Central Asia Express: Exploring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on LX C/LH F/EY F/AA F
Nov 2, 2014, 11:08 am
#76
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In Kyrgyzstan we only visited Bishkek and Karakol(including an overnight at Altyn Arashan). For the Karakol area you need to be into hiking/trekking at least a bit. Kyrgyzstan doesn't have the monuments of Uzbekistan but people come there for the nature.
Nov 8, 2014, 8:01 am
#77
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I'd agree with that assessment.
In Kyrgyzstan we only visited Bishkek and Karakol(including an overnight at Altyn Arashan). For the Karakol area you need to be into hiking/trekking at least a bit. Kyrgyzstan doesn't have the monuments of Uzbekistan but people come there for the nature.
In Kyrgyzstan we only visited Bishkek and Karakol(including an overnight at Altyn Arashan). For the Karakol area you need to be into hiking/trekking at least a bit. Kyrgyzstan doesn't have the monuments of Uzbekistan but people come there for the nature.
Nov 8, 2014, 12:54 pm
#78
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As mentioned, Kyrgyzstan is more for nature.
You would need about 10 days to do a loop around the lake in the summer, stopping in Cholpon Ata for some beach and party time, Karakol/Artyn Arshan for hiking, and come back via the south, maybe stopping at JetiOguz 'resort' and some beach-side yurt staying on the south shore.
You'd need more time to explore the areas around Osh.
We had a great time, and its a pretty easy country to get around in marshrutkas and/or hitchhiking.
KGZ is very different than Uzbekistan.
Nov 9, 2014, 12:24 pm
#79
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ALA-AUH on EY J
LINK TO FULL BLOG POST
In my mind, few companies (if any) are as aspirational as Etihad Airways. Constantly among the top airlines in the World according to Skytrax (and one of the only seven carriers in the World to currently have a five-stars rating), Etihad impressed me to a great extent when I flew its First Class last year between Abu Dhabi and Sydney. So, you can imagine how excited I was to be flying them yet again. I was especially excited because I would get to try business class as well this time, as first class between Almaty and Abu Dhabi is not available (they fly an Airbus 320 on many regional routes, a much more rational approach than Emirates', which flies only widebodies).
My experience started at Almaty Airport. I had landed around noon from Shymkent on Air Astana. Overall, the experience was pleasurable on this fast-growing carrier. New planes, nice color scheme, nice (and good-looking) flight attendants, a sandwich offered in economy together with a drink of choice on a hour-long flight... I can foresee good success for this carrier.
I had to kill a few hours at the airport, since my flight for Abu Dhabi wouldn't leave until 5.30pm. No big deal. I took a sit in the arrival area and watched the Godfather (which I had downloaded for the occasion the night before) on my iPad Mini. I picked this movie because, of course, it's long. And extremely good. Almaty airport is small, and usually pretty packed. I believe the Kazakh government is working on expanding it, or in building a new one altogether. The current airport, by the way, has free and pretty fast free wifi.
About two hours before departure I proceeded to the check in area. The desks that on my previous visits on my way to Almaty were allocated to CSA were, this time, allocated to Etihad. There are perhaps ten check-in desks in total at the airport, so airlines have to share them.
It's curious that, to get to the check-in part of the airport, in theory you have to go through a security check where you need to show your passport and itinerary in order to get through; yet, the checkpoint was unmanned and people were going back and forth freely.
Etihad had separate lines fro Coral Economy and Pearl Business Class customers. I lined up and after a few minutes I was checked in. The nice attendant handed me a lounge invitation and voucher - the airport has only one VIP lounge shared by all airlines and food/drinks are not free. The voucer was for 2,500KZT - approximately $15. I quickly went through immigration and security and then proceeded to the lounge. It's a pretty basic area, with enough seats and tables to accommodate all premium customers comfortably. The menu at the bar was in Russian and Kazakh only, but on display there were a variety of pastries and some alcoholic beverages. I got myself a Bavaria beer and waited my flight out.
About half a hour before departure, boarding commenced.
I made my way through the plane and took my seat - 3K - aboard my Etihad plane. The first thing you notice of Etihad's cabin is the green color scheme of the busines class. It's very nice and different from usual corporate-like color schemes. The seat is a Recaro one, very similar to the ones found on US carriers but with a few enhancements. To begin with, you have nice reading lamps sticking out the backrest; then, you have an embedded TV coming out of the armrest. Third, you have an extendable footrest that makes the seat very comfortable in "lounging mode". Overall, comfort and space were excellent, and I fell for the cabin instantly.
It wasn't even one minute that I had sit down that the flight attendant - a tall and slim Russian woman - came by offering me a pre-departure drink. I of course grabbed a glass of champagne.
We left on time, and the captain announced a flight time of 4h30m. Shortly after the seatbelt sign was switched off, the service began. First, a round of drinks was offered together with some warm nuts. If you think that American Airlines nuts are good, try these ones. They are seasoned, for lack of better words, in an Indian way: peppery and slightly spicy. They are delightful. I of course had them with some more champagne.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15554493467_04d2b2e646_b.jpg[/IMG]
The flight attendant set my tray-table after the round of drinks. I had selected arabic mezze as a starter and the lamb for main course. The menu read as follows:
A La Carte
Country Style Bread
Country style bread with house butter, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Starters
Arabic mezze. A selection of Middle Eastern hot and cold appetizers
Smoked salmon. Served with potato pancakes, horseradish cream
Mains
Moroccan lamb tagine in tomato and coriander sauce served with steamed potatoes
Braised chicken breast. Red pepper and sweet onion sauce served with steamed potatoes
Arancini. Filled spinach and rice parcels with grilled vegetables and tomato sauce
Cheese
A selection of international cheese
Desserts
Vanilla and pineapple custard tart
Seasonal fresh fruit
A selection of ice cream flavors
Arabic mezze are just what they are - a collection of hummus, tabbouleh, olives... your usual, hard-to-screw (at least for a Middle Eastern airline!) standard, tasty fare. What I give kudos to Etihad for is, though, the presentation. This (and the other dishes) were plated really restaurant-style, clearly on the spot and not in some industrial kitchen in Abu Dhabi. Having flown so much in premium cabins in the course of the last two years, I really came to realize that small things like this one make all the difference. Furthermore, a cute mini-loaf of bread (shaped like a muffin) was set on the table, together with olive oil and butter.
