Costa Rica on AA Business, Copa Lounge @ SJO & AA/BA/IB Premium Lounge @ MIA
Jun 9, 2013, 11:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
Costa Rica on AA Business, Copa Lounge @ SJO & AA/BA/IB Premium Lounge @ MIA
This is going to be a short report composed mainly of pictures that I took on this trip. During Memorial weekend I took advantage of a $650 fare in J that AA was offering a few months ago and decided to visit relatives there.
AA 2008 SFO - MIA
EQP 763 - Seat 3H First
Dept. 12:40P (Actual 1:12P) - Arriv. 8:54P (8:58P)
After doing some last minute errands I dropped the car at Park SFO and took the shuttle to the airport at barely 1 hr. before dept. It was cutting it a little short and I began to sweat when the shuttle got stuck at the Intl. terminal (1st stop) for a good 5 min. Once I arrived at T2 I really sprinted toward the closest kiosk to print my boarding pass. Lines at security were mercifully short and I made it to the gate at just 25 min. before dept. The odd thing is that there was no line and a manager was at the gate talking to an agent. That is when I found out that there will be a 30 min. delay due to some pressurization problem. I was mentally preparing myself for a long delay just in case but thankfully the problem was solved and we departed as expected.
Pretty soon boarding was announced and I settled into my seat. PDB was offered and after take off FA's distributed headsets, tablets, bottles of water and the menus. This was followed by hot towels and warm nuts with beverages. Nut refills were offered which was nice.
Salad offered with pepper cream dressing or olive oil with balsamic vinegar along with breads.
Main dishes were Turkey sandwich with stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brie and garlic herb spread on wheat berry bread with crudites OR Chilled Mediterranean prawns with tarragon aioli and panzanella salad. My pre-ordered turkey sandwich was acknowledged by the FA when she took the meal orders.
When I reserved this meal online, it was stated that this was served with a pumpkin bisque. As you can see from the picture, this was not the case. No big deal, but someone at AA should pay attention to the description of menu items before they get some people disappointed. Talk about disappointment, this meal was a let down. It tasted like a greasy glob that was put together with little forethought. For dessert we were offered a fruit cup, ice cream (vanilla Heath Crunch with cocoa dusted almonds), and cheese plate. Why does the crew persist in offering the fruit cup as a dessert when in fact this should be offered as a pre-arrival snack along with the cookies? Other than these minor hiccups, service was professional and attentive.
Arrived in Miami 2 minutes later than scheduled which was pretty good considering the delay. I picked up my rental car and drove to my parent's place where I stayed for the night. The following day I dropped off the car and checked in at AA F/J counter. During all my travels I never check bags but on this trip I had one to check and at barely under 1 hr before dept. I accept the responsibility that this was late and I might not be able to get the bag with me on the flight. The ticket agent informed me that it was too late to check any baggage which I already knew. I said that I was willing to sign a release if needed. What she said next really surprised me. In a flustered tone she said that I had to either get rid of the bag and leave it with someone in Miami or rebook the trip for the following day because all the flights that depart later during the day were full in J and she couldn't confirm me on the later flight. I again asked about signing the release and she told me that they cannot do that. I then pleaded her to check me in and allow me to try to check the bag at the gate. After checking my PNR she relented and issued me the boarding pass, warning me that they might not let me pass security with an extra bag. With boarding pass in had I tried to go through the elite security line and was stopped because of the extra bag. The agent there said that if I was escorted with someone from AA they would allow me to go. Instead of going back to the F/J counter, I decided to try the regular intl counter at the other side since it was empty. The agent there checked to see if there was any later flights that she could confirm me but nothing was available. At that point, she said "let me try one more thing so please follow me". She took me to the Flagship check-in area which is a separate partition, talked to a concierge and walked me to the front of the security line with my additional bag without being questioned. Security was a breeze and once at the other side I proceeded to the gate once there an agent was checking bags manually and gladly took my extra piece without a problem.
