Off to London on American
With a use it or lose it First Class ticket to London from our Ireland trip, I couldn't just let it expire even if it was on American. Mrs. SFO777? Not so much. So I'm off on a 48 hour hall pass taking one for the team by flying American. But my consolation is a full day of the La Première experience on the return back to LAX.
The Flagship First Check-in is reserved for International and JFK First Class passengers. Friendly Flagship staffer greeted me and escorted me inside the small but comfortable check-in lounge.
Where yet another pleasant Flagship agent checked my passport and reissued my boarding pass complete with DOCS CHECKED. Comfy seating for those waiting for others and if by chance there was a queue to check in. I was the only passenger at around 5:15pm and after asking permission, only took pics of the seating area.
The Flagship greeter/porter escorted me to the elevator. Not sure if he would have escorted me just to PreCheck or all the way to the lounge but I declined further assistance and thanked him. We shook hands and his wished me a pleasant flight. Wow, a very nice (un-American) start to the trip. Upstairs, there was absolutely no one in line at PreCheck.
The LAX Admirals Club and Flagship FIrst Lounge is being renovated but I wanted to see progress and how AA was treating its First Class passengers during construction.
OK, definitely a work in progress.
While the elevator(s) worked, I took the stairs.
Apparently American is planning a proper dining room with waitstaff service. Sign says "Opening in 2017", but the Flagship AAngel hinted that it was more likely to be "Not Opening until 2018".
In the interim, yikes!
OK, and American wonders why it has a garbage premium reputation. Wow.
Get me outta here, stat. I thanked the AAngels and told them I was heading over to the Qantas Lounge.