After finishing my excellent starter, it was the lamb tagine turn. I had this dish because 1. I love lamb and 2. I wanted to compare it with the lamb I had in First Class on Lufthansa just 10 days before. Unfortunately for Lufthansa, Etihad won hands down. The meat was flavorful, tender, rich in aroma; the couscous accompanying it was perfectly done and complemented the dish SO much better than Lufthansa's tasteless pasta. I had a glass of Saint-Emilion Bordeaux with it, and it was just perfect.
The pace of the meal, by the way, was great. Not too rushed, not too slow. I skipped on the dessert but not on the cheese, which included two types of soft, Camembert-like varieties (one slightly blue-veined) and some sharp cheddar; even the cheese was beautifully presented, with grapes and two types of crackers.
To close the meal, I ordered an espresso followed by a glass of the excellent Granmp's Botrytis Semillon dessert wine from South Australia.
For a business class meal on a 4-and-half hour flight this dinner was remarkable. Truly. Again, it's not only the quality of the food that matters, but it's the small touches like the olive oil for dipping or the cute little basked for the bread that make all the difference.
During and after dinner I played with the IFE system - e-Box as Etihad calls it. The selection of movies was extensive and varied, ranging from newly-released Hollywood blockbusters to Asian and Arabic fare. I watched the remake of RoboCop (that I liked) and then a couple of classic Monty Python episodes (The Spanish Inquisition one is so hilarious!).
I also had the chance to check out the restrooms - they were standard size but featured some basic but good amenities.
Time flew by, and we landed in Abu Dhabi on time but at a very remote stand. A bus was provided for premium customers only (we were handed an express immigration card as well), and within minutes I was officially in the UAE for my six hours layover.
One fact that I noticed was the number of workers waiting outside the plane to handle baggage and clean the plane once all people had deplaned. There were no less than a dozen airport employees - mostly for the Sub-Continent and Africa - waiting in the sweating, humid Abu Dhabi night just outside the plane. I noticed the same pattern along every other plane that had just landed. This brings me to another, sticky point here than many fellow travelers - including myself - often forget. Middle Eastern carriers have a huge cost-advantage compared to European and North-American airlines. being able to save so much on labour they are more easily able to offer a better in-flight experience at lower prices. It's something easily forgotten but that should always be taken into account when judging and comparing carriers.
In any case, during my layover I went through immigration and briefly checked out the new Etihad Arrival lounge. It's a nice little lounge that resembles the existing First Class lounge. It is very well staffed (I was the only customer when I visited), it has a decent selection of snacks and drinks, and most importantly it has showers and a barber (!). I believe it offers complimentary pressing service as well. From the lounge, also, you can easily access the chauffeur cars through an exit that leads directly to them.
Overall, my business class experience on Etihad was stellar. Matching already-high expectations isn't easy, but Etihad managed, once more, to surprise me. At this point I was looking very much to my next segment to Paris in Diamond First Class.
In my mind, few companies (if any) are as aspirational as Etihad Airways. Constantly among the top airlines in the World according to Skytrax (and one of the only seven carriers in the World to currently have a five-stars rating), Etihad impressed me to a great extent when I flew its First Class last year between Abu Dhabi and Sydney. So, you can imagine how excited I was to be flying them yet again. I was especially excited because I would get to try business class as well this time, as first class between Almaty and Abu Dhabi is not available (they fly an Airbus 320 on many regional routes, a much more rational approach than Emirates', which flies only widebodies).
My experience started at Almaty Airport. I had landed around noon from Shymkent on Air Astana. Overall, the experience was pleasurable on this fast-growing carrier. New planes, nice color scheme, nice (and good-looking) flight attendants, a sandwich offered in economy together with a drink of choice on a hour-long flight... I can foresee good success for this carrier.
I had to kill a few hours at the airport, since my flight for Abu Dhabi wouldn't leave until 5.30pm. No big deal. I took a sit in the arrival area and watched the Godfather (which I had downloaded for the occasion the night before) on my iPad Mini. I picked this movie because, of course, it's long. And extremely good. Almaty airport is small, and usually pretty packed. I believe the Kazakh government is working on expanding it, or in building a new one altogether. The current airport, by the way, has free and pretty fast free wifi.
About two hours before departure I proceeded to the check in area. The desks that on my previous visits on my way to Almaty were allocated to CSA were, this time, allocated to Etihad. There are perhaps ten check-in desks in total at the airport, so airlines have to share them.
It's curious that, to get to the check-in part of the airport, in theory you have to go through a security check where you need to show your passport and itinerary in order to get through; yet, the checkpoint was unmanned and people were going back and forth freely.
Etihad had separate lines fro Coral Economy and Pearl Business Class customers. I lined up and after a few minutes I was checked in. The nice attendant handed me a lounge invitation and voucher - the airport has only one VIP lounge shared by all airlines and food/drinks are not free. The voucer was for 2,500KZT - approximately $15. I quickly went through immigration and security and then proceeded to the lounge. It's a pretty basic area, with enough seats and tables to accommodate all premium customers comfortably. The menu at the bar was in Russian and Kazakh only, but on display there were a variety of pastries and some alcoholic beverages. I got myself a Bavaria beer and waited my flight out.
About half a hour before departure, boarding commenced.
I made my way through the plane and took my seat - 3K - aboard my Etihad plane. The first thing you notice of Etihad's cabin is the green color scheme of the busines class. It's very nice and different from usual corporate-like color schemes. The seat is a Recaro one, very similar to the ones found on US carriers but with a few enhancements. To begin with, you have nice reading lamps sticking out the backrest; then, you have an embedded TV coming out of the armrest. Third, you have an extendable footrest that makes the seat very comfortable in "lounging mode". Overall, comfort and space were excellent, and I fell for the cabin instantly.
It wasn't even one minute that I had sit down that the flight attendant - a tall and slim Russian woman - came by offering me a pre-departure drink. I of course grabbed a glass of champagne.