I don't blame the first agent at the F/J for doing her job and refusing to check my bag, but what I find unacceptable is the belligerent and apathetic tone that she used to address a passenger traveling in confirmed J who has PLT status and was checking in at the F/J desk. I am not a "DYKWIA" type of individual. On the contrary, I keep a low profile and go by the golden rule of treating others as I want to be treated. In addition, I used to work for AA as an agent for 2 years at MIA right after college in 1990 so I can really sympathize with what front line airline employees go through. However, I find that this situation could have been handled better. For instance, the agent could have used a friendlier tone and offered to place me on the standby list for F at a later flight or escorted me through security since the counter was next to the Flagship check-in area.
A few images of AA @ MIA
..to be continued
AA 2008 SFO - MIA
EQP 763 - Seat 3H First
Dept. 12:40P (Actual 1:12P) - Arriv. 8:54P (8:58P)
After doing some last minute errands I dropped the car at Park SFO and took the shuttle to the airport at barely 1 hr. before dept. It was cutting it a little short and I began to sweat when the shuttle got stuck at the Intl. terminal (1st stop) for a good 5 min. Once I arrived at T2 I really sprinted toward the closest kiosk to print my boarding pass. Lines at security were mercifully short and I made it to the gate at just 25 min. before dept. The odd thing is that there was no line and a manager was at the gate talking to an agent. That is when I found out that there will be a 30 min. delay due to some pressurization problem. I was mentally preparing myself for a long delay just in case but thankfully the problem was solved and we departed as expected.
Pretty soon boarding was announced and I settled into my seat. PDB was offered and after take off FA's distributed headsets, tablets, bottles of water and the menus. This was followed by hot towels and warm nuts with beverages. Nut refills were offered which was nice.
Salad offered with pepper cream dressing or olive oil with balsamic vinegar along with breads.
Main dishes were Turkey sandwich with stuffing, cranberry sauce, Brie and garlic herb spread on wheat berry bread with crudites OR Chilled Mediterranean prawns with tarragon aioli and panzanella salad. My pre-ordered turkey sandwich was acknowledged by the FA when she took the meal orders.
When I reserved this meal online, it was stated that this was served with a pumpkin bisque. As you can see from the picture, this was not the case. No big deal, but someone at AA should pay attention to the description of menu items before they get some people disappointed. Talk about disappointment, this meal was a let down. It tasted like a greasy glob that was put together with little forethought. For dessert we were offered a fruit cup, ice cream (vanilla Heath Crunch with cocoa dusted almonds), and cheese plate. Why does the crew persist in offering the fruit cup as a dessert when in fact this should be offered as a pre-arrival snack along with the cookies? Other than these minor hiccups, service was professional and attentive.
Arrived in Miami 2 minutes later than scheduled which was pretty good considering the delay. I picked up my rental car and drove to my parent's place where I stayed for the night. The following day I dropped off the car and checked in at AA F/J counter. During all my travels I never check bags but on this trip I had one to check and at barely under 1 hr before dept. I accept the responsibility that this was late and I might not be able to get the bag with me on the flight. The ticket agent informed me that it was too late to check any baggage which I already knew. I said that I was willing to sign a release if needed. What she said next really surprised me. In a flustered tone she said that I had to either get rid of the bag and leave it with someone in Miami or rebook the trip for the following day because all the flights that depart later during the day were full in J and she couldn't confirm me on the later flight. I again asked about signing the release and she told me that they cannot do that. I then pleaded her to check me in and allow me to try to check the bag at the gate. After checking my PNR she relented and issued me the boarding pass, warning me that they might not let me pass security with an extra bag. With boarding pass in had I tried to go through the elite security line and was stopped because of the extra bag. The agent there said that if I was escorted with someone from AA they would allow me to go. Instead of going back to the F/J counter, I decided to try the regular intl counter at the other side since it was empty. The agent there checked to see if there was any later flights that she could confirm me but nothing was available. At that point, she said "let me try one more thing so please follow me". She took me to the Flagship check-in area which is a separate partition, talked to a concierge and walked me to the front of the security line with my additional bag without being questioned. Security was a breeze and once at the other side I proceeded to the gate once there an agent was checking bags manually and gladly took my extra piece without a problem.
