LAN Business Class experience

Old Jun 30, 2014, 9:38 am
  #16  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Originally Posted by david_33
I have never seen it either. Usually J is filled by people using upgrades anyway.
It is? Most of my flights have a fairly full J cabina prior to UG request time.
Eastbay1K is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 3:01 pm
  #17  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lima, Peru
Programs: LAN Commodore
Posts: 733
Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
It is? Most of my flights have a fairly full J cabina prior to UG request time.
Exactly, and what few seats are left are grabbed by upgrades leaving few or none for friends or family of the flight attendants.
david_33 is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 4:14 pm
  #18  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: LANPASS Comodoro, UA 1K
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by postular
"Originally Posted by TravellingMan View Post
BTW it was interesting to note the number of friends and family members of FAs who got to move to Business class once the door was closed. They were more attentive to their needs than to the rest "

I take at least twenty-five LAN flights a year (mostly international) and have never seen this.
I take 1-2 LAX to LIM roundtrips a month and had also never seen this before...until last night. I was the only upgrade and after my assignment there were 5 open J seats in the 16 seat configuration. I am not sure how they decided to whom the seats would be given, but the FAs brought 5 people up from economy to fill J class. It seemed like a mix of friends (one FA was chatting with a couple she had brought forward) and empathetic selections (the gentleman seated next to me was elderly and it was obvious he didn't know any of the FAs, or why he was being upgraded for that matter). I found the whole thing pretty strange as it undermines one of the key perks of airline loyalty, but ultimately I didn't mind. If I had paid the J fare my reaction may have been a bit different though.
LA310 is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2014, 5:54 pm
  #19  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Originally Posted by david_33
Exactly, and what few seats are left are grabbed by upgrades leaving few or none for friends or family of the flight attendants.
Well, someone sure got lucky tonight with my LA600 seat, as I won't make it to SCL in time to be in it.

At least the EZE LA lounge is decent. I've also visited the AA and *A lounges tonight and this shines above the other two in the F&B department.
Eastbay1K is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2014, 9:22 am
  #20  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lima, Peru
Programs: LAN Commodore
Posts: 733
I was on a MIA-LIM flight last week in J. For some reason they had to change planes from the usual LP three row J configuration to the five row seating. This meant that many Y seats disappeared. They had to move passengers from Y to J. Luckily the seat next to me had been blocked at the counter, but all the other J seats but one were filled. The FA told me that the upgrades were given depending on which fare had been paid.
david_33 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2014, 11:51 am
  #21  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
I have a couple of friends at LAN I always mention how the ATL-LIM J cabin is filled with non-revs and that I hate how I can't get upgraded because it's a premium product.

They respond with we can only get J on long flights for work and otherwise they must 'know the crew' when flying standby.
benzemalyonnais is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2014, 7:28 pm
  #22  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: OW Emerald SPG Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 343
Just another reason (not that I needed any more) to avoid LIM when possible.
postular is offline  
Old Jul 10, 2014, 5:39 pm
  #23  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flew over the Equator 55 times last 3 years
Programs: LANPASS Comodoro (Emerald), others
Posts: 2,957
Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
(1) There is a "panel of chefs" and one is from Purru. I believe that the menu still says that. And I don't recall that he works for Purina. But it is all about the execution when making food for thousands.
.
Rafael Osterling of Rafael y El Mercado is from Lima and on the chef's panel.
bingocallerb22 is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 6:27 am
  #24  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 853
We had our first LAN flight - JFK/LIMA - and were underwhelmed. I was struck by what seemed like a wonderful quality of life for the crew. Within 30 minutes of take off, they were all sitting in the galley, full trays on laps, eating dinner. When I went in later, they were chatting, drinking cups of coffee. This was an overnight flight, so none of this had a big impact, but it wasn't a particularly customer facing group.

I was surprised, when I walked in to the galley to get coffee, that it was instant. The FA said that they don't brew coffee on this flight. Huh, a longish haul in business class?
He put in the powder, mixed it up and handed it to me - no offer to bring it to my seat.
Finally, my IFE system didn't work, but the flight was full, so there was no back up plan.

The whole experience felt a bit below expectations, though maybe my expectations was
my downfall. I wouldn't go out of my way to fly LAN again.
Mickidon is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 9:03 am
  #25  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flew over the Equator 55 times last 3 years
Programs: LANPASS Comodoro (Emerald), others
Posts: 2,957
Originally Posted by Mickidon
We had our first LAN flight - JFK/LIMA - and were underwhelmed. I was struck by what seemed like a wonderful quality of life for the crew. Within 30 minutes of take off, they were all sitting in the galley, full trays on laps, eating dinner. When I went in later, they were chatting, drinking cups of coffee. This was an overnight flight, so none of this had a big impact, but it wasn't a particularly customer facing group.

