfort. I fly internationally a few times a year so my preference is to savor the travel experience. I would like to try supersonic travel, however, not gonna lie." — Davia Weinberg Love
For some, it was less about leisure and more about the cost:
"I'm sure this will be cheap and available with points... umm nope!" — Matthew Finnegan
"This is going to be super expensive... meant for the execs traveling back and forth... out of my price range." — Anthony Sigalas
A mix of both
Why have one when you can have both? A few savvy commenters are getting strategic with their choice.
"Depends on lie-flat vs. regular biz seat and time of day and urgency. If not in a hurry, I probably would prefer regular for the redeye to eastbound, and westbound a.m. during the day on supersonic." — Ari Can Eryorulmaz
"Supersonic for biz, regular for vacations." — Axel Lima
"I say the opposite. More time on my vacation and less time to work." — Gavin DiazAxel Lima
Neither
And for some, neither option is enticing.
"4-6 hour flights tend to be the most unbearable for me. I actually prefer 14-16 hour flights. Not that it matters, as I am sure the airfare will be just as stratospheric as the plane." — Tina Jay
"I'd still rather stay 12-14 hrs in a Polaris lie flat. You barely can sleep or watch a movie on 6 hr flights." — Eric Yen
"The problem is it's not seven hours though, is it? By the time you faffed about with meals, taxi, take-off and landing you can never get more than about four hours sleep." — Alex Wood
It depends
Given how much we don't know about these flights as of now, it's no surprise some are in wait-and-see mode.
"I have flown Concorde and Subsonic F/J/C. Concorde was cramped but the service was superb. I would fly subsonic if the SST service was crappy. I must admit it's easier on the body making a quick trip but the cost difference is steep. It will all depend on cost and service levels." — David Meador
While a shorter flight time was the clear favorite, we'd be remiss not to include those who flat out don't see supersonic happening anytime soon. "Vaporware," as Paul Provost put it.
Image courtesy of Boom Supersonic
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.