STAM4NICK
Mar 24, 01, 6:33 pm
Friday, March 23, 2001
American Airlines Flight Number 30
Scheduled:
Departing LAX @ 11.00 PM PT
Arriving @ JFK @ 07.15 AM ET +1
Actual:
Departed @ about 5 minutes late (more on that later)
Arrived @ about 15 minutes early
I happened to check the seat map on AA.com before the flight, and I saw that there were now two rows (international configuration) of First Class on this 767-200 and not the previous 4 for the domestic configuration. I was unhappy that the Executive Platinum Desk had not called me to let me know of the change and to make sure that I still had my seat. Well, I called them and they said my seat was still intact, so I guess there was no need for them to call me in the first place.
Business Class seat 7J (bulkhead, first row, window, on the right.)
Business had the new blue seat that looked like they were just installed a few months before since they were very clean. I soon found my headrest would not stay up, it just slid up and down, and then I found out my footrest would not go out. The cabin was full, well the whole plane was full, even First Class, and I did not really want to use it anyways. First Class did have the old mushy brown leather seats.
Check-in at LAX was ultra efficient. There was a special dedicated line for First Class/ EXP/PLT/OW EMR unlike at JFK I think. There was a red carpet and a bowl of candy and flowers, and I got my e-ticket boarding pass very efficiently. Then it was up the escalator to the Admirals Club. Are they doing some construction in T4 at LAX for AA?
When you turn down the hall for the Admirals Club there is a desk where the agent has to see you, but since it was about 10.00 PM PT, there was no one there and I just took the elevator up and then showed my card to the 2 agents there. The club was virtually empty. There were probably no more than 15 people there. Granted it closed in about an hour. I was very disappointed that there were no snack foods anywhere. Maybe because it was so late but all they had was tea, and coffee, and the pay bar of course. They had lots of oneworld brochures in the magazine rack area. I gabbed some even though they were outdated, just in case I need them to prove my entry into other oneworld airline club. The club had like 3 or 4 cool flat screen computers, and all the other basic business amenities. They just happened to run out of paper the when I wanted to print something! The bay windows were nice, but it was hard to see since it was dark outside. I saw a Korean Air, Eva Air, China Airlines, and a Cathay Pacific in taxiing and in the Club.
Boarding went fine. It was not at all hectic, I just walked up and my boarding pass went right through. I took my seat and knowing that no one was next to me per the website I took the pillow on the seat next to me. Well time to leave, the door is closed, WAIT open the door again, and guess who happens to sit next to me. Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray, the music group. At the time I had no idea who it was, but then the flight attendant on my side of the aircraft asked for his autograph for her children. I knew he was some one famous, but not an actor because they are all in LA for the awards. Then half way through the flight it came to me. Sugar Ray, the lead singer, who used to have the blonde spiked hair. He did not have that kind of hair now. I was mad that someone actually had to sit next to me, but if it was going to be anybody it would be him.
Now on to the flight.
Pre-departure drinks were offered, but Mark got on too late to get one. The usual choices, OJ, Water, Champ.
There were no menus as this was a redeye, and there were no newspapers much to the chagrin of Mark. We had a choice of either a chicken wrap or vegetable pizza with a chocolate chip cookie on the side. There was an empty glass on the tray, but the FA did not fill it or offer to fill it, usually with water. I had the wrap, which was really good with the Caesar dressing. It was a one shot deal, no fancy table cloth, just the tray, cloth, plates etc… She came around with a bread and butter basket.
Then she cleared my place, and brought tea, then the movie began called You Can’t Count on Me.
Oh and I got nuts too before the meal!!!! They were warm, which was great.
I got a bottle of water as well.
This time they requested that we put down our shades for those who would want to sleep. At least they were not rude and put the shades down on their own.
So we left about 5 minutes late because a rock star had to board, and we got into JFK about 15 minutes early.
Overall the flight was very nice again. The flight attendant on this trans-con was nicer than the one on the other trans-son I took. If only she were at the door for arrival I would have given her a few SOS coupons.
