PresRDC
Jun 26, 02, 9:14 pm
March 18, 2002
Although I was a little pissed at not being able to go immediately to the Salon VIP, I blamed myself for not getting a boarding pass in Easter Island for this flight. In any event, I had close to five hours before my next flight left, so I wasn’t pressed for time. As such, after clearing immigration and customs, I hopped an elevator to get back to the departure floor and the Lan Chile First and Business Class check-in area.
While there was no wait to check-in, I once again had to pay an additional tax. Forget a statue, I want a city named after me for all my contributions to the Chilean government’s coffers.
Since Lan Chile has so few First Class seats on its flights, it can be very difficult to obtain one either as an award or out of “A” class inventory for the purposes of a Oneworld Explorer. As such, I considered myself lucky to get a seat on the flight through the AA codeshare. Once again, I give enormous credit to the AA Around the World Desk, they really are all-stars.
Anyway, after getting through security I headed to the Salon VIP and a much-needed shower. As expected, Paulina, who you may recall is my friend’s wife who works for Lan Chile, left my wine bottles behind the reception counter She even added a bottle from her and Mario’s personal collection). You don’t get this kind of service everyday.
There are around 4 to 5 showers in the Salon VIP, which are located across from the reception desk. I was immediately shown to one and provided with two large towels and a nice collection of toiletries. The shower room was nice and easily rivaled BA’s Molton Brown Spa in LHR Terminal 4 and the AA Flagship Lounge in DFW. It was a full bathroom with white tiles and fixtures. The shower itself featured a handheld unit (which could be mounted) and sliding glass doors. It was a little small, but the water pressure was fine. There was a separate closet for my clothes, but no one came to press them (I know, I know, IT IS hard to be me).
After a long shower washing off Easter Island, I headed back to the lounge and checked my e-mail again. My law school friend’s newborn son was still in intensive care and the mother wasn’t doing so well (again, in case you didn’t read my last report, both mother and baby are fine). As there was no food and the lounge was getting pretty crowded, I decided after an hour to check-out the Admiral’s Club, which was located next door and, like the Salon VIP, one level below the departure floor.
In my humble opinion, the SCL Admiral’s Club is one of the nicest in the system. It is big, well appointed (nice red and yellow striped chairs and couches) and was nearly empty. I guess it was early for AA’s flights to DFW and MIA, but I was only one of two people there. This might be the first time that this sentence has ever been uttered, but the food selection in the Admiral’s Club was far better than that in the Salon VIP (although compared to the Concorde Room at LHR and the DFW Flagship Lounge, this is not saying much) as they had a tray of meats, some breads and a cheese tray along with cookies. The only down side to this lounge was the lack of any computers. I stayed at the Admiral’s Club until it was time to head back upstairs for my flight.
American Airlines flight AA 7710; Operated by Lan Chile as flight LA 600 (SCL-LIM-LAX); Airbus A340-3000; First Class; Seat 1A
I was still a few minutes prior to boarding, so I watched the plane being serviced and the cabin crew board. A few minutes later, boarding began with one line for First and Business Class and another for Economy. Unlike my flight to Easter Island, they had the screeners at the gate and everyone was supposed to have their carry-on searched. Somehow, I managed to avoid this and was on my way down the ramps to the jetway.
We were held at the jetway for a few minutes and then we were allowed to board. I was probably the third on and was warmly greeted by the purser and escorted to the First Class cabin. As on the 767, there is one row for First Class, with the seats arranged in a 2-1-2 arrangement. These seats seem virtually identical to the AA First Class seats on the 767-300s and the Pacific Configured 777s, even down to the navy blue coloration. As I like these seats, this was not a problem for me. My seatmate soon joined me, an older American women who lives in Chile full time and was going to Arizona to visit the grandkids. Based upon what I saw of Chile, I wouldn’t mind living there either!
Once it became apparent that we were the only two passengers in First Class on the leg up to Lima, I moved over to the window seat on the right-hand side. I was offered anything I wanted as a preflight drink, but I just had a Diet Coke with lime as it was already past 9:00 PM. I was given an amenity kit and a menu and separate wine list, which was presented in a corkboard cover.
