tvl4free
Dec 19, 05, 5:17 pm
Background:
This was to be the first time for me to use the new International terminal at the DFW airport. Wow! It's awesome. Not Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur airport awesome, but nice none-the-less. TACA uses positions 140 -143 which today were the last set of operational ticketing positions on the north end of the building. And it was American agents who were the 'handling crew' for my TACA trip this Thanksgiving day, 2005.
I checked in using the Clase Ejecutiva line and all went smoothly until the American agent couldn't figure out how to accomodate my request to change 2A to 3A. You know how we are: always seeking greener pastures. A TACA uniformed agent meandered over and quickly changed my seat in the TACA system. Much to my dismay, there is no Lounge for TACA's business class passengers to use at DFW I can confirm. :td: Per nomal routine, my bags were appropriately tagged as priority Clase Ejecutiva.
Be it known that TACA executives have gone to great expense to offer Clase Ejecutiva passengers deluxe ticket jackets. They come in a colorful dark glossy blue w a big circular E on the front w a red parrot squating on the base of the 'E.' I'm pretty sure that some printing company salesman hit TACA pretty hard for these jackets and scored a big home run on this sale!
So w my documents jacketed properly I was ready to roll.
I decided to stroll thru the ticketing area all the way down to position 1. It was quite a little walk and I wanted to check out who was really here at present - as airlines tend come and go all the time. Nobody 'unusual' was noteworthy of mention, except for maybe Champion Air - who do charters to VEGAS, apparently. Odd that they would be in the international building I thought to myself. So I just rambled past the various counters... BA, Mexicana, Lufthansa, and of course, strolled by the AAlmighty One, again, and again, and again. Earlier I had noticed a baby blue Korean Air 777 nose skyward - headed for Seoul 4sure. Despite that fact that I was traveling today, I remembered wishing that I was onboard that particular ride. Westward to Asia on a 777 just sounds so much more exotic than AIRBUSing it southward to Costa rica, doncha think? :D
I was thru security in a flash but this 'shoe carnival' thing is getting to be a real drag. I always feel really dirty and grimmy afterwards... what with floating shoeless across the floor... picking up god only knows what therefrom... and transferring it to my hands, and then on to the Business Class cabin and on and on, etc, etc.
And so I cleared security and walked all the way airside from Gate 1 down to Gate 40 window shopping as I moved; it was quite a lengthy jaunt. The only real comment that I can come up with to say about this Terminal is that there doesnt appear to be enuf moving side walks on the lower level. What I mean to say is that they will carry you a little ways and then dump you, and then one will have to walk and walk and walk... before running into another of these moving machines. Oh, but then there IS this other peculiar thing about the new terminal that I almost forgot to mention. Periodically there are some restaurants situated on a second level that that just seem to 'jet out and appear.' But one has to ascend some stairs to reach them. I thought is was somewhat odd and certainly inconvenient to climb the steps with a wheelie in tow. I supposed that one could use the elevator, but my feeling was that a lot of customers will just pass up the upper level restaurants, in favor of 'fast food' venues on the same lower level.
I also liked the seating arrangements in the new terminal. They are set up in little pods. Well, 'thats different' I thought as I strolled ever onward.
TA 441
Business Class (D)
DFW-SAL
24 NOV SEAT 3A
Amidst a Sea of the AAlmighty, my precious little TACA Airbus 320 stood out like a sore thumb, and I was glad to see her again because we had not been together in months - mebbe 2 or more. For some odd reason, the gate agents decided to board my ride early beginning at 1:40PM - even tho push back was not scheduled until 2:35PM. Well, I watched the Y crowd stand in line like perfect little Indians, and once they had finished playing their little game... I leisurely strolled onboard at precisely 2:00 o'clock. One of the things that I like about TACA is that the FC cabin is generally nicely manicured. However, as I boarded this aircraft and moved toward my assigned position at 3A, I had to brush away some crums off my seat... and I noticed that there were a few scattered peanuts that surrounded my feet as I placed them gingerly beneath the seat in front of me. I didn't like that. And it certainly would put a kibosh on a favorable review.
