Update:

I got up early yesterday morning and made it over to LAX in time to get breakfast at the FL before my flight to MIA. Flight 202 LAX-MIA was excellent, despite the 752.

MIA was a zoo, as ever. Flight 68 MIA-MAD had the questionable notoriety of departing out of the High E gates, which luckily are now inside Security (and a stop on the elevator down from the E club). Thank goodness we didn't depart from C gates (that I call the "armpit" of AA's global network--the concourse actually smells that way!)

(Incidentally, all of the AAngels I asked at the club were quite sure that the E club would be staying open on a permanent basis, NOT just temporarily until the makeover of Concourse A is done. I'm delighted! No more sickly-green D club for me!)

Our flight was full of Panamanian students with backpacks and "safari" gear, all covered with corporate sponsor logos such as Panama Jack and various banks. It didn't look like a missionary group, but instead some kind of service organization, perhaps.

AA 68 MIA-MAD departed on time and we enjoyed superb IFS from the FAs. It was a real Dinner with Hot Breakfast (none of that "Late Night Supper" nonsense on those flights to Deep South America [that ironically are much longer]). My seatmate was an employee dependant, an 18-year-old college kid flying for free with a buddy to packback through Europe over the summer. Kind of a gabber, but as soon as we got our BOSE headphones and AVOD devices, he quieted down.

We arrived on time into MAD, and I was one of a significant bunch of folks whose luggage did not arrive. Yes, I curse myself for checking luggage! It is why I almost NEVER do it. But this trip, I am staying for more than 2 weeks, so I decided I had to. When I asked the AA baggage service staff how it was possible that my bag could have misconnected since my layover at MIA was over 3 hours, she rolled her eyes and said "because MIA is such a mess that at least a half dozen people each day arrive without their luggage on this flight!"

Wow...that's pretty shocking. And I could see it was true. The handlers were rolling suitcases into the baggage office that had just arrived on my flight, but were for passengers who had arrived the day before.

AA really needs to get its MIA operation in working order!

Luckily, when I pack I always assume that my bags will be delayed, so I have plenty of changes of clothing in my carry-ons. However, I'm not looking forward to opening up my suitcase and pulling out the plastic bag containing my wet swimsuit that I used just hours before my departure from LAX.

Ah well...let's just hope that my bag makes it to MAD before I depart in two days to go to GVA (on a different PNR, on IB). When I hit GVA, I'm getting into a rental car and driving to ZRH, and I think it would be difficult to get my bag to me in the middle of the Alps!