American Airlines Flight Number 30
Scheduled:
Departing LAX @ 11.00 PM PT
Arriving @ JFK @ 07.15 AM ET +1
Actual:
Departed @ about 5 minutes late (more on that later)
Arrived @ about 15 minutes early
I happened to check the seat map on AA.com before the flight, and I saw that there were now two rows (international configuration) of First Class on this 767-200 and not the previous 4 for the domestic configuration. I was unhappy that the Executive Platinum Desk had not called me to let me know of the change and to make sure that I still had my seat. Well, I called them and they said my seat was still intact, so I guess there was no need for them to call me in the first place.
Business Class seat 7J (bulkhead, first row, window, on the right.)
Business had the new blue seat that looked like they were just installed a few months before since they were very clean. I soon found my headrest would not stay up, it just slid up and down, and then I found out my footrest would not go out. The cabin was full, well the whole plane was full, even First Class, and I did not really want to use it anyways. First Class did have the old mushy brown leather seats.
Check-in at LAX was ultra efficient. There was a special dedicated line for First Class/ EXP/PLT/OW EMR unlike at JFK I think. There was a red carpet and a bowl of candy and flowers, and I got my e-ticket boarding pass very efficiently. Then it was up the escalator to the Admirals Club. Are they doing some construction in T4 at LAX for AA?
When you turn down the hall for the Admirals Club there is a desk where the agent has to see you, but since it was about 10.00 PM PT, there was no one there and I just took the elevator up and then showed my card to the 2 agents there. The club was virtually empty. There were probably no more than 15 people there. Granted it closed in about an hour. I was very disappointed that there were no snack foods anywhere. Maybe because it was so late but all they had was tea, and coffee, and the pay bar of course. They had lots of oneworld brochures in the magazine rack area. I gabbed some even though they were outdated, just in case I need them to prove my entry into other oneworld airline club. The club had like 3 or 4 cool flat screen computers, and all the other basic business amenities. They just happened to run out of paper the when I wanted to print something! The bay windows were nice, but it was hard to see since it was dark outside. I saw a Korean Air, Eva Air, China Airlines, and a Cathay Pacific in taxiing and in the Club.
Boarding went fine. It was not at all hectic, I just walked up and my boarding pass went right through. I took my seat and knowing that no one was next to me per the website I took the pillow on the seat next to me. Well time to leave, the door is closed, WAIT open the door again, and guess who happens to sit next to me. Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray, the music group. At the time I had no idea who it was, but then the flight attendant on my side of the aircraft asked for his autograph for her children. I knew he was some one famous, but not an actor because they are all in LA for the awards. Then half way through the flight it came to me. Sugar Ray, the lead singer, who used to have the blonde spiked hair. He did not have that kind of hair now. I was mad that someone actually had to sit next to me, but if it was going to be anybody it would be him.
Now on to the flight.
Pre-departure drinks were offered, but Mark got on too late to get one. The usual choices, OJ, Water, Champ.
There were no menus as this was a redeye, and there were no newspapers much to the chagrin of Mark. We had a choice of either a chicken wrap or vegetable pizza with a chocolate chip cookie on the side. There was an empty glass on the tray, but the FA did not fill it or offer to fill it, usually with water. I had the wrap, which was really good with the Caesar dressing. It was a one shot deal, no fancy table cloth, just the tray, cloth, plates etc… She came around with a bread and butter basket.
Then she cleared my place, and brought tea, then the movie began called You Can’t Count on Me.
Oh and I got nuts too before the meal!!!! They were warm, which was great.
I got a bottle of water as well.
This time they requested that we put down our shades for those who would want to sleep. At least they were not rude and put the shades down on their own.
So we left about 5 minutes late because a rock star had to board, and we got into JFK about 15 minutes early.
Overall the flight was very nice again. The flight attendant on this trans-con was nicer than the one on the other trans-son I took. If only she were at the door for arrival I would have given her a few SOS coupons.