Trip Reports - Latin Hat Dance - 55,555 promo

I've been recently working on the 55,555 Star Alliance promo, hoping to get credit for 4 programs (UA,AC,LH,MX). I have never flown on any of the Star Alliance except for UA (and BD once like 15 years ago) so it was all a new experience for me with having no status. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif My itinerary for the runs is:

6/8 SAT-MEX MX (to Lufthansa)
6/8 MEX-GDL MX (to Mexicana)
6/9 GDL-MEX MX (to Air Canada)
6/9 MEX-SAT MX (to United)

6/14 AUS-DFW AA
6/14 DFW-SCL AA

6/15 SCL-EZE LH (to UA)
6/15 EZE-GRU RG (to MX)
6/15 GRU-MIA RG (to UA - intercontinental)
6/16 MIA-ORD UA (to MX)
6/16 ORD-YYZ UA (to LH)
6/16 YYZ-YUL AC (to MX)

6/16 YUL-ORD AA
6/16 ORD-AUS AA
6/29 AUS-ORD AA
6/29 ORD-YUL AA

6/29 YUL-YOW AC (to AC)
6/29 YOW-YYZ AC (to LH)
6/29 YYZ-GRU AC (to UA - intercont.)
6/30 GRU-POA RG (to LH)
6/30 POA-MVD RG (to AC)
6/30 MVD-EZE UA (to AC)

6/30 EZE-MIA AA
7/1 MIA-DFW AA
7/1 DFW-AUS AA

leaving me 4 flights to go.

Last weekend, I flew a SAT-MEX-GDL-MEX-SAT run on Mexicana, using one of their website fares. Living in Austin, SAT airport is only about an hour and a half away, and I found it very easy to fly in and out of. It's a very small airport so no amenities or lounges but there are a few food places. Since I arrived about two hours early for my first flight there was no line at the Mexicana counter and checkin was a breeze. I wandered around the terminal for awhile before my flight (it only takes 3 minutes to walk from one end of the terminal to the other, so I wandered quite a few times http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ) The flight was on an Airbus 320 (in a 3-3 configuration) to Mexico City and it was only about 2/3 full for the 1 1/2 hr flight. The two seats next to mine were empty giving me plenty of room to spread out (I'm 6' and broad shouldered) which was good as the seat pitch seemed very tight (I fly AA pretty exclusively and have gotten used to MRTC!). The interior of the planes is navy blue and green. Dinner was served enroute, a pretty basic chicken w/ rice with a salad and flan. Arriving into Mexico City, the weather was pretty cloudy and we hit a few bumps. Things were busy at the terminal when we arrived, there were Iberia, Lufthansa, Air France and KLM planes parked at the gate. The terminal there seemed very confusing, as you got off the plane right into the terminal, no shunting you directly into immigration! You could wander down into the domestic section without needing to go through immigration? I finally found the immigration across from gate 21 and went through with no problems; but finding the domestic Mexicana checkin was a bit tricker, there didn't appear to be many airport maps around. Finally found it, checked in and went back into the terminal. Again I had a fair wait before my next flight and wandered around looking for the Admirals Club. Didn't find it (it's over in the international part, natch), before boarding the last flight to Guadalajara (on a Fokker-100, ick). This flight was pretty empty since it was 10:00pm, but a short flight only about an hour. The Guadalajara airport was even more basic than San Antonio, and half of it is being ripped up for renovations. The taxis there are all on a prepaid basis, you go to a booth and pay for a ticket, then give that ticket to the taxi driver (the taxis dont have meters), the rate was 140 pesos to go to the Hilton, about a 20 minute ride. I decided to stay at the Hilton after registering for the 50k promo. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif The Hilton there is very nice, looks relatively new, and I was upgraded to the Executive floor (7th+8th floor, which they are moving to the 19th/20th floors). The room was pretty standard but nice and clean. I crashed about 1am after watching TV a bit. I had hoped to wake up early enough to wander around town a bit, before my flight at 12:50, but slept in instead. Woke up at 9am the next morning and went to have breakfast at the Executive Floor lounge.. they had a nice spread with cheese/meats/pastries/toast/cereal/yogurt/etc. After breakfast I headed back to the airport. Checkin was a breeze again, but finding the gates was a little confusing with the construction. The flights back to MEX and SAT were uneventful, but the flights were fuller, both planes were Airbus 320s. The MEX-SAT flight served a cheese-drenched enchilada for dinner. yum. Immigration in SAT was probably the easiest I've done, it took 15 minutes from arriving at the gate to getting in my car for the drive home. They did ask if I had brought home any cigars http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif There were plenty of Habanos for sale in the MEX airport. I never had my bags searched on any of the segments, although the only thing I took with me was a daypack with a change of clothes/toiletries and a book.

more to come.


[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 06-17-2002).]

Stage 2: South America to Canada

My next flights took me on a 52-hour run to South America and Canada. This was a true run as I wasn't planning on leaving any of the airports. While researching the best options for the 55k run, I found a $1002 MPM (V-class) fare from Buenos Aires to Canada that allowed me to pick up 11 of the 20 segments needed to qualify for four programs (and could have made it 12, that last segment was sold out the day I needed it). I planned on doing this run over two weekends, South America to Canada, then Canada to South America. I was using AA (upgraded w/ VIPOW) to get to/from Santiago/Buenos Aires and Montreal. I also picked up a good business class fare from SCL to EZE on Lufthansa.