We pushed from the gate on time and had no wait to takeoff. Our flying time to Lima was a little over three hours and we basically flew strait north out of SCL. Despite the late departure time, this was a full dinner service. Here is the full menu transcript:
Santiago – Lima
DINNER
APPETIZER CART
*Enjoy our variety of appetizers together with you choice of Champagne or Vodka
CAVIAR SERVICE
Ossetra Malossol Caviar, from the Caspian Sea, served with toast, blinis and sour cream
HORS D’OUEVRES
Le Marquis, smoked salmon loin, served with a horseradish sauce and country bread croutons
“Aji de Gallina,” spicy chicken casserole
CHAMPAGNE AND VODKA
Champagne Tattinger, Comtes de Champagne
Vodka Absolut
A LA CARTE SERVICE*
*The service that allows you to eat what you want from the following selection
COLD DISHES
FRESH GARDEN SALAD
A variety of salad greens with tomatoes and asparagus, served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon
FROM THE SEA
Scallops sautéed in butter and herbs, served in their shell
VITELLO TONATTO
Slices of roasted beef topped with a tuna and caper sauce, accompanied by grilled eggplants
COMFORTING SOUP
SIMPLY DELICIOUS
Creamy corn soup garnished with herbed croutons
MAIN ENTREES
FILET OF BEEF WITH A MUSHROOM SAUCE
Grilled filet of beef served with a mushroom sauce, accompanied by spinach gnocchi and grilled asparagus
Our Master Sommelier suggests Quinta Generacion 1999, Vina Casa Silva
* You can replace the mushroom sauce by a meat sauce
GRILLED SALMON
Salmon filet accompanied by sautéed vegetables
Our Master Sommelier suggests Nativa Chardonnay 1999, Vina Carmen
* You can order an herbed butter for this option
LAMB CHOPS WITH A BOURGUIGNONNE SAUCE
Seared lamb chops with a parsley crust, served with a Bourguignonne sauce and accompanied with and goat cheese mashed potatoes
* Our Master Sommelier suggests Limited Edition II 1999, Vina Porta
SPINACH RAVIOLI
Ravioli filled with spinach, served with a walnut and arugula sauce
* Our Master Sommelier suggests Reserva 2000, Vina Cono Sur
FROM THE BAKERY
BREAD BASKET
Choose your own selection from our variety of warm breads and crackers
CHEESE AND FRUIT
THE CHEESES
A selection of cheese served with grapes or dried fruit, Pumpernickel bread and crackers
FRESH FRUIT
Assortment of fresh seasonal fruit
OUR DESSERT
CRÈME RENVERSEE AU SAUTERNES
‘Inverted’ caramelized baked custard with Sauternes wine, topped with caramel sauce, toasted almonds and baked apple chips
SOMETHING REFRESHING
Vanilla and cookies and cream ice cream served with chocolate sauce
COFFE AND TEA
Freshly brewed gourmet or instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea or herbal teas
OPEN BAR AND CHOCOLATES*
*Open throughout our flight
Lima – Los Angeles
SNACK
COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, JUICES
Let’s share a good cup of tea, coffee or decaf, warm chocolate and milk
Fresh fruit juices
OUR BREAD BASKET
Choose from our variety of warm breads and toast, served with butter and preserves
GOURMET SANDWICH SELECTION
Create your very own sandwich from the following ingredients
Breads
Croissant Roll – Ciabatta – Wholemeal
Delicious Fillings
Oregano Chicken Breast – Marinated Porkloin – Canadian Loin
Copa Ham – Emmental Cheese – Fresh Cheese
Fresh Vegetables
Lettuce Leaves – Tomatoes – Avocado
Dressings
Mayonnaise – Butter – Dijon Mustard
SWEET FLAVORS
APPLE TART
Apple tart served with vanilla ice cream and sweet milk sauce
BREAKFAST
TO START
JUICES AND FRUIT
Fresh orange juice and a selection of fresh seasonal fruit
Yogurt and Cereals
COFFEE AND TEA
Choose from our variety of coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea
WARM ENTREES
EGG DISH
Scrambled eggs served with grilled tomato and sautéed potatoes
SWEET CHOICE
Orange pudding served with caramel sauce and nuts
BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Warm ham and cheese sandwich served on a croissant roll
FROM THE BAKERY
BREAD BASKET
Choose your own selection from our variety of warm breads and toast served with butter and preserves
WINE LIST
CHAMPAGNE
Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 1995
Taittinger
Reims, France
RED WINES
Don Maximiano 1998
Vina Errazuriz – Valle de Aconcagua
Limited Edition II 1999
Vina Porta – Valle de Aconcagua
Quinta Generacion 1999
Vina Cases Silva – Valle de Colchagua
Reserva de Familia Carmenere 1999
Vina de Martino – Valle del Maipo
Merlot Reserva 2000
Vina Cono Sur – Valle de Rapel
WHITE WINES
Nativa Chardonnay 1999
Vina Carmen – Valle del Maipo
Legedo de Armida Sauvingnon Blanc 2001
Vina Santa Ines – Valle del Maipo
Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Vina Anakena – Valle de Rapel
My first reaction on reading the menu was something along the lines of “WOW!” I wasn’t going to go hungry on this flight. Dinner orders were taken soon after reaching cruising altitude. I opted to have the scallops and the spinach ravioli as I wanted a lighter option (I hate being full on a plane). I also abandoned my no alcohol policy and had some of the Tattinger champagne. I am far, far from an expert, but this was quite a nice choice.
