Miami International

I went to the Admirals Club closest to our arrival gate D20, which was the club next to gate D15. I was allowed to enter the club after I showed my 30 day membership pass. The lounge has additional seating before the regular club and therefore two desks are set up right after taking the escalator upstairs. The club was quite busy, so I feared I might not be able to take a shower, but there was only one guest ahead of me on the shower list. I was told I would be contacted if a shower would be available, which would be 15 to 20 minutes.

I entered the lounge which was very busy and I had difficulties to find a seat in the club. I grabbed a glass of water and did a quick check of my e-mails and much earlier than expected I was called to the front desk and told that the shower was available. A young agent showed me the shower facilities. The showerhead was a bit low but otherwise I had a nice and refreshing shower. After a hot and hot / cold shower I was awake and ready for the last segment for today.

I decided to leave this club and see if the other club next to gate D 30 would be less crowded. It was also closer to the gate D28, where AA1613, my flight to San Juan, would depart. This club is the bigger club and it was indeed not that crowded but quite full as well. Like the one next to D15 it is located one floor above the main concourse. I had not so much difficulties to find a seat. I got me a coffee and water and continued to update this trip report and also wrote a few e-mails, which were overdue. Time passed very quickly and soon it was time to leave the club and walk over to gate D28.

I arrived there a few minutes ahead of scheduled boarding time, but the gate agents were already making the announcements for boarding the flight which would start with First Class Passengers and Oneworld Emeralds. I was among the first passengers to board the plane.

07 October 2013
MIA – SJU
[Miami International – San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International]
AA 1613 (American Airlines); Boeing 757-200 (N675AN)
Gate D 28
11:50 – 14:25 [effective 11:47 – 14:15]
First Class
Seat 2 A

I entered the Boeing 757 and turned right as the second door was used. I stored my carry on in the overhead bin and my laptop bag under the seat in front of me. The flight attendant offered to hang my jacket and also asked if I like to have a pre-departure drink and offered water, orange juice and champagne (well sparkling wine as it was definitively not from the Champagne). I opted for a glass of sparkling wine.

Pillow, blankets and headphones were placed on the seats. As expected the Business Class Cabin of this flight was fully booked or full with upgraded AAdvantage Executive Platinums. The back seems to be quite full as well on this scheduled 2 hour 35 minutes flight to Puerto Rico.

The captain welcomed us on board of this 757 bound for San Juan and informed us about the flight time to San Juan. After he had finished his speech the doors were armed and we were pushed back at 11:47. During push back and on our taxi to the runway the safety video was shown on the overhead screens.

We took off at 12:03 from runway 26 L towards the West before making a U turn and approaching the Atlantic Ocean and once again flew over downtown Miami. We climbed into the sky above the coast of Florida. Time to give some information about the Boeing 757 performing today’s American Airlines flight AA 1613 to San Juan.

Our Boeing 757-223 (WL) was delivered to American Airlines on August 24, 1998 as new plane. It is powered by two Rolls Royce RB211-535E4B engines. In July 2008 it was fitted with winglets. Equipped with 22 seats in First Class and 166 seats in Economy Class, it offered the same seat pitch as the flight from Orlando to Miami. There was also an AC power outlet on this flight for regular plugs.

In the meantime the crew had left their jump seats and prepared the service, which was in Economy Class free soft drinks including tea and coffee while we in Business Class were served a proper meal including alcoholic beverages. But before it was time to eat again, a hot towel service was done round about 12 minutes after we took off.

Hot towels were collected soon later and it was time for the first beverage round which was served with warm nuts. We passed over the Bahamas and one could see the Atlantis Resort on the main Island. I opted for my usual tonic water. I received not only a glass of tonic water but the whole can.

After the first round of beverages was served the orders for our meals were taken. And we were asked if we like to have a refill. But as I had still not finished my can I declined the offer. I had prebooked the chicken and pear salad which was accompanied by roasted beets, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette and therefore was not asked about my choice for lunch. However the flight attendant confirmed that he has noticed my order. One passenger, who was upgraded at the gate, got not her choice of main dish and she demanded that someone else on this flight had to choose something different as she was Executive Platinum. I had noticed that she was upgraded at the gate and I think it is a bit over the top to demand that she as an upgraded passenger has more rights as someone who had booked the class of service or were on the upgrade list ahead of this lady. On the list of the loaded the meals of those who preordered were put off the list of available main meals. So those got their meals for sure. And let us be honest, this is the way how it should be. All other ways to deal with this would make the option to pre order a meal really useless if any upgraded passenger with elite status could trump someone paying for a ticket. The agent politely declined the suggestion and she took something else but was still upset.

Chicken and Pear Salad
Accompanied by roasted beets, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette

Cookie

The meal were delivered 35 minutes after we left Miami was done starting in the first row. The flight attendant served the tray individually, i.e. without using the cart. I was not addressed by name, but did not really expect this. The meal was again good, the portion quite big and I had worse food in a plane. So far I was pleased with what I experienced on American Airlines so far. A selection of bread and rolls were available with the main service and the flight attendant offered bread and rolls after every two rows served in the Business Class Cabin.

The trays of the meal service were cleared and it was time to serve coffee, tea and a warm cookie. Instead of coffee or tea I decided to go for a ginger ale which was served soon later. Another round of coffee and tea was offered later in the flight and this time I went for a coffee. A little bit of caffeine did not hurt as I now became a bit tired after being awake for a long time with only a bit over three hours of sleep.

The remaining flight time passed quickly and I read in the Time Magazine and in some papers for some business related projects. Since the remaining flight time was not that long (less than 70 minutes) I refused from starting my laptop. The plane however was equipped with power outlets and a regular plug could be used.

The crew was not seen that many times after the meal service was finished, but in their favour one has to say that the remaining flight time was not that long. And soon we began our final approach into San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International airport.

Like during my flight to San Juan out of Philadelphia a couple of month before we approached San Juan from the coast before turning slightly left and thus offering nice views on old town, the fort and the cruise ship terminals. I also could spot my hotel for the next night during our approach. We touched down at 14.11 and taxied for our gate, where we arrived four minutes later. The second door was used that usually means that Economy Class will not hold back. But to my surprise a flight attendant blocked the aisle until everybody from business class had left the plane. In the terminal I headed for the exit and the taxi queue for taxis to downtown San Juan.

The crew on this flight was friendly and attentive. They could have been more present in the cabin, especially after the meal service was done, where they were hardly seen in the cabin. On the other hand, they blocked the aisle so that we in business class could disembark first, which surprised me. I experienced this on flights of US Airways and United as well but did not call this the standard procedure. In so far I am quite pleased with the service I have experienced on the flights of American Airlines so far.

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