KMIA (Miami - International Airport / Wilcox Field / 36th Street / Pan American Field) - KMCO (Orlando International Airport - McCoy)

• Airline: American Airlines
• Airline IATA Code: IATA Code # AA
• Airline IACO Code: IACO Code # AAL
• Airline Callsign: Radio Callsign AMERICAN
• Airline Flight Number: # AA 1525
• Aircraft / Equipment Used for Flight : Boeing 767-323(ER)
• Aircraft / Equipment Registration: Registration # N374AA
• Airline Aircraft / Equipment Fleet Number: # 374
• Aircraft / Equipment Nationality: United States of America - FAA - Registered A/C / Equipment
• Aircraft Manufacturer: The Boeing Company
• Aircraft Sub - Manufacturer: Boeing Commercial Airplanes Division
• Aircraft's First Flight: June 3rd, 1992
• Aircraft's Age as of Date of Flight: 22.3 Years Old as of September 14th, 2104
• Aircraft Test Registration: Test Registration N374AA
• Aircraft Config: C30Y195
• Total Number of Passenger Seats: 225 Seats
• Aircraft Construction Number (MSN) : # 25201
• Aircraft Line Number: # 437
• Aircraft Delivery Date: June 17th, 1992
• Aircraft Powerplant (s) : 2x GE CF6-80C2B6
• Aircraft Owned by / Leased from: OWNED BY American Airlines Group
• Cabin: Business Class (Sold as First Class)
• Fare Class: F (Full Fare Flexible / Refundable First Class)
• Meal: Beverage / Snack Service
• Seat Assignment: Seat # 5J, Window Seat, Business Class (Sold as First Class)
• Row Assignment: Row # 5, Business Class (Sold as First Class)
• A/C Equipped with IFE: Yes, PTV System
• A/C Equipped with Wi-Fi Wireless Internet Access: No
• Airline Frequent Flier Program: AAdvantage
• Miles / Rewards / Points Earned: 750 AAdvantage Miles, 1 AAdvantage Segment
• Airline Flight Date: September 14th, 2014
• Boarding Call Time: 1:35 PM EST, September 14th, 2014
• Boarding Zone: Boarding Zone # 1, Priority AAccess
• Departure Time: 2:05 PM EST, September 14th, 2014
• Departure Gate / Jetway: Gate / Jetway D14, Concourse D, Terminal 1, KMIA (Miami - International Airport / Wilcox Field / 36th Street / Pan American Field)
• Arrival Time: 3:12 PM EST, September 14th, 2014
• Arrival Gate / Jetway: Gate / Jetway A17, Concourse A, Terminal A, KMCO (Orlando International Airport - McCoy)
• Time Aloft: 1 hours 7 minutes (67 minutes)
• Filed Speed: 214 KIAS
• Filed Cruising Altitude: 19,000 feet
• Flight Distance: Direct: 193 SM | Planned: 233 SM | Flown: 351 SM
• Routing Waypoint (s) : HEDLY1 HEDLY J53 PHK BAIRN3
• Fare Cost: $577.62 USD (Full Fare Refundable / Flexible First Class = $434.88 USD + Taxes & Carrier-Imposed Fees = $43.92 USD + Allianz Travel Insurance = $30.00 USD + American Airlines Admiral's Club One Day Pass = $50.00 USD + AAdvantage Mileage Multiplier = $18.82 USD = $577.82 USD Total)

FLIGHT DATA SOURCE (S) :

1. Planespotter.Net Airline Data

2. Planespotter.Net Airframe Data

3. FlightAware Live Flight Tracking Data

4. Airline Fleet Data

5. Airline General Class of Service Info

6. Airline Aircraft Specific Data / Onboard Product / Amenities

7. Airline Onboard Dining /Cuisine Data

8. Airline Onboard Beverage Selection Data

9. Airline Seat Map Data

10. SeatGuru Seat Map Data


FlightAware for this flight. Copyright FlightAware © 2014


Not having any time to spare, at about 11:55A AM EST, I ran into the baggage claim, desperately looking for a way to access the upper level ticketing / checkin hall. After asking a Cuban Coffee stall server, I am running to the nearest elevator....in dress shoes (as I said earlier, I dressed up for the flight with black trousers, a button down shirt, and dress shoes), just barely catching a ride before the doors slammed shut.

