New Years in Buenos Aires and Mendoza via American Airlines 772 Flagship First Class
Dec 28, 2013, 2:05 pm
#1
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New Years in Buenos Aires and Mendoza via American Airlines 772 Flagship First Class
For the past few years, we've been spending New Years traveling with our good SoCal friends. Last year was Sevilla, the year before Salzburg. This year we decided on South America and Buenos Aires. Despite warnings of heat and humidity and the reality of mostly crappy flight options to South America, we decided to roll the dice. Oops... believe it or not, this is an improvement over last night's forecast. 
And memo to self: no matter how hot it gets, stick to the pools.
Pirhana attack in Argentina leaves at least 70 injured
And then there are our flights. No 5* or even 4* airlines on this trip, although I had flirted with and booked KE's LAX-GRU 77W. But leaving a day early and spending 8 hours in transit just didn't seem like it was worth the effort. That plus I waited until it was too late to safely send passports off for a Brazilian visa. What sealed the deal was we are now on the same DFW-EZE flight as our SoCal friends who are connecting from LAX.
American Airlines Admirals Club at DEN
American Airlines First Class DEN-DFW
American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW
American Airlines First Class DFW-EZE
Alvear Palace Hotel Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Aerolineas Argentinas Premium Economy AEP-MDZ
Park Hyatt Mendoza
Mendoza and Wine Country
LAN Chile Economy MDZ-SCL
Santiago de Chile
San Cristobal Hotel Santiago
Delta Business Elite SCL-ATL
Delta SkyClub at ATL
Delta Business Elite ATL-DEN
Easy drive to DIA this morning and we were at check-in at T-90, where the agent told told us that the fight was running about a half hour late. That's AA speak for at least an hour. "Thanks for getting us here so early" was the first of many witty comments from the Princess today.
One look at the 50 pax deep line at the South Pre-Check line, we headed to North Pre-Check where it was much better with only a few kettles in the line. A quick train ride to the first stop, Concourse A where the Princess came up with another good one, "Are we going to another club or the crappy one?" Sorry dear, we are going to "the crappy one" aka The Admirals Club, which IMO is better than the only other option here, the United Club, north or south.
More mostly recycles pics of the DEN Admirals Club.
And today's arrivals and departures, now with a more realistic but still optimistic 65 minute delay.
With the delay and no "lunch" on our DEN-DFW, we or rather I decided to have something at the AC and took a chance on the Cuban Pork Panini. Either I was really hungry or this was one very tasty panini. Mrs. SFO took one bite, exclaimed "wow" and proceeded to share my panini.
At T-20, we headed out to Gate A51 where boarding was just beginning.
AA 109
DEN-DFW
MD-80
11:55A-2:55P (sked)
1:20P-3:50P (actual and ETA)
December 28, 2013
Seats 5AB
Refreshments
Not much warmth to this crew today. No PDB and self-serve hang your coat.
Drinks and the furthest from the truth "Gourmet" Snack Mix.
First time in ages I've been on the AB side. I'll miss the Mad Dogs when they are retired.
Coming up: Our first look at the DFW Centurion Lounge
And memo to self: no matter how hot it gets, stick to the pools.
Pirhana attack in Argentina leaves at least 70 injured
And then there are our flights. No 5* or even 4* airlines on this trip, although I had flirted with and booked KE's LAX-GRU 77W. But leaving a day early and spending 8 hours in transit just didn't seem like it was worth the effort. That plus I waited until it was too late to safely send passports off for a Brazilian visa. What sealed the deal was we are now on the same DFW-EZE flight as our SoCal friends who are connecting from LAX.
American Airlines Admirals Club at DEN
American Airlines First Class DEN-DFW
American Express Centurion Lounge at DFW
American Airlines First Class DFW-EZE
Alvear Palace Hotel Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Aerolineas Argentinas Premium Economy AEP-MDZ
Park Hyatt Mendoza
Mendoza and Wine Country
LAN Chile Economy MDZ-SCL
Santiago de Chile
San Cristobal Hotel Santiago
Delta Business Elite SCL-ATL
Delta SkyClub at ATL
Delta Business Elite ATL-DEN
Easy drive to DIA this morning and we were at check-in at T-90, where the agent told told us that the fight was running about a half hour late. That's AA speak for at least an hour. "Thanks for getting us here so early" was the first of many witty comments from the Princess today.
One look at the 50 pax deep line at the South Pre-Check line, we headed to North Pre-Check where it was much better with only a few kettles in the line. A quick train ride to the first stop, Concourse A where the Princess came up with another good one, "Are we going to another club or the crappy one?" Sorry dear, we are going to "the crappy one" aka The Admirals Club, which IMO is better than the only other option here, the United Club, north or south.
More mostly recycles pics of the DEN Admirals Club.
