Ken hAAmer
Apr 9, 00, 1:11 am
Well, it's a trip report, actually. Given many recent statements about lower US airline standards (a claim I myself have made many times in the past) I decided to pay particular attention to my most recent trip, from start to finish. So here it is.
While in Newport RI, I find I need to go to Chicago for a few days. I connect to the internet and do an online booking for PVD-ORD-PVD, departing April 8 and returning April 11. I get a decent rate of $493CAD for a "last minute" unrestricted K fare, on AA. As soon as I disconnect, I call the AA Executive Platinum desk to ticket the flight and request upgrades. After the usual few second intro on the phone, I immediately get an agent. She's quite happy to ticket me, in either USD or CAD. The process is complete in about 90 seconds. (It would have been quicker, but she messed up the address when she put the postal code in. No big deal.) I then request the upgrades and am immediately granted the outbound trip, while the return is queued for automatic upgrade requests. The next day, 3 minutes after the 100 hour deadline, I receive an e-fax confirming the return upgrade. Life is wonderful.
April 8 -- I arrive at the airport with plenty of time, and head to the First Class/Executive Platinum check in line. Doesn't really matter as there are more agents than customers at this point in time. Nevertheless, I'm issued my boarding card in short order, and proceed to the gate area. Too bad there's no lounge here.
At almost exactly 30 minute prior to departure the boarding announcements begin, inviting aboard those with difficulties board and those in first class. I'm first on, and before I have completely removed my jacket the FA is there waiting to take it from me. While I disconnect the various bags from each other she helps put them in the overhead bin. I take my seat, and before the coach passengers begin boarding, she takes my pre-flight beverage order. Same as usual, OJ, with no ice. Boarding proceeds in an orderly fashion, and completes with a few minutes to spare. Before collecting my glass for takeoff the agent the FA asks if I'd like a refill. No thanks.
We push back right on time, and take off without incident. After several minutes, the captain comes on the PA and invites the FA's to resume service. Right away, I'm again asked for a beverage orders. Same again. She returns shortly with another glass of OJ and a large ceramic dish of mixed premium nuts (i.e. no peanuts) pleasantly warmed. Before I'm halfway through the nuts, she returns to refill both the beverage and the nuts. A few minutes later, hot towels. And I mean really hot. And really wet. Just the way I like them.
Another few minutes pass, and the FA explains to each passenger what the choices are and takes dinner orders. (Meanwhile, glasses throughout the first class cabin never seem to get lower than half full before magically becoming full again.) The choices are chicken or steak. I choose the greek/garden salad with peppercorn ranch dressing (a choice of dressings is offered) and the filet mignon, with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. A few minutes pass, then the salad and appetizer appears, along with desert. The salad is excellent, very fresh and very, well, very everything. Lots of greens, and lots of tomato, onion, cucumber, etc., as well. It's topped with a healthy portion of a delicious salad dressing, a good sized chunk of feta cheese (my favourite) and a couple of pitted olives. Served along side, is a shrimp cocktail, complete with a little dish of cocktail sauce. The shrimp are quite large, and very fresh, not to mention tasty, as was the salad. Also on the platter is desert. It looks like a chocolate mousse brownie, with caramel sauce. But it'll have to wait.
The entree arrives, and I dig in. I was pleasantly surprised to find it very tender, and quite tasty. Not as good as a well prepared steak in an upscale restaurant, but certainly much better than "just acceptable." (I was half expecting another Kevlar steak, like I had a few weeks ago, on a different airline.) She then brought out little dishes of steak sauce, which I thought was pretty cool. Don't know what it was, but I liked it enough to finish it off. The garlic mashed potatoes were also quite good. The grilled vegetables, were, well, grilled vegetables. As airplane food sometimes does, it didn't look all that appetizing. But it tasted better than it looked.
All the while, the FA keeps coming back with more warm sourdough rolls that smelt, felt, and tasted like they were just baked, and more butter. Excellent. She keeps asking if I'd like anything else, but given that she's already supplied me with essentially everything I could want in an in-flight meal, what could I say except "No, thank you."