I was surprised, when I walked in to the galley to get coffee, that it was instant. The FA said that they don't brew coffee on this flight. Huh, a longish haul in business class?
He put in the powder, mixed it up and handed it to me - no offer to bring it to my seat.
Finally, my IFE system didn't work, but the flight was full, so there was no back up plan.

The whole experience felt a bit below expectations, though maybe my expectations was my downfall. I wouldn't go out of my way to fly LAN again.
Everyone has their own cultural expectations. Cultures vary around the world. I for one don't like being pestered. There is a call button, that gets answered quickly, when I want something.

LAN gives a $200 MCO for a broken IFE experience.
bingocallerb22 is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 9:54 am
  #26  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Originally Posted by Mickidon
We had our first LAN flight - JFK/LIMA - and were underwhelmed. I was struck by what seemed like a wonderful quality of life for the crew. Within 30 minutes of take off, they were all sitting in the galley, full trays on laps, eating dinner. When I went in later, they were chatting, drinking cups of coffee. This was an overnight flight, so none of this had a big impact, but it wasn't a particularly customer facing group.

I was surprised, when I walked in to the galley to get coffee, that it was instant. The FA said that they don't brew coffee on this flight. Huh, a longish haul in business class?
He put in the powder, mixed it up and handed it to me - no offer to bring it to my seat.
Finally, my IFE system didn't work, but the flight was full, so there was no back up plan.

The whole experience felt a bit below expectations, though maybe my expectations was
my downfall. I wouldn't go out of my way to fly LAN again.
I've never had a LAN flight (since Lan Chile in F) where a FA didn't want me to return to my seat for delivery of a beverage (if requested in the galley). LA F often consisted of a friendly galley chat the crew.

I'm surprised they were too lazy to brew coffee unless it wasn't catered. That said, instant coffee is "state of the art" coffee in much of Latin America, especially for those over a certain age. Some just mix the Nescafe with hot milk (and don't even add water). Barf.

Out of curiosity, what was the service standard (i.e., menu) for your route? Post-departure snack and pre-arrival breakfast? Or just a pre-arrival meal? If the former, was that not even offered?
Eastbay1K is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 10:07 am
  #27  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 853
Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
I've never had a LAN flight (since Lan Chile in F) where a FA didn't want me to return to my seat for delivery of a beverage (if requested in the galley). LA F often consisted of a friendly galley chat the crew.

I'm surprised they were too lazy to brew coffee unless it wasn't catered. That said, instant coffee is "state of the art" coffee in much of Latin America, especially for those over a certain age. Some just mix the Nescafe with hot milk (and don't even add water). Barf.

Out of curiosity, what was the service standard (i.e., menu) for your route? Post-departure snack and pre-arrival breakfast? Or just a pre-arrival meal? If the former, was that not even offered?
There was a post departure meal and a continental breakfast. Since the flight left at 11:55 PM, I don't think there were any takers for "dinner." The instant coffee wasn't that bad, just surprising. It was LAN Colombia, according to my confirmation. I'm relatively new traveling to these parts and don't have my LANs straight in my head.
Mickidon is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 3:31 pm
  #28  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: OW Emerald SPG Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 343
My impression is that instant coffee is always served on LAN regardless of the aircraft type or length of flight. I don't think they ever "brew" coffee.
postular is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2014, 5:03 pm
  #29  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flew over the Equator 55 times last 3 years
Programs: LANPASS Comodoro (Emerald), others
Posts: 2,957
Originally Posted by postular
My impression is that instant coffee is always served on LAN regardless of the aircraft type or length of flight. I don't think they ever "brew" coffee.
Yes, but it is Altamayo on Lan Peru, but only Juan Valdez on Lan Coloooombia
bingocallerb22 is offline  
Old Jul 14, 2014, 12:50 am
  #30  
Ambassador: LATAM
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,624
Originally Posted by bingocallerb22
Rafael Osterling of Rafael y El Mercado is from Lima and on the chef's panel.
I didn't know this. I don't like this guy's food, it's as if he is only very vaguely influenced by Peruvian cuisine himself. Menu at Rafael in Bogot isn't very Peruvian at all. Can we lobby for an old lady that knows how to rustle up anticuchos and pan con chicharrn?

Originally Posted by bingocallerb22
Yes, but it is Altamayo on Lan Peru, but only Juan Valdez on Lan Coloooombia
And Chilean LAN also. Gonna stick my neck out and say that LAN Per flights out of Medelln have Juan Valdez too. I wonder how much Juan Valdez has to pay them to make them use it.
JohnnyColombia is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.