And today's arrivals and departures, now with a more realistic but still optimistic 65 minute delay.
With the delay and no "lunch" on our DEN-DFW, we or rather I decided to have something at the AC and took a chance on the Cuban Pork Panini. Either I was really hungry or this was one very tasty panini. Mrs. SFO took one bite, exclaimed "wow" and proceeded to share my panini.
At T-20, we headed out to Gate A51 where boarding was just beginning.
AA 109
DEN-DFW
MD-80
11:55A-2:55P (sked)
1:20P-3:50P (actual and ETA)
December 28, 2013
Seats 5AB
Refreshments
Not much warmth to this crew today. No PDB and self-serve hang your coat.
Drinks and the furthest from the truth "Gourmet" Snack Mix.
First time in ages I've been on the AB side. I'll miss the Mad Dogs when they are retired.
Coming up: Our first look at the DFW Centurion Lounge
Last edited by SFO777; Dec 28, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Dec 28, 2013, 3:38 pm
#4
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Dec 28, 2013, 3:58 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA, SPG
Posts: 202
Son.....Of.....A.......... Here i am having a great day.....and then i refresh the trip reports thread....and what pops up?????? ANOTHER.....SFO......TR..... I think the most depressing thing is.....you're not even in retirement......if you're doing this many TR's now......how many are you going to make when you enter retirement... 
(
You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
(You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
Last edited by Tony3021990; Dec 28, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Dec 28, 2013, 4:30 pm
#7
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Just as shocking IMO is the sodium in it!
Then again, keep in mind it is America...
For SFO777- I hope that you paid for the flight to Santiago in pesos before the restrictions came into effect...
(at the blue/black market rate.)
(then again, I don't have much experience with those flights as I have only used those flights as part of an international itinerary. If I were going by myself, I would use the bus.)
Then again, keep in mind it is America...
For SFO777- I hope that you paid for the flight to Santiago in pesos before the restrictions came into effect...
(at the blue/black market rate.)
(then again, I don't have much experience with those flights as I have only used those flights as part of an international itinerary. If I were going by myself, I would use the bus.)
Dec 28, 2013, 5:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
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And I'm guessing MDZ-SCL is an Avios ticket?
Glad to see you are doing Santiago de Chile as well ^
Son.....Of.....A.......... Here i am having a great day.....and then i refresh the trip reports thread....and what pops up?????? ANOTHER.....SFO......TR..... I think the most depressing thing is.....you're not even in retirement......if you're doing this many TR's now......how many are you going to make when you enter retirement... (
You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
(You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
I think most of us want to still see his and the Mrs. adventures
Maybe the bus when there were still in college
Dec 28, 2013, 5:18 pm
#9
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If she lived in HK, then maybe she would rethink that as the costs of maintaining a car + fees for driving (petrol duty and tolls) would likely mean there is no money left to go on holiday (not to mention how much more difficult it is to collect mileage there compared to America.)
Then again, with BIS miles, it could be doable-though not 6-7x/year.
Then again, with BIS miles, it could be doable-though not 6-7x/year.
Dec 28, 2013, 5:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
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If she lived in HK, then maybe she would rethink that as the costs of maintaining a car + fees for driving (petrol duty and tolls) would likely mean there is no money left to go on holiday (not to mention how much more difficult it is to collect mileage there compared to America.)
Then again, with BIS miles, it could be doable-though not 6-7x/year.
Then again, with BIS miles, it could be doable-though not 6-7x/year.
Might see them taking the subway in traffic jam but definitely no bus.
They hired drivers to drive them in their luxury vans, have a couple Ferraris sitting in the garage, have multiple maids for housekeeping and still do 6x vacations (mix of short/long haul) in F/J a year.
Dec 28, 2013, 5:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA, SPG
Posts: 202
Not necessarily, I can think of a couple HKG people on top of my heart that I personally know that are equally like that.
Might see them taking the subway in traffic jam but definitely no bus.
They hired drivers to drive them in their luxury vans, have a couple Ferraris sitting in the garage, have multiple maids for housekeeping and still do 6x vacations (mix of short/long haul) in F/J a year.
Might see them taking the subway in traffic jam but definitely no bus.
They hired drivers to drive them in their luxury vans, have a couple Ferraris sitting in the garage, have multiple maids for housekeeping and still do 6x vacations (mix of short/long haul) in F/J a year.
Dec 29, 2013, 3:44 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, TK Elite, A3 Gold
Posts: 145
Wow another SFO777 report! I just barely finished the other and got some more leisure reading to do as I'm on my own mileage award.
Wait - SFO777 in Business on Delta again? I'm surprised you (or more correctly so Mrs SFO777) would be willing to fly in J and not F.