We left on time, and the captain announced a flight time of 4h30m. Shortly after the seatbelt sign was switched off, the service began. First, a round of drinks was offered together with some warm nuts. If you think that American Airlines nuts are good, try these ones. They are seasoned, for lack of better words, in an Indian way: peppery and slightly spicy. They are delightful. I of course had them with some more champagne.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15554493467_04d2b2e646_b.jpg[/IMG]
The flight attendant set my tray-table after the round of drinks. I had selected arabic mezze as a starter and the lamb for main course. The menu read as follows:
A La Carte
Country Style Bread
Country style bread with house butter, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Starters
Arabic mezze. A selection of Middle Eastern hot and cold appetizers
Smoked salmon. Served with potato pancakes, horseradish cream
Mains
Moroccan lamb tagine in tomato and coriander sauce served with steamed potatoes
Braised chicken breast. Red pepper and sweet onion sauce served with steamed potatoes
Arancini. Filled spinach and rice parcels with grilled vegetables and tomato sauce
Cheese
A selection of international cheese
Desserts
Vanilla and pineapple custard tart
Seasonal fresh fruit
A selection of ice cream flavors
Arabic mezze are just what they are - a collection of hummus, tabbouleh, olives... your usual, hard-to-screw (at least for a Middle Eastern airline!) standard, tasty fare. What I give kudos to Etihad for is, though, the presentation. This (and the other dishes) were plated really restaurant-style, clearly on the spot and not in some industrial kitchen in Abu Dhabi. Having flown so much in premium cabins in the course of the last two years, I really came to realize that small things like this one make all the difference. Furthermore, a cute mini-loaf of bread (shaped like a muffin) was set on the table, together with olive oil and butter.
After finishing my excellent starter, it was the lamb tagine turn. I had this dish because 1. I love lamb and 2. I wanted to compare it with the lamb I had in First Class on Lufthansa just 10 days before. Unfortunately for Lufthansa, Etihad won hands down. The meat was flavorful, tender, rich in aroma; the couscous accompanying it was perfectly done and complemented the dish SO much better than Lufthansa's tasteless pasta. I had a glass of Saint-Emilion Bordeaux with it, and it was just perfect.
The pace of the meal, by the way, was great. Not too rushed, not too slow. I skipped on the dessert but not on the cheese, which included two types of soft, Camembert-like varieties (one slightly blue-veined) and some sharp cheddar; even the cheese was beautifully presented, with grapes and two types of crackers.
To close the meal, I ordered an espresso followed by a glass of the excellent Granmp's Botrytis Semillon dessert wine from South Australia.
For a business class meal on a 4-and-half hour flight this dinner was remarkable. Truly. Again, it's not only the quality of the food that matters, but it's the small touches like the olive oil for dipping or the cute little basked for the bread that make all the difference.
During and after dinner I played with the IFE system - e-Box as Etihad calls it. The selection of movies was extensive and varied, ranging from newly-released Hollywood blockbusters to Asian and Arabic fare. I watched the remake of RoboCop (that I liked) and then a couple of classic Monty Python episodes (The Spanish Inquisition one is so hilarious!).
I also had the chance to check out the restrooms - they were standard size but featured some basic but good amenities.
Time flew by, and we landed in Abu Dhabi on time but at a very remote stand. A bus was provided for premium customers only (we were handed an express immigration card as well), and within minutes I was officially in the UAE for my six hours layover.
One fact that I noticed was the number of workers waiting outside the plane to handle baggage and clean the plane once all people had deplaned. There were no less than a dozen airport employees - mostly for the Sub-Continent and Africa - waiting in the sweating, humid Abu Dhabi night just outside the plane. I noticed the same pattern along every other plane that had just landed. This brings me to another, sticky point here than many fellow travelers - including myself - often forget. Middle Eastern carriers have a huge cost-advantage compared to European and North-American airlines. being able to save so much on labour they are more easily able to offer a better in-flight experience at lower prices. It's something easily forgotten but that should always be taken into account when judging and comparing carriers.
In any case, during my layover I went through immigration and briefly checked out the new Etihad Arrival lounge. It's a nice little lounge that resembles the existing First Class lounge. It is very well staffed (I was the only customer when I visited), it has a decent selection of snacks and drinks, and most importantly it has showers and a barber (!). I believe it offers complimentary pressing service as well. From the lounge, also, you can easily access the chauffeur cars through an exit that leads directly to them.
Overall, my business class experience on Etihad was stellar. Matching already-high expectations isn't easy, but Etihad managed, once more, to surprise me. At this point I was looking very much to my next segment to Paris in Diamond First Class.
Nov 13, 2014, 6:51 am
#80
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Now closed: Etihad irst Class Lounge @ AUH T3
After meeting up with a friend at the Shangri-La Hotel for dinner and drinks, I made my way back to the airport. It was about 11.30pm, and the Premium Etihad check-in area was rather empty. As I already had my boarding pass I proceeded through immigration, which took extremely long because the agents were having a lot of system issues. Once through I made my way to the First Class lounge.
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I really think that the lounge, while a good lounge overall, is a bit on the weaker side (compared to the rest of EY offerings that is).That's mostly because the lounge is somewhat small, and as most long haul flights tend to leave around the same time, the lounge can get pretty crowded. Etihad is working on a new lounge, which should fix the problem (planned capacity will be a stunning 500 people!).
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15157542713_1687f698a5_b.jpg[/IMG]
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I was greeted at the entrance by no less than 4 attendants, all women and all good looking, of course. The first thing I asked for was a shower room, and a nice attendant from Burma escorted me to the Six Senses spa where I proceeded to book a back massage and where I could take a shower. There are only two shower rooms in the lounge, and they are rather small compared to, say, the Lufthansa ones; yet they have all the amenities needed to freshen up.
I had about 45 minutes to kill before my massage, and so I went to the main lounging area, which was rather crowded. As the dining area was the only one with enough room to sit dow and relax, I decided to sin in gluttony and check out the menu.
I ended up - incredibly, given how much I had eaten already - having a glass of Billecart-Salmon with some French onion soup (which was good, although the emmental-crusted crostino was nothing special) and a chicken Caesar salad, which was served with a poached egg on top (and which was very good). The service is probably more attentive than at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and the food of comparable quality. This lounge though lacks the variety of the Do&Co buffet, as you can only order a-la-carte.
