RTW4
Oct 5, 02, 4:31 pm
I want to thank all of my friends on the FT board for suggesting that I try LA instead of AA to get to Buenos Aires. I had a part of my RTW OWE to do this trip. I had a choice of taking a 777 from LAX-MIA and then to EZE or take LA 767-300 from LAX-EZE . I made a GREAT choice by taking LAN CHILE.
Arrival at LAX
I took a cab to LAX to make the 1:55PM departure from the Tom Braddley terminal. It was not crowded at all. I went to the Lan Chile counter where there was one person in line at the first class counter. I was able to be checked in all the way to EZE. This flight was a LAX-SCL flight with a two hour layover in SCL before the flight to EZE. I was told that I was the ONLY person in first class today on thhe 767-300. Although I had originally wanted the middle seat of 1D, I opted for 1J with an empty seat next to me. I was given a pass to the LA first class lounge which was the Cathay Pacific lounge that LA rents in LAX.
THE LOUNGE
A very small lounge with the usual choice of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks but also with croissants filled with chicken salad, and open sandwiches of tuna, turkey salad, and marinated peppers. No internet access, but extremely polite staff. I was impressed at the amount of attention that was paid to the first and business class passengers in this lounge. Nice beginning to a very nice trip.
THE PLANE
We were escorted to gate 110 which required a bus to get us to the plane which was parked a bit away from the main terminal. Myself and the business class passengers were escorted to a PRIVATE VAN, and did not have to take the bus that was to take the main cabin to the plane. The VAN was extraordinarily comfortable. I was personally escorted to my seat which was the window seat . There was only one row of first class on this plane and I had the entire row by myself. It was a luxury I cannot even describe. Immediately, not one but two FA greeted me with a drink of my choice and some warm nuts. This plane was NOT the newer Airbus 340 that is used on this route but is extremely comfortable none the less. Business class was four or five rows of two by two by two seating. It looked quite comfortable.
THE FLIGHT
The flight from LAX-LIMA was 8 hours and the flight from LIM-SCl was 3 hours long. No longer than 10 minutes after I sat down that the menu was handed out. I will detail it here:
APPETIZER CART
Caviar Service
Ossetra Malossol Caviar, from the caspian sea, served with toast points, blinis, and sour cream
Hors D'Oeuvres
Assorted Sushi Tray
Serrano ham rolls with Mozzareall cheese
Slices of duck breast in plum sauce
Champagne Tattinger or Absolut Vodka
COLD DISHES
fresh Garden salad
A variety of salad greens, palm hearts and tomatoes, with slices of Parmesan cheese, served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
Salmon timbale
Tartare smoked salmon tmbale served with creme fraiche and herbs
Cold cuts
Slices of marinated chicken breast served with a coulis of yellow pepper and black lentil salad
COMFORTING SOUP
Mushroom cream with chopped parsley
MAIN ENTREES
Maitre D'Hotel Filet
Beef filet served with a Maitre d'Hotel butter, garnished with baked potatoes in paprika and julienned peppers
Veal Medallions
veal medallions served with a mushroom ragout, garnished with mashed yam potatoes and baked vegetables
Red Snapper
red snapper served with a fresh tomato sauce garnished with saffron risoto
Spinach ravioli
ravioli filled with spinach served with mushrooms in thyme
CHEESE AND FRUIT
The Cheeses
A selection of cheese served with grapes or dried fruit
Fresh fruit
OUR DESSERT
Mocha Pudding
Lemon Sorbet
HOT SNACK before landing in LIMA
TO BEGIN OUR SNACK
Foie Gras
truffled Foie Gras from Perigord, with Melba Toast
AS THE MAIN ENTREE WE OFFER
Fresh Garden Salad
A variety of green leaves, tomato and endives served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
From the sea
Tuna fishh filet served with a ginger and grapes sauce garnished with steamed potatoes
Orinetal Style chicken
Marinated chicken in pepper sauce garnished with penne pasta al pesto and julienned tomatoes.