Today, there would be 6 of us cruising the air up front. Technically speaking, including me, there were 3 revenue passenger - altho I was on a freebie courtesy of Global Pass. No coats were taken nor were pre-departure beverages offered - much to my chagrin. There were no pillows or blankets to be found anywhere onboard, but I can report that the seat belts were nicely crossed in 'the acceptable' manner. Plastic covered headset were available in the seat side pockets. No ammenity kits were offered. Also up front today, directly across the aisle from me were two (2) 5A and 5B 'self upgraders.' Their bulkhead seats, just in back of my cabin, were marked 'out of service' and so I heard a comment made something to the effect of 'Well, we'll just sit here then.' And so they did.
Suddenly something odd happened that I have never before seen in all my years of travel. The aircraft FC cabin was catered thru 1L. Now I have seen top-offs thru L1, but never full catering thru L1. (For those that are interested, I am used to the SkyChefs truck ascending and doing its little number thru R1). I have to tell you about this because I thought it was particularly odd and bizarre. Literally the station manager brought the FC catering onboard the aircraft in tattered and used, crumpled plastic bags. And she did so in a last minute, hurried 'huffing and puffing' kind of manner. I got the feeling that she had just 'rushed out' to grab something from the local convenience 'store/gas station/all in one type of place.' But later, as I contemplated this affair more, I would think that mebbe some little TICO or El Salvadorian granny in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area had actually been 'contracted' to prepare our meals!
The door closed 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled push, and immediately the FC flight attendant upgraded one of her girlfriend buddies from the homeland. And so again we were now 6, 3 revenue and 3 upgraders. And then 2:35PM came and went and my bird just continued to perch there at Gate 40. Finally, 'el capitan' came on the horn and said that 2 TACA ramp agents had not shown up for work today... and so boarding the luggage would take longer than usual. I thought his use of the words "TACA agents' was odd here too, as the ground service is handled by American. And god knows, the one thing American doesn't tolerate from its employees is absences. Anyway, as we waited, I thought that it would be nice to be served a simple 'loading dose' beverage prior to departure - but with this crew that was not to be.
At 3:35PM, precisely one hour late, we pushed away from the gate and taxied all the way across the airport before departing smoothly to the North from runway 35L. I've never really quite understood the logic of why when one has a runway right by ones gate, one needs to circle completely around to the opposite side of the airport... and then head off in a direction completely opposite to where one really needs to go. Oh well, that's just the way it seems to work, especially at DFW. The flight attendants were up some 25 minutes later and the galley curtins were immediately sealed off in typical TACA fashion. The Y cabin was also sealed away with curtins. Today I would be onboard the aircraft 2 hours and 18 minutes before receiving my first beverage. This is not acceptable service in the business class cabin IMHO.
Now one of the best things I like best about flying Lady TACA is her high quality warmed nuts. IMHO this is the single best thing that is airline has going for it in terms of its onboard service. This offering includes hearty helpings of hefty sized cashews and almonds accompanied by delicious, but smaller sized peanuts. And business class passengers can even have seconds if they chose. Shuuush, don't tell anybody about this offering... cos I'm absolutely positively sure that the bean counters at TACA missed this one in their latest round of cut backs! So if your travels ever take you aboard TACA, just close ur eyes, put the seat back, crank up the Latin music as you tune into chanel 3, and let ur finger do the walking to the bowl....hummm.
Today my nuts would be served and accompanied by cheap Chilean champagne. But I'm a simple kind of guy and nothing makes me happier than a seat up front at 33,000 ft., floating there amongst the clouds, with my warmed nuts and perfectly chilled champagne by my side - with BOZE headphones full of rocking Latin tunes, significantly cranked. Chanel 3 is best. It offers the latest in Latin pop. Well, mebbe not the latest, but I do know the chanel well because it repeats about every hour or so - on every flight - to every destination worldwide, over and over again. Outside it was a hazy day for flying.
Now in the past these nuts (about which I remain fixated) have been served in a cheap rectangular white plastic ramekin that holds quite a nice portion of these nuts. Well folks, TACA has enhanced it's nuts - and we know what that means - and so now one gets a smaller portion - served in a new SMALLER flimsy round plastic bowl... that looks something like a disposable ashtray that one can find in a cheap motel room anywhere along Route 66.
They are sooo flimsy, in fact, that my portion was served 'double bagged'... an ashtray within an ashtray so to speak. :p
However, todays nuts showed up only 'ever so slightly' warmed. So as you can imagine - this combination of smaller unwarmed portions and TAcky new ramekins did not give me a particularly warm and fuzzy glow (despite the lucious liquor) - and so I sent those nuts directly back to re-warming school. Some 20 minutes later they reappeared perfectly prepared and I was once again literally on cloud nine. Aint nuthing like having your nuts warmed and served from a silver tray. And yes, Lady TACA still serves nuts from a silver tray!