The meal service started with the Appetizer Cart, which was the traditional low silver trolley. Service was done by the purser, who was an older gentlemen (I would guess around 60). I opted to have a plate of all three starters. All three were excellent and went well with the champagne. I got two good scoops of the caviar, which was served with all the traditional accompaniments. The salmon was sliced rather thick, which I liked. The spicy chicken casserole was more like a creamed chicken inside a crispy pastry shell. I would have had seconds, but they brought my cold plate out before I could ask. The scallops were good, but a little fishy for my tastes (we get better ones near our beach house in Rhode Island). This was served with a small breadbasket, which was left on my tray and had a variety of rolls, sliced bread and bread sticks. The other women had the salad, which was served in a big bowl. I wanted to try the soup, but I really didn’t want to “pig out” too much! The ravioli was surprisingly good, but I gather that Chile has a large Italian population, so I should not have been too surprised. The portion was a little small, but I was already getting full.
While eating I continued my habit of listening to Didio and Tracy Chapman on the on-demand audio system. There is nothing like listening to socially conscious female folk music while eating caviar and drinking champagne. I’m sure Tracy would not have been amused!
I opted for the cheese plate, which was pretty standard (so standard I don’t remember the cheeses). The featured dessert seemed too fancy for my taste, so I stuck with the boring but nonetheless good ice cream. While the purser was truly disappointed that my dessert tastes were not that exotic, I was happy.
The flight continued on schedule and soon we were landing in Lima. This was only a short stop, but we could have gotten off the plane if we took our bags with us. I opted to stay on board and was made to remove my bag from the overhead bin for some kind of a security check. For some reason, a mechanic came on board and replaced the curtains between First Class and Business Class. They seemed to work fine before, but I appreciated the effort!
Two additional First Class passengers boarded in Lima, a older American couple. They sat in the two right hand seats, so, in the name of spreading-out, I moved to the single seat in the center. This seat was nice as it had a large storage locker in the left armrest (there was no center overhead bin as in common on the A340).
By the time we took off, I was rapidly becoming exhausted. The flight to LAX was scheduled to take just over six and a half-hours. Our route took us over coastal Peru, Equador off the Pacific coast of Central America, over western Mexico and into California.
While I had initially planned on trying the snack, I was just too tired. I was offered a duvet, which I put on the seat as it was a bit warm in the cabin. With the duvet and the noise reducing headphones, I was out cold in no time. When I awoke, it was starting to get light and it was just about time for breakfast.
I choose to have the eggs and was served initially served a fruit plate and piece of a sweet-tasting bread that I couldn’t identify, but which was nevertheless quite good. The egg portion was small, and I do not think the eggs were made fresh to order. Nevertheless, it was good. As with dinner, they provided a small basket with warm breads and toast. The purser insisted that I also try the ham and cheese sandwich, so being the diplomatic person that I am, I agreed. It was quite good as well. We still had about an hour to go after breakfast, which I spent playing more video games.
We soon began descending and I was tempted to move back to my window seat, but I decided to not be annoying and just to stay in the center seat. We landed on one of the southerly runways in the direction of the Pacific Ocean. We had a long taxi to get to our gate, which was on the right side of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (facing the terminal from the street). We were the first aircraft of the morning to arrive at 6:45 AM. Unfortunately, immigration and customs did not open until 7:00 AM, so we were made to wait on the plane for the final fifteen minutes. When the time came to disembark, I got a very sincere goodbye from the purser. Because we used the L2 door and there were three rows of Business Class between First Class and this door, it was impossible for the crew to let us off first. Nevertheless, I was through immigration and customs within ten minutes. As there was no arrivals lounge, I took a right upon leaving the terminal and walked the hundred or so feet to the AA terminal.