I don't blame the first agent at the F/J for doing her job and refusing to check my bag, but what I find unacceptable is the belligerent and apathetic tone that she used to address a passenger traveling in confirmed J who has PLT status and was checking in at the F/J desk. I am not a "DYKWIA" type of individual. On the contrary, I keep a low profile and go by the golden rule of treating others as I want to be treated. In addition, I used to work for AA as an agent for 2 years at MIA right after college in 1990 so I can really sympathize with what front line airline employees go through. However, I find that this situation could have been handled better. For instance, the agent could have used a friendlier tone and offered to place me on the standby list for F at a later flight or escorted me through security since the counter was next to the Flagship check-in area.
A few images of AA @ MIA
..to be continued
Last edited by aw; Jun 10, 2013 at 12:14 am
Jun 10, 2013, 12:00 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
AA 1561 MIA - SJO
EQP 752 - Seat 5A
Dept. 12:10P (Actual 12:37P) - Arriv. 12:43P (1:02P)
I believe that the slight delay was due to intl inbound and custom clearance. Once we boarded PDB was offered and service was done in a somewhat hurried way. Again, pre-ordered meal was acknowledged. Big salad with olive oil & balsamic vinegar (only choice) served with a choice of breads. Main dishes were shrimps and scallops in curry sauce served with jasmine rice and vegetable ratatouille OR steak with potatoes. Dessert was only chocolate ice cream with marshmallows and pecans.
Pushback
A rare bird only seen in MIA - Cayman Airways
Good bye MIA
Somewhere over Cuba?
Meal
This flight was only about 2:30 hrs so pretty soon we started our descent into SJO.
to be continued with La Paz waterfall.
EQP 752 - Seat 5A
Dept. 12:10P (Actual 12:37P) - Arriv. 12:43P (1:02P)
I believe that the slight delay was due to intl inbound and custom clearance. Once we boarded PDB was offered and service was done in a somewhat hurried way. Again, pre-ordered meal was acknowledged. Big salad with olive oil & balsamic vinegar (only choice) served with a choice of breads. Main dishes were shrimps and scallops in curry sauce served with jasmine rice and vegetable ratatouille OR steak with potatoes. Dessert was only chocolate ice cream with marshmallows and pecans.
Pushback
A rare bird only seen in MIA - Cayman Airways
Good bye MIA
Somewhere over Cuba?
Meal
This flight was only about 2:30 hrs so pretty soon we started our descent into SJO.
to be continued with La Paz waterfall.
Last edited by aw; Jun 10, 2013 at 12:12 am
Jun 10, 2013, 1:33 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
La Paz Waterfall Gardens is an attraction consisting of five waterfalls accessed through paved trails in the rainforest. It is located about 1 hr from San Jose on the way to Poas volcano. The road there can be a bit convoluted and at some points one can see landslide damages sustained during an earthquake in 2009. Once you get there, you will be surrounded by nature and the waterfall is an impressive site.
The road to La Paz Waterfall
La Paz Waterfall
A weekend goes by quickly, especially when staying with family and attending dining engagements. Soon it was time to return. At the airport, I stumbled upon two carriers whose livery, just like AA, will soon become a memory.
AV A319
TA A320
COPA Lounge
The lounge is one of the only two lounges at this airport and it is located by gate 4. There was a lady at a desk by the entrance to the elevator/stair that verifies your credentials and once you are allowed to go downstairs, you check in with another agent at the counter below who takes your departure information and welcomes you to the lounge. This lounge is not that big, but it is well appointed with a separate dining area, smoking room and rest rooms. There is a buffet area with some limited snacks, juices and cereal. I sat close to the bar area and one of the attendants promptly offered me a paid menu for snacks/drinks. More information is at this link from COPA.
Downstairs area
..to be continued.