CHEESE AND FRUIT
OUR DESSERT
Cheese cake
White chocolate and raspberry cheesecake served with a berry sauce
BREAKFAST from LIM-SCL
TO START
Juices and Fruit
Fresh orange juice and a selection fo gresh seasnoal fruit, yoghurt and cereals
WARM ENTREES
EGG DISH
Scrambled eggs served with grilled tomato and sauteed potatoes
SWEET DISH
Orange pudding served with caramel sauce and nuts
BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Warm ham and sheese sandwich served on a croissant roll
As you can see this was IMHO an incredible menu. The food was fantastic. I had the caviar, sushi, salmon timbale, red snapper, all THREE desserts, the foie gras, the tuna fillet and the fresh fruit. I was so full that I only had the yogurt for breakfast. I agree with Darren who previously stated that LA is second only to CX with regards to the quality of its first class service.
Besides the great food the video options were excellent. There was no video on demand on this plane beacues it was an older 767-300, but the clarity of the screens was terrific. Movies included Ya Ya Sisterhood, Showtime, Spider Man, Anita Takes Chance, and Changing Lanes. The FA could not be kinder, and the treatment was royal. I felt as if I were in a private jet.
AMENITY KITS
The amenity kit was filled with the usual ..but the interesting thing was that the kit came in a canvas/leather bagg with the LAN logo.
The seats were the flat bed type and were very comfortable. Sleeping in the seats was great. the only problem is that we landed in LIMA after 12 midnight. The plane stopped in LIM for 50 minutes after which the entire first class section was filled. All of us slept all the way to SCL as it was 1:30AM when the plane took off. but I did wake for a light breakfast as I told you above.
Landing in SCL was a pleasure. What a great modern airport. The LAN CHILE lounge was fabulous. After freshening up with a shower, I had to sample the breakfast foods on the bar. There was strawberry juice, kiwi juice, muffins, as well as mini ham and cheese sandwiches, with a variety of teas and coffees. Internet access was not available however.
After the two hour layover, we were summoned to gate A 19 where the 767-300 was replaced with a airbus 320. I was given the seat 4L. The configuration of this airbus business class was two by two in four rows. The total travel time to EZE was 90 minutes. During that time a brunch of fresh fruit, ham and cheese sandwich and coffee was served. Although the seats were not nearly as comfortable as the 767-300 seats in first they were very adequate for this short flight. We landed at EZE on a gorgeous clear day.
ALL IN ALL, I was very impressed tihe LA. The staff, food, lounge, video, were all top notch. I will next experience LA from SYD-AKL next month. Hope that you enjoyed this report.
Arrival at LAX
I took a cab to LAX to make the 1:55PM departure from the Tom Braddley terminal. It was not crowded at all. I went to the Lan Chile counter where there was one person in line at the first class counter. I was able to be checked in all the way to EZE. This flight was a LAX-SCL flight with a two hour layover in SCL before the flight to EZE. I was told that I was the ONLY person in first class today on thhe 767-300. Although I had originally wanted the middle seat of 1D, I opted for 1J with an empty seat next to me. I was given a pass to the LA first class lounge which was the Cathay Pacific lounge that LA rents in LAX.
THE LOUNGE
A very small lounge with the usual choice of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks but also with croissants filled with chicken salad, and open sandwiches of tuna, turkey salad, and marinated peppers. No internet access, but extremely polite staff. I was impressed at the amount of attention that was paid to the first and business class passengers in this lounge. Nice beginning to a very nice trip.
THE PLANE
We were escorted to gate 110 which required a bus to get us to the plane which was parked a bit away from the main terminal. Myself and the business class passengers were escorted to a PRIVATE VAN, and did not have to take the bus that was to take the main cabin to the plane. The VAN was extraordinarily comfortable. I was personally escorted to my seat which was the window seat . There was only one row of first class on this plane and I had the entire row by myself. It was a luxury I cannot even describe. Immediately, not one but two FA greeted me with a drink of my choice and some warm nuts. This plane was NOT the newer Airbus 340 that is used on this route but is extremely comfortable none the less. Business class was four or five rows of two by two by two seating. It looked quite comfortable.