March 19, 2002
The Wait at LAX
The early morning rush was in full effect at AA’s LAX terminal. Lan Chile was unable to print a boarding pass for my ORD flight, so I had to get one at LAX. The First Class line was fairly long, but it only took ten minutes to get to the front. I was booked on the 11:45 AM departure to ORD and asked to get on an earlier flight. I wanted to be on the 9:45 AM departure as this is operated by a 767, but it was full in First Class. I was able to get a seat on the 11:00 AM departure, which is a 737-800.
Since I had the bag with the wine bottles, my 22-inch roll-on and my school bag with me and I wanted to take a shower in the Admiral’s Club, I just put the wine in the 22-inch roll-on and took-out my jacket. This was, security was a non-issue and I avoided having to check anything.
The “commoners” security line stretched all the way down the stairs and they were being led over to the checkpoint in small groups. Fortunately First Class and elites were able to bypass this and I was through in a matter of minutes. Upon reaching the Admiral’s Club I put my name on the shower list and inquired about getting on the 9:45 AM departure, but again I was out of luck.
Compared to the SCL Admiral’s Club, the LAX club was horrible. It was crowded, had nothing to eat but a few miniature muffins and, worst of all had only one shower. Users of the shower were limited to 15 minutes, which I thought (and still do think) is ridiculous. When I got my turn, I went as fast as I could, but it still took me 30 minutes. After a while, I got an angry knock on the door from the attendant. Get real lady I’m not Superman! If you are going to offer an amenity, you had better make sure there is enough of it to be practical. The thought that AA can have only one fricking shower at one of the busiest international airports in the country is absurd. I hope the new Admiral’s Club will rectify this situation.
After my illicit shower, I had a few hours to kill. They had a few computers, but they were being used the whole time I was there. I just made myself content to read and wait for 10:30 AM to roll around so I could board.
American Airlines flight AA 1576 (LAX – ORD); Boeing 737-800; First Class; Seat 1A
I was among the first to board and settled into 1A. This was my first 737-800 and I was impressed with the seat comfort. There was no pre-flight drink service, as it appeared we were catered quite late. I would not get pre-flight drinks on any of my subsequent AA domestic segments!
We departed on time and took-off facing the Pacific. We were treated to some nice views as the plane made several sweeping left-hand turns to get us on course to ORD.
Meal service began with the customary mixed nuts. However, I witnessed one of the grossest things ever. I caught the purser eating the nuts out of one of the ramekins while she was preparing the drinks! I doubt that’s in the AA manual. Anyway, I got a ramekin far away from where the FA was double dipping and enjoyed it with a Diet Coke with lime. Lunch was the standard AA domestic First Class meal with a Caesar salad, a package of croutons, warm rolls and a choice of a steak tenderloin sandwich, Tuscan vegetable soup and a salmon salad. I opted for the steak sandwich, which was not a good choice as it was dry, overcooked and came with almost no sauce. The ice cream sundae was, however, excellent.
I spent the rest of the flight finishing One Day in September and getting mentally prepared for my final seven weeks of law school.
We landed early, but, of course, had to wait about 15 minutes for our gate to open-up. When it did, I was first off the plane and headed off to United to catch my Dornier Do-328 flight to South Bend.
The Wait at ORD
Not much to report here. I walked to the F concourse in Terminal 2 where United Express departs from and then returned to the G concourse Admiral’s Club. This is one of the best consequences of United moving United Express to Terminal 2 as it makes walking back to the Admiral’s Club feasible. I really like the G concourse club, although it would be nice if they had some computer terminals. I helped myself to some cheese cubes and had an Amstel Light while I waited.
United Airlines flight UA 5756 (Operated by Air Wisconsin) (ORD – SBN); Dornier Do-328; Economy Class, Seat 10A
Nothing much to say about this flight. We left on time and had only a 20-minute flight over the Lake into South Bend. We landed from the west, so I didn’t get to see the Golden Dome pass underneath as we made our final approach.
Final Thoughts on Lan Chile First Class
This really is a top quality product in the air. My only complaint is that they should have a more substantial divider between the seats. When you and your seatmate are reclined, it is just too personal for my taste. If I couldn’t have moved to the center seat, the lady next to me would have to sleep next to some guy she never met before. I would be uncomfortable with that.