The road to La Paz Waterfall
La Paz Waterfall
A weekend goes by quickly, especially when staying with family and attending dining engagements. Soon it was time to return. At the airport, I stumbled upon two carriers whose livery, just like AA, will soon become a memory.
AV A319
TA A320
COPA Lounge
The lounge is one of the only two lounges at this airport and it is located by gate 4. There was a lady at a desk by the entrance to the elevator/stair that verifies your credentials and once you are allowed to go downstairs, you check in with another agent at the counter below who takes your departure information and welcomes you to the lounge. This lounge is not that big, but it is well appointed with a separate dining area, smoking room and rest rooms. There is a buffet area with some limited snacks, juices and cereal. I sat close to the bar area and one of the attendants promptly offered me a paid menu for snacks/drinks. More information is at this link from COPA.
Downstairs area
..to be continued.
Last edited by aw; Jun 10, 2013 at 11:13 am
Jun 10, 2013, 6:19 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,598
Excellent report and pics. While most AA meals are generally pretty good, transcon lunches are pretty pathetic. I'd rather have a midcon lunch. Thanks for posting.
Jun 10, 2013, 10:53 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
SFO777 - Thanks. It's flattering coming from such an authority in trip reports. I would much prefer a midcon dinner over a transcon lunch anytime.
lewis_saint - Even though AA has a nice frequency to SJO, there are no lounges for its EXP/PLT or J pax. The Copa lounge has a partnership with Mastercard and I was able to access it through my MC Platinum Plus card.
lewis_saint - Even though AA has a nice frequency to SJO, there are no lounges for its EXP/PLT or J pax. The Copa lounge has a partnership with Mastercard and I was able to access it through my MC Platinum Plus card.
Jun 10, 2013, 1:39 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The greatest wee nation on earth.
Programs: Iron Maiden FC, GE, Rapidly falling down the Tiers to oblivion.
Posts: 2,604
Nice TR so far! I have been to costa rica a few times in the last couple of years, brilliant country! Last time we left from gate 4 back to MIA - i wonder if my hsbc premier mastercard - equiv of platinum - will have got me entry (as the flight was full of some church or school trip from montreal 'sounding off' every now and then. Gggggrreeaaattttt. How that would ID any missing kids is beyond me as I know i would shout out twice!...anyway...). I'll give it a try next time, thanks for the info!!
PS Cayman Airways flies to quite a few places in the US (some seasonal routes, but currently includes DFW, ORD, JFK, MIA, TPA as well as cuba, honduras, jamaica, and it looks like panama city is coming back). Not that i ever use them, although free rum punch and a decent 'snack' in their business cabin (sometimes less $$ then Y on AA) is surprisingly good. A good thing since our import duties heavily subsidise the airline!!
PS Cayman Airways flies to quite a few places in the US (some seasonal routes, but currently includes DFW, ORD, JFK, MIA, TPA as well as cuba, honduras, jamaica, and it looks like panama city is coming back). Not that i ever use them, although free rum punch and a decent 'snack' in their business cabin (sometimes less $$ then Y on AA) is surprisingly good. A good thing since our import duties heavily subsidise the airline!!
Last edited by jcm9000; Jun 10, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Jun 10, 2013, 11:22 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
jcm9000 - I saw other partnerships posted by the check in desk besides MC and COPA but don't quite remember which ones they were. When I quickly passed by the lounge and saw the MC logo I inquired the agent and she advised me that if your MC says Platinum or Platinum Plus, then you have access to the lounge. My card is a "Working Assets" Platinum + issued by Bank of America.
Cayman Airways has a very interesting livery and I personally think it is just as appealing. Good to know that they service other U.S. cities.