After my "snack" I went back to the spa for my back massage, which I enjoyed a lot. After 10 rough days of traveling through Central Asia, this is just what I needed! I then proceeded to the cigar lounge, and asked one of the attendants for a Montecristo. Unfortunately, while she offered to cut the cigar for me she didn't do a proper job, and so the cigar was pretty much un-smokable. Probably that wasn't too bad after all, as I had smoked two cigars already during this trip.
I left the lounge a little early to go shopping for some camel milk chocolate (delicious and made only in Abu Dhabi) before proceeding to my gate. To my dismal, the gate had a long line and there was no dedicated line for premium customers. That made the whole boarding experience less than ideal, and overall it was around 30 minutes before I was able to get to the plane.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/15753285376_74c807e261_b.jpg[/IMG]
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/15775116951_7306cd8e73_b.jpg[/IMG]
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7512/15591561438_7666b5db06_b.jpg[/IMG]
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/15775115091_fc683d599a_b.jpg[/IMG]
I really think that the lounge, while a good lounge overall, is a bit on the weaker side (compared to the rest of EY offerings that is).That's mostly because the lounge is somewhat small, and as most long haul flights tend to leave around the same time, the lounge can get pretty crowded. Etihad is working on a new lounge, which should fix the problem (planned capacity will be a stunning 500 people!).
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15157542713_1687f698a5_b.jpg[/IMG]
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15778536012_055979aca9_b.jpg[/IMG]
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15592165550_792c2135ee_b.jpg[/IMG]
I was greeted at the entrance by no less than 4 attendants, all women and all good looking, of course. The first thing I asked for was a shower room, and a nice attendant from Burma escorted me to the Six Senses spa where I proceeded to book a back massage and where I could take a shower. There are only two shower rooms in the lounge, and they are rather small compared to, say, the Lufthansa ones; yet they have all the amenities needed to freshen up.
I had about 45 minutes to kill before my massage, and so I went to the main lounging area, which was rather crowded. As the dining area was the only one with enough room to sit dow and relax, I decided to sin in gluttony and check out the menu.
I ended up - incredibly, given how much I had eaten already - having a glass of Billecart-Salmon with some French onion soup (which was good, although the emmental-crusted crostino was nothing special) and a chicken Caesar salad, which was served with a poached egg on top (and which was very good). The service is probably more attentive than at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and the food of comparable quality. This lounge though lacks the variety of the Do&Co buffet, as you can only order a-la-carte.
After my "snack" I went back to the spa for my back massage, which I enjoyed a lot. After 10 rough days of traveling through Central Asia, this is just what I needed! I then proceeded to the cigar lounge, and asked one of the attendants for a Montecristo. Unfortunately, while she offered to cut the cigar for me she didn't do a proper job, and so the cigar was pretty much un-smokable. Probably that wasn't too bad after all, as I had smoked two cigars already during this trip.
I left the lounge a little early to go shopping for some camel milk chocolate (delicious and made only in Abu Dhabi) before proceeding to my gate. To my dismal, the gate had a long line and there was no dedicated line for premium customers. That made the whole boarding experience less than ideal, and overall it was around 30 minutes before I was able to get to the plane.
Nov 16, 2014, 9:36 am
#81
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Etihad Airways in Forst Class - Abu Dhabi to Paris
Etihad Airways Flight #31 AUH-CDG
Sep 2nd, 2014
Seat 2K, A340-600
02:35a-07:10a
A top airline distinguishes itself from the pack with attention to details. Small things like addressing you in a formal yet friendly way, bringing you a freshly-printed (onboard!) newspaper, and always refilling your glass without asking are what really makes the difference to premium customers. Etihad does this all very well, and it's not a wonder that it has been chosen as one of the top 5 first class operators of the year for the past few editions of the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
I left the lounge a little early to go shopping for some camel milk chocolate (delicious and made only in Abu Dhabi) before proceeding to my gate. To my dismal, the gate had a long line and there was no dedicated line for premium customers. That made the whole boarding experience less than ideal, and overall it was around 30 minutes before I was able to get to the plane.
Once I did get there, though, bliss commenced. I was personally escorted to my suite - 2K - and greeted by the flight attendant was serving my aisle. She would be one of the most attentive flight attendants I have had to date - always trying to please and to anticipate my needs.
Shortly after the chef came introducing himself, followed by Robert, the gracious cabin manager.
Etihad First Class cabin is very appealing. The beige tones that dominate the suites are well complemented by the black and white striped scheme of pillows and blankets. The suite features a big 24" inches flat TV, multiple light points, a minibar of sort with some (warm) water and packaged snacks (totally useless, only glitzy). The seat is comfortable and wide; under the ottoman there is enough space for a carry-on, and the suite has a narrow closet with enough space for, in my case, jeans and a polo shirt; it is not, though, as spacious as the one found on Cathay Pacific or British Airways. In case clothes do not fit into the closet, the FAs are more than happy to hang them for guests.
Next to the seat there were three menus (one for food, one for drinks, and one for tea). Two pralines in a cute box were sitting on top of the menu. The chef offered me a pre-departure drink, and I went for a mimosa, which was promptly refilled.
I took a look at the menu for today's flight. Given the late departure, there wasn't a real dinner on offer, but just a selection of heavy snacks from the "kitchen anytime" section of the menu, which read as follows:
Also, meat from the grill was available. The chef came back before departure asking me whether I wanted anything after take off, and I asked him for a steak sandwich (which he suggested be served with some chips) and some cheese. Also, for breakfast he proposed me a "last minute breakfast", meaning pastries and coffee right before landing. At first I agreed, but later on I would change my mind as the menu offered something really tempting.
Right before departure, Arabic coffee and dates were offered.
The suite came with a pajama and a very nice amenity kit - hand-woven by Emirati bedouins - stuffed with Bergamote 22 goodies.
We took off about 45 minutes late, and once airborne service started promptly. A glass of champagne with nuts was delivered and almost right after the steak sandwich came by. The champagne is a Gosset Brut Millesimee, a sort of subpar choice when it comes to brand, but a great choice as millesimee is always a guarantee of high quality.
The steak sandwich was just like I remembered it: pretty awesome. The bread is always crispy to the point, the meat and the cheese on top of it are an excellent combo. It was served with a green salad and chips on the side, as promised. I literally gulped it down in 5 minutes - crazy!