(BTW, you'll probably notice no mention of wine. That's 'cause I don't drink. It's not that I'm recovering, a puritan, a health nut, or have some spiritual aversion to the the stuff. I just don't like the taste, and I can't bring myself to "develop a taste for it" as several friends often suggest. Besides, I can get plenty weird enough without the assistance of mind/mood altering substances. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif She did offer wine. One was red, one was white. That's all I know.)
Moments after I finished my entree, she was back to remove the plate. I then began on desert. What an excellent desert it was! Tasted even better than it looked, and it looked very good. I considered asking for more, but at this point I was stuffed, even though I hadn't really eaten anything for most of the day. And as usual, my glass of juice never got less than about half full.
After I had completed my meal the FA took everything away, and yet again asked if there was anything she could get me. (What else is there?) She then informed me that she was going to leave me undisturbed, but if I wanted anything, anything at all, to use the call button. She went back to the galley, were I presume she had dinner herself. But while she did leave us "undisturbed", every 5 or 10 minutes I noticed her peaking out from behind the curtain, surveying the cabin. Perhaps every 15 or 20 minutes or so, she made a quick trip through the cabin. I enjoy a peaceful hour or so, reflecting on just how good my life really is. (If it wasn't for good luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.)
The pre-landing announcements are made, and the FA asks if I'd like anything before landing, perhaps another juice? She cleans up the cabin, and then returns with a plate of candies. I take a couple, and she jokes "Oh c'mon. We've got lots, take a bunch." I take a couple more, and smile to myself. While we're all sucking on our candies, she returns to hand out coats and jackets.
We land about 20 minutes early, so not surprisingly, there's no ground crew waiting for us. The captain relays that message, but also states the crew will be there shortly. I look out the window and see the ground crew moving smartly down the tarmac towards us. In perhaps 60 seconds, we're again moving towards the jetway.
After receiving a friendly and sincere goodbye from the FA and the flight crew, I'm second off. I need to make a few phone calls, check my e-mail, and use a bathroom. Luckily, we're at the gate right next to the International First Class "Flagship Lounge." I ask if I can use the lounge for a few minutes even though I'm arriving, and after the agent looks at my CP card, says "Certainly, Mr. Hamer." I do my stuff, then peruse the lounge for possibly my second to last time. Both TV lounges have only 1 or 2 people watching. One guy is channel surfing. Another group is in a quiet area, apparently excitedly anticipating their vacation. Still others are in the smoking room. I check out the workstations, but being Saturday evening, I'm not surprised there's no one there.
I check out the bar area. Full stocked as usual, and for the first time I realize that there is a much larger selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non, than in either an Empress or Maple Leaf lounge. Over to the food bar, where there are large stainless bowls filled with skewers of grilled sausage (this is Chicago, after all,) pineapple chicken, some interesting pita "wraps", hot quiche and other various baked filo pastry type snacks, various and sundry hors d'oeuves,
the usual huge plate of huge fresh shrimp, and an amazing array of yummy cookies and cakes. Too bad for me that I got stuffed on the plane. If CP members lose access to these lounges, it'll be a big loss. I'll be making a special effort to get here extra early on my return trip, as it may be my last time to enjoy it.
All in all, a very pleasant trip. But the thing is, it wasn't much different than most of my AA flights since, well, I don't know, last summer maybe? Or perhaps since oneworld? Now it's true that they've still messed up a couple of times recently, and while service is generally good, sometimes it's inconsistent. And I can't help but wonder if maybe they're just being extra nice to CP members in anticipation of June 1. But right now, I don't care. I'm getting my upgrades, I'm getting lounge access, I'm getting well taken care of, and I'm getting where I need to be when I need to be there, for a reasonable price. Everyone's friendly and helpful. And just plain nice. Of course, I can only compare AA's first class service, and not coach. That's because I've received every upgrade I've ever requested, which is every flight. (Well, not the prop planes and other one class planes, but you get the picture.) Every flight, every upgrade. To me, that's telling in its own right.
Now to the comparison. (Relax, it's almost over. It's a short comparison.)
Here's a quote from page 20 in the 1999 Air Canada annual report: In several areas, including advertising and in-flight amenities, there will be enormous cost savings......basically, because there's no longer any competition.
