#65 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings.
595 reviews
Hello and welcome to this new series of flight reviews!
For years, Chile had been on the top of my travel bucket list and prominent Flight-Report member Pilpintu's beautiful Flight-Reports have always been an inspiration. However, the pandemic had other plans! As the Covid-era restricted us to travel between our two homes in Europe and the US for several years, this trip to Chile would mark our first trip outside of those two continents since 2020.
Although we live in San Diego, we often fly from LAX for better prices, schedules and generally more flight options. Another reason to choose LAX for this trip was that I was able to create an itinerary with all wide-bodies–at least that was the plan. A schedule change swapped one of the wide-bodies for an A321 in the end–oh, well, still three out of four!
We booked in Premium Economy on AA metal as we had applied systemwide upgrade certificates to the long-haul flights and figured that we'd still be comfortable in Premium Economy if the upgrades to Business didn't clear.
It was a relatively easy drive from San Diego to LAX as it was a Sunday morning–just under 2 hours to get to the LAX Economy lot.
I really like LAX's new Economy Parking, which opened earlier this year. The prices are reasonable and you can finally make reservations ahead of time, whereas pre-booking was not an option for the old Economy lot pre-Covid.
If you have an electric vehicle, there is essentially an entire level of spots reserved for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and it's conveniently located on the ground level near the shuttle buses.
It was a quick ride from the Economy Parking and we arrived at American's Terminal 4 about 3 hours before departure. Arriving early, especially since the pandemic, has helped me relieve anxiety about potential issues with Covid paperwork or anything that may come up.
Check-in through the priority lanes was quick; however, the AA ticket agent's information was not up-to-date regarding Covid entry requirements for Chile. I'd already uploaded required proof of vaccination through the VeriFLY app prior to checking in online the day before, so I was susprised that they asked me for a Chilean Vaccine passport at the counter. The Chilean vaccine passes hadn't been required for months. Luckily, I had previously requested Chilean Covid passports when they were required so had them with me on my phone!
As we had plenty of time, we headed next door to TBIT so that my kid could get some of that toddler energy out of his system at the playground before going to the lounge.
I also love the outdoor deck in TBIT right near the playground and food court.
Being on an international itinerary with oneworld Emerald status, we could have accessed the Qantas First class lounge in TBIT, but I wanted to be closer to the gate so we headed back to Terminal 4 to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge.
Our credentials were checked in the lobby on the concourse level and we were given invitations to the Flagship lounge to show upstairs as the Flagship lounge and standard Admirals Club are located on the same level with separate entrances.
Invitations were handed to an agent coming off the elevator and we were guided to the left to enter the Flagship lounge.
One thing I love about Flagship Lounges is being greeted by Champagne immediatly upon entry.
The Flagship Lounge is expansive and partially overlooks the terminals, but also has great views of the tarmac with plenty of natural light.
It wasn't very crowded this Sunday morning, so we easily found a spot overlooking TBIT
Food options are quite good by US lounge standards. Certainly much better than standard Admirals Club fare and on par with most international carrier Business class lounges.
There are many fresh options including hot dishes.
There is also a decent choice of alcoholic beverages in addition to the champagne offered on arrival.
Our gate was directly underneath the Flagship Lounge so we had a great view of our aircraft arriving to the stand.
As the gate was so close, we only left the lounge about 5 minutes before boarding was due to begin.
The gate area was chaotic and crowded with 200+ passengers on our full 777.
With oneworld Emerald status we were able to board with Group 1, which often feels like being a salmon swimming upstream on domestic US flights–especially a full widebody.
Passing through the Business class cabin on the way to Premium Economy–no surprise, the upgrades did not clear on this domestic sector with over 50 people on the upgrade list. We were around positions 4-6 with all seats taken, if I remember correctly.
We were the first in the Premium Economy cabin.
Seats in Premium Economy on 777s are laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration, much better than the torturous 3-4-3 configuration in Economy.
The seats are the popular Collins MiQ model found on many carriers in long-haul Premium Economy and narrowbody Business class. This is the same seat model AA have in Domestic First class on narrobody aircraft.
Seat width is 19.5", just slightly narrower than the 20" width found in Domestic First class, and legroom is exactly the same at 38" seat pitch. Unlike Domestic First class; however, long-haul Premium Economy seats feature full leg-rests in the bulkhead row and foot rests in other rows.
The first rows also have much more room. I had originally booked seats in the bulkhead row, but our seats were changed to the 2nd row after a schedule change.
The 38" seat pitch is standard for Premium Economy and spacious enough. It's a full 7" more legroom than the 31" seat pitch found in the Economy cabin.