THE FLIGHT
The flight from LAX-LIMA was 8 hours and the flight from LIM-SCl was 3 hours long. No longer than 10 minutes after I sat down that the menu was handed out. I will detail it here:
APPETIZER CART
Caviar Service
Ossetra Malossol Caviar, from the caspian sea, served with toast points, blinis, and sour cream
Hors D'Oeuvres
Assorted Sushi Tray
Serrano ham rolls with Mozzareall cheese
Slices of duck breast in plum sauce
Champagne Tattinger or Absolut Vodka
COLD DISHES
fresh Garden salad
A variety of salad greens, palm hearts and tomatoes, with slices of Parmesan cheese, served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
Salmon timbale
Tartare smoked salmon tmbale served with creme fraiche and herbs
Cold cuts
Slices of marinated chicken breast served with a coulis of yellow pepper and black lentil salad
COMFORTING SOUP
Mushroom cream with chopped parsley
MAIN ENTREES
Maitre D'Hotel Filet
Beef filet served with a Maitre d'Hotel butter, garnished with baked potatoes in paprika and julienned peppers
Veal Medallions
veal medallions served with a mushroom ragout, garnished with mashed yam potatoes and baked vegetables
Red Snapper
red snapper served with a fresh tomato sauce garnished with saffron risoto
Spinach ravioli
ravioli filled with spinach served with mushrooms in thyme
CHEESE AND FRUIT
The Cheeses
A selection of cheese served with grapes or dried fruit
Fresh fruit
OUR DESSERT
Mocha Pudding
Lemon Sorbet
HOT SNACK before landing in LIMA
TO BEGIN OUR SNACK
Foie Gras
truffled Foie Gras from Perigord, with Melba Toast
AS THE MAIN ENTREE WE OFFER
Fresh Garden Salad
A variety of green leaves, tomato and endives served with your choice of olive oil and balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.
From the sea
Tuna fishh filet served with a ginger and grapes sauce garnished with steamed potatoes
Orinetal Style chicken
Marinated chicken in pepper sauce garnished with penne pasta al pesto and julienned tomatoes.
CHEESE AND FRUIT
OUR DESSERT
Cheese cake
White chocolate and raspberry cheesecake served with a berry sauce
BREAKFAST from LIM-SCL
TO START
Juices and Fruit
Fresh orange juice and a selection fo gresh seasnoal fruit, yoghurt and cereals
WARM ENTREES
EGG DISH
Scrambled eggs served with grilled tomato and sauteed potatoes
SWEET DISH
Orange pudding served with caramel sauce and nuts
BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Warm ham and sheese sandwich served on a croissant roll
As you can see this was IMHO an incredible menu. The food was fantastic. I had the caviar, sushi, salmon timbale, red snapper, all THREE desserts, the foie gras, the tuna fillet and the fresh fruit. I was so full that I only had the yogurt for breakfast. I agree with Darren who previously stated that LA is second only to CX with regards to the quality of its first class service.
Besides the great food the video options were excellent. There was no video on demand on this plane beacues it was an older 767-300, but the clarity of the screens was terrific. Movies included Ya Ya Sisterhood, Showtime, Spider Man, Anita Takes Chance, and Changing Lanes. The FA could not be kinder, and the treatment was royal. I felt as if I were in a private jet.
AMENITY KITS
The amenity kit was filled with the usual ..but the interesting thing was that the kit came in a canvas/leather bagg with the LAN logo.
The seats were the flat bed type and were very comfortable. Sleeping in the seats was great. the only problem is that we landed in LIMA after 12 midnight. The plane stopped in LIM for 50 minutes after which the entire first class section was filled. All of us slept all the way to SCL as it was 1:30AM when the plane took off. but I did wake for a light breakfast as I told you above.
Landing in SCL was a pleasure. What a great modern airport. The LAN CHILE lounge was fabulous. After freshening up with a shower, I had to sample the breakfast foods on the bar. There was strawberry juice, kiwi juice, muffins, as well as mini ham and cheese sandwiches, with a variety of teas and coffees. Internet access was not available however.
After the two hour layover, we were summoned to gate A 19 where the 767-300 was replaced with a airbus 320. I was given the seat 4L. The configuration of this airbus business class was two by two in four rows. The total travel time to EZE was 90 minutes. During that time a brunch of fresh fruit, ham and cheese sandwich and coffee was served. Although the seats were not nearly as comfortable as the 767-300 seats in first they were very adequate for this short flight. We landed at EZE on a gorgeous clear day.
ALL IN ALL, I was very impressed tihe LA. The staff, food, lounge, video, were all top notch. I will next experience LA from SYD-AKL next month. Hope that you enjoyed this report.