YUL-MIA
Flight AA 1451
737-800 BSI
Seat 22C
6:20am-10:00am (sked)
6:15am-9:45am (actual)
March 19th, 2012


"Ah, ze olde 4:00 AM vake up call" as Inspector Clouseau would say. Dreadful yes but the end result would be definitely worth it. So cab it to Trudeau (wow no traffic on the Met!), no checked luggage so breeze through TSA and customs, Mrs jv66 the regular way, I on the old Nexus; "Sweetie I'll be waiting by the gate" while I go grab something to eat after the security theater.


















Walk to the airplane and realize that we are flying one a relatively new 738 BSI. Excellent! Here is a quick description of this plane on aa.com: "The new 737-800 BSI interior offers several unique features, including larger overhead bins – modeled after the 787 Dreamliner's pivoting bins – that pivot down and out. The innovative design allows the bins to hold 48 more bags than standard overhead bins and 4 more than current non-BSI aircraft with larger bins. Sculpted sidewalls provide customers with a feeling of spaciousness and updated window reveals make the windows appear larger. Brighter and longer-lasting LED lighting can be programmed to create different effects during the flight such as soft blue sky overhead. Cove lighting provides a welcoming feel for customers as they board the aircraft. Intuitive placement of switches and call buttons and speakers above every row of seats to improve sound quality are additional features that enhance the customer experience."

This plane still had a very new feel to it, everything from the seats to the floor were extremely clean. The mood lighting was quite welcomed for such an early flight. I was also impressed with how quiet this aircraft was compared to the many others 738 models I have flown (including the return MIA-YUL, a dramatic difference). The screens were also noticeably much brighter and clearer them previous models. A smooth take-off, good efficient cabin service with the usual Y amenities of "national" Y service with a very courteous and professional cabin crew. Left early and arrived early. Well done AA!




Seat 22A





Obligatory leg room shot











The morning's other launches















Land at MIA, have about 2:30hrs to kill so head to the usual book store, then the duty free since my friend is an avid bourbon drinker and since "bourgon" (as the great Richard Burton would say) isn't readily available in Costa Rica, am glad to be able to get her some. Have lunch at a sit down, look at the menu and still marvel as to why they put down down "Dolphin" fish as a menu option, instead of putting mahi-mahi. You'd think the marketing dep't of said restaurant would perhaps think that "dolphin" on the menu could perhaps be a put-off but what do I know. Walk around MIA and shoot a couple of the interesting artwork that is on display.














I have a love/hate relationship with MIA. Sometimes it can be a great airport, other times it can be complete chaos! I was somewhat worried about our returning SJO-MIA-YUL flights since we only had 95 minutes to make our MIA-YUL connection on a Thursday evening flight, and had posted on FT on what others experience were with these connecting times. This wasn't such a big deal for me since I have Global Entry but mrs jv66 doesn't. I'm glad to inform everyone that now US and Canadian passport holders go through the same passport controls area (at least in Concourse D) and that it only took me 35 minutes and mrs jv66 45mins to go from gate to gate (bear in mind we had no checked luggage).