Inside the elevator, a couple who wasn't quite old enough to be elderly but not young enough to be middle age did not seem to pleased to be sharing the elevator with such a young "whippersnapper". They stared at me and pointed at one of the elevator buttons, murmuring incomprehensible phrases before becoming outwardly irate and just pushing the button themselves. As I exited the elevator with them walking out behind me, I overhead the husband saying "there's a whole generation just like him" (WHAT? I didn't even understand what you said?). Flared up by this man's ignorant comments, I was tempted to do a 180 degree turn and fire back, "Guess which generation raised us!?" but I remember the manners my VERY traditional manners my parents taught me, refraining from engaging him.

After I printed my receipt-paper boarding passes at the kiosk (and adding on 3,000 AAdvantage account miles for only $30 ), I head over to the MIA Concourse D security checkpoint and went through the usual TSA rituals before entering the airside.



Heading over to the Priority AAccess desks and kiosks to print out my boarding passes.


Printing out boarding passes at the Priority AAccess carry-on-only kiosks.


AA reminds me of my flight's gate assignment, the most useful feature I've seen a kiosk perform IMO.


While waiting in the Priority AAcess Security lane, I spotted the Flagship First Class Check in "room". I'll be in there on Saturday. {hyper}

MIA is much more modern than FLL, and is much more spacious as well. High ceilings create a general feeling of substantial spaciousness. Between the various lengths of terminal are very large skylights, even higher than the normal ceilings, with each containing a unique "luxury good advertisement", for example, there was a Lincoln Towncar parked in the center of one skylight. With the tall ceilings, the sheer amount of retail and dining venues, and the omnipresent could easily be mistaken for a high - class shopping mall or hotel.

Instead of taking the MIA Mover (The Bombardier APM-100 train that links all of the terminals at Miami International Airport) over to the Admiral's Club, I decided to traverse the good old fashioned way: walking! My stroll over to the clubroom was actually quite enjoyable, since I was unable to explore MIA "in-depth" the last time I was here on may 17th: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/253053

Eventually, I find my way to the entrance escalator, check-in with the agents at the top (and receive souvenir cardstock boarding passes / receipt), and make my way into the lounge itself.


Airside at MIA, walking to the Admiral's Club.



Entering the club.


Initially I was confused, as the Admiral's Club appeared to have no walls! However, the agent told me that what is pictured above is an overflow area, and I turn around and see...


The entrance! (I sincerely apologize for the blurriness)


Checking in.

The American Airlines Admiral's Club is comparable to the overall offerings of the US Airways Club, the Delta Sky Club, and the United Club. One-Day Passes are available for $50 USD (which is how I was granted admittance), offered food is usually munchies, junk food, and snacks, there is a bar, free Wi-FI Wireless Broadband internet, and other such amenities typical of United States-based airlines' airport lounges.


Entering the Club.


The main "Grand Hall" seating area.



Usual United States-based airline lounge hamster food - cookies, snack mixes, complimentary beverages, fruit, and vegetables.

One thing that sets AA apart in this regard, though, is that most of their lounges within their hub airports have an actual sit-down restaurant within the club itself (Delta does this as well at one of the Sky Clubs in JFK I believe, but I'm unsure of whether they do this anywhere else besides New York). There are complimentary light snacks just like every other United States-based airline lounge, including fresh-baked cookies, fruit, vegetables, and snack mixes. But the REAL food in the inter-club restaurant isn't free.

I don't understand why, but American Airlines has been harshly criticized for not making the food in the eatery free. I don't agree with those critics at all. For one thing, it's good that the restaurant exists at all, I'd definitely prefer a surcharged dining venue rather than have only hamster food. Secondly, I doubt American Airlines could afford to keep the various prices of admittance down AND keep the wide extent of the restaurant's menu if they made the food free. The menu itself is actually pretty extensive, here are scans from the menu that the bartender let me keep:





Scans of all four menu pages.

