FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - An alternative to therapy - A RTW on OW in First including MH F, QR F, AA F and CX F

Apr 11, 2015 | 6:43 am

#53

Moomba

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: London, UK

Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 6,221

Part 7 DFW-SJU and Old San Juan

The executive lounge at the Sheraton DFW had a decent enough spread for breakfast including cereal, fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and fried potatoes.

After breakfast I pottered for a while before checking out and just catching the shuttle departing to the airport.

I was the only one on board and the gent asked what airline and what gate and dropped my at the very quiet AA low A gates check-in area.

There was no priority check-in queue and I was forced to use the silly machines that printed out my bag tag and boarding pass. I walked to the agent at the desk and asked how I should attach the tag and she did it herself and attached the priority tag also. She then checked my passport and asked the usual questions about security. How dumb is that. For all the time and checks she did she may was well have just printed my BP at the same time and dispensed with the machine.

As it was a quieter check-in area the security queue was minimal and the priority lane just meant having your ID checked ahead of a few other people. Security was swift and painless and they only had the WMD and not the irradiator.

Once inside I made my way to the AC where in a common theme to this trip the agent only handed me one drink chit.

I made my way back down to the low gates and got to the gate 10 minutes before the announced boarding time and they had already started boarding.

I had my BP checked and went on down to the plane.

Flight AA 1180 DFW-SJU Seat 2A (Business)
Aircraft: B757
Departure time: 13:00

On board I stashed my bag and took my seat. A drink of water or OJ was offered by the crew. The captain announced a flight time of 3 hours and 59 minutes. We were locked up at 12:55 and pushed back at 13:05. The purser took the meal and post take off drinks orders on the ground and confirmed my pre order.

Seat Pitch 757

At 13:17 we hit the runway at speed and took off over a cloudy, drizzly Dallas on the way to some sun.
A hot towel was handed out after the gong and the drinks and nuts followed.

S&D and warm nuts

I was offered another S&D but declined.

I was intrigued by some interesting looking clouds outside.

Interesting clouds

The meal service started shortly after and again it all came on one tray like the night before but this time there was also a starter course & dessert along with the main and salad.
I was offered wheat or white roll and some wine. Again I chose the white as it is usually a safer bet I find.

Lunch tray

The starter of egg was quite nice and unusual and the salad was heavy on the cheese but also fresh and tasty. My chicken with BBQ sauce was quite nice although the broccoli had been cooked to oblivion.

I asked for a cup of coffee to have with my delicious chocolate dessert.

The rest of the flight was pretty much an ask and you shall receive affair like most AA flights.

There were some wonderful views of San Juan on the way in for those of us on the port side of the aircraft.

Views of San Juan on approach

We touched down at 18:10 and I made my way down to the baggage belt. After what seemed like an eternity it finally started moving and my priority tagged bag came out midway through the affair.

I then proceeded to the taxi counter and informed the agent where I needed to be. He said it was a flat fee of 21 USD and an extra buck for each case.

There was a bit of traffic on the way into town on this Sunday evening and eventually we made it to the Sheraton Old Town hotel. I was upgraded to a suite on the third floor with a balcony and view of a car park. The location was very noisy as was the hotel itself. Who puts an ice vending machine outside the entrance to a suite?

Sheraton Old Town Suite

Sheraton Old Town Suite

I was offered the complimentary breakfast or points as a platinum SPG member and went with breakfast. I was able to get the points anyway by opting for the green choice and foregoing the maid service the first day of my stay.

After a not overly peaceful nights sleep I went down to breakfast that was on the hotel restaurant and was similar in offering to the club lounge at the Sheraton with the addition of more extensive fresh fruit, pastries and porridge.

After breakfast I went out for a wander in the glorious sunshine and visited the two fortresses and wandered the streets of old town San Juan. After a rest back at the hotel I headed out for a beer and some Churrasco Mofongo, a local dish made with plantain.