(Next: SBN-ORD-SEA-ORD-SBN over Easter weekend)
Although I was a little pissed at not being able to go immediately to the Salon VIP, I blamed myself for not getting a boarding pass in Easter Island for this flight. In any event, I had close to five hours before my next flight left, so I wasn’t pressed for time. As such, after clearing immigration and customs, I hopped an elevator to get back to the departure floor and the Lan Chile First and Business Class check-in area.
While there was no wait to check-in, I once again had to pay an additional tax. Forget a statue, I want a city named after me for all my contributions to the Chilean government’s coffers.
Since Lan Chile has so few First Class seats on its flights, it can be very difficult to obtain one either as an award or out of “A” class inventory for the purposes of a Oneworld Explorer. As such, I considered myself lucky to get a seat on the flight through the AA codeshare. Once again, I give enormous credit to the AA Around the World Desk, they really are all-stars.
Anyway, after getting through security I headed to the Salon VIP and a much-needed shower. As expected, Paulina, who you may recall is my friend’s wife who works for Lan Chile, left my wine bottles behind the reception counter She even added a bottle from her and Mario’s personal collection). You don’t get this kind of service everyday.
There are around 4 to 5 showers in the Salon VIP, which are located across from the reception desk. I was immediately shown to one and provided with two large towels and a nice collection of toiletries. The shower room was nice and easily rivaled BA’s Molton Brown Spa in LHR Terminal 4 and the AA Flagship Lounge in DFW. It was a full bathroom with white tiles and fixtures. The shower itself featured a handheld unit (which could be mounted) and sliding glass doors. It was a little small, but the water pressure was fine. There was a separate closet for my clothes, but no one came to press them (I know, I know, IT IS hard to be me).
After a long shower washing off Easter Island, I headed back to the lounge and checked my e-mail again. My law school friend’s newborn son was still in intensive care and the mother wasn’t doing so well (again, in case you didn’t read my last report, both mother and baby are fine). As there was no food and the lounge was getting pretty crowded, I decided after an hour to check-out the Admiral’s Club, which was located next door and, like the Salon VIP, one level below the departure floor.
In my humble opinion, the SCL Admiral’s Club is one of the nicest in the system. It is big, well appointed (nice red and yellow striped chairs and couches) and was nearly empty. I guess it was early for AA’s flights to DFW and MIA, but I was only one of two people there. This might be the first time that this sentence has ever been uttered, but the food selection in the Admiral’s Club was far better than that in the Salon VIP (although compared to the Concorde Room at LHR and the DFW Flagship Lounge, this is not saying much) as they had a tray of meats, some breads and a cheese tray along with cookies. The only down side to this lounge was the lack of any computers. I stayed at the Admiral’s Club until it was time to head back upstairs for my flight.
American Airlines flight AA 7710; Operated by Lan Chile as flight LA 600 (SCL-LIM-LAX); Airbus A340-3000; First Class; Seat 1A
I was still a few minutes prior to boarding, so I watched the plane being serviced and the cabin crew board. A few minutes later, boarding began with one line for First and Business Class and another for Economy. Unlike my flight to Easter Island, they had the screeners at the gate and everyone was supposed to have their carry-on searched. Somehow, I managed to avoid this and was on my way down the ramps to the jetway.
We were held at the jetway for a few minutes and then we were allowed to board. I was probably the third on and was warmly greeted by the purser and escorted to the First Class cabin. As on the 767, there is one row for First Class, with the seats arranged in a 2-1-2 arrangement. These seats seem virtually identical to the AA First Class seats on the 767-300s and the Pacific Configured 777s, even down to the navy blue coloration. As I like these seats, this was not a problem for me. My seatmate soon joined me, an older American women who lives in Chile full time and was going to Arizona to visit the grandkids. Based upon what I saw of Chile, I wouldn’t mind living there either!
Once it became apparent that we were the only two passengers in First Class on the leg up to Lima, I moved over to the window seat on the right-hand side. I was offered anything I wanted as a preflight drink, but I just had a Diet Coke with lime as it was already past 9:00 PM. I was given an amenity kit and a menu and separate wine list, which was presented in a corkboard cover.
