TACA Peru TA029 29APR06 0640 GRU-LIM (A320)
I called the toll-free number to TACA in Brazil to confirm the flight the day prior to departure. A very friendly lady confirmed, and answered any question I had. She also informed me that I had to be at the airport three (!) hours before departure. The flight was at 6.10 am, so that ment I had to get up no later than 2.30 or so at my airport hotel! I took my chances, and arrived at 3.45, and check-in had just started. There were approximately 20 pax in front of me, but within the 15 minutes it took before the four open counters has checked in the pax that arrived earlier than me, there were probably 50-60 pax behind me in line! A gentleman loudly complained to the check-in staff, that they let a family with an infant check in without standing in line.
The very friendly gentleman, who checked me in gave me an emergency exit row seat, and apologized that only a middle seat were available (11E). All right, better than an aisle seat in a regular row...? Of course I was seated next to the loudly complaining person from check-in (11D), and actually this peruvian gentleman was very friendly and started conversate with me - I preferred to talk with the attractive lady in 11F, though :-)
Boarding should according to the boarding pass begin 5.10 am, but began 5.45 or so. The A320 were clean and tidy, and I was welcomed in Spanish, and with a smile.
Plane left the gate at 6.25, and take off a few minutes later. Seat pitch at emergency exit rows were fine, probably 5 inches better than regular rows.
The service onboard consisted of free soft drinks, beer, coffee, tea and Bacardi Rum! I actually didn't see the Bacardi bottle, probably because they didn't expect anyone to request it at this time of the day? Cake were handed out free of charge, and sandwiches (ham/cheese or salami/cheese) were USD5. They didn't look delicious, though, so I opted for a five hour diet
They passed by three times with bevearages, and in the alley in the back of the plane, you could self service yourself with further drinks.
IFE: Antz
Approx. loadfactor Y/C: 95/67

LACSA LR650 (operated by TA) 01MAY06 1045 LIM-SJO (A320 - N488TA)
This time I knew that the "be at the airport three hours prior to take-off" was B.S. I arrived 1h15m before, and didn't stand in line. I knew my request for an emergency row seat had bad odds, but I was very happy to see that the boarding pass printed out had a nice big C on it. My happiness lasted for a few minutes, when the manager dragon came and told me that unfortunately upgrades were available to Elite Program customers only. I thought: How many Elite Program cards do you want me to show you? But unfortunately TACA is not member of any of the big alliances. My new seat was 12C, a nice aisle seat, but just behind the emergency rows 10 and 11. Seat pitch is actually quite ok in Y. Departure and arrival on time.
Again very friendly service onboard the clean and tidy A320, food (chicken or beef sandwiches, USD5) and drinks as on GRU-LIM leg. This time I did see the Bacardi bottle, and they served wines as well!
IFE: The Perfect Score (Scarlett Johansson)
Loadfactor Y/C: 99/100 (one Y-seat free), mostly backpackers and other tourists.

TACA TA560 03MAY06 SJO-SAL 1740 (A321 - N568TA)
This brand new A321 was delivered from Airbus in Feb. 2006. I checked in well in advance, and got an emergency exit row seat (23D). In this A321, I would recommend rows 9, 10 and 23. Window seats in row 23 would face the air hostess during takeoff and landing, but would during the flight have more than four feet leg space, and seats BCDE would "only" have three feet or so. Row 22 also have slightly more legroom than regular seats.
They played the recent Shakira album in the plane as passengers were boarding. On this one hour flight, cookies and hot and cold drinks were served, free of charge. Friendly staff (El Salvadorians) again. Departure and arrival on time.
IFE: Individual audio channels, but no earphones were handed out.
Approx. Loadfactor Y/C: 60/83, mostly connecting passengers to US.

TACA TA530 07MAY06 0640 SAL-LAX (A320 - N489TA)
The day prior to this flight leg, I called TACA to reserve a seat, but I was told that for some reason it wasn't possible.
I was determined to get a good seat on this 4h50m flight, but I arrived very late to the airport (5.45). So when I told him, that I called the day before and got an emergency exit row aisle seat, he said that these seats were already taken, and all he could offer me was 7F. I just ironed my shirt for this moment, so when I, in very friendly terms, told him about my disapointment, it took him only a few seconds to give me the upgrade Determination, smiles and lies do pay off!
The seats in C are wide and comfortable, but the seat pitch is not impressive. The configuration is 2-2, compared to 3-3 in Y .Each seat has a power outlet, but unfortunately it was out of order (both 3D and 3F).
They gave you the choice between a salami/cheese or three-cheese-sandwiches, but as I am allergic to cheese, I was offered a muffin instead. I few minutes later, the stewardess came back and said, that "her boss told her", that I could have some scrambled eggs, rice, beans and sausage instead. Thanks, where did they get that from? The sandwiches are exactly the same as they offer in monkey class, but served on a plate, and it was served with fruit salad and a cinnamon bun.
IFE: Antz (again) and Stuart Little - who wants to watch that s**t????
Newspapers in Spanish only
Loadfactor Y/C: 98/100

Ya, their pay for food ain't too good, but must say the one time I talked my way to a FC seat on SAL-IAH it was a whole lot better than FC on CO (flew up front there many times, and was NEVER impressed on "north" South American routes ).

As for the boarding, that's par for the course. Then again, that's been my experience with CO as well, including my recent trip on COPA owned AeroRepublica where they told me to be at the airport THREE hours early for both my MIA-PTY COPA flight and CTG-PTY which was of course utterly ridiculous.

The only place in Latin America where I had any semblance of normal boarding was the Elite CO line in SJO. Well that and the EZE-PTY COPA wasn't too bad, but again the three hour rule that no one actually listens to was quoted.

EmailKid

PS, thanks for the trip report ^

the 3 hour rule is absolutely necessary for TACA. If a certain number of fools didn't show up 3 hours early they could never checkin everyone at the pace they work. I have stood in front of the agent for over an hour at MSY.

Glad you had a good trip. The milk run TACA connections to/from South America are fun--- even for connections the same day, the flight timing is pretty smooth.

I have long been curious how they can justify charging $$$ for food on these longer flights---- if it's a $200 domestic 2 hour flight, then ok maybe, but the folks on these flights are paying a pretty penny. Tip for the future: stock up on snacks (chips, etc.) at the Diana store in SAL. Very very good prices, as items are pre-marked with El Salvador street prices and there's no airport markup. You can get a full bag of stuff for $1-$2.

In a parallel vein, why is the food in SJO so terribly expensive? $8 for a BK meal??? Much higher than in the US airports!

As of April 16, 2007, TACA now serves free food again in all classes on all flights over 55 minutes duration - no need to stock up on chips beforehand. See this and this webpage for detailed information.