Then it was time for lunch. But first the hot towels came around. Well, TACA has never done hot towels quite right. First of all, they never seem to add enuf water to them and so they are not wet enuf. As such, they feel dry and scratchy. Additionally, they are never quite hot enuf to meet my full and complete expectations. Of course, the TACA Inflight crews prepare them exactly according to company policy, but this policy just ain't quite right. In fact, on a previous trip to Buenos Aires one of the F/A's and I had a long discussion about this issue - a conversation in which my opinion was requested. I do recall that the chat ended with, 'I think you're right. I'm going to make them your way from now on.' :D
FWIW, I think FF should teach a major section of the flight attendant training course. I certainly think the company, the employees, and the passengers would be better off for it. Imagine that, trying to deliver a quality product from the passenger's point of view!
So my dinner tray shows up and I about fell outta my chair. But before you and I "DO LUNCH,' I have to tell you about the elegant dinnerware that TACA serves aloft. It is without question the TAckiest thing I have ever seen in Business Class on any flight, anywhere, at any time, worldwide! Fom a distance it APPEARS to be white china. But it is actually white plastic; it's light weight and very, very thin. And my dog Humphry doesn't like 'dem plates' too much either... cos a game of Frisby doesn't last too long w these flimsy plastic puppies! I figure that each plate costs about 5 cents and they comes stacked in a clear plastic bag somewhat like paper picnic plates do when purchased directly from the five and dime.
Now be advised that the tray will arrive with a larger centrally located white plate for the 'entree' and smaller white plate that could conceivably serve a dual function as a bread and/or dessert plate. Previously we discussed the matching ramekins for nuts, but then there's also a coffee cup... which I reluctantly will admit, does hold a nice sized cup of coffee laced w Bailey's. Of course, I knew that you would want to know that this cheezy stuff is made by a reputable and grand company called MEZESA... and the junk is 'HECHO EN EL SALVADOR,' doncha know. But lest you doubt, just flip the plate and look.
Now my experience has shown that ordinarily TACA offers a choice of sandwiches onboard. It's usually either ham and cheeze - or a chicken sandwich. But today was Thanksgiving Day, and so we were offered a special holiday tri-choice treat - either ham and cheeze - or chicken - or a Turkey sandwich. I chose the turkey, of course, and silently hoped that my little central american grandmama had remembered to pack a can of cranberries - which would be served as a dish on the side. Cos Turkey Day's not quite Turkey Day without the cranberries - if you know what I mean. But no such luck this trip.
By this time I was thinking that it might be a good idea to see what my little lady had put inside this pupster - so I opened her up. There I found a piece of soggy lettuce that looked more like spinach based on its color, and two paper thin slices of 'maters.' In fact, a forensic pathologist from CSI could not have microscopically sliced these tomatoes any thinner I am sure. There, too, inside were 3 slices of turkey. TACA had cut up 1 turkey slice - so that there were now 3 - and spaced the pieces on the sand so that one actually got less than one would get with 1 full slice of turkey. And so that was what was on the bigger plate: my 3" X 7" sandwich and nothing more.
Then for dessert, the smaller plate was parked on the tray at the 10 o'clock position and loaded up with 2 heart shaped cookies. Paaleeez, Thanksgiving ain't no Valentines! (I was hoping for punkin' pie). FWIW I am fairliy confident that these cookie creatures came out of a box that one can get at the Dollar Store - the Greenback Dollar Store to be exact. Soooo, since I'm a betting man, I'm betting that TACA 'desserted' the entire Clase Executive cabin for mebbe a couple of bucks. I'm reasonably confident that two one dollar boxes would have been enuf to feed the entire Business Class cabin.
And so again, THAT was the edible portion of our meal on this TACA Business Class flight to San Salvador. It was literally a sandwhich and two cookies... served on a plastic plates of imitation china with plastic dinnerware. I passed on the dried out, but flaky looking cookies... but did scarf the sandwich. In all fairness to my host, I should point out that there were also tooth picks positioned in a small silver paper container at 3 o'clock position. Well, La-ti-da!