Since I didn't have any breakfast, I take a seat at the bar (generating strange looks from the other adults in the bar-chairs surrounding me all the while) and explored the menu, eventually settling on a Vanilla Belgian Waffle served with warm maple syrup, cool whipped cream, and sugar-glazed strawberries, as well as a yogurt parfait and a number of my customary cokes.

The Hispanic barman has a bit of a difficult time understanding my order, but eventually he gets what I desire to eat. All orders in this Admiral's Club restaurant (near Gate D16) are telephoned directly into the kitchen so as to avoid a large amount of waiters / waitresses hustling around and thereby disrupting the quiet atmosphere. While my food is being made, the bartender and I strike up a friendly chat and I have several glasses of Coke.


Sitting at the bar while the barman comes over to take my order.


Perusing over the surprisingly extensive food choices.

It wasn't readily apparent how long I would have to wait to receive my food, so I asked the bartender and he suggested that I get my order "To-Go". While this meant that I wouldn't see any American Airlines cutlery or dishes, it did mean that I could bring my food along with me wherever I decided to spot.

The waffle itself was downright DELICIOUS. It seemed to have "pockets" of vanilla and maple syrup within the batter, and once it was topped with the cool whipped cream and sugar-glazed strawberries, it was pretty much akin to a little slice of heaven. The Parfait was decent as well, just a normal yogurt cup with fresh fruit and granola. Well worth the $12.


Very nice takeout bag, I ended up keeping it.


My breakfast. Note that this is a to-go order, that's why it is all plastic. If you stay in the club, they serve your food with real AA porcelain plates and metal American Airlines-inscribed utensils.


The mediocre view out of the only tarmac view windows in the Gate D16 Admiral's Club at MIA. I still can't decide which livery I like better, I love them both equally! Which is your favorite?


Looking the other way into a large maintenance hangar. I wonder what they're doing over there? Oh, and the livery comparison once again...

After I finished up my meal, I spotted from the only windows to have a view of the tarmac, in the back of the club. This meant that the only views I could see were a bit of the entrance to MIA from I95 and a mediocre selection of AA 738s, so I threw away my trash (except for that awesome bag) and headed down to the terminal to spot and to view my scheduled 763.

Besides an indescribable amount of American Airlines aircraft, MIA is also home to a wide variety of other airlines and rare aircraft. The airport itself is widely known as a decommissioning hub where aircraft spend their last hours before being parted out, transferred, or moved to Opa-Locka Airport (OPL, same acronym as the train station, I believe.) to be scrapped. Thus, a ton of old, decommissioned aircraft were present across the ramp: too many Cargo MD-11s to count, DC-9s of all versions (-40, -50, etc.), Shorts 360s, Beechcraft B1900Ds, Saab 340B+s, DC-10s, the whole nine yards. As for rare aircraft that are still operating bookable airline flights at MIA, a random Venezuelan Airline flies 737-200s and Fokkers into MIA, and various charter operators fly small props as well, such as ExecAir with its only plane, a C182, doing MIA-APF-MIA. It's a wonder I didn't max out my memory card just spotting...


After leaving the club, I spot a flock of colorful Tri-Jets across the ramp!


Upon closer inspection, the red tailed-Tri-Jet appears to be a passenger A/C, although the number two engine is missing! We all know what that means for her...{crying}


A very low load factor in First Class for today's hop up to MCO. There are going to be some happy FFs and nonrevs...

Nearly 20 minutes before my scheduled flight to MCO was ready to board, I headed back up the escalator and into the Gate D16 Admiral's Club for a few last minute soft drinks. The ladies recognize me from before, not even asking me to scan my day pass or show my ID, so I venture inside the Club and slug down a few carbonated beverages, before tipping the bartender quite heavily and returning to Gate D16 after bidding the kind check-in agents goodbye.

Gate D16 is obviously set up for international arrivals, perhaps from South America or who knows where else--there are no windows at all at this gate and you actually have to walk through two cordoned-off rooms to reach the jetway.

