AA First Class to Brazil
 

Very Dissapointing....

27JUL AA SAN-DFW (FC)
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The 757 was a nice suprise on this route generally inhabited by the Stupid 80. Saw funny videos and had a very nice lunch of cold pasta, preceded by excellent (I want the recipe) tomato soup. Great service with a smile and humor (it's good to know some FAs still know that word).

DFW "Flagship" Lounge
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Before connecting to our MIA flight, I checked out this lounge reserved for international first class pax. It's like an Admirals Club in a second tier airport. One bathroom for all (unisex), no amenities like computers, faxes, etc. Only amenity is free booze, which sits on a self service bar...but wait, the bottles are empty and are for "display" only. One must ask the service attendent for a drink. OK, but why?

One nice touch was that when I walked into the lounge with my fiance, they already had us on a manifest, which allowed them to come get us when our flight was boarding.

27JUL AA 901 DFW-MIA
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Since the DFW-GRU flight was sold out, we had to connect again in MIA. Flight 901 flies a DFW-MIA-EZE routing using MD-11 equipment. American advertises in its timetable that the DFW-MIA portion provides AA's "Flagship" Service. That means that three classes of service are sold (as opposed to Gold/Platinum/Full-Y getting seating in the C cabin with Y service/amenities). It also means that a first class pax (P Class on domestic portion) should get all of the "Flagship" amenities...WRONG!!! I was rather looking forward to a Flagship meal, inflight personal videos, etc, so that I could just sleep on the MIA-GRU flight. Instead, no personal videos...no overhead movies (even though the flight is scheduled for 3hrs 1 min)...and standard F/C domestic food service.

The huge comfortable seats were the only redeeming factor. The dissapointment was compounded by the fact that almost every seat was occupied by AA employees, who turned the first class section into their own party/show and tell session. They were roaming about mingling like it was a cocktail party the whole time.

27JUN MIA Admirals Club
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It seems that the only reason AA is adding "Flagship" lounges is to deny First Class pax the great amenities of the Admirals Clubs. I loved the MIA club...locking luggage lockers, espresso bar, free internet access...lots of room. I used my free drink passes provided to First Class pax to buy drinks for the few people that were not F or C pax. Is this considered poor taste...I still tipped the bartender. A great club, but would be better if they eliminated the whole cash thing with respect to buying drinks.

27JUL AA 999 MIA SAO
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Going from an MD-11 to a 767 is like going from a LayZ Boy to a tottlers chair, even in F class. American's amenity kits are lame, no name brand stuff, and very light on variety. Dinner was so-so, but a very nice selection of wine. In typical AA style, they tried to be cool by serving vodka with caviar, but you can't chill vodka by putting it on ice for only 5 minutes! No desert except sundaes, which I found interesting. Also the quality of china/glassware/silver was not as nice as Delta's (maybe changed with BizElite). We were not offered a hot breakfast (even though it was on the menu).

Almost forgot, we pushed back on time at 23:35 only to have the auxiliary power system fail. Towed back to the gate with no lights/Air Cond. for a one hour repair. Then off to GRU at 00:35...we arrived only 20 minutes late. "Priority" tags on luggage did nothing.

More to come....(if interested)

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SD Flyer

Keep On Going!!!

This is quite interesting. Especially about the Flagship Lounge. I perceived it to be much better than what you experienced (AA sure does tout the hell out of it).

I have only flown AA twice internationally recently, both in business. One ORD-BRU (767-200), and DFW-LGW (777). Overall, their service, while nice, didn't even compare with a recent LAX-LHR on BA (business). I will go out of my way to fly BA going to Europe any time over AA. Don't know of better alternatives to South America, however. Anyone?

Sounds like a bit of a drag to go through DFW and MIA to get to SAO! Agree with you on the tomato soup - seems to be a domestic lunch time thing with AA - did you get any of the fresh baked cookies? I think they are great.

I like the Flagship Lounge at DFW - much more private and quiet than the Admirals Club and usually closer to the gates for international departures. Each time I have visited there was a small selection of food items available. Having to ask the attendant for a drink is funny, but I think AA is scared that the passengers will start filling their carryon's if it were self-service http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif. The last time I was there they did have a computer with internet access - it is kind of hidden behind a cubicle at the back of the lounge. I think they also had a fax and photocopier but I could be mistaken.

It's dissapointing that AA did not provide true flagship service on the DFW-MIA leg. I think that a letter of complaint would'nt go astray - particularly given how much promotion they do for it.

Agree with you on the MD-11 seats, much more comfortable. Note that AA will be installing the new sleeper seats on the 767's servicing South America "real soon now".