After that, the cheese was delivered - a selection of camambert, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a blue cheese. It was very good, but I think Lufthansa does a better job with its cheese.
After dinner I fell asleep with my seat right up, but luckily after half a hour I woke up and asked to have my bed made. I got four sound hours of sleep on what is an incredibly comfortable bed. Also, room temperature was great (meaning: not too hot) and the cabin air wasn't dry at all.
I happily slept for about three hours and a half. When I woke up, I proceeded to the restroom, and when I got back to my suite the flight attendant came by to ask me whether I wanted anything to drink. I asked her whether I could change my breakfast order, and she summoned the chef for me. I explained him that I had changed my mind and that I wanted to try the Arabic omelette, and he graciously obliged in changing my order. My orange juice was promptly served, along with a hot towel.
Then, the most amazing thing happened! Etihad has a printer on board... and a freshly-printed copy of the day's Wall Street Journal was delivered, perfectly wrapped, to my bed! Simply insane!
A few minutes later my table was set up once again. First, a fruit platter with assorted pastries was delivered.
The omelette was delivered. It was a pretty healthy dish – egg whites only with lebneh and halloumi plus some cucumbers on the side. It was very tasty and energizing.
After finishing breakfast I went to the restroom and changed back into my clothes. We landed in a crispy Parisian morning about half a hour late. Before deplaning, both my flight attendant and the chef came by thanking me for having flown Etihad Airways – a very nice gesture that only reinforced the already-excellent opinion that I have of this incredible airline.
Sep 2nd, 2014
Seat 2K, A340-600
02:35a-07:10a
A top airline distinguishes itself from the pack with attention to details. Small things like addressing you in a formal yet friendly way, bringing you a freshly-printed (onboard!) newspaper, and always refilling your glass without asking are what really makes the difference to premium customers. Etihad does this all very well, and it's not a wonder that it has been chosen as one of the top 5 first class operators of the year for the past few editions of the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
I left the lounge a little early to go shopping for some camel milk chocolate (delicious and made only in Abu Dhabi) before proceeding to my gate. To my dismal, the gate had a long line and there was no dedicated line for premium customers. That made the whole boarding experience less than ideal, and overall it was around 30 minutes before I was able to get to the plane.
Once I did get there, though, bliss commenced. I was personally escorted to my suite - 2K - and greeted by the flight attendant was serving my aisle. She would be one of the most attentive flight attendants I have had to date - always trying to please and to anticipate my needs.
Shortly after the chef came introducing himself, followed by Robert, the gracious cabin manager.
Etihad First Class cabin is very appealing. The beige tones that dominate the suites are well complemented by the black and white striped scheme of pillows and blankets. The suite features a big 24" inches flat TV, multiple light points, a minibar of sort with some (warm) water and packaged snacks (totally useless, only glitzy). The seat is comfortable and wide; under the ottoman there is enough space for a carry-on, and the suite has a narrow closet with enough space for, in my case, jeans and a polo shirt; it is not, though, as spacious as the one found on Cathay Pacific or British Airways. In case clothes do not fit into the closet, the FAs are more than happy to hang them for guests.
Next to the seat there were three menus (one for food, one for drinks, and one for tea). Two pralines in a cute box were sitting on top of the menu. The chef offered me a pre-departure drink, and I went for a mimosa, which was promptly refilled.
I took a look at the menu for today's flight. Given the late departure, there wasn't a real dinner on offer, but just a selection of heavy snacks from the "kitchen anytime" section of the menu, which read as follows:
Also, meat from the grill was available. The chef came back before departure asking me whether I wanted anything after take off, and I asked him for a steak sandwich (which he suggested be served with some chips) and some cheese. Also, for breakfast he proposed me a "last minute breakfast", meaning pastries and coffee right before landing. At first I agreed, but later on I would change my mind as the menu offered something really tempting.
Right before departure, Arabic coffee and dates were offered.
The suite came with a pajama and a very nice amenity kit - hand-woven by Emirati bedouins - stuffed with Bergamote 22 goodies.
We took off about 45 minutes late, and once airborne service started promptly. A glass of champagne with nuts was delivered and almost right after the steak sandwich came by. The champagne is a Gosset Brut Millesimee, a sort of subpar choice when it comes to brand, but a great choice as millesimee is always a guarantee of high quality.
The steak sandwich was just like I remembered it: pretty awesome. The bread is always crispy to the point, the meat and the cheese on top of it are an excellent combo. It was served with a green salad and chips on the side, as promised. I literally gulped it down in 5 minutes - crazy!
After that, the cheese was delivered - a selection of camambert, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a blue cheese. It was very good, but I think Lufthansa does a better job with its cheese.
After dinner I fell asleep with my seat right up, but luckily after half a hour I woke up and asked to have my bed made. I got four sound hours of sleep on what is an incredibly comfortable bed. Also, room temperature was great (meaning: not too hot) and the cabin air wasn't dry at all.
I happily slept for about three hours and a half. When I woke up, I proceeded to the restroom, and when I got back to my suite the flight attendant came by to ask me whether I wanted anything to drink. I asked her whether I could change my breakfast order, and she summoned the chef for me. I explained him that I had changed my mind and that I wanted to try the Arabic omelette, and he graciously obliged in changing my order. My orange juice was promptly served, along with a hot towel.
Then, the most amazing thing happened! Etihad has a printer on board... and a freshly-printed copy of the day's Wall Street Journal was delivered, perfectly wrapped, to my bed! Simply insane!
A few minutes later my table was set up once again. First, a fruit platter with assorted pastries was delivered.
The omelette was delivered. It was a pretty healthy dish – egg whites only with lebneh and halloumi plus some cucumbers on the side. It was very tasty and energizing.
After finishing breakfast I went to the restroom and changed back into my clothes. We landed in a crispy Parisian morning about half a hour late. Before deplaning, both my flight attendant and the chef came by thanking me for having flown Etihad Airways – a very nice gesture that only reinforced the already-excellent opinion that I have of this incredible airline.
Last edited by oneworld82; Nov 17, 2014 at 11:00 am
Nov 16, 2014, 8:51 pm
#82
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
Great instalment, thanks ^ When oh when will I ever try EY F, I wonder. Guess I should keep stockpiling my Virgin Australia miles!