Just as I stroll up to the gate, the agent begins her usual spiel over the PA about how full the flight was, how people past zone XYZ won't have any space to place their bags in the overhead bins, and begging people to check their bags (a few people do actually check them). I am beginning to wonder if this "flight is going to be 100% full" announcement is standard corporate lingo no matter what the load factor percentage is. I hear the agent clearing a large crowd of nonrevs into first class, so maybe I am right on that one...

When first class is called to board, I walked up to the Priority AAccess lane, scan my boarding pass, walk through two rooms, and finally I am wandering down the jetway to my ride today, N374AA.


Looks like there's quite a crowd of people down there, I am very thankful to be in First Class.


My ride to and from Orlando today: N374AA, a 22.3 year-old legacy AA 767-323(ER) painted in the "New American" (forgot the actual livery name, sorry) colors in April 2013, but retains the old AA interior.





Boarding N374AA through an internationally-configured gate.

The female purser at the door greets me with a warm smile enthusiastically directs me to my seat.

American Airlines' 763s are set up in a 2-cabin layout, with Business Class, Main Cabin Extra, and Main Cabin seating. The old angle-flat business class seats that remain on the birds that have not yet been refurbished with B.E. Aerospace Contour Sleeper Suites (the same model found in DL BusinessElite cabins on their 763s and 764s) are basically identical to the same J-product used on the internationally-equipped 752s, with a handful of key differences. In the 752 variant, the IFE unit is attached to the seatback, but in the 763, the IFE are individually distributed tablets that are stored in the galley (or in a storage area somewhere within the aircraft). The space where the IFE is in the 752 is actually a storage area with a DC power port. Which brings me to the next difference which is that there are no eMPower ports in any cabin on this aircraft, only DC Power ports. For those not in the know, DC Power ports are the same ports you often see in automobiles that charge your mobile phone (car charger) and are commonly referred to as "cigarette lighters". Flight attendants on these flights do not have any adapters, so you're out of luck if you don't bring one or don't have an adapter at all. (Strangely, AA's 772s do have adapters onboard, and we'll see how well they work when I fly American Airlines Flagship Suites on Saturday, September 20th, 2014.)

Angle-lie-flat seats do in fact recline to be fully flat, but at an upward perpendicular angle to the aircraft floor. For me, this means that trying to rest on a playground slide, always falling off. There is a fold-up leather-covered footrest at the base of the seat that is in theory supposed to prevent people from sliding down, but even with both the seat belt and footrest being utilized dually, it is still extremely difficult for me to sleep at all on such an angled surface, especially since I prefer to sleep face-down.

Notwithstanding that, the seat itself is actually pretty comfortable to lie down in (not to sleep for reasons stated above ), and is upholstered in soft cloth padding rather than the ubiquitous leather which only seems to be spreading throughout airlines worldwide (the only leather surfaces are the winged headrest and the extendable footrest.) The headrest does do a satisfactory job keeping my head in place, and the seat allows you to lower the armrests on either side to increase shoulder space.


The Old American Airlines Business Class seat, soon to be replaced by B.E. Aerospace Contour sleeper suites. Can you spot the hiding Vignelli Associates Eagle logo?


J class cabin during the boarding process.


Pretty much unlimited legroom. Pitch is 60 inches according to SeatGuru, or five feet. Also notice the molecular carpet design, which is unique to AA I believe.


Overhead flight attendant call buttons have been relocated to the armrest as well as audio controls, this bird did not have any overhead "gasper" air vents.


Seat recline controls located at the end of the armrest / tray table stowage compartment.


Tray table and storage area, with the DC power port in the top left. Note also the pattern of lines making up tiny squares on the walls, this pattern seems to be unique to American Airlines as well.


The second portion of the tray table folds out of the armrest (near the recline controls) and joins up with the seat back tray table to form one large dining / working surface.


"Car Charger" or "Cigarette Lighter" DC Power port.


An inconspicuous headphone jack located underneath the left-side armrest.