Overall, I think AA has a lot of catching up to do with respect to their oneworld partners. I know a couple of people on the inside and they tell me there are plans to upgrade all aspects of their service - from check-in, lounges, inflight service and amenities. We wait with baited breath http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

Yes, keep it coming!!!

Special PAWS UP for putting titles/headers on each segment of the report. I think I'm going to start doing that from now on!

And I'm sorry you were a bit disappointed with AA first and the lounge. I hope Brazil is better (it's on my list of places to go, hopefully during Carnival because I hear it's fun.)

Sao Paulo Visit
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We did have a wonderful time in Sao Paulo, visiting with new and old friends and attending a great wedding with 950 other guests!. Stayed at the West Side Suites, which is a good alternative to the American brand hotels at around $80.00 per night w/bfast. Don't count on any concierge services, but you get a nice two-room suite with a very reasonably priced mini bar. Location is good for leisure as well as business.

SAO has some outstanding restuarants including:

Dolce Villa (italian)
Gero (very trendy and excellent italian)
Barbacoa (churascuria)

We left SAO to spend our last two days in RIO.

Diners Club Lounge (CGH)
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Congonhas Airport is very conveniently located, and is used for many domestic flights and the SAO/RIO shuttle. This used to be a "pooled" service whereby flights left every thirty minutes and were operated as a cooperative by several major airlines. This anti-competitive set-up was recently dismantled, and now four airlines run competing shuttles almost every hour. They include

VASP: the low price leader, with a hideous maintenance record.

TAM: a relative newcomer with F-100 service and also the new A330 on certain domestic/intl routes.

TransBrasil: (don't know much, but their service to the US is code share with DL. These services are not heavily promoted to American travelers).

Varig: The "King" of south american airlines. Varig sets the price and standard of service.

We flew Varig, and I was quite pleased with the service and efficiency. Our flight was delayed 1 hr due to bad weather, so we waited in the Diners Lounge (Sala VIP). Very nice, with a selection of juices and espresso. One conference room and several computers, with modems, but no internet access without a dial-up account. This lounge is way too small, as it seems to be the only club at CGH. It was hard to find a seat here, but was a nice amenity for DC to provide.

Ponte Varig/Rio Sul is RG's shuttle between Rio and Sao Paulo. Check-in is very efficient, with agents (female) walking about the terminal with handheld computers which check passengers in and print a seating assignment (which was ignored on the plane). Though she did take my UA ff#, I got no credit. For some reason, the rules prohibit credit on the RIO/SAO shuttle.

The flight was full, but once we were airborne for this 250 mile trip aboard a 737, four flight attendants served a "box" breakfast of fruit and cheese. It also contained a tiny menu for the hot selections, which were a salmon/egg croissant and a sausage sandwich (I think). These were passed out in hot foil wrappers. I was very pleased with the quality and quantity of the food for this short flight. Also, RG planes have plenty of legroom...a far cry from the UA Shuttle. Fifty minutes later, with a great view of RIO, we land at Santos Dumont airport (SDU), right in downtown RIO.

RIO Stay
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After a quick taxi ride to the Caesar Park Ipanema, we checked in then went hunting for bathing suits to wear to the beach. Just as in SAO, all the stores had great winter sales, which were improved by the great exchange rate. I used my Amex Platinum Card (which I may cancel) to get rooms at the Caesar Park. The hotel has great service and superb concierges, but the price was $260.00. We got an Orchid and a Caesar Park luggage strap delivered to the room as a gift from AMEX. The interior design, however, was very dated and took away from the "world class" experience that the Caesar Park is known for.

We stayed there only because some friends warned that Copacabana was too dangerous. I found that to be rediculous. RIO is very safe if you are smart about what you say, where you go, what you wear (jewelry). I regret cancelling my room at the Rio Atlantica in Copacabana for only $ R 146,00. I will definitely avoid the Caesar Park in the future.

On our last day, we got a great english speaking driver who took us on a tour of the city, including Sugarloaf, Corcovado, Urca, etc. Got some great pictures feeding monkeys at Corcovado and some outstanding pictures of planes on approach to SDU (with the bay and city in the backdrop) from Sugarloaf. Rio is pure magic!

GIG-GRU-DFW-SAN
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Finally, we had to leave this great place.
Since we booked our Rio stay after we arrived in Brazil, We had to fly from GIG to GRU on a separate ticket from our international one. We booked with plenty of time to claim our luggage in GRU and re-check it with AA.