We pushed from the gate on time and had no wait to takeoff. Our flying time to Lima was a little over three hours and we basically flew strait north out of SCL. Despite the late departure time, this was a full dinner service. Here is the full menu transcript:
Santiago – Lima
DINNER
APPETIZER CART
*Enjoy our variety of appetizers together with you choice of Champagne or Vodka
CAVIAR SERVICE
Ossetra Malossol Caviar, from the Caspian Sea, served with toast, blinis and sour cream
HORS D’OUEVRES
Le Marquis, smoked salmon loin, served with a horseradish sauce and country bread croutons
“Aji de Gallina,” spicy chicken casserole
CHAMPAGNE AND VODKA
Champagne Tattinger, Comtes de Champagne
Vodka Absolut
A LA CARTE SERVICE*
*The service that allows you to eat what you want from the following selection
COLD DISHES
FRESH GARDEN SALAD
A variety of salad greens with tomatoes and asparagus, served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon
FROM THE SEA
Scallops sautéed in butter and herbs, served in their shell
VITELLO TONATTO
Slices of roasted beef topped with a tuna and caper sauce, accompanied by grilled eggplants
COMFORTING SOUP
SIMPLY DELICIOUS
Creamy corn soup garnished with herbed croutons
MAIN ENTREES
FILET OF BEEF WITH A MUSHROOM SAUCE
Grilled filet of beef served with a mushroom sauce, accompanied by spinach gnocchi and grilled asparagus
Our Master Sommelier suggests Quinta Generacion 1999, Vina Casa Silva
* You can replace the mushroom sauce by a meat sauce
GRILLED SALMON
Salmon filet accompanied by sautéed vegetables
Our Master Sommelier suggests Nativa Chardonnay 1999, Vina Carmen
* You can order an herbed butter for this option
LAMB CHOPS WITH A BOURGUIGNONNE SAUCE
Seared lamb chops with a parsley crust, served with a Bourguignonne sauce and accompanied with and goat cheese mashed potatoes
* Our Master Sommelier suggests Limited Edition II 1999, Vina Porta
SPINACH RAVIOLI
Ravioli filled with spinach, served with a walnut and arugula sauce
* Our Master Sommelier suggests Reserva 2000, Vina Cono Sur
FROM THE BAKERY
BREAD BASKET
Choose your own selection from our variety of warm breads and crackers
CHEESE AND FRUIT
THE CHEESES
A selection of cheese served with grapes or dried fruit, Pumpernickel bread and crackers
FRESH FRUIT
Assortment of fresh seasonal fruit
OUR DESSERT
CRÈME RENVERSEE AU SAUTERNES
‘Inverted’ caramelized baked custard with Sauternes wine, topped with caramel sauce, toasted almonds and baked apple chips
SOMETHING REFRESHING
Vanilla and cookies and cream ice cream served with chocolate sauce
COFFE AND TEA
Freshly brewed gourmet or instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea or herbal teas
OPEN BAR AND CHOCOLATES*
*Open throughout our flight
Lima – Los Angeles
SNACK
COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, JUICES
Let’s share a good cup of tea, coffee or decaf, warm chocolate and milk
Fresh fruit juices
OUR BREAD BASKET
Choose from our variety of warm breads and toast, served with butter and preserves
GOURMET SANDWICH SELECTION
Create your very own sandwich from the following ingredients
Breads
Croissant Roll – Ciabatta – Wholemeal
Delicious Fillings
Oregano Chicken Breast – Marinated Porkloin – Canadian Loin
Copa Ham – Emmental Cheese – Fresh Cheese
Fresh Vegetables
Lettuce Leaves – Tomatoes – Avocado
Dressings
Mayonnaise – Butter – Dijon Mustard
SWEET FLAVORS
APPLE TART
Apple tart served with vanilla ice cream and sweet milk sauce
BREAKFAST
TO START
JUICES AND FRUIT
Fresh orange juice and a selection of fresh seasonal fruit
Yogurt and Cereals
COFFEE AND TEA
Choose from our variety of coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea
WARM ENTREES
EGG DISH
Scrambled eggs served with grilled tomato and sautéed potatoes
SWEET CHOICE
Orange pudding served with caramel sauce and nuts
BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Warm ham and cheese sandwich served on a croissant roll
FROM THE BAKERY
BREAD BASKET
Choose your own selection from our variety of warm breads and toast served with butter and preserves
WINE LIST
CHAMPAGNE
Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 1995
Taittinger
Reims, France
RED WINES
Don Maximiano 1998
Vina Errazuriz – Valle de Aconcagua
Limited Edition II 1999
Vina Porta – Valle de Aconcagua
Quinta Generacion 1999
Vina Cases Silva – Valle de Colchagua
Reserva de Familia Carmenere 1999
Vina de Martino – Valle del Maipo
Merlot Reserva 2000
Vina Cono Sur – Valle de Rapel
WHITE WINES
Nativa Chardonnay 1999
Vina Carmen – Valle del Maipo
Legedo de Armida Sauvingnon Blanc 2001
Vina Santa Ines – Valle del Maipo
Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Vina Anakena – Valle de Rapel
My first reaction on reading the menu was something along the lines of “WOW!” I wasn’t going to go hungry on this flight. Dinner orders were taken soon after reaching cruising altitude. I opted to have the scallops and the spinach ravioli as I wanted a lighter option (I hate being full on a plane). I also abandoned my no alcohol policy and had some of the Tattinger champagne. I am far, far from an expert, but this was quite a nice choice.