I found the hidden eagle "nesting" behind the seat! Too bad this fun logo will be gone soon enough...strange that this bird has Vignelli Associates Eagle logos on the inside, and the "New American" livery painted on the outside fuselage.

Jolie (pronounced HO-LEE as she is of Hispanic descent) is the senior purser serving first class (business class is referred to as "First Class" on any domestic routing on an aircraft on with J, Y+, and Y. On a three-class bird, such as the 772 I'll be taking up to LAX and back to MIA in Flagship Suites First Class on Saturday on this flight, the First Class and Business Class cabins are treated and sold as separate cabins.), and is clearly very enthusiastic about her job. Throughout the flight, she tries her very best to impress us and cater to our every need (well not EVERY need, but you know.... ).

Before the Y-class passengers begin filing down into the coach cabin, Jolie begins serving a selection Pre-Departure Beverages (PDBs). Perhaps due to the size of the aircraft, the large amount of J-class seats, and the short flying time, only Fresh Florida Orange Juice and water are offered on the ground. I agree with this policy, she wouldn't have enough time to serve every one of the thirty J-class passengers without missing someone.


Pre-Departure Beverage of Fresh Florida Orange Juice with the "New American" branding.


Duty Free Shopping Magzaine, but no Sky Mall. Between this and the OJ PDB, I could have swore I was almost on an international flight.


I really hope this scheme makes it to the Super 80s (MD-80s), but according to a lot of American Airlines "insiders" we probably won't see it happen.


Across the page, the US fleet lists the Boeing 737-400, but this aircraft isn't even in service anymore after this year (and so I saved five copies of this issue of American Way )

At about 2:00 PM EST, almost a full five minutes from departure, the captain comes onto the Passenger Address (PA) system and introduces himself and the entire flight crew by name: "...Welcome to American Airlines flight 1525 with nonstop service Orlandooooooohhhh (yes, that's the way he said it ). I am your captain, Brian, joined upfront in the cockpit by first officer Roger, our head purser on this flight in the First Class cabin is Jolie..."

He announced our flying time as only 37 minutes airborne enroute to MCO, and the "AA reminder" videos began playing. Unlike DL, UA, and US, AA actually has reminder videos for every phase of their flights, not just a sole safety video during pushback and taxi. Boarding, carry-ons and overhead bins, taking off, safety procedures, cruise, about to land, taxiing to the gate, and deplaning all have their own videos. Though flight attendants are supposed to supplement the videos with human announcements, sometimes they don't, but Jolie did it every time on this flight. Right at about 2:03, the sound of the main cabin door closing shut (BAM!) pierced my ears and the safety demo started playing as we pushed back, started our engines, and taxied out of the stand.

We had a rather quick taxi out to Runway 8R, stopping a couple of times to let a random aircraft take off or taxi by us, but other than that we had a fast drive down to the takeoff strip, not even stopping before the captain gunned the two GE CF6-80C2B6 high-bypass turbofans, which surprisingly pushed me back into my seat more than an equivalent 752 Roll's Royce RB.211 takeoff ( http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/253053 )! I was surprised when we lifted off as it seemed we did not even use up half of the runway!

Once we cleared the airport itself, we flew directly over downtown Miami when suddenly I saw a 738 way too close for comfort, and our flight crew banked us hard to the left to avoid him. It seemed that ATC must have filed us a flight path too close to the rapid takeoffs and arrivals of the very heavily utilized runways 8L and 8R, or maybe it was just the customary turn that all South Florida flights perform after overflying the Atlantic Ocean for a small amount of time.

Though there were some medium-thickness clouds around our route straight up to Orlando, the captain didn't bother flying around them. They were no match for our highly laden 763, and we just plowed right through them at 300+ KIAS with little to no turbulence. We reached our low cruising altitude halfway over Lake Okachobee, which is the plainly visible hole on maps of Florida.

American Airlines 767-300 General Electric CF6-80C2B6 Takeoff from Miami International Airport (MIA) VIDEO

American Airlines 767-300 General Electric CF6-80C2B6 Climbout from Miami International Airport (MIA) VIDEO


The main cargo door closes as the ramper pulls away that interesting-looking vehicle--wish I knew its name...