Did you happen to notice your flightpath from Almaty - did you go up and over the Tien Shan mountains that lie immediately to the south of the city, or skirt along the north face of them towards the west? I imagine there might have been some quite impressive views through there and then over the rugged landscapes of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
BTW some of your images aren't working - I think they are missing the initial [IMG] tag?
Did you happen to notice your flightpath from Almaty - did you go up and over the Tien Shan mountains that lie immediately to the south of the city, or skirt along the north face of them towards the west? I imagine there might have been some quite impressive views through there and then over the rugged landscapes of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
BTW some of your images aren't working - I think they are missing the initial [IMG] tag?
Nov 17, 2014, 11:00 am
#83
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Great instalment, thanks ^ When oh when will I ever try EY F, I wonder. Guess I should keep stockpiling my Virgin Australia miles!
Did you happen to notice your flightpath from Almaty - did you go up and over the Tien Shan mountains that lie immediately to the south of the city, or skirt along the north face of them towards the west? I imagine there might have been some quite impressive views through there and then over the rugged landscapes of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
BTW some of your images aren't working - I think they are missing the initial [IMG] tag?
Did you happen to notice your flightpath from Almaty - did you go up and over the Tien Shan mountains that lie immediately to the south of the city, or skirt along the north face of them towards the west? I imagine there might have been some quite impressive views through there and then over the rugged landscapes of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
BTW some of your images aren't working - I think they are missing the initial [IMG] tag?
Nov 20, 2014, 6:32 am
#84
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
CDG-DFW on AA F (772)
So far, my trip had been blessed by great flights on SWISS, Lufthansa, and Etihad. My last leg was going to be, well, disappointing. While many people state it's not fair game to compare US carriers with foreign carriers, I beg to disagree. These days, American Airlines offers a very competitive, industry-leading business class product on its 77W jets, and it's installing refreshed products on all its fleet. Even the first class cabin - while not industry-leading - features a solid hard product. More or less, United and Delta offer similar, competitive products on long-haul flights. Hence, the difference lies in the soft product, and here American Airlines & Co. have to improve. Significantly.
In Paris I had to get my boarding pass to Dallas, which meant dealing with security and a bunch of tedious questions to make sure I was allowed to get back home (basically). I then had to go through the folly of having to show that all my electronic gadgets were actually electronic gadgets, and then there I was inside the terminal at CDG T2.
I did not know that, but in CDG the Admirals Club is actually outside security. When I realized it, I was already roaming duty free stores, and I just decided to window-shop until my flight... which I later discovered had been delayed by about one hour. Oh well, no big deal. After toying with the idea of buying some cheese and/or foie gras - and after deciding not to since everything was severely overpriced at the airport - I went to the gate and waited for my flight.
American Airlines Flight #49, CDG-DFW
September 2nd, 2014, 11:30a - 3:40p
First Class, Seat 4A
Boeing 777-200
I boarded with the other first class customers to a full first class cabin. As this was a B777-200, if still featured old cabins and interiors - as well as a 16 seats first class cabin that always feels way too cramped.
I will not comment much on the hard product - American "old" first class has been extensively discussed throughout the years. The cabin looked pretty dated, somewhat worn-out, but not in terrible shape. Considering its age, AA old first class is not a bad product - but an overhaul is long overdue.
My seat today was the last one in the back, by the galley. While this seat gets nowhere near the level of privacy offered by Etihad or even Lufthansa, it is nonetheless a private space to relax or work. I hear that many people like the fact that the seat rotates by 90 degrees, creating essentially a private workstation; I am not entirely sure I like that functionality though, as it somewhat detracts from the overall style and look of the seat.
At my seat, a packed cover and pillow were awaiting me. The fact that the everything was still packed signals cheapness and tackiness to me. If you want to create a premium experience, you would have your guests find a lighter cover at their seat for lounging use, but would replace that (or supplement it with) a better one when turndown service is offered. Point #1 for improvement.
Another aspect that could be greatly improved is the amenity kit. Let's face it: it looks cheap. Sure, it is an iPad case... but it is a generic, no-brand case Made in China (so the only label found on it says). If it were branded, it would be a much better proposition. Like in business class, the kit featured Dermalogica products - non the best, but not the worst either.
Shortly after taking my seat the flight attendant serving my aisle came by and introduced himself. He offered me a pajama - which quality represented a clear improvement compared to the one I received on my AA First Class flight to Japan in 2013 - and a pre-departure drink; as usual, I opted for some champagne - even though I am not sure whether this was real champagne or just some pre-departure sparkling wine.
The flight attendant, I am afraid to say, was the biggest let-down of my flight. I cannot conceive how an experienced and well-trained flight attendant could be so careless about etiquette and "savoir faire". He did not have any of the manners and the formality of what a first class customers would expect to find on a premium cabin; he was overly friendly and informal, treating passengers more like peers than like customers. A few of his mishaps during the flight: he did not close the curtains between cabins; he taped a white sheet of paper with food orders to the galley's wall on plain customers' sight; he almost threw a tray with food on my table as he was rushing (for whatever reason) the service; and he did not offer a drink to anyone during the second meal service. I am pretty sure that passengers in coach had better luck that I did.
Anyways, after departure we experienced some turbulence, but that cleared promptly and lunch service began.
Today's menu read as follows:
Amuse-Bouche
Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan, chives and pesto sauce
Starters
Smoked Trout Timbale with Avocado and saffron sauce
or
Prosciutto and Mozzarella with Melon
Soup
Sweet Corn and Butternut Squash
Salad
Seasonal greens with balsamic pears, beets, almonds and blue cheese
Entrees
Blue Cheese Crusted Beef Filet with Rosemary jus, broccoli mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots
Jalapeno Chicken with Cream Sauce. Served with sesame potato wedges and sauteed green beans
Tomato and Olive Crusted Tilapia. With lemon and herb couscous and sauteed spinach
Vegetable Korma with cumin-scented basmati rice
Dessert
Specialty Sundae. Banana foster sundae with vanilla ice cream and banana caramel topping
Traditional Ice Cream Sundae. Vanilla ice cream with your choice of hot fudge, butterscotch or seasonal berry toppings, whipped cream and pecans
Gourmet Cheese Plate. An assortment of fine cheeses with garnishes
Grand Marnier Fruit Salad with lemon sorbet
Light Meal
Entrees
Grilled Vegetable Flatbread. Topped with grilled red pepper, artichoke and black olives, accompanied by a side salad with passion fruit dressing
Charcuterie Plate. An assortment of fine cold cuts and cheese served with a side of grilled vegetables and breadsticks
Dessert
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Cookies. Freshly baked on board
On the drink side, Champagne Moutard was served - not a great choice and only marginally better than Gosset Brut served in Business Class. Overall, the only highlight on AA's drink menu was Amaretto DiSaronno.
