Let's continue my series of flight-reports with the second leg of my AA trip to San Antonio, Texas. For recap that trip has been purchased in Main Cabin (Economy) and upgraded in Main Cabin Extra (Plus zone) at time of reservation due to my Oneworld Emerald status (Sapphire gets the same benefits) over BA. A big plus of AA vs. UA and DL that do not propose the same. The seat pitch is at least 34''.
Recap of my journey so far.
Enchainement de vols
- 1
- 2
- 3
I'd arrived from my Detroit flight in terminal C and just stayed there as my next flight was departing short after from gate C35. This gate belongs to a renovated area (extension) of Terminal C. I must say, this is very well done.
I had not time to go to the Flagship lounge in terminal D and went for a short stay to the Admirals Club in terminal C instead. The entrance is pretty nice.
The rest of the lounge is so typical american. You like it or you don't but the atmosphere looked cosy. The lounge was crowded though.
Let's have a review of the food options.
Pasta with tomato sauce
A salad bar to prepare your cesar salad or get lentils instead.
To reduce the size of the portion, AA provided only mini plates. There is of course a paper version with about the same size.
Meat balls - find them appealing?
Then check the mexican soup as well…
So to summarize - I still don't get why people buy an AdmiralClub membership :( If you're flying anyway every week to make it attractive you should have the highest membership level to get it fro free…
Boarding started with some delay due to a technical verification on the aircraft. Priorities are respected in the US. I was in group 3 with my OW Emerald level, which is the last one considered as priority boarding. You get a nice black boarding pass in the Wallet app :)))
My seat. It is in the Main Cabin section but the 2 rows of exit rows are again sold as Main Cabin Extra. I have the second row which provides recline.
Legroom is huuuuuuuuuuuuge !!
The seat proposes the standard AA equipment which is best class on the market: tablet holder, USB-A power, 110V socket.
Pushback started soon. Still 25min delay.
DFW is the main base for AA and sees all aircraft families: AA eagle with E175, CRJ900 aand ERJ145, AA domestic with B737 and A32x and AA long haul with B777 and B787.
One exception though: a nice A340 Lufthansa.
Soon we were airborne on one of the six runways the airport has.
Corporate catch
I connected to the AA wifi using my login. The downstream speed is impressive. I suppose they will soon follow DL and provide free WIFI to all.
This flight has no service with a flight time of about 45min. Soon we were in the San Antonio area. By the way SAT is the 7th largest city in the US after New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and Philadelphia. Who knew that? Let's be honest… However, if you count in agglomerations SAT is coming 10 places lower in the ranking. It remains impressive, I would have never guessed that before taking this trip. All Texas is impressive with Phoenix 4th, Dallas Fort-Worth coming next, Austin, El Paso…
Soon at the gate next to another AA plane.
Our FA made our arrival announcement with belt B2 to collect our luggage. Anyway the app confirms this. More it keeps track of your luggage during it's whole journey. Impressive and very good job of all US airlines!
The app has another interesting option: the list of all AA clubs in the world. The list might appear long at first glance… however AA has many airports without any lounge where UA and DL have some. Even large secondary airports. MSY or DTW are good examples in this series of reports.
Here is the list
Some views of SAT. A classic US airport I would say. You get what you need.
I followed the rental car signs to collect my Hertz reservation. A shot of the AA boarding area. There are already no flights anymore after 6.30pm
Rental car companies are organized by floors. And it was the first time I had to wait to get the next available car. My B-class reservation gave me a brand new Compass within 10-12min wait. I won't complain.
Thanks for stopping by. Next trip will be on UA.
I agree and oneworld Emerald is the best status, with access to First class lounges on any OW member, even if travelling Economy.
The difference between you as a non-US based OW Emerald and me as a US-based OW Emerald is you have lounge access on domestic US itineraries and I don't, which is just crazy, but I also get free upgrades to First (though they're rare anymore), which non-US based OW Emeralds don't so you win some and lose some I guess.
I haven't been in a regular Admirals Club in a while since I don't have access on domestic and when flying International I have Flagship Lounge access so it's interesting to see that the food has improved. There wasn't any hot food except for soup last time I was in a regular Admirals Club so it's nice to see.
Thanks for sharing!