Also on the tray was a little folded card that said, "Gracias por Preferinos'' which means ' Thanks for Chosing us.' We'll had I been up front on Thai or Lufhansa today, a handwritten personalize sentence would have been annotated on the card or the menu by the FSM saying, "Welcome aboard, Mr tvl4free!" Or the hanwritten note would have said, 'Thanks for flying w us today, Mr. tvl4free.'
Perhaps it's time that I should tell you about the silverware now. It's heavy duty plastic and as far as plastic silverware goes, it was - well, what can I say - heavy duty. But this plastic silverware comes wrapped up in this huge heavy duty 'Brawny Brand' type of napkin. And it feels rough to the touch. It's kind of a thing that one might want to take with them to the outhouse - or out of the house - perhaps to do windows with Windex, when the need arises..??? This is not the sort of thing that one wants to see at meal time.
TACA's inflight service crews come in two versions. There is the attentive version - and there is the inattentive version. But what I like best about the inattentive crews is that once you engage them in conversation - and challenge their service offerings - they can become very attentive - and passionate about their service. Unfortunately, from a corporate standpoint, TACA management is just not providing their crews much to work with.
TACA management has gone to great effort to offer up a quality 'Duty Free' magazine. It's a glossy, high end magazine with a heavy Latin flair; it was very expensive to produce I am sure. But it must pay for itself judging by the amount of Duty Free stuff that flies off of those little rolling carts: 'Any Duty Free for you today, sir?'
Again and again through out my travels w TACA of late I have heard, 'Our owners have reinvented TACA as a low cost carrier.' Translated from Spanish, one F/A said it to me best, "Well sir, this is what we have to work with in these days. And we DO know it's not Business Class service."
I was very disappointed with TACA's service today. And in all honesty, with each trip I've taken on TACA in Business Class, its service has gotten progressively worse. And so we arrived in 'TACA HUB San Salvador' late, and I bid my farewell to the crew and was off to the Salones VIP for a quick 'look and see.'
As fate would have it, my return trip out of SJO would wind up being on Continental... and if the spirit moves me, I may compare the two services for you.
Huh oh! The ex is back (CO). The love/hate relationship continues...
Cheers!
Inflight Service Rating: 0
Meal Service: 0 (I gave them extra points for the nuts).
Over-all impression of TACA today: 0
This was to be the first time for me to use the new International terminal at the DFW airport. Wow! It's awesome. Not Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur airport awesome, but nice none-the-less. TACA uses positions 140 -143 which today were the last set of operational ticketing positions on the north end of the building. And it was American agents who were the 'handling crew' for my TACA trip this Thanksgiving day, 2005.
I checked in using the Clase Ejecutiva line and all went smoothly until the American agent couldn't figure out how to accomodate my request to change 2A to 3A. You know how we are: always seeking greener pastures. A TACA uniformed agent meandered over and quickly changed my seat in the TACA system. Much to my dismay, there is no Lounge for TACA's business class passengers to use at DFW I can confirm. :td: Per nomal routine, my bags were appropriately tagged as priority Clase Ejecutiva.
Be it known that TACA executives have gone to great expense to offer Clase Ejecutiva passengers deluxe ticket jackets. They come in a colorful dark glossy blue w a big circular E on the front w a red parrot squating on the base of the 'E.' I'm pretty sure that some printing company salesman hit TACA pretty hard for these jackets and scored a big home run on this sale!
So w my documents jacketed properly I was ready to roll.
I decided to stroll thru the ticketing area all the way down to position 1. It was quite a little walk and I wanted to check out who was really here at present - as airlines tend come and go all the time. Nobody 'unusual' was noteworthy of mention, except for maybe Champion Air - who do charters to VEGAS, apparently. Odd that they would be in the international building I thought to myself. So I just rambled past the various counters... BA, Mexicana, Lufthansa, and of course, strolled by the AAlmighty One, again, and again, and again. Earlier I had noticed a baby blue Korean Air 777 nose skyward - headed for Seoul 4sure. Despite that fact that I was traveling today, I remembered wishing that I was onboard that particular ride. Westward to Asia on a 777 just sounds so much more exotic than AIRBUSing it southward to Costa rica, doncha think? :D
I was thru security in a flash but this 'shoe carnival' thing is getting to be a real drag. I always feel really dirty and grimmy afterwards... what with floating shoeless across the floor... picking up god only knows what therefrom... and transferring it to my hands, and then on to the Business Class cabin and on and on, etc, etc.