Are Canadian air carriers becoming more like US air carriers? I should be so lucky.
P.S.How come a Canadian air carrier can only become "world class" if they don't have any competition?
While in Newport RI, I find I need to go to Chicago for a few days. I connect to the internet and do an online booking for PVD-ORD-PVD, departing April 8 and returning April 11. I get a decent rate of $493CAD for a "last minute" unrestricted K fare, on AA. As soon as I disconnect, I call the AA Executive Platinum desk to ticket the flight and request upgrades. After the usual few second intro on the phone, I immediately get an agent. She's quite happy to ticket me, in either USD or CAD. The process is complete in about 90 seconds. (It would have been quicker, but she messed up the address when she put the postal code in. No big deal.) I then request the upgrades and am immediately granted the outbound trip, while the return is queued for automatic upgrade requests. The next day, 3 minutes after the 100 hour deadline, I receive an e-fax confirming the return upgrade. Life is wonderful.
April 8 -- I arrive at the airport with plenty of time, and head to the First Class/Executive Platinum check in line. Doesn't really matter as there are more agents than customers at this point in time. Nevertheless, I'm issued my boarding card in short order, and proceed to the gate area. Too bad there's no lounge here.
At almost exactly 30 minute prior to departure the boarding announcements begin, inviting aboard those with difficulties board and those in first class. I'm first on, and before I have completely removed my jacket the FA is there waiting to take it from me. While I disconnect the various bags from each other she helps put them in the overhead bin. I take my seat, and before the coach passengers begin boarding, she takes my pre-flight beverage order. Same as usual, OJ, with no ice. Boarding proceeds in an orderly fashion, and completes with a few minutes to spare. Before collecting my glass for takeoff the agent the FA asks if I'd like a refill. No thanks.
We push back right on time, and take off without incident. After several minutes, the captain comes on the PA and invites the FA's to resume service. Right away, I'm again asked for a beverage orders. Same again. She returns shortly with another glass of OJ and a large ceramic dish of mixed premium nuts (i.e. no peanuts) pleasantly warmed. Before I'm halfway through the nuts, she returns to refill both the beverage and the nuts. A few minutes later, hot towels. And I mean really hot. And really wet. Just the way I like them.
Another few minutes pass, and the FA explains to each passenger what the choices are and takes dinner orders. (Meanwhile, glasses throughout the first class cabin never seem to get lower than half full before magically becoming full again.) The choices are chicken or steak. I choose the greek/garden salad with peppercorn ranch dressing (a choice of dressings is offered) and the filet mignon, with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. A few minutes pass, then the salad and appetizer appears, along with desert. The salad is excellent, very fresh and very, well, very everything. Lots of greens, and lots of tomato, onion, cucumber, etc., as well. It's topped with a healthy portion of a delicious salad dressing, a good sized chunk of feta cheese (my favourite) and a couple of pitted olives. Served along side, is a shrimp cocktail, complete with a little dish of cocktail sauce. The shrimp are quite large, and very fresh, not to mention tasty, as was the salad. Also on the platter is desert. It looks like a chocolate mousse brownie, with caramel sauce. But it'll have to wait.
The entree arrives, and I dig in. I was pleasantly surprised to find it very tender, and quite tasty. Not as good as a well prepared steak in an upscale restaurant, but certainly much better than "just acceptable." (I was half expecting another Kevlar steak, like I had a few weeks ago, on a different airline.) She then brought out little dishes of steak sauce, which I thought was pretty cool. Don't know what it was, but I liked it enough to finish it off. The garlic mashed potatoes were also quite good. The grilled vegetables, were, well, grilled vegetables. As airplane food sometimes does, it didn't look all that appetizing. But it tasted better than it looked.
All the while, the FA keeps coming back with more warm sourdough rolls that smelt, felt, and tasted like they were just baked, and more butter. Excellent. She keeps asking if I'd like anything else, but given that she's already supplied me with essentially everything I could want in an in-flight meal, what could I say except "No, thank you."
(BTW, you'll probably notice no mention of wine. That's 'cause I don't drink. It's not that I'm recovering, a puritan, a health nut, or have some spiritual aversion to the the stuff. I just don't like the taste, and I can't bring myself to "develop a taste for it" as several friends often suggest. Besides, I can get plenty weird enough without the assistance of mind/mood altering substances. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif She did offer wine. One was red, one was white. That's all I know.)