The mood-lighting was turned on as boarding wrapped up, bathing the cabin in a soft blue-violet hue.
Seatback screens are large with good resolution.
Boarding wrapped up a few minutes late due to the late arrival of the aircraft. We ended up pushing back from the gate a little over 10 minutes past scheduled time, but would be arriving in MIA on time thanks to good tail winds.
The safety video was played as we taxied to the departure runway.
Just over 4h of flying time takeoff to touchdown today.
Like most other AA mainline aircraft, this plane featured on-board Wi-Fi.
I found the prices to be steep for a 4h flight. I'd perhaps pay this much for an 8h+ long-haul, but not for a domestic flight.
I didn't see any need for internet anyway with so much seatback entertainment content.
One of the nice things about Premium Economy is the wider armrests, which allow for more shoulder room and a spot for drinks.
There's even a pull-out drink tray for additional space if needed.
Each seat has a USB port and 110V power outlet under the central armrest. You do have to kind of contort to access it, but its placement avoids encroaching on personal space and potential accidently breaking power cords with your legs, as can happen when the power isn't hidden away like this.
There's also a convenient storage space in that area where you can keep tablets or water bottles.
The footrests fold down from the seat in front. They're not nearly as nice as having the full leg-rests in the front row, but it's always nice to be able to elevate your feet a bit.
The drink service began about half an hour into the flight. The Premium Economy cabin is not sold as a separate cabin on domestic sectors, but rather marketed as Main Cabin Extra. The seats are accessible for free to oneworld elites and those with international Premium Economy tickets, or for a fee for anyone else, like any extra legroom Main Cabin Extra seat–but much more spacious, of course.
Being that the service is standard Main Cabin Extra service, there is no meal service on domestic flights; only snacks are available. Oddly, despite the fact that AA had brought back a limited buy-on-board food menu a few weeks prior to this flight, none was offered on this mid-day 4.5h transon. I assume this was an error or oversight with the rollout, as there normally should have been B.O.B. on a flight of this length. Normally passengers with Executive Platinum status receive one complimentary item from the B.O.B. menu when flying in Economy or Main Cabin Extra on Domestic flights. This had been the case a few weeks prior on an LAX-DCA roundtrip (which I'll probably never get around to posting).
The only difference is that passengers in Main Cabin Extra receive complimentary alcohol, so I went for a sparkling wine.
The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful and went by quickly with the help of seatback entertainment. I like that AA keep a moving map on the overhead screens displayed throughout the flight.
There was another drink service about an hour before arrival. I didn't want any alcohol this time, knowing there'd be plenty of champagne in the Flagship lounge ?
Many of my fellow French countrymen can't fathom how I could possibly like Dr. Pepper–I think my strange love comes from having gone to college in the Southeastern US. Either way, I'm always glad AA carry it.
Soon enough it was time to land.
Thanks to the strong tailwinds, we landed a half-hour ahead of schedule.
To be honest, I fully expected that there would be no open gate for us because of our early arrival, as I've experienced this many many many times on domestic US flights in the past.
But lo' and behold, we pulled in to a gate after a short taxi time and off we were!
Another nice thing about sitting in the Premium Economy cabin is that you're only a few rows from the exit.
And here we are in MIA…off to the Flagship lounge we go!
Thank you for reading and please feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below.
An overall pleasant experience that was enhanced by access to the Flagship Lounge on this international itinerary. Because Premium Economy fares are not sold on domestic sectors, seats in the cabin are accessible to oneworld frequent flyers for free or to anyone else for a fee, but the service is strictly the same as standard Main Cabin Extra service and is marketed as such. Just snacks and drinks on a 4.5h flight was the bare minimum. Though AA had recently re-introduced a very limited buy-on-board food menu, none was offered on this flight.
American's Premium Economy seats are comfortable and the same model as their Domestic First class seats, with similar seat pitch and width and the addition of legrests and footrests. Cabin crew were pleasant and the in-flight entertainment was very good.
Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 8 avis concernant 1 compagnies sur la ligne Los Angeles (LAX) → Miami (MIA).
La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est American Airlines avec 7.2/10.
La durée moyenne des vols est de 4 heures et 40 minutes.
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6 Comments
When is AA going to get rid of those matrix dot printer boarding passes for good? It’s interesting that AA has looser lounge requirements than UA whereas Polaris is exclusive for business/first irrespective of status (DL will follow suit soon too).
With the easier status requirements during COVID, it definitely swelled to a comical stature where a third of the plane is on the upgrade list. With the return to normal next year, it should hopefully thin out the laundry list of elites.
