American Airlines may have discovered what really makes long distance air travel tick. And it is not the obvious. The world”s largest carrier now offers the superb Bose noise suppression headphones in both first and business class. These don”t come cheap and each pair is supplied in a proper presentation box and logged in and logged out. While the Boeing 777 is a fine and popular aircraft there is one negative thing about it. As the cabin staff agree ”It ain”t quiet!” With the set on, the rumble is dissipated. And if you don”t like (or want) what”s on offer with the radio or TV part of the IFE (in-flight entertainment system) just leave it switched off. The engine noise is subdued.
The airlines of North America do not have much of a reputation when it comes to cabin service. While the attention in restaurants and shops can be (over) friendly when it comes to flying, somehow the good manners and courtesy have been known to be less so. The product also has not always been right.
Things are changing. Continental led the way with BusinessFirst and now American itself is making great strides. While it is still a little way behind the best of the European carriers”the high flyers of the Middle East, and the quality operators from Singapore and Hong Kong”in many respects it is getting there. But don”t expect young and keen flight attendants. What you get is experienced cabin crew.
American is in a transition period and will begin to introduce its Next-Generation Business Class on Transatlantic 777 operations in 2007. It is designed to give passengers more comfort, flexibility and privacy. It features new, innovative, lie-flat seats in a 2+3+2 configuration, a personal in-flight entertainment system with audio and video on demand, state-of-the-art lighting and ergonomically-designed overhead bins.
For the time being AA passengers will find themselves in what is a slightly old fashioned cabin, the seats have generous width and plenty of legroom. But they are not fully flat. There is a single ceiling light, and just four simple levers to press to get really comfortable. It could be argued that some airlines have lost their way with seat control overkill.
Everything about American is traditional. The external aircraft colour scheme seems to have been around for ever and the Heathrow lounge can be best described as dark. In size terms it is huge, but there are no computer screens and don”t expect anything in the way of hot snacks. BA and oneworld customers flying from Heathrow T3 will be disappointed. AA says there are plans for an upgrade of this and it will match the splendid Miami effort (as reported later in this article). Even American”s superb Park Avenue check-in, which used to be on the right as your car entered the main T3 concourse area, has gone, knocked down as part of the central area redevelopment. There are plans for its replacement where once again Premier Class passengers will be able to complete landside formalities and go straight to Fast Track without the need to pass through the masses in that most busy of terminals.
First and business class passengers have their own entrance to the boarding area and are priority called. Once in the aircraft coats are quickly collected, champagne and orange juice offered and an amenities bag produced. The American Airlines passenger gift has been well thought out, not yet another leather or plastic amenities kit but a useful shoe bag (with all the usuals tucked inside). Other airlines please take note. The radio part of the IFE is terrific but the film and TV section clearly waits for the new product.
In terms of quality and presentation the business class menu is as good as you will get and compares well with the top ranked airlines. An appetiser is followed by a generous salad. Five choices for the main course are all served on fine china with stainless steel cutlery, the napkin with a button hole allow it to be attached to a shirt to keep it in place.
There is nothing much in the way of a desert except cheese and biscuits, or ice cream. Perhaps AA has learnt that more ambitious offerings just get wasted. Go for the delicious ices. The cheeseboard is available any time. Normally the meal is offered course by course but it can be ordered as a single tray for serving at a time to suit you. Regulars on the evening return to London often take this option and get theirs before everyone else, allowing for a quick departure into sleep. Be aware that the cabin staff disappear once the meal has been served. But they emerge an hour or so later and are more than happy to serve snacks and drinks. From London to the USA with a morning take-off it is a hot meal when airborne, with pizza and sandwiches just before landing.
American offers an ambitious bar selection including Emilio Lustau sherry with a description that runs to 10 lines of the menu. Pity that the airline carries only one bottle for the whole of first and business class. We are told that it is superb. Baileys Irish Cream did fine as a substitute. A choice of two white and two red wines complimented the meal”Californian, French, Australian and New Zealand products.
American Airlines offers good value and a much improved product. And has by far the best headsets currently available. That alone makes for the trip!
A Flying at the Front End Extra - Miami Internatinal Airport
Miami International Airport has over the last few years developed a reputation as the airport not to be used as a gateway to the USA and for connections to South and Central America. But things are changing.
Getting into the USA has never been easy, even in the days before 9/11. The ”green card” entry system for tourists helped, introduced in the 1990s. It cuts out the visa requirement. But with security extremely (and correctly) high profile in the post-Twin Towers days, immigration did not actually slow to a stop. Patience was the word. Consequently Iberia dismantled its Miami hub transferring the operation to Mexico City or flying to its old colonial destinations direct from Madrid.
Things have improved greatly. Miami Airport is now the USA”s third ranking international operation and with 31m passengers last year, it is just slightly under the throughput of Gatwick, even though it has four runways. A $5.2bn development programme is under way including Terminal E which includes an excellent American Airways Admirals Club with free Internet, showers and courtesy drinks for those bound for destinations outside the USA. International arrivals are faced with a seemingly vast choice of passport inspection gates looked after by usually friendly staff.
If you are the last passenger off the third 747 arriving that afternoon it is bad luck, but the queues do seem to move quickly and during busy periods a special desk is open for transit passengers. Everyone on the aircraft has to enter the United States and baggage cannot be checked through. Outbound from the UK it is one piece of hand baggage only, with not even a handbag allowed as an extra. But in the other direction a roller bag (size limited) and another item is allowed.
If connecting tell the cabin crew and they can radio ahead to Miami for assistance, wherever you are sitting. On the above trip with American Airways I was comfortably able to connect to the AA Honduras flight in 90 minutes, including a stop in the Club. The connection was still on (even though a no-show passenger”s bags had to be unloaded).
By Malcolm Ginsberg