Moments after I finished my entree, she was back to remove the plate. I then began on desert. What an excellent desert it was! Tasted even better than it looked, and it looked very good. I considered asking for more, but at this point I was stuffed, even though I hadn't really eaten anything for most of the day. And as usual, my glass of juice never got less than about half full.
After I had completed my meal the FA took everything away, and yet again asked if there was anything she could get me. (What else is there?) She then informed me that she was going to leave me undisturbed, but if I wanted anything, anything at all, to use the call button. She went back to the galley, were I presume she had dinner herself. But while she did leave us "undisturbed", every 5 or 10 minutes I noticed her peaking out from behind the curtain, surveying the cabin. Perhaps every 15 or 20 minutes or so, she made a quick trip through the cabin. I enjoy a peaceful hour or so, reflecting on just how good my life really is. (If it wasn't for good luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.)
The pre-landing announcements are made, and the FA asks if I'd like anything before landing, perhaps another juice? She cleans up the cabin, and then returns with a plate of candies. I take a couple, and she jokes "Oh c'mon. We've got lots, take a bunch." I take a couple more, and smile to myself. While we're all sucking on our candies, she returns to hand out coats and jackets.
We land about 20 minutes early, so not surprisingly, there's no ground crew waiting for us. The captain relays that message, but also states the crew will be there shortly. I look out the window and see the ground crew moving smartly down the tarmac towards us. In perhaps 60 seconds, we're again moving towards the jetway.
After receiving a friendly and sincere goodbye from the FA and the flight crew, I'm second off. I need to make a few phone calls, check my e-mail, and use a bathroom. Luckily, we're at the gate right next to the International First Class "Flagship Lounge." I ask if I can use the lounge for a few minutes even though I'm arriving, and after the agent looks at my CP card, says "Certainly, Mr. Hamer." I do my stuff, then peruse the lounge for possibly my second to last time. Both TV lounges have only 1 or 2 people watching. One guy is channel surfing. Another group is in a quiet area, apparently excitedly anticipating their vacation. Still others are in the smoking room. I check out the workstations, but being Saturday evening, I'm not surprised there's no one there.
I check out the bar area. Full stocked as usual, and for the first time I realize that there is a much larger selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non, than in either an Empress or Maple Leaf lounge. Over to the food bar, where there are large stainless bowls filled with skewers of grilled sausage (this is Chicago, after all,) pineapple chicken, some interesting pita "wraps", hot quiche and other various baked filo pastry type snacks, various and sundry hors d'oeuves,
the usual huge plate of huge fresh shrimp, and an amazing array of yummy cookies and cakes. Too bad for me that I got stuffed on the plane. If CP members lose access to these lounges, it'll be a big loss. I'll be making a special effort to get here extra early on my return trip, as it may be my last time to enjoy it.
All in all, a very pleasant trip. But the thing is, it wasn't much different than most of my AA flights since, well, I don't know, last summer maybe? Or perhaps since oneworld? Now it's true that they've still messed up a couple of times recently, and while service is generally good, sometimes it's inconsistent. And I can't help but wonder if maybe they're just being extra nice to CP members in anticipation of June 1. But right now, I don't care. I'm getting my upgrades, I'm getting lounge access, I'm getting well taken care of, and I'm getting where I need to be when I need to be there, for a reasonable price. Everyone's friendly and helpful. And just plain nice. Of course, I can only compare AA's first class service, and not coach. That's because I've received every upgrade I've ever requested, which is every flight. (Well, not the prop planes and other one class planes, but you get the picture.) Every flight, every upgrade. To me, that's telling in its own right.
Now to the comparison. (Relax, it's almost over. It's a short comparison.)
Here's a quote from page 20 in the 1999 Air Canada annual report: In several areas, including advertising and in-flight amenities, there will be enormous cost savings......basically, because there's no longer any competition.
Are Canadian air carriers becoming more like US air carriers? I should be so lucky.
P.S.How come a Canadian air carrier can only become "world class" if they don't have any competition?