And so I cleared security and walked all the way airside from Gate 1 down to Gate 40 window shopping as I moved; it was quite a lengthy jaunt. The only real comment that I can come up with to say about this Terminal is that there doesnt appear to be enuf moving side walks on the lower level. What I mean to say is that they will carry you a little ways and then dump you, and then one will have to walk and walk and walk... before running into another of these moving machines. Oh, but then there IS this other peculiar thing about the new terminal that I almost forgot to mention. Periodically there are some restaurants situated on a second level that that just seem to 'jet out and appear.' But one has to ascend some stairs to reach them. I thought is was somewhat odd and certainly inconvenient to climb the steps with a wheelie in tow. I supposed that one could use the elevator, but my feeling was that a lot of customers will just pass up the upper level restaurants, in favor of 'fast food' venues on the same lower level.
I also liked the seating arrangements in the new terminal. They are set up in little pods. Well, 'thats different' I thought as I strolled ever onward.
TA 441
Business Class (D)
DFW-SAL
24 NOV SEAT 3A
Amidst a Sea of the AAlmighty, my precious little TACA Airbus 320 stood out like a sore thumb, and I was glad to see her again because we had not been together in months - mebbe 2 or more. For some odd reason, the gate agents decided to board my ride early beginning at 1:40PM - even tho push back was not scheduled until 2:35PM. Well, I watched the Y crowd stand in line like perfect little Indians, and once they had finished playing their little game... I leisurely strolled onboard at precisely 2:00 o'clock. One of the things that I like about TACA is that the FC cabin is generally nicely manicured. However, as I boarded this aircraft and moved toward my assigned position at 3A, I had to brush away some crums off my seat... and I noticed that there were a few scattered peanuts that surrounded my feet as I placed them gingerly beneath the seat in front of me. I didn't like that. And it certainly would put a kibosh on a favorable review.
Today, there would be 6 of us cruising the air up front. Technically speaking, including me, there were 3 revenue passenger - altho I was on a freebie courtesy of Global Pass. No coats were taken nor were pre-departure beverages offered - much to my chagrin. There were no pillows or blankets to be found anywhere onboard, but I can report that the seat belts were nicely crossed in 'the acceptable' manner. Plastic covered headset were available in the seat side pockets. No ammenity kits were offered. Also up front today, directly across the aisle from me were two (2) 5A and 5B 'self upgraders.' Their bulkhead seats, just in back of my cabin, were marked 'out of service' and so I heard a comment made something to the effect of 'Well, we'll just sit here then.' And so they did.
Suddenly something odd happened that I have never before seen in all my years of travel. The aircraft FC cabin was catered thru 1L. Now I have seen top-offs thru L1, but never full catering thru L1. (For those that are interested, I am used to the SkyChefs truck ascending and doing its little number thru R1). I have to tell you about this because I thought it was particularly odd and bizarre. Literally the station manager brought the FC catering onboard the aircraft in tattered and used, crumpled plastic bags. And she did so in a last minute, hurried 'huffing and puffing' kind of manner. I got the feeling that she had just 'rushed out' to grab something from the local convenience 'store/gas station/all in one type of place.' But later, as I contemplated this affair more, I would think that mebbe some little TICO or El Salvadorian granny in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area had actually been 'contracted' to prepare our meals!
The door closed 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled push, and immediately the FC flight attendant upgraded one of her girlfriend buddies from the homeland. And so again we were now 6, 3 revenue and 3 upgraders. And then 2:35PM came and went and my bird just continued to perch there at Gate 40. Finally, 'el capitan' came on the horn and said that 2 TACA ramp agents had not shown up for work today... and so boarding the luggage would take longer than usual. I thought his use of the words "TACA agents' was odd here too, as the ground service is handled by American. And god knows, the one thing American doesn't tolerate from its employees is absences. Anyway, as we waited, I thought that it would be nice to be served a simple 'loading dose' beverage prior to departure - but with this crew that was not to be.
At 3:35PM, precisely one hour late, we pushed away from the gate and taxied all the way across the airport before departing smoothly to the North from runway 35L. I've never really quite understood the logic of why when one has a runway right by ones gate, one needs to circle completely around to the opposite side of the airport... and then head off in a direction completely opposite to where one really needs to go. Oh well, that's just the way it seems to work, especially at DFW. The flight attendants were up some 25 minutes later and the galley curtins were immediately sealed off in typical TACA fashion. The Y cabin was also sealed away with curtins. Today I would be onboard the aircraft 2 hours and 18 minutes before receiving my first beverage. This is not acceptable service in the business class cabin IMHO.
