Jet Ranger

Ok, just saying from the outset, this is a bit of a mini rant - but some aspects were ok. Not all AA’s fault - I’ll say which is which.

Flew from EZE to MIA in Flagship First earlier this week, and the flight wasn’t without issues.

Check in at EZE was a total PITA.

Arrived at the Priority check in to find a line of about 50+ passengers waiting. We are used to a separate check in for Flagship First, so went looking. No avail. I asked the lady at Priority eligibility check - no special line - join the end. My other half went off on one, and stalked around until he found a manager. Said - unacceptable. No line at Flagship First check in desk but the lady wont let us through - he relented and escorted us through past the line to the Flagship check in counter.

It shouldn’t be like that - just have a separate lane - not AA’s fault - that’s EZE for you.

AA/IB Lounge a total zoo - my recommendation if its still valid - go to LATAM next door - it was quiet, same food and drink (AA lounge had no tonic water which is NOT COOL!! - LATAM did!!), and very pleasant.

On board, the crew started off ok, until meal service. They came asked me if I was having dinner - yes - oh sorry none of the choices on the menu are right, different things were loaded at EZE. Ok, so he went through the entree options. Chose one. Dinner set up, etc. Pre dinner drink of Gin n Tonic served with no lemon/lime and 2 ice cubes. Not great.

Food started arriving. I asked for wine. I started by asking where the wine list was? There was no wine list provided with the menu.

The FA said - what do you mean wine? I said - I would like a glass of wine with dinner please - where is your wine list? Oh, I’ll find out and come back to you. The Purser came back and handed me a wine list - I chose one, and he went away. 3 mins later, comes back with - we have none of these wines on board, loading issue. I’ll show you what we have - and came back with all bottles of red wine for me to choose from. I chose a red, which was quite nice, but again - a service failing from AA.

The annoying thing is - I’ve flown Flagship First a few times on the 77W, and it has been really good - but always from LHR to MIA or vice versa.

My last point, is that the crew, some of which were very kind, helping my partner with a small cut on his nose, and they really rallied round to help, but others, especially the crew up front doing First Class, and their appearance, just leaves so much to be desired. Fly British Airways, Qatar, Japan Airlines, the crew are buttoned up to the nines, look perfect, and are usually on the ball. On this service, the crew looked scruffy and untidy, ties not done up, top shirt buttons undone. It just doesn’t scream - premium.

Is there something about the service from EZE that is lacking somehow? And the Buenos Aires based flight crew? Just curious.

Anyway, just my feedback on a lackluster Flagship First experience. No looking for a complaint, or compo. Just highlighting that what you expect from Flagship First, may not live up to expectations that one may have. I hope mine was a one off.....

Maybe I’m being a tad naive, and shouldn’t expect more from EZE and a Buenos Aires based crew. Do say so, but be nice about it - just feeding back.

Safe flying everyone.

AANYC1981

I don’t know if this is still the same but I have always skipped the terrible lines at EZE and you walk all the way to the left where AA has or had a ticketing desk...as long as you don’t have luggage they have been happy to check you in.....very simple.

fotographer

I have had plenty of really bad flight crews on my international flights.
but, as i have learnt over the years, you just take a gamble, because at the same time, I have had great FA's too.
AA not matching the catering to the menu's.. I guess that can happen too.
Just wondering, if this was the for the OP a one off.. or has it been a frequent event.

rumboj

Unfortunate events. What did AA say when you alerted the Customer Relations team to the shortcomings on your specific flight? You say you aren’t looking for compensation or to complain (except on FT), but if every F passenger opts to not notify the airline (any airline, really), how are they to become aware of whether there are chronic service issues on a particular route? Consequently, how can they resolve said issues?

I learned a long time ago that doing nothing usually gets nothing done.

PUCCI GALORE

The crew are supposed to check the catering upon boarding - all of it. It is also possible that insufficient ice was loaded (I'd have gone down the back to check what they had). The caterers deserve their contract to be lifted if this sort of nonsense continues. Pleasant the crew may have been but not very organised or pro-active it sounds

Braniff

It’s been a while since I did these flights but I had similar bad experiences on the flights back to the US. I was flying United and was once told the crew had landed in EZE that morning on the flight from MIA. I.e. they had the daylight hours to rest before going back up to MIA that same evening. If this is the norm, almost guaranteed to have lacklustre service.

Admiral Ackbar

It's almost like some routes have more competition or something.

jerseytom

The catering load being all messed up is most surprising / disappointing to me. All those flights to/from South America are one a day with plane arriving in the morning and departing late in the evening, IIRC. So it's not like it's a short turn around. Have literally all day, hours and hours, to get it right.

island82

There should be a Flagship First line for ExpPlat/OWE/First class all the way to the left, near the LATAM/AA ticketing booth, there should be a podium with an agent checking the list for eligible passengers.

Agree, the LATAM lounge next door is much better!

mctaste

Complaining until they let you skip past everyone else who was already in line, nice.

Jet Ranger

No, very much a one off. Fly Flagship F Miami to LHR often, and its nearly always great service etc.
I am also questioning if international F is actually worth it anymore - I really like the J product on AA on the 777 and 77W.

Jet Ranger

I hear what you are saying - but usually Flagship First has a separate check in line. I don’t think its very premium to offer a Flagship service and not a separate check in.

Maybe I phrased it badly - the point is, no one was at the flagship check in desk, but the lady manning the queue to the priority check in desks wouldn’t let me through to access it, insisting I join the back of a long line and wait.

Is ok to have different opinions on these things - life would be dull otherwise.

Jet Ranger

You are quite right, and I have sent CS an email, detailing the shortcomings on this particular flight, so this can be fed back to relevant teams.

gallen5555

Hello, I am flying EZE-MIA AA in business class in a few weeks. Is there a dedicated line for business class passengers at EZE or do i get in the general boarding line?

mctaste

I agree they should have the other lane open, but I disagree with spreading your inconvenience to everyone who is already in line by cutting ahead.

The reason people book non economy seats, other than in flight comfort, is for all the other amenities like better service. If you don’t get what you pay for, that is indeed a problem.