A Great Transcon Experience... AA First Dining at JFK and Cathay First to YVR
#16
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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AA Compass to LAX. Ha Ha. That would have been a shocking turn of events; even if the Compass crews are pretty friendly. I missed you at the YVR airport: I was through the domestic terminal in the early morning of your LAX flight. Better flyer talk travel karma next time!
When I lived in NYC I took this flight to YVR every few months in F. About half the F pax would deplane at YVR and it was usually not full. Good way to go skiing at Whistler. The connection to SFO/LAX is not convenient in the slightest and it is not really an alternative to the transcon F flights, AA F on 3-class is competitive and much more convenient As for the champagne, while not Krug the Taitinger Comte is the same cost, so offered as a lighter taste rather than a cost reduction.
Thanks very much NYC Flyer.
#17
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After the long walk to customs, I was officially in Canada around 1:45am. Then up to the departures level to scout for a place to hang out for 3 hours before PreClearance opened. I finally settled for a quiet corner on the mezzanine level of the food court, plugged in and did a little work. Even at 2am, the free YVR Wifi was pretty useless. I can't imagine how bad it is when there are actually passengers in the airport. I finally gave up and used Rogers cellular and my iPhone hotspot, which worked great.
At just after 4:30am, I headed for security where there was quite a crowd. Fortunately, NEXUS and Global Entry members get to bypass most. I headed for the Plaza Premium Lounge which is a Priority Pass lounge. The is the old Alaska Boardroom and still serves Alaska passengers. Not much has changed since the last time I was here. This place is as depressing as ever...
... although some of the furniture has a few more miles on it.
Just before 6am, I headed out for the long, long trek to the Gate 90-99 concourse.
YVR-LAX
AA 6072
E75
6:44am-9:45am
April 5, 2019
Simply a lovely morning in Vancouver.
From Cathay First to AA First. What a depressing change. As for a meal today, can AA get any worse? AA/Compass breakfast was advertised as "strawberry pastry" which was true I guess.
The fruit was the only edible part of the meal. 15,000 Avios is about right on this one.
At just after 4:30am, I headed for security where there was quite a crowd. Fortunately, NEXUS and Global Entry members get to bypass most. I headed for the Plaza Premium Lounge which is a Priority Pass lounge. The is the old Alaska Boardroom and still serves Alaska passengers. Not much has changed since the last time I was here. This place is as depressing as ever...
... although some of the furniture has a few more miles on it.
Just before 6am, I headed out for the long, long trek to the Gate 90-99 concourse.
YVR-LAX
AA 6072
E75
6:44am-9:45am
April 5, 2019
Simply a lovely morning in Vancouver.
From Cathay First to AA First. What a depressing change. As for a meal today, can AA get any worse? AA/Compass breakfast was advertised as "strawberry pastry" which was true I guess.
The fruit was the only edible part of the meal. 15,000 Avios is about right on this one.
Last edited by SFO777; Apr 6, 2019 at 1:59 pm
#18
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That's gotta win an award for being comically bad. I mean was it somebody's last day at work and they thought, screw it, I'm going to make a breakfast sandwich out of 1 strawberry, some granola, and is that cream cheese?
I need to get back to the pointy end of the plane. Been spending too much time in the back
I need to get back to the pointy end of the plane. Been spending too much time in the back
#19
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
nice way to get to L.A,, reminds me of a time, I fly ATL-DFW-LHR-LAX, the same on the return, because it was somehow cheaper then flying ATL -LAX
#21
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,972
Once you deconstructed that apple pie tart my stomach became somewhat deconstructed as well.
I haven't seen that on any menu anywhere. Don't the 175's have ovens?
I haven't seen that on any menu anywhere. Don't the 175's have ovens?
#23
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: BAEC Gold/GGL, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 1,074
Lovely report again SFO777 - JFK-YVR on CX is a real gem - I did it in Business a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the flight and the great approach up to YVR.
Funnily enough the time I flew YVR-LAX had a great crew and nice steel cut oatmeal for breakfast. Views heading down the coastline were stunning
Funnily enough the time I flew YVR-LAX had a great crew and nice steel cut oatmeal for breakfast. Views heading down the coastline were stunning
#26
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Another wonderful report. This is probably my favorite North American flight. Disappointed to see that CX is no longer serving Krug on this leg, although Tattinger Comtes is nothing to scoff at.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Nice report. As lovely as the product looks, I can't imagine that middle of the night layover. I honestly think I'd rather fly nonstop in coach. I do really wish that the foreign carriers would be allowed to fly the domestic transcons (or rather, sell tickets on them as some do fly them).
#29
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Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Thanks for reminding me about this, SFO777... I'm going to fly this routing in CX F myself (again) and then overnight at the airport, then lunch on dim sum, then take the train home to Seattle. Perhaps even try to bake this as a YVR stopover to Asia, India or Sri Lanka using AS miles...
#30
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Nice report as usual.
Flew this last year and agree it's got to be the best way to cross the continent. Sat in F on the outbound and had a great crew, only one other pax on board. I was so full by the time I passed out. Because the return leg from YVR was so short I just went with J seeing as how all I really planned to do was sleep. Ended up with the same FA that had be serving me in F on the outbound flight ironically enough.
Flew this last year and agree it's got to be the best way to cross the continent. Sat in F on the outbound and had a great crew, only one other pax on board. I was so full by the time I passed out. Because the return leg from YVR was so short I just went with J seeing as how all I really planned to do was sleep. Ended up with the same FA that had be serving me in F on the outbound flight ironically enough.