Now one of the best things I like best about flying Lady TACA is her high quality warmed nuts. IMHO this is the single best thing that is airline has going for it in terms of its onboard service. This offering includes hearty helpings of hefty sized cashews and almonds accompanied by delicious, but smaller sized peanuts. And business class passengers can even have seconds if they chose. Shuuush, don't tell anybody about this offering... cos I'm absolutely positively sure that the bean counters at TACA missed this one in their latest round of cut backs! So if your travels ever take you aboard TACA, just close ur eyes, put the seat back, crank up the Latin music as you tune into chanel 3, and let ur finger do the walking to the bowl....hummm.
Today my nuts would be served and accompanied by cheap Chilean champagne. But I'm a simple kind of guy and nothing makes me happier than a seat up front at 33,000 ft., floating there amongst the clouds, with my warmed nuts and perfectly chilled champagne by my side - with BOZE headphones full of rocking Latin tunes, significantly cranked. Chanel 3 is best. It offers the latest in Latin pop. Well, mebbe not the latest, but I do know the chanel well because it repeats about every hour or so - on every flight - to every destination worldwide, over and over again. Outside it was a hazy day for flying.
Now in the past these nuts (about which I remain fixated) have been served in a cheap rectangular white plastic ramekin that holds quite a nice portion of these nuts. Well folks, TACA has enhanced it's nuts - and we know what that means - and so now one gets a smaller portion - served in a new SMALLER flimsy round plastic bowl... that looks something like a disposable ashtray that one can find in a cheap motel room anywhere along Route 66.
They are sooo flimsy, in fact, that my portion was served 'double bagged'... an ashtray within an ashtray so to speak. :p
However, todays nuts showed up only 'ever so slightly' warmed. So as you can imagine - this combination of smaller unwarmed portions and TAcky new ramekins did not give me a particularly warm and fuzzy glow (despite the lucious liquor) - and so I sent those nuts directly back to re-warming school. Some 20 minutes later they reappeared perfectly prepared and I was once again literally on cloud nine. Aint nuthing like having your nuts warmed and served from a silver tray. And yes, Lady TACA still serves nuts from a silver tray!
Then it was time for lunch. But first the hot towels came around. Well, TACA has never done hot towels quite right. First of all, they never seem to add enuf water to them and so they are not wet enuf. As such, they feel dry and scratchy. Additionally, they are never quite hot enuf to meet my full and complete expectations. Of course, the TACA Inflight crews prepare them exactly according to company policy, but this policy just ain't quite right. In fact, on a previous trip to Buenos Aires one of the F/A's and I had a long discussion about this issue - a conversation in which my opinion was requested. I do recall that the chat ended with, 'I think you're right. I'm going to make them your way from now on.' :D
FWIW, I think FF should teach a major section of the flight attendant training course. I certainly think the company, the employees, and the passengers would be better off for it. Imagine that, trying to deliver a quality product from the passenger's point of view!
So my dinner tray shows up and I about fell outta my chair. But before you and I "DO LUNCH,' I have to tell you about the elegant dinnerware that TACA serves aloft. It is without question the TAckiest thing I have ever seen in Business Class on any flight, anywhere, at any time, worldwide! Fom a distance it APPEARS to be white china. But it is actually white plastic; it's light weight and very, very thin. And my dog Humphry doesn't like 'dem plates' too much either... cos a game of Frisby doesn't last too long w these flimsy plastic puppies! I figure that each plate costs about 5 cents and they comes stacked in a clear plastic bag somewhat like paper picnic plates do when purchased directly from the five and dime.
Now be advised that the tray will arrive with a larger centrally located white plate for the 'entree' and smaller white plate that could conceivably serve a dual function as a bread and/or dessert plate. Previously we discussed the matching ramekins for nuts, but then there's also a coffee cup... which I reluctantly will admit, does hold a nice sized cup of coffee laced w Bailey's. Of course, I knew that you would want to know that this cheezy stuff is made by a reputable and grand company called MEZESA... and the junk is 'HECHO EN EL SALVADOR,' doncha know. But lest you doubt, just flip the plate and look.