Again, we chose Varig for the domestic trip. TAM is flying some A330's on the GIG-GRU routing, but I wanted UA miles and lounge access, so RG was the only choice. At check-in I asked if my Premier Executive card would gain entrance to RG's C-Class lounge, and was told: "Of Course!". The lounge was smallish, because it serves only the domestic flights out of GIG. Still, plenty of free soft drinks and beer, and great Cheesebread, which seems to exist only in Brazil. the flight to GRU departed on time and was only 20% full (Tuesday evening). Free drinks and a newspaper for every pax, as well as a hot snack (again served in foil wrapper). This time, assigned seating prevailed. (I think Brazilians are not used to assigned seating on the RIO/SAO shuttle yet, so it is really not observed, esp when irregular operations occur). No problems claiming bags and checking in with AA. I only wish we were flying UA or DL or CO back to the states, though.

AC's rule is "All scheduled VARIG/ Nordeste/ Rio-Sul flights on qualifying paid fares. Not eligible: charter flights and code-share flights operated by any VARIG code-share partner other than Star Alliance Airlines".

Star Alliance Website says: "If you are a member of any Star Alliance™ carrier's frequent flyer programme, you'll earn qualifying miles* when you fly any of the member airlines. You can also redeem your miles for reward travel on any Star Alliance airline. What's more, you can apply mileage points from qualified flights on any Star Alliance airline toward your overall frequent flyer status."

United is explicit in "*Flights between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are not eligible for flight credit".

Sounds like not so seamless an alliance.

AA Trip back to US
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After checking in at AA's designated F-class counter, I had to ask about going to the Admirals club. No invitation or mention without my promting. After seeing the club, I know why.

The club was set up with a nice entry area and business center, then a small bar and snack counter with self serve cookies and crackers. It appeared that the capacity had been increased from the original design, because the whole club was set up in rows of club chairs lined up like a regular waiting area. Very few tables or places to rest your drink. The smoking area near a second bar was set up with cafe tables only. And the TV area had no more than four Eames type chairs. In all, very dissapointing for AA's premier destination in South America. The fabric was worn, and smoke filled the whole club. After one learns of the great amenities Asian/Euro carriers provide for F-class, this was a real let down.

Next, we board the flight to DFW. The agents made a special announcement for F/C class, but no one paid attention. Also, the agents didn't seem to care...they took everyone's boarding cards at once...what a mob scene.

On board, we were seating in 3HJ, which are pretty nice given the cramped 767 interior. I will definitely avoid the 767 on international flights in the future...way too cramped in all classes (maybe not coach). We had champagne and wondered when our amenity kit would be distributed. When we asked, the FA replied gruffly "We didn't get any tonight." Now, I may be picky, but this is first class...shouldn't there be some extra stock at GRU? AA has at least 5 flights a day here to the States. Even if they ran out, couldn't they borrow some from their partner TAM? I just don't understand how you tell people that spend alot of money/miles on first class that you are "out" of amenity kits!!! The rest of the flight went OK, but again was served warm vodka with the caviar. I woke up very early to have the hot breakfast, which was supposed to be served with eggs cooked to order. Instead they were just handed out scrambled with some sausage. I was really upset because I was going to ask them to leave the sausage off when they asked how I wanted my eggs!

Arrival in DFW was fine, and I really liked the DFW Admirals club in Terminal C. There was no continental breakfast available, though. I thought this was a feature of the Admirals Club (muffins, fruit, etc.). The flight back to SAN was too long for the Super 80 assigned to the route, but we did survive. My fiance wasn't sure whether to eat the F/C breakfast or get a Bistro bag. When she asked the FA that served our pre-flight drinks what was on the menu, he replied "Breakfast...I don't know...SHE's (referring to another FA) taking care of that." I guess he realized how stupid he sounded, because he did check and let us know what was on the menu.

To Summarize:

Sao Paulo: A-
Rio de Janeiro: A++
Varig: A
American Airlines: B-
Caesar Park Ipanema: B

I will definitely look to fly DL or UA on my next flight to South America. I am thinking of a honeymoon in Punta del Este, Uruguay and a few days in Buenos Aires. The most convenient routing is SAN-MEX-EZE, with an AR A-340 on the MEX-EZE route. Any thoughts on that routing?

BlondeBomber: Thanks for the interesting clarification on the RIO/SAO rules. I wonder why UA and AC differ here. I did get credit for the flight from GIG to GRU (RG mainline), but not from CGH to SDU (RG shuttle).

Yet so many of my SA friends will only fly AA. I've urged them to try CO Bus First or anything- they think AA is the absolute best, as if it is THE American Airline. This is even after the widely publicized derogatory AA pilots cockpit remarks! many ffrequently pay more to go AA and many reuse to fly the SA carriers.