Marketed as long-haul pricing since a “premium” domestic route? Agree that is highway robbery when UA only charges $8. Typical US carrier shenanigans, charge premium fees on “premium” routes, but then don’t offer any service. Didn’t DL at least serve meals in Y on the LAX/SFO-JFK routes pre-COVID?
AA is really behind the times in terms of domestic service recovery. That is pretty brutal from for passengers that didn’t plan ahead since this flight is smack dab in the middle of lunch/dinner.
Overall, if you can catch a wide-body, it’s practically an upgrade to narrow-body F hard product, which is a great improvement in comfort. Looking forward to the next leg!
Didn’t even look tbh. Since LA got out of oneworld I haven’t looked at them for long haul. Plus we had SWUs to burn so we had to be on AA metal. Also LA don’t have Premium Economy on long haul.
And I’m glad! I think it may have to do with AA having a lower percentage of long haul international compared to UA or even DL. And the flagship lounges are usually pretty big. I’ve never had to wait in line to get in yo a Flagship lounge like you head about UA and DL lounges. I’ve never found Flagship lounges to be terribly crowded. I also think the generous oneworld lounge access policy also has something to do with it as there are often plenty of other oneworld lounges to chose from in some airports. Like I said I could have technically gone in yo the Qantas First lounge as a oneworld Emerald.
Yes, for sure. Elite ranks have definitely been bloated
All of the US3 did, at least like a sandwich. They are beginning to get back to that but the rollout isn’t perfect
Yeah AA was the last to bring back Alcohol and now the last to bring back BOB. They really need to do better here. I’ve flown transcona AS one day at and AA the other way in Y and it is night and day! AS have great fresh options and AA sometimes have a shitty cheese and salami tray but it’s been hit or miss.
Thanks for your comments!
Awwwww.... thanks for calling me "prominent." I thought the only prominent thing in me was my beer belly! haha Or should I say, my "maracuyá stones belly"! Yummy!
That's a very wise policy. If you're coming to Chile you have to chill out!
Indeed! Since September 1st, foreign tourists only need their own country's proof of vaccination to visit Chile. What's wrong with that agent!!
I loved Thomas' energy!! He's so curious, playful, communicative... he enjoys every minute! You're doing such a beautiful work, guys!
I wish Latam had a neck so I could strangle them!!
No será un poco musho??? :O
Thanks for the explanation. I was wondering the same thing. lol
I cycle to/from school every day, and no one believes me when I tell them that tailwind DOES help you go faster. They think I'm exaggerating!
Impressive! Whenever I fly JetSmart, they don't have a gate ready for us at SCL even if we get there on time. :(
Yes. Compared to my usual low cost flights, everything in this report looks like a flying paradise... but the onboard service leaves so much to be desired. It must be an error, as you say.
What a fantastic flight! I never thought premium eco could be so choriflái!
Thanks for sharing! I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!
Es verdad, lo eres!
Exactly! Part of my job was to know Covid entry requirements so I’m very familiar. She was definitely wrong! I told them their information was outdated and to check IATA since clearly that’s not where they’ve been getting their data.
Aaw thank you! He’s such a good little traveller! We’re so lucky he has such a good attitude about travel and exploring new places. Many kids don’t deal well with unfamiliarity. Good thing we got him used to this lifestyle from the start!
Bastante, sí ?
Yes, everything is as great except the onboard service. US carriers have always done bare minimum on domestic routes and it’s been even worse since the pandemic. Cost cutting and lack of service always blamed on Covid when they are just saving money. It’s especially unacceptable these days when IS carriers are once again making record profits thanks to a huge amount of pent up demand following lifting of restrictions. The demand has been very premium as well with more and more passengers treating themselves to First and Business class. The service really needs to follow!
it’s much more choriflái on the long haul flights as we’ll see in the next report!
thanks for stopping by!
As an European it's so strange for me to see a Triple-7 on a domestic ruote, moreover considering that's equipped with long haul classes.
IMO even if it's a Domestic route there should be a dedicated service, considering that's a flight that is almost 5hrs in duration
Since I still have to fly in US on a domestic route I find this report very useful and interesting
Wish you a 2023 full of flights! :)
True, it’s nice to have so many wide bodies on Domestic routes in the US. I did fly an IB A332 from London to Madrid yesterday though, so there are a few routes like that in Europe, including the LATAM intra-European routes
I agree, it’s silly to sell Premium Economy we Economy when there surely is a market willing to pay for the extra service on a 5h transcon.
Thanks for stopping by!
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