IndyDavid
Oct 8, 02, 9:21 am
Monday 7 October 2002
AA 479, DCA-DFW, domestic F class, 11:30a-1:35p (3h5m)
McDonnell-Douglas MD80
Door closed at 11:33a, wheels up at 11:43a, runway 1
Touchdown at 1:33p, runway 31R, door open at 1:45p
I rarely fly American, but was headed to a conference sponsored by my employer and opted for the discounted nonstop flight several of my colleagues were taking. When I made my reservation, the flight was already oversold, and instead of reserving one of 2 remaining middle seats, I opted to wait for a seat assignment at the airport.
When I checked in at the ticket counter, there were still no seats available. (And I was not asked the "Have your bags been with you at all times?" questions.) As I arrived at the gate, the agents were announcing that the flight was oversold and offering a $200 travel voucher and a confirmed seat on the next American flight to volunteers. As people volunteered, several other passengers with no seat assignment were called to the podium and handed boarding passes, but I was not.
Boarding began at 10:55 with Groups 1 and 2. (American prints a "group" number on each boarding pass, which allows for easier announcements -- Group 1 includes first class and elite flyers, Group 2 the last rows of the airplane, etc. There were five groups total.) As the last group was called and the boarding lounge was clearing out, I was standing beside the podium, away from the agents. One looked up at me, asked my last name, and handed me a boarding pass for seat 5F, an operational upgrade to a window seat in First Class. Sometimes, not having a seat assignment works out OK.
On-board, the flight attendants announced a "weight and balance problem" and asked for 2 more volunteers to take the next flight, this time offering a $300 voucher. But shortly thereafter, the captain resolved the weight & balance issue, the volunteers returned to their seats, the door was closed, and we pushed back 3 minutes late.
Once airborne, the flight attendant started at the rear of the first class cabin and addressed each passenger by name, introduced herself, and offered us a beverage and a choice of cold salads: salmon or mediterranean pasta chicken. The curtain between coach and first was never closed.
After she brought our drinks, in real glassware devoid of any AA logos, the flight attendant returned with a snack basket containing almonds and pretzels. Hot towels were then distributed. As each row got its meal, served on a tray with linens, an empty wine glass, and clear plastic flatware, a basket of soft, warmed-through rolls was passed. (The choices were white, wheat, and sourdough.) The flight attendant then carried both the red and white wine bottles through the cabin, filling the wine glasses on the lunch trays and refilling the glasses of people already drinking wine. She then passed through again with a large bottle of water and several empty glasses, offering water to everyone. In all, she passed through the cabin many times, offering more rolls, more wine, and more water. As each tray was cleared, coffee was served in large gray plastic American Airlines mugs. One of the coach flight attendants helped clear trays and serve coffee.
The complete chicken meal was:
-- Grilled breast of chicken over broken lasagne noodles with capers and a light creamy dressing, served cold
-- Caesar salad
-- Canteloupe
-- Crackers and two kinds of cheese
-- Warm rolls with butter
-- 1 plump strawberry
-- 2 Milano cookies
All told, the American Airlines' flight attendants' service was superb.
-30-
AA 479, DCA-DFW, domestic F class, 11:30a-1:35p (3h5m)
McDonnell-Douglas MD80
Door closed at 11:33a, wheels up at 11:43a, runway 1
Touchdown at 1:33p, runway 31R, door open at 1:45p
I rarely fly American, but was headed to a conference sponsored by my employer and opted for the discounted nonstop flight several of my colleagues were taking. When I made my reservation, the flight was already oversold, and instead of reserving one of 2 remaining middle seats, I opted to wait for a seat assignment at the airport.
When I checked in at the ticket counter, there were still no seats available. (And I was not asked the "Have your bags been with you at all times?" questions.) As I arrived at the gate, the agents were announcing that the flight was oversold and offering a $200 travel voucher and a confirmed seat on the next American flight to volunteers. As people volunteered, several other passengers with no seat assignment were called to the podium and handed boarding passes, but I was not.
Boarding began at 10:55 with Groups 1 and 2. (American prints a "group" number on each boarding pass, which allows for easier announcements -- Group 1 includes first class and elite flyers, Group 2 the last rows of the airplane, etc. There were five groups total.) As the last group was called and the boarding lounge was clearing out, I was standing beside the podium, away from the agents. One looked up at me, asked my last name, and handed me a boarding pass for seat 5F, an operational upgrade to a window seat in First Class. Sometimes, not having a seat assignment works out OK.
On-board, the flight attendants announced a "weight and balance problem" and asked for 2 more volunteers to take the next flight, this time offering a $300 voucher. But shortly thereafter, the captain resolved the weight & balance issue, the volunteers returned to their seats, the door was closed, and we pushed back 3 minutes late.
Once airborne, the flight attendant started at the rear of the first class cabin and addressed each passenger by name, introduced herself, and offered us a beverage and a choice of cold salads: salmon or mediterranean pasta chicken. The curtain between coach and first was never closed.
After she brought our drinks, in real glassware devoid of any AA logos, the flight attendant returned with a snack basket containing almonds and pretzels. Hot towels were then distributed. As each row got its meal, served on a tray with linens, an empty wine glass, and clear plastic flatware, a basket of soft, warmed-through rolls was passed. (The choices were white, wheat, and sourdough.) The flight attendant then carried both the red and white wine bottles through the cabin, filling the wine glasses on the lunch trays and refilling the glasses of people already drinking wine. She then passed through again with a large bottle of water and several empty glasses, offering water to everyone. In all, she passed through the cabin many times, offering more rolls, more wine, and more water. As each tray was cleared, coffee was served in large gray plastic American Airlines mugs. One of the coach flight attendants helped clear trays and serve coffee.
The complete chicken meal was:
-- Grilled breast of chicken over broken lasagne noodles with capers and a light creamy dressing, served cold
-- Caesar salad
-- Canteloupe
-- Crackers and two kinds of cheese
-- Warm rolls with butter
-- 1 plump strawberry
-- 2 Milano cookies
All told, the American Airlines' flight attendants' service was superb.
-30-