Now my experience has shown that ordinarily TACA offers a choice of sandwiches onboard. It's usually either ham and cheeze - or a chicken sandwich. But today was Thanksgiving Day, and so we were offered a special holiday tri-choice treat - either ham and cheeze - or chicken - or a Turkey sandwich. I chose the turkey, of course, and silently hoped that my little central american grandmama had remembered to pack a can of cranberries - which would be served as a dish on the side. Cos Turkey Day's not quite Turkey Day without the cranberries - if you know what I mean. But no such luck this trip.
By this time I was thinking that it might be a good idea to see what my little lady had put inside this pupster - so I opened her up. There I found a piece of soggy lettuce that looked more like spinach based on its color, and two paper thin slices of 'maters.' In fact, a forensic pathologist from CSI could not have microscopically sliced these tomatoes any thinner I am sure. There, too, inside were 3 slices of turkey. TACA had cut up 1 turkey slice - so that there were now 3 - and spaced the pieces on the sand so that one actually got less than one would get with 1 full slice of turkey. And so that was what was on the bigger plate: my 3" X 7" sandwich and nothing more.
Then for dessert, the smaller plate was parked on the tray at the 10 o'clock position and loaded up with 2 heart shaped cookies. Paaleeez, Thanksgiving ain't no Valentines! (I was hoping for punkin' pie). FWIW I am fairliy confident that these cookie creatures came out of a box that one can get at the Dollar Store - the Greenback Dollar Store to be exact. Soooo, since I'm a betting man, I'm betting that TACA 'desserted' the entire Clase Executive cabin for mebbe a couple of bucks. I'm reasonably confident that two one dollar boxes would have been enuf to feed the entire Business Class cabin.
And so again, THAT was the edible portion of our meal on this TACA Business Class flight to San Salvador. It was literally a sandwhich and two cookies... served on a plastic plates of imitation china with plastic dinnerware. I passed on the dried out, but flaky looking cookies... but did scarf the sandwich. In all fairness to my host, I should point out that there were also tooth picks positioned in a small silver paper container at 3 o'clock position. Well, La-ti-da!
Also on the tray was a little folded card that said, "Gracias por Preferinos'' which means ' Thanks for Chosing us.' We'll had I been up front on Thai or Lufhansa today, a handwritten personalize sentence would have been annotated on the card or the menu by the FSM saying, "Welcome aboard, Mr tvl4free!" Or the hanwritten note would have said, 'Thanks for flying w us today, Mr. tvl4free.'
Perhaps it's time that I should tell you about the silverware now. It's heavy duty plastic and as far as plastic silverware goes, it was - well, what can I say - heavy duty. But this plastic silverware comes wrapped up in this huge heavy duty 'Brawny Brand' type of napkin. And it feels rough to the touch. It's kind of a thing that one might want to take with them to the outhouse - or out of the house - perhaps to do windows with Windex, when the need arises..??? This is not the sort of thing that one wants to see at meal time.
TACA's inflight service crews come in two versions. There is the attentive version - and there is the inattentive version. But what I like best about the inattentive crews is that once you engage them in conversation - and challenge their service offerings - they can become very attentive - and passionate about their service. Unfortunately, from a corporate standpoint, TACA management is just not providing their crews much to work with.
TACA management has gone to great effort to offer up a quality 'Duty Free' magazine. It's a glossy, high end magazine with a heavy Latin flair; it was very expensive to produce I am sure. But it must pay for itself judging by the amount of Duty Free stuff that flies off of those little rolling carts: 'Any Duty Free for you today, sir?'
Again and again through out my travels w TACA of late I have heard, 'Our owners have reinvented TACA as a low cost carrier.' Translated from Spanish, one F/A said it to me best, "Well sir, this is what we have to work with in these days. And we DO know it's not Business Class service."
I was very disappointed with TACA's service today. And in all honesty, with each trip I've taken on TACA in Business Class, its service has gotten progressively worse. And so we arrived in 'TACA HUB San Salvador' late, and I bid my farewell to the crew and was off to the Salones VIP for a quick 'look and see.'
As fate would have it, my return trip out of SJO would wind up being on Continental... and if the spirit moves me, I may compare the two services for you.
Huh oh! The ex is back (CO). The love/hate relationship continues...
Cheers!
Inflight Service Rating: 0
Meal Service: 0 (I gave them extra points for the nuts).
Over-all impression of TACA today: 0