After taking my order, the FA started preparing drinks. Within a few minutes, my bloody mary with wamed nuts was delivered. I haven't tried BM's on other airlines, but AA's is nothing special. The nuts were good as usual.
Pass 15 more minutes during which I started watching a movie ("3 Days to Kill"), and my table was set and the amuse bouche was served.
I liked the concept, but the ensemble was decidedly too chill - which detracted from the overall flavor of the dish. Cold and risotto are two words I would never want to see together.
After a few minutes, my starter was brought in. I went for prosciutto and mozzarella - a simple yet always satisfying (and hard to ruin!) dish. The prosciutto and the mozzarella were both fresh and very tasty - as was the melon. We had a winner here!
Since I wasn't too hungry after the previous night's feast, I skipped the soup and went straight to the salad.
While it was a perfectly-fresh serving of greens, I think we can all agree that presentation could be better.
Beef was my main dish of choice.
While the meat was overcooked, the blue cheese added zest and taste to the steak - and the sauce wasn't bad either. It was a decent dish - would have been great if the meat had been cooked medium instead of well-done. I had my dish with a glass of less-than-memorable Mercy Pinot Noir.
At this point I was feeling really full, so I passed on the sundae to have the Grand Marnier fruit salad + lemon sorbet. While the sorbet was perfectly fine, the fruit was minced too finely with the end result of having colored dots floating on a sea of Grand Marnier. Overall it was ok, but nothing memorable.
I think the lunch service took around 1 hour and half. It was well-paced, but the meal was ok only for a business class product, not for a first class one.
After lunch I put my seat in bed mode and caught three solid hours of sleep. I have to note that the flight attendants did not offer to make the bed to a single customer. On a Transatlantici flght I would have expected better, even from AA. The seat in bed mode is still very comfortable, but some mattress-like padding would make it even better.
Once I woke up I watched some TV and blogged a bit. The flight went by smoothly, and we were even able to make up some of the lost time due to our late departure. After handing out a bootle of water after the main meal, the flight attendant was nowhere to be found for approximately 4 hours.
About 1h30m before landing, the second meal was served. I opted for the charcuterie dish, which was great. You can't mess around with great ingredients...! Too bad that the flight attendant did not even offer anything to drink with it. Like, really? Unfortunately, it was not a surprise.
The fruit coming with the tray was fresh, and the cookie as yummy as always.
After the meal service I went to the washroom to freshen up and change back into my clothes, and in no time we were in Dallas - back home after 2 amazing weeks in Central Asia.
So, how was this flight? Mediocre, at best. A tired (albeit very functional) product, decent (but not great) food and drinks, sub-par service, and mediocre IFE made this a so-so first class experience. While American Airlines generally does Business Class well, I feel like it's waaaaay behind competition in its attempt to offer a First Class cabin that lives up to its name. Hopefully, once the fleet will have fully transitioned to a smaller (and newer) F cabin on the 777-300s things will improve. For now, I'll try to stick with business; and I will keep my fingers crossed for a bright(er) future.
In Paris I had to get my boarding pass to Dallas, which meant dealing with security and a bunch of tedious questions to make sure I was allowed to get back home (basically). I then had to go through the folly of having to show that all my electronic gadgets were actually electronic gadgets, and then there I was inside the terminal at CDG T2.
I did not know that, but in CDG the Admirals Club is actually outside security. When I realized it, I was already roaming duty free stores, and I just decided to window-shop until my flight... which I later discovered had been delayed by about one hour. Oh well, no big deal. After toying with the idea of buying some cheese and/or foie gras - and after deciding not to since everything was severely overpriced at the airport - I went to the gate and waited for my flight.
American Airlines Flight #49, CDG-DFW
September 2nd, 2014, 11:30a - 3:40p
First Class, Seat 4A
Boeing 777-200
I boarded with the other first class customers to a full first class cabin. As this was a B777-200, if still featured old cabins and interiors - as well as a 16 seats first class cabin that always feels way too cramped.
I will not comment much on the hard product - American "old" first class has been extensively discussed throughout the years. The cabin looked pretty dated, somewhat worn-out, but not in terrible shape. Considering its age, AA old first class is not a bad product - but an overhaul is long overdue.
My seat today was the last one in the back, by the galley. While this seat gets nowhere near the level of privacy offered by Etihad or even Lufthansa, it is nonetheless a private space to relax or work. I hear that many people like the fact that the seat rotates by 90 degrees, creating essentially a private workstation; I am not entirely sure I like that functionality though, as it somewhat detracts from the overall style and look of the seat.
At my seat, a packed cover and pillow were awaiting me. The fact that the everything was still packed signals cheapness and tackiness to me. If you want to create a premium experience, you would have your guests find a lighter cover at their seat for lounging use, but would replace that (or supplement it with) a better one when turndown service is offered. Point #1 for improvement.
Another aspect that could be greatly improved is the amenity kit. Let's face it: it looks cheap. Sure, it is an iPad case... but it is a generic, no-brand case Made in China (so the only label found on it says). If it were branded, it would be a much better proposition. Like in business class, the kit featured Dermalogica products - non the best, but not the worst either.
Shortly after taking my seat the flight attendant serving my aisle came by and introduced himself. He offered me a pajama - which quality represented a clear improvement compared to the one I received on my AA First Class flight to Japan in 2013 - and a pre-departure drink; as usual, I opted for some champagne - even though I am not sure whether this was real champagne or just some pre-departure sparkling wine.
