Good morning from Barcelona. While I’m about to conk out thanks to the 48 hours of straight flying I’ve done (flying Tampa to Chicago to Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Miami to New York to Barcelona), I did want to quickly mention what a great flight I had on American. I know, I know, American business class can’t be that great, but this was a really good flight.
For one, the flight was less than 40% full in both business class and coach, apparently thanks to the Superbowl.
Second, since this was a 767, American has an enhanced meal service compared to business class on the 777. Their logic is apparently that since they don’t have a first class product, everyone deserves a bit better of a meal than business class on a three cabin plane to compensate for it.
That means that instead of just nuts you get nuts and a cheese antipasto.
Then instead of the small starter and side salad being served together you get a separate starter consisting of shrimp and salmon.
Then you get a full sized salad, as opposed to the side salad served in business class on 777s.
Then instead of the main course being in a small pre-plated dish, it’s actually plated onboard and served on a proper plate. This steak happened to be really good, surprisingly.
Then for dessert you get an ice cream sundae instead of just a scoop of ice cream.
But what really set the flight apart was the crew. There were three guys working business class, all with completely different personalities. The purser, Mauricio, was one of the funniest flight attendants I’ve had in a long time. He was sarcastic at almost every interaction, but in a funny way. The guy in front of me asked if he could hang his coat, and he said “of course I can, I have two hands. Why do you ask?” When my travel companion got a bit demanding he was reminded (jokingly) that’s he’s an Executive Platinum and, only Concierge Keys can be that demanding. Yet despite his humor he was also incredibly professional, and greeted every passenger both on the way in and thanked each business class passenger for their business before landing.
Then the flight attendant working my aisle had to be one of the most professional I’ve had on any airline. At every single interaction he addressed me by name, and constantly asked how everything was, if he could get me something, etc.
Truly a fantastic flight, though now it’s off to bed for a few hours…
when booking such a crazy flight plan do you book it all as one ticket or as multiple? Do you find it to be A lot more expensive vs just going TPA to BCN and back? what site do you book it through that allows you to put in so many stops or do you call the airlines?
I had the same 'enhanced' meal service on a 763 on DFW->FRA the other week ... great food, staff & service in general ... they really need to rip out those outdated seats though .. even BA's old Club World seats are better than these ...
48 hours of flying, just to get to Barcelona? Can we say addict?
Just another reason to stick with United: pre plated meals in business class aren't the norm
@Rocky
I think he said TPA-LAX was one and LAX-BCN was another
Glad to hear the crew was so great. I'm worried that morale at AA will plummet thanks to the latest cuts.
Is it just me or did you say the exact same thing after your LAX-PVG in AA J? :P
@ Rocky -- I'll have a post on that soon.
@ Sean -- Except I actually mean it this time. Truly exceptional crew.
Great to hear! I'm on the same JFK > BCN flight on Wednesday and I hope the crew is as good as what you had. Have a great time in BCN!
@Andy I believe Lucky is beyond an addict, well at least the Über Addict.
It's nice to see that some carriers in the States are aiming for quality and customer sevice; instead of the US Agony/CheapWay. Hopefully for just a little bit more on the fare, we can get more legroom, no baggage fees, and warm nuts, diet coke and lime, all around as a standard. Well a flyer can dream right?
@Lucky know that you meant it, just trying to imply that American can be pretty great and that it does't always have to be such a surprise :D
I have a goal to collect enough miles to get 3 seats to Barcelona next June 2013. I live in southwest florida. I'm thinking that I should book out of Miami....any thoughts? Thanks so much.
@ Deb -- Are you hoping to fly coach or business class? Do you have any miles as of now, and if so, with which programs?
@Lucky any plans in Barcelona? Will this be a mini-vaca?
Sorry to tell you this lucky.... but if the picture you have in TravelSort is you....damn you are a Hotty.
No wonder those guys gave you the royal treatment.
Wow, good to know the on-board staff will treat you based on how good looking you are. Fat and/or unattractive people, good luck! lol
@Jorge: That's an old photo. This is recent: http://bit.ly/z9DTek
@Simon: I am LMFAO !!!!!
My best AA business class flight was when I was pulled from the gate check-in to be upgraded to first (DTW-HKG). No angled "lay flat" seats for me...yay!