After a very busy morning and a Starbucks coffee for breakfast, I rushed to Honolulu International Airport to catch my American Airlines Airbus A321 Neo flight on a 5 1/2-hour journey to Los Angeles last week.
I had 10 minutes to use my Priority Pass lounge pass to enjoy the IASS Lounge at Honolulu International Airport, only to see there was absolutely no food, old coffee, and some juice containing 65 grams of sugar.
As an American Airlines Aadvantage Executive Platinum member, the highest category for loyalty one can reach, I was hoping my complimentary upgrade for my flight to Los Angeles may go through.
Unfortunately, this LA flight was completely booked. The airline even asked for volunteers to go on a later flight.
The Airbus A321 used for this segment is also a narrow aircraft. Toilets are so small making it a challenge to turn around in there.
The A321 has gained popularity among airlines due to its versatility, fuel efficiency, and ability to serve both short-haul and medium-haul routes. It offers a balance between passenger capacity and range, making it suitable for a wide range of operations.
Flying more than 5 hours over the ocean is stretching the medium route impression and the capacity of this aircraft.
Popular WIFI is no longer available on this trans-ocean flight.
Passengers can only use their own computer or phone to watch the inflight entertainment.
No chance to get a free headset other airlines such as United are offering it for coach passengers on the B737, a similar aircraft.
I didn’t really care much about movies on this flight, but was starving. I realized sitting in coach on American Airlines may only provide an opportunity to purchase a sandwich or a hot meal, but even here I was wrong.
My food for the next 5 hours was a pack of $8.00 Sea Salt Almonds. To be fair, since I am an executive platinum member the almonds were given complimentary along with some lukewarm water.
It was served to me by a flight attendant who was irritated when I asked her if I could purchase also a meal.
She said something I couldn’t clearly understand. When I asked her to repeat, she just threw the almonds on my table and said they were complimentary because I was an Exec P. 0.
I didn’t know what that was and asked again what this means, and she walked away with a mean look on her face.
I did some research and it stands for Executive Platinum member.
I earned this status not by flying American Airlines often, but by flying AA’s One World partner Qatar Airways excellent business class a lot.
On Qatar Airways, you get a delicious hot meal even on one-hour coach flights.
The featured image shows my lunch on a one-hour economy flight on FLYNAS earlier this month from Dubai to Riyadh. Airlines can do better, and they do on flights outside North America.
flynas.com
Read more: American Airlines or United Airlines Flights to Hawaii? Almonds?
Copyright: eTurboNews is Travel Industry News – Travel & Tourism Story Telling Exposed
| Continue reading: https://eturbonews.com/american-airlines-or-united-airlines-flights-to-hawaii-almonds/