Pushback and a fellow Boeing brethren who hasn't received a new coat of paint yet.


The safety demo is played throughout the cabin on loudspeakers linked to overhead screens.



Taxiing out to Runway 8L.


A rare airworthy passenger Shorts 360! I wonder if Skyway has been threatened by the nearby American Airlines for that livery? :-D


A huge fleet of Saabs on the satellite of ramp. Anyone know who this flock of props belongs to?




Turning onto the runway, but just what is that huge shark fin sticking out of the engine?



Takeoff.



Climbing out of MIA and over downtown Miami!


Intercepting Hollywood, Florida as we fly back over the Floridian mainland.



Climbing to cruise just before we intercept Lake Okeechobee.


Cabin during climb to cruise.


Cruise. We only flew at this altitude for five minutes before beginning our descent.

For the short time in which we were at cruise altitude, Jolie served all the passengers their beverages of choice as opposed to the two-beverage selection on the ground, plus a small bag of "Sweet 'N Savory" snack mix which is surprisingly good. We only remained at our assigned cruising altitude for about five minutes or until we were at the middle of Lake Okachobee, before I physically felt the aircraft descending and we made a U-turn approach into MCO, plunking down hard on the far west runway and taxiing in for an early arrival time.

American Airlines 767-300 General Electric CF6-80C2B6 Landing at Orlando International Airport VIDEO

American Airlines 767-300 General Electric CF6-80C2B6 Taxiing into Gate A17 at Orlando International Airport VIDEO


Cabin during the very short cruise period. The overhead TVs were playing random wildlife scenes, waterfalls, and ocean waves on loop to the tune of soft piano interpretations of greatest hits songs in slow tempo--very nice and relaxing.


The inflight service in First Class starts with a simple packet of snack mix...


...followed by an ice cold glass of Coca Cola with a very inconspicuous "New American" Eagle logo on the glass. (Note: these two photos are used from the inbound MCO-MIA leg, unfortunately my camera somehow corrupted some of my images, but it doesn't matter because I ordered the same thing in flight on both legs.)


The flight crew lowers the slats as we slow down on approach.



Vectoring to final, note that fantastic wing flex!



Making the final 180-degree turn to line up with the furthest west runway at MCO.


Final, with downtown Orlando in the distance.



Very, very short final with drooping slats hanging off the leading edge of the wing.



Almost there.......


We slam hard down onto the pavement as we TOUCHDOWN!


Spoilers deploy and reverse thrust engages as the airplane detects our wheel roll-out.


Slowing down. Note the hangar in the top left corner of the image which was a former Continental MX base, and the sign was still up as of a few weeks ago, as seen in this report: http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/257120 , but now all it says is "tal *Globe image here*"


Hey! A Saab! Deja Vu? http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/257120


Pulling into Airside A, specifically gate A17, at Orlando International Airport.

As I walked out of the Business Class cabin, I walked up to Jolie and requested a cockpit visit which was quickly granted. Strangely, I walk right into the cockpit without either of the pilots knowing, but they don't even seem to care and are only welcoming towards myself and my aviation hobby. I inquire about the difference between the 763s performance and the 752 equivalent, and both aviators agree that the 763 is indeed more fun to fly, alluding it to be a fast, highly-maneuverable aircraft because of the dual inboard and outboard ailerons. I tell them that I plan to attend ERAU as I walk out the door, and I overhear them joking "One day this guy will be designing our airplanes!" Always good to have a lighthearted crew!

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ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MCO / KMCO)
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I deplaned into MCO rather quickly, but I didn't go beyond the gate area of Alpha Seventeen. Since I had low battery power on all my devices, I found an outlet on one of the columns in the boarding area before packing up my laptop, camera, and iPhone 5S about another thirty minutes before boarding. Much to my surprise and delight, the first officer from AA 1525 comes up to me and answers all my questions, then proceeds to ask me a lot about myself! Now if only my teachers could teach me the way this guy does...

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