The meal service started with the Appetizer Cart, which was the traditional low silver trolley. Service was done by the purser, who was an older gentlemen (I would guess around 60). I opted to have a plate of all three starters. All three were excellent and went well with the champagne. I got two good scoops of the caviar, which was served with all the traditional accompaniments. The salmon was sliced rather thick, which I liked. The spicy chicken casserole was more like a creamed chicken inside a crispy pastry shell. I would have had seconds, but they brought my cold plate out before I could ask. The scallops were good, but a little fishy for my tastes (we get better ones near our beach house in Rhode Island). This was served with a small breadbasket, which was left on my tray and had a variety of rolls, sliced bread and bread sticks. The other women had the salad, which was served in a big bowl. I wanted to try the soup, but I really didn’t want to “pig out” too much! The ravioli was surprisingly good, but I gather that Chile has a large Italian population, so I should not have been too surprised. The portion was a little small, but I was already getting full.
While eating I continued my habit of listening to Didio and Tracy Chapman on the on-demand audio system. There is nothing like listening to socially conscious female folk music while eating caviar and drinking champagne. I’m sure Tracy would not have been amused!
I opted for the cheese plate, which was pretty standard (so standard I don’t remember the cheeses). The featured dessert seemed too fancy for my taste, so I stuck with the boring but nonetheless good ice cream. While the purser was truly disappointed that my dessert tastes were not that exotic, I was happy.
The flight continued on schedule and soon we were landing in Lima. This was only a short stop, but we could have gotten off the plane if we took our bags with us. I opted to stay on board and was made to remove my bag from the overhead bin for some kind of a security check. For some reason, a mechanic came on board and replaced the curtains between First Class and Business Class. They seemed to work fine before, but I appreciated the effort!
Two additional First Class passengers boarded in Lima, a older American couple. They sat in the two right hand seats, so, in the name of spreading-out, I moved to the single seat in the center. This seat was nice as it had a large storage locker in the left armrest (there was no center overhead bin as in common on the A340).
By the time we took off, I was rapidly becoming exhausted. The flight to LAX was scheduled to take just over six and a half-hours. Our route took us over coastal Peru, Equador off the Pacific coast of Central America, over western Mexico and into California.
While I had initially planned on trying the snack, I was just too tired. I was offered a duvet, which I put on the seat as it was a bit warm in the cabin. With the duvet and the noise reducing headphones, I was out cold in no time. When I awoke, it was starting to get light and it was just about time for breakfast.
I choose to have the eggs and was served initially served a fruit plate and piece of a sweet-tasting bread that I couldn’t identify, but which was nevertheless quite good. The egg portion was small, and I do not think the eggs were made fresh to order. Nevertheless, it was good. As with dinner, they provided a small basket with warm breads and toast. The purser insisted that I also try the ham and cheese sandwich, so being the diplomatic person that I am, I agreed. It was quite good as well. We still had about an hour to go after breakfast, which I spent playing more video games.
We soon began descending and I was tempted to move back to my window seat, but I decided to not be annoying and just to stay in the center seat. We landed on one of the southerly runways in the direction of the Pacific Ocean. We had a long taxi to get to our gate, which was on the right side of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (facing the terminal from the street). We were the first aircraft of the morning to arrive at 6:45 AM. Unfortunately, immigration and customs did not open until 7:00 AM, so we were made to wait on the plane for the final fifteen minutes. When the time came to disembark, I got a very sincere goodbye from the purser. Because we used the L2 door and there were three rows of Business Class between First Class and this door, it was impossible for the crew to let us off first. Nevertheless, I was through immigration and customs within ten minutes. As there was no arrivals lounge, I took a right upon leaving the terminal and walked the hundred or so feet to the AA terminal.