AA 986 SJO - MIA
EQP 738 - Seat 4A J/C
Dept. 12:40P (Act. 1:03P) - Arriv. 5:31P (5:34P)
Overall the gate agents were professional and did a good job of updating the passengers. There was a secondary inspection of bags inside the jetbridge which can be tedious but luckily my inspection was cursory and did not take long. PDB was offered and once we pushed from the gate, I saw dark clouds encroaching. SJO tends to get thunderstorms in the middle of the afternoon during certain times of the year that dissipate just as quickly as they appear. It started to rain heavily when the plane was positioning for take off in the runway and we were sent to a holding area for a few minutes. Eventually we took off after the rain subsided and the climbing became violently turbulent at times. Once we reached cruising altitude FA's started the service. Warm nuts with beverage were offered followed by hot towels. The purser handled the entire J cabin almost by himself and performed his duties efficiently. When he took orders he paused when he got to me and went back to the galley to get a printout. He then came back and confirmed my pre-order meal. The choices today were vegetable lasagna or steak with plantains and black beans. According to the website this was supposed to be a vegetable gratin. Lost in translation perhaps? The meal was good although there was too much sauce in the lasagna. For dessert the only choice was chocolate ice cream with shavings.
Meal
Landed in Miami just in time for a downpour. The walk to immigration was excruciatingly long but once there it was a breeze. Customs was somewhat smooth too and here is where the fun begins. I had to claim my checked bag and drop it for the connecting flight. The area for connections and re-entry into the secured area was getting very crowded. Thankfully there was a special line for elites and F/J pax. I entered the line after dropping my bag with the skycap and when I got to the end it converged with the line of regular pax trying to enter into the secured area. There was no agent manning this and it was "every man for himself". Welcome to MIA! Needless to say, this situation could become explosive if someone was late trying to connect and wouldn't budge for the person in the other line. Luckily civility prevailed and I soon I was inside the secured area on my way to the Premium Lounge in concourse E.
AA/BA/IB Premium Lounge
Those familiar with MIA know that getting from D to E is no walk in the park. Distance can be great depending on where you are in D. I took the Skytrain and then walked the hallway in order to get to E. There are two elevators that will take you to the lounge and will deposit you next to the counter. The Premium Lounge was a former AC in its previous incarnation and having been there before I was familiar with the surroundings. It's a bit "old fashioned" in its decor but there are showers, computers, a business center and free drinks and food, so I am not complaining. I also noticed that the staff tend to be very accommodating and approachable, which is another plus. I was drenched in sweat after going through Immigrations and Customs so I requested a shower room. I was immediately escorted to one and after I took one I felt rejuvenated already. A minor complaint - the shower pressure was not steady and temperature oscillated a bit. I found a quiet corner and proceeded to have a bite since my connecting flight only offered a snack. I really enjoyed my stay here and will let the pics do the talking.
Bathroom stocked with Dermatologica products.
Interior
Computer cubicles (3 on one side with computers and 3 on the other without)
The buffet area
..to be continued
Cayman Airways has a very interesting livery and I personally think it is just as appealing. Good to know that they service other U.S. cities.
AA 986 SJO - MIA
EQP 738 - Seat 4A J/C
Dept. 12:40P (Act. 1:03P) - Arriv. 5:31P (5:34P)
Overall the gate agents were professional and did a good job of updating the passengers. There was a secondary inspection of bags inside the jetbridge which can be tedious but luckily my inspection was cursory and did not take long. PDB was offered and once we pushed from the gate, I saw dark clouds encroaching. SJO tends to get thunderstorms in the middle of the afternoon during certain times of the year that dissipate just as quickly as they appear. It started to rain heavily when the plane was positioning for take off in the runway and we were sent to a holding area for a few minutes. Eventually we took off after the rain subsided and the climbing became violently turbulent at times. Once we reached cruising altitude FA's started the service. Warm nuts with beverage were offered followed by hot towels. The purser handled the entire J cabin almost by himself and performed his duties efficiently. When he took orders he paused when he got to me and went back to the galley to get a printout. He then came back and confirmed my pre-order meal. The choices today were vegetable lasagna or steak with plantains and black beans. According to the website this was supposed to be a vegetable gratin. Lost in translation perhaps? The meal was good although there was too much sauce in the lasagna. For dessert the only choice was chocolate ice cream with shavings.