Wait - SFO777 in Business on Delta again? I'm surprised you (or more correctly so Mrs SFO777) would be willing to fly in J and not F.
Dec 29, 2013, 7:08 am
#13
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For those that haven't been here, DFW is huge. I'm here 2, 4, sometimes 8 times a month and it grows on you. AA occupies 4 of the 5 terminals and the Skylink is clean, fast and efficient way of navigating your way around. We arrived at C17 and a few minutes later were on the Skylink for the long winding way around to the D terminal. One would think C and D would be next to each other but alas the progression here is A, C, E, D, B and a blank space presumably for a future F.
The D terminal is the newest and most attractive terminal. It also serves as the main international terminal.
AA has an Admirals Club in all four terminals. Been there, done that. So i was eager to visit the new Centurion Lounge. Amex is opening these lounges at a few airports (LAS and DFW so far). All one needs to gain entrance is an Amex Platinum or Centurion card.
The D terminal is the newest and most attractive terminal. It also serves as the main international terminal.
AA has an Admirals Club in all four terminals. Been there, done that. So i was eager to visit the new Centurion Lounge. Amex is opening these lounges at a few airports (LAS and DFW so far). All one needs to gain entrance is an Amex Platinum or Centurion card.
Dec 29, 2013, 7:09 am
#14
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Other than a few primo seats in the far end of the lounge, the non dining seating areas are actually fairly limited and not that comfortable. The U-shape design has most seating right near and beside foot traffic. All four of DFW Admirals Clubs are much larger with bigger and more functional business centers.
But no Admirals Club has a spa. Very nice.
The best feature and biggest draw is the open bar and the delicious food offerings.
All in all, a good addition to the DFW lounge scene. Despite its small size and tendency to get very crowded at times, I'd rank it high on the domestic lounge scene but only for the free food and drink. Without that, there is no reason to come here if you can access the Admirals Club.
Up Next: Pleasantly surprised by AA's International Flagship Service. They are really trying, but it's tough to teach refined Asian/Gulf service subtleties to a NA cabin crew. But all in all, even with old First, food, service and crew were worlds better than BA First.
But no Admirals Club has a spa. Very nice.
The best feature and biggest draw is the open bar and the delicious food offerings.
All in all, a good addition to the DFW lounge scene. Despite its small size and tendency to get very crowded at times, I'd rank it high on the domestic lounge scene but only for the free food and drink. Without that, there is no reason to come here if you can access the Admirals Club.
Up Next: Pleasantly surprised by AA's International Flagship Service. They are really trying, but it's tough to teach refined Asian/Gulf service subtleties to a NA cabin crew. But all in all, even with old First, food, service and crew were worlds better than BA First.
Last edited by SFO777; Dec 30, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Dec 29, 2013, 7:21 am
#15
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Thanks Jenzo.
But, but... look at the protein. And at least I only ate half of it.
OMG, probably off the charts.
LOL. Thanks very much Tony for your kind comments.
Thank you themapelligroup.
Ha! Yeah SHF nailed that one right. No way for the bus with the Princess.
All the double EF seats were preselected so 5AB it was. No Avios, but I did get a semi "reasonable" fare for the 121 mile trip.
For sure.
Thanks shounate03. Yeah, yeah I know. But there are just not a lot of great options to/from SA. Plus I get to burn some otherwise useless SkyPesos.
But, but... look at the protein. And at least I only ate half of it.
Son.....Of.....A.......... Here i am having a great day.....and then i refresh the trip reports thread....and what pops up?????? ANOTHER.....SFO......TR..... I think the most depressing thing is.....you're not even in retirement......if you're doing this many TR's now......how many are you going to make when you enter retirement... (
You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
(You won man....i dunno what....but you won....lol.
Is it about time to have your own forum?..... you do realize you're creating addicts.....and if you so happen to slow down with TR's.....Phizer will have to make a drug to treat our accute SFO-TR-Itis....with the commercial that asks if we're suffering from it....and then the creepy guy in the middle describing all the nasty side effects while showing people having fun.....
Bravo sir......BRA-VO
Just as shocking IMO is the sodium in it!
Then again, keep in mind it is America...
For SFO777- I hope that you paid for the flight to Santiago in pesos before the restrictions came into effect...
(at the blue/black market rate.)
(then again, I don't have much experience with those flights as I have only used those flights as part of an international itinerary. If I were going by myself, I would use the bus.)
Then again, keep in mind it is America...
For SFO777- I hope that you paid for the flight to Santiago in pesos before the restrictions came into effect...
(at the blue/black market rate.)
(then again, I don't have much experience with those flights as I have only used those flights as part of an international itinerary. If I were going by myself, I would use the bus.)
Thanks shounate03. Yeah, yeah I know. But there are just not a lot of great options to/from SA. Plus I get to burn some otherwise useless SkyPesos.