March 19, 2002
The Wait at LAX
The early morning rush was in full effect at AA’s LAX terminal. Lan Chile was unable to print a boarding pass for my ORD flight, so I had to get one at LAX. The First Class line was fairly long, but it only took ten minutes to get to the front. I was booked on the 11:45 AM departure to ORD and asked to get on an earlier flight. I wanted to be on the 9:45 AM departure as this is operated by a 767, but it was full in First Class. I was able to get a seat on the 11:00 AM departure, which is a 737-800.
Since I had the bag with the wine bottles, my 22-inch roll-on and my school bag with me and I wanted to take a shower in the Admiral’s Club, I just put the wine in the 22-inch roll-on and took-out my jacket. This was, security was a non-issue and I avoided having to check anything.
The “commoners” security line stretched all the way down the stairs and they were being led over to the checkpoint in small groups. Fortunately First Class and elites were able to bypass this and I was through in a matter of minutes. Upon reaching the Admiral’s Club I put my name on the shower list and inquired about getting on the 9:45 AM departure, but again I was out of luck.
Compared to the SCL Admiral’s Club, the LAX club was horrible. It was crowded, had nothing to eat but a few miniature muffins and, worst of all had only one shower. Users of the shower were limited to 15 minutes, which I thought (and still do think) is ridiculous. When I got my turn, I went as fast as I could, but it still took me 30 minutes. After a while, I got an angry knock on the door from the attendant. Get real lady I’m not Superman! If you are going to offer an amenity, you had better make sure there is enough of it to be practical. The thought that AA can have only one fricking shower at one of the busiest international airports in the country is absurd. I hope the new Admiral’s Club will rectify this situation.
After my illicit shower, I had a few hours to kill. They had a few computers, but they were being used the whole time I was there. I just made myself content to read and wait for 10:30 AM to roll around so I could board.
American Airlines flight AA 1576 (LAX – ORD); Boeing 737-800; First Class; Seat 1A
I was among the first to board and settled into 1A. This was my first 737-800 and I was impressed with the seat comfort. There was no pre-flight drink service, as it appeared we were catered quite late. I would not get pre-flight drinks on any of my subsequent AA domestic segments!
We departed on time and took-off facing the Pacific. We were treated to some nice views as the plane made several sweeping left-hand turns to get us on course to ORD.
Meal service began with the customary mixed nuts. However, I witnessed one of the grossest things ever. I caught the purser eating the nuts out of one of the ramekins while she was preparing the drinks! I doubt that’s in the AA manual. Anyway, I got a ramekin far away from where the FA was double dipping and enjoyed it with a Diet Coke with lime. Lunch was the standard AA domestic First Class meal with a Caesar salad, a package of croutons, warm rolls and a choice of a steak tenderloin sandwich, Tuscan vegetable soup and a salmon salad. I opted for the steak sandwich, which was not a good choice as it was dry, overcooked and came with almost no sauce. The ice cream sundae was, however, excellent.
I spent the rest of the flight finishing One Day in September and getting mentally prepared for my final seven weeks of law school.
We landed early, but, of course, had to wait about 15 minutes for our gate to open-up. When it did, I was first off the plane and headed off to United to catch my Dornier Do-328 flight to South Bend.
The Wait at ORD
Not much to report here. I walked to the F concourse in Terminal 2 where United Express departs from and then returned to the G concourse Admiral’s Club. This is one of the best consequences of United moving United Express to Terminal 2 as it makes walking back to the Admiral’s Club feasible. I really like the G concourse club, although it would be nice if they had some computer terminals. I helped myself to some cheese cubes and had an Amstel Light while I waited.
United Airlines flight UA 5756 (Operated by Air Wisconsin) (ORD – SBN); Dornier Do-328; Economy Class, Seat 10A
Nothing much to say about this flight. We left on time and had only a 20-minute flight over the Lake into South Bend. We landed from the west, so I didn’t get to see the Golden Dome pass underneath as we made our final approach.
Final Thoughts on Lan Chile First Class
This really is a top quality product in the air. My only complaint is that they should have a more substantial divider between the seats. When you and your seatmate are reclined, it is just too personal for my taste. If I couldn’t have moved to the center seat, the lady next to me would have to sleep next to some guy she never met before. I would be uncomfortable with that.
(Next: SBN-ORD-SEA-ORD-SBN over Easter weekend)