Meal
Landed in Miami just in time for a downpour. The walk to immigration was excruciatingly long but once there it was a breeze. Customs was somewhat smooth too and here is where the fun begins. I had to claim my checked bag and drop it for the connecting flight. The area for connections and re-entry into the secured area was getting very crowded. Thankfully there was a special line for elites and F/J pax. I entered the line after dropping my bag with the skycap and when I got to the end it converged with the line of regular pax trying to enter into the secured area. There was no agent manning this and it was "every man for himself". Welcome to MIA! Needless to say, this situation could become explosive if someone was late trying to connect and wouldn't budge for the person in the other line. Luckily civility prevailed and I soon I was inside the secured area on my way to the Premium Lounge in concourse E.
AA/BA/IB Premium Lounge
Those familiar with MIA know that getting from D to E is no walk in the park. Distance can be great depending on where you are in D. I took the Skytrain and then walked the hallway in order to get to E. There are two elevators that will take you to the lounge and will deposit you next to the counter. The Premium Lounge was a former AC in its previous incarnation and having been there before I was familiar with the surroundings. It's a bit "old fashioned" in its decor but there are showers, computers, a business center and free drinks and food, so I am not complaining. I also noticed that the staff tend to be very accommodating and approachable, which is another plus. I was drenched in sweat after going through Immigrations and Customs so I requested a shower room. I was immediately escorted to one and after I took one I felt rejuvenated already. A minor complaint - the shower pressure was not steady and temperature oscillated a bit. I found a quiet corner and proceeded to have a bite since my connecting flight only offered a snack. I really enjoyed my stay here and will let the pics do the talking.
Bathroom stocked with Dermatologica products.
Interior
Computer cubicles (3 on one side with computers and 3 on the other without)
The buffet area
..to be continued
Jun 11, 2013, 12:04 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
Open Bar
My "dinner"
AA 1783 MIA - SFO
EQP 752 - Seat 6E F/C
Dept. 8:20P (Act. 8:39P) - Arriv. 10:59P (11:18P)
The strange thing about this flight is that I arrived 25 min. before dept. and there was no line, everyone has boarded already. Last time I checked this flight was full, so I guess that there were a lot of no shows or misconnecting pax. I was the last one to board F and of course there was no space in the overhead bin. One of the FA's started to look for space right away and signaled me to store my bag above the bulkhead row. The crew on this flight turned out to be SFO based and one of the best that I have ever flown with. They were proactive, friendly, always smiling and very professional. It was a pleasure to fly with them and after I returned I sent a complimentary letter to AA HDQ to let them know of my pleasant experience.
PDB beverage was offered and once we took off, warm nuts with beverages were distributed. The FA confirmed my reserved lemon chicken over salad and the choices for snack were - Mushroom soup with garlic sourdough croutons, Grilled lemon chicken over seasonal greens with goat cheese and sour cream/herb dressing OR Gourmet cheese plate. The chilled lemon chicken was great, but I found the quantity lacking for a flight departing at this time. Personally I think that this flight should be a full dinner instead of a snack. The cut off time should be after 10P, not before. It's a good thing that I managed to grab a bite at the lounge before boarding this flight.
This concludes my trip report and now I have sampled J/C on CO, TA and AA from the USA to SJO. So which of these three is my favorite? Schedule wise it is a toss up between CO (now UA) and AA. TA has a horrible dept. times out of SFO, either at 1:30A or 6:50A. In terms of catering I find that the AA has better quality meals compared to the other two. The chance use the Premium Lounge in MIA slightly tips the scale in favor of AA too.
As always, thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Some previous trip reports:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-san-jose.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...k-economy.html
Istanbul via AA, IB, TK & OS with visits to lounges. (first trip to Istanbul)
First time to Tokyo on JAL J with stay @ Intercontinental ANA...
Quick photo report on UA p.s. SFO-JFK and Cathay Pacific F JFK-Vancouver with stay @ Fairmont Waterfront.