The flight attendant, I am afraid to say, was the biggest let-down of my flight. I cannot conceive how an experienced and well-trained flight attendant could be so careless about etiquette and "savoir faire". He did not have any of the manners and the formality of what a first class customers would expect to find on a premium cabin; he was overly friendly and informal, treating passengers more like peers than like customers. A few of his mishaps during the flight: he did not close the curtains between cabins; he taped a white sheet of paper with food orders to the galley's wall on plain customers' sight; he almost threw a tray with food on my table as he was rushing (for whatever reason) the service; and he did not offer a drink to anyone during the second meal service. I am pretty sure that passengers in coach had better luck that I did.
Anyways, after departure we experienced some turbulence, but that cleared promptly and lunch service began.
Today's menu read as follows:
Amuse-Bouche
Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan, chives and pesto sauce
Starters
Smoked Trout Timbale with Avocado and saffron sauce
or
Prosciutto and Mozzarella with Melon
Soup
Sweet Corn and Butternut Squash
Salad
Seasonal greens with balsamic pears, beets, almonds and blue cheese
Entrees
Blue Cheese Crusted Beef Filet with Rosemary jus, broccoli mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots
Jalapeno Chicken with Cream Sauce. Served with sesame potato wedges and sauteed green beans
Tomato and Olive Crusted Tilapia. With lemon and herb couscous and sauteed spinach
Vegetable Korma with cumin-scented basmati rice
Dessert
Specialty Sundae. Banana foster sundae with vanilla ice cream and banana caramel topping
Traditional Ice Cream Sundae. Vanilla ice cream with your choice of hot fudge, butterscotch or seasonal berry toppings, whipped cream and pecans
Gourmet Cheese Plate. An assortment of fine cheeses with garnishes
Grand Marnier Fruit Salad with lemon sorbet
Light Meal
Entrees
Grilled Vegetable Flatbread. Topped with grilled red pepper, artichoke and black olives, accompanied by a side salad with passion fruit dressing
Charcuterie Plate. An assortment of fine cold cuts and cheese served with a side of grilled vegetables and breadsticks
Dessert
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Cookies. Freshly baked on board
On the drink side, Champagne Moutard was served - not a great choice and only marginally better than Gosset Brut served in Business Class. Overall, the only highlight on AA's drink menu was Amaretto DiSaronno.
After taking my order, the FA started preparing drinks. Within a few minutes, my bloody mary with wamed nuts was delivered. I haven't tried BM's on other airlines, but AA's is nothing special. The nuts were good as usual.
Pass 15 more minutes during which I started watching a movie ("3 Days to Kill"), and my table was set and the amuse bouche was served.
I liked the concept, but the ensemble was decidedly too chill - which detracted from the overall flavor of the dish. Cold and risotto are two words I would never want to see together.
After a few minutes, my starter was brought in. I went for prosciutto and mozzarella - a simple yet always satisfying (and hard to ruin!) dish. The prosciutto and the mozzarella were both fresh and very tasty - as was the melon. We had a winner here!
Since I wasn't too hungry after the previous night's feast, I skipped the soup and went straight to the salad.
While it was a perfectly-fresh serving of greens, I think we can all agree that presentation could be better.
Beef was my main dish of choice.
While the meat was overcooked, the blue cheese added zest and taste to the steak - and the sauce wasn't bad either. It was a decent dish - would have been great if the meat had been cooked medium instead of well-done. I had my dish with a glass of less-than-memorable Mercy Pinot Noir.
At this point I was feeling really full, so I passed on the sundae to have the Grand Marnier fruit salad + lemon sorbet. While the sorbet was perfectly fine, the fruit was minced too finely with the end result of having colored dots floating on a sea of Grand Marnier. Overall it was ok, but nothing memorable.
I think the lunch service took around 1 hour and half. It was well-paced, but the meal was ok only for a business class product, not for a first class one.
After lunch I put my seat in bed mode and caught three solid hours of sleep. I have to note that the flight attendants did not offer to make the bed to a single customer. On a Transatlantici flght I would have expected better, even from AA. The seat in bed mode is still very comfortable, but some mattress-like padding would make it even better.
Once I woke up I watched some TV and blogged a bit. The flight went by smoothly, and we were even able to make up some of the lost time due to our late departure. After handing out a bootle of water after the main meal, the flight attendant was nowhere to be found for approximately 4 hours.
About 1h30m before landing, the second meal was served. I opted for the charcuterie dish, which was great. You can't mess around with great ingredients...! Too bad that the flight attendant did not even offer anything to drink with it. Like, really? Unfortunately, it was not a surprise.
The fruit coming with the tray was fresh, and the cookie as yummy as always.
After the meal service I went to the washroom to freshen up and change back into my clothes, and in no time we were in Dallas - back home after 2 amazing weeks in Central Asia.
So, how was this flight? Mediocre, at best. A tired (albeit very functional) product, decent (but not great) food and drinks, sub-par service, and mediocre IFE made this a so-so first class experience. While American Airlines generally does Business Class well, I feel like it's waaaaay behind competition in its attempt to offer a First Class cabin that lives up to its name. Hopefully, once the fleet will have fully transitioned to a smaller (and newer) F cabin on the 777-300s things will improve. For now, I'll try to stick with business; and I will keep my fingers crossed for a bright(er) future.
Last edited by oneworld82; Nov 20, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Nov 20, 2014, 9:35 am
#86
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
Very nice TR. Still a bad photo tag on the last post 
What does it mean on the menu where it says (T). I get that (V) is for vegetarian...
Also, can you tell me if most people just go to sleep on a flight that leaves at 2am? Or are most people eating? I know that you have an obligation to try everything since you're doing a TR, but if I were traveling, I think I'd want to go to sleep asap.
Super job!
What does it mean on the menu where it says (T). I get that (V) is for vegetarian...
Also, can you tell me if most people just go to sleep on a flight that leaves at 2am? Or are most people eating? I know that you have an obligation to try everything since you're doing a TR, but if I were traveling, I think I'd want to go to sleep asap.
Super job!
Jan 16, 2015, 3:26 pm
#88
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
On my latest LHR-DFW on AA First just a few days ago, I had the best chicken (and my gf the best steak) I had on AA ever. Chicken was moist and tender and flavorful; steak was perfectly medium rare and flavorful.