Austin to Santiago via DFW on AA (upgraded to biz class w/ VIPOW)

My first stage was getting to Santiago. I have been to Chile several times as the country has a magical grip on me. This would be my first trip there during the winter and I was looking forward to seeing the Andes covered with snow (assuming the smog wasn't so bad!). The traffic was horrendous on Friday evening when heading to the Austin airport; there are only a few bridges across the Colorado river and it seems like everyone lives/works on opposite sides of the river. It took me nearly an hour and a half to get to the airport when normally it would take 40 minutes, but luckily I had planned plenty of buffer time. Checking in for the flights was no problem; though they thought it odd I was flying into Santiago one day, and out of Montreal the next http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. The flight to DFW was on a MD-80 and very full (which is usual for Austin). First class was uneventful for the short flight; even shorter than normal as we took off to the north and landed to the north at DFW right next to terminal B. Construction on the new international terminal is coming along nicely; they also have large sections of the new overhead monorAAil completed. I had an hour before the flight to Santiago left, so headed to the Admiral's Club in terminal A. The showers there are amazing with the sunflower from above, jets from the side, and the handheld shower head; they surround you with water from all sides and is just the thing to do before/after a long international flight. I hope to have a shower like that in my house someday. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Soon boarding started for flight AA945, which was about 2/3 full. I had brought along my British Airways sleeper suit which I changed into as soon as I boarded. I'm sure I looked silly in biz class in pj's, but they're oh so comfortable for long flights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Dinner was served shortly after takeoff, the menu was:

** Wines **

champagne - Heidsieck Monopole Brut
white - King Estate Oregon Chardonnay
Montes Curico Valley Estate Bottled Chile Sauvignon Blanc
red - Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon
Forest Glen California Merlot
port - Graham's Vintage Port

** Dinner **
* To Start
An assortment of warm roasted Nuts to accompany your preferred Cocktail or Beverage
* Appetizer
Traditional Crab Salad served on a Roma Tomato
* Salad
Seasonal Greens with creamy Garlic with Dill Dressing or Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

** Entrees **
* Lamb Medallions
Hoisin-marinated Lamb Medallions presented with grilled Zucchini, grilled Tomato, grilled Bell Peppers and Herb Rice

* Caramelized Onion Salad
A hearty caramelized Onion Soup garnished with a Jarlsberg Cheese Crouton

* Cilantro-Coated Chicken
Seared Breast of Chicken enhanced by a Tomato Saffron Sauce, presented with crisp Polenta Chips and sauteed Zucchini and Eggplane with toasted Almonds

* Fillet of Fish with Olive Sauce
Fillet of Halibut lightly breaded with a roasted Red Bell Pepper and Green Olive Sauce with fresh Cilantro, served with Parslied New Potatoes

** Cheese and Dessert Cart **
Caciotta and Cheddar Cheese with seasoned Grapes and dried Apricots

Triple Caramel Ice Cream served with Raspberry Sauce topped with a Turtle Brownie

Godiva Chocolates

I had the Cilantro Chicken and the Caramel Ice cream. The Chicken and Polenta were excellent, although I think they had been sitting out awhile and were a little dry. All served with plastic silverware of course! I tried the King Estate chardonnay with dinner, it was fine but didn't do much for me (new to wine drinking, and I've not found many I like yet). The ice cream was rock hard but sooo delicious once it thawed a bit http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I watched a couple DVD movies before sleeping, I just love the Bose noise cancelling headsets they use; I leave them on when sleeping to keep the noise level down. Awoke just as it was getting light to have breakfast.

** American Breakfast **
Fresh seasonal Fruit

CROQUE MONSIEUR BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Grilled sandwich made with Turkey Ham, Swiss Cheese and Bechamel Sauce, topped with melted Swiss Cheese accompanied by Sid Wainer's roasted Tomatoes

Yogurt

Cereal

Assorted warm Breakfast Breads

The flight approach into Santiago is just incredible; try to get on the left side of the plane if possible as you fly parallel to the Andes. (unfortunately my seat was in the middle! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif ). The mountains are huge and look like they're close enough to touch; most of the peaks are 15,000 feet+, and Anconcagua near Santiago is nearly 23,000 feet. This was the first time I had been to South America in their winter; and the mountains had a deep coating of snow. When we arrived in Santiago it was freezing, and I was only wearing shorts. Well not to matter as I wasn't leaving the airport. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif The reciprocity fee is now up to $65!(ouch), but luckily the fee is good for the life of the passport. Unfortunately my old passport had just expired and I had to pay it again (the fee was only $20 the first time I visited Chile in 98). You pay this fee on arrival before going through immigration; the desk is off to the left as you enter the immigration hall. They have completed the construction on the airport that was going on the last time I was here; they have torn down the old National terminal; all domestic and international flights leave from the same terminal. They have also rearranged the checkin desks on the third floor; the counters are all now along the back wall instead of in rows (like LAX), which really opened the terminal up, it now feels huge inside. The Lufthansa desk was not open yet, so I set off to find the Varig office to change some of my flights. I was originally routed EZE-POA-GIG-MIA-ORD-YYZ-YUL-YOW-YYZ-GRU-POA-EZE, which I wanted to change to EZE-GRU-MIA-ORD-YYZ-YUL-YOW-YYZ-GRU-POA-MVD-EZE This would pick up my 2nd international segment for UA (original GIG-MIA was on UA, changed it to a RG GRU-MIA flight). Finally found the Varig office; it is in the new section of the terminal on the 2nd floor, not with the other offices in the original terminal. Changing the tickets was pretty quick, only about a half hour and they didn't charge the change fee.


[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 06-17-2002).]

I don't understnad why you are mentioning all of these AA flights, AA being in oneworld.