Sao Paulo and Ouro Preto on LAN Business.
How I got pampered by Lufthansa F and Spanair on my way to Israel.
My "dinner"
AA 1783 MIA - SFO
EQP 752 - Seat 6E F/C
Dept. 8:20P (Act. 8:39P) - Arriv. 10:59P (11:18P)
The strange thing about this flight is that I arrived 25 min. before dept. and there was no line, everyone has boarded already. Last time I checked this flight was full, so I guess that there were a lot of no shows or misconnecting pax. I was the last one to board F and of course there was no space in the overhead bin. One of the FA's started to look for space right away and signaled me to store my bag above the bulkhead row. The crew on this flight turned out to be SFO based and one of the best that I have ever flown with. They were proactive, friendly, always smiling and very professional. It was a pleasure to fly with them and after I returned I sent a complimentary letter to AA HDQ to let them know of my pleasant experience.
PDB beverage was offered and once we took off, warm nuts with beverages were distributed. The FA confirmed my reserved lemon chicken over salad and the choices for snack were - Mushroom soup with garlic sourdough croutons, Grilled lemon chicken over seasonal greens with goat cheese and sour cream/herb dressing OR Gourmet cheese plate. The chilled lemon chicken was great, but I found the quantity lacking for a flight departing at this time. Personally I think that this flight should be a full dinner instead of a snack. The cut off time should be after 10P, not before. It's a good thing that I managed to grab a bite at the lounge before boarding this flight.
This concludes my trip report and now I have sampled J/C on CO, TA and AA from the USA to SJO. So which of these three is my favorite? Schedule wise it is a toss up between CO (now UA) and AA. TA has a horrible dept. times out of SFO, either at 1:30A or 6:50A. In terms of catering I find that the AA has better quality meals compared to the other two. The chance use the Premium Lounge in MIA slightly tips the scale in favor of AA too.
As always, thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Some previous trip reports:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-san-jose.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...k-economy.html
Istanbul via AA, IB, TK & OS with visits to lounges. (first trip to Istanbul)
First time to Tokyo on JAL J with stay @ Intercontinental ANA...
Quick photo report on UA p.s. SFO-JFK and Cathay Pacific F JFK-Vancouver with stay @ Fairmont Waterfront.
Sao Paulo and Ouro Preto on LAN Business.
How I got pampered by Lufthansa F and Spanair on my way to Israel.
Last edited by aw; Jun 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Jun 11, 2013, 8:43 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/ mentions an Iberia lounge at SJO called 'VIP Lounge' by Gate 4A. Did you see that?
Jun 11, 2013, 10:01 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
That would be the COPA lounge, but notice that in the description it says "operated by a third party on behalf of IB". Lounge access for frequent flyers by tier status is restricted to the condition that the lounge has to be operated by any oneworld alliance airline.
Jun 11, 2013, 10:06 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The greatest wee nation on earth.
Programs: Iron Maiden FC, GE, Rapidly falling down the Tiers to oblivion.
Posts: 2,604
More good photos! I like that mia premium lounge just because the sitting area behind the bar is so bright - good views of the TATL aircraft coming into E and one part of D. This has of course been discussed elsewhere many times so apologies for the stupid question, but curious on the basis they gave access to the mia lounge?
Jun 11, 2013, 10:31 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 706
Thanks for clarifying. A little frustrating that as an AA J international passenger and a BA OneWorld Sapphire member, I don't have access. Would a MasterCard World Elite Platinum card work?
Jun 11, 2013, 12:41 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, CM ConnectMiles, AA Advantage
Posts: 2,129
jcm9000 - The way I understand it, admission to the Premium Lounge @ MIA is mainly for F/J pax including Oneworld Emerald & Sapphire members who are on BA, IB, AB and AA intl flights only.
lewis_saint - the world Platinum on your MC is the ticket to gain entrance according to what I've been told.
lewis_saint - the world Platinum on your MC is the ticket to gain entrance according to what I've been told.