Buenos Aires Trip Report – AA First Class Review

Buenos Aires (Good Air) and the country of Argentina have always been high on our list of places to visit. With a country known for it’s beef, Tango, and great wine how could you not be hooked. The city of Buenos Aires was perfect for our “Year of the B” travel theme. We used a large portion, 240,000 to be exact, of our British Airways miles earned in 2009 for two first class tickets on American Airlines. We used Hyatt points for a 4 night award stay at the Park Hyatt. The journey began in Atlanta and took us through Miami down to Buenos Aires.

Trip Report

1. AA First Class From From ATL To EZE
2. Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
3. Breakfast At Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
4. Buenos Aires Activities

Flight Path

American Airlines ATL Lounge

We redeemed 240,000 and $173 USD for two tickets in American Airlines first class. This was my first flight on American Airlines from Atlanta and first time in the Admirals club in terminal T. I was surprised that I have never seen this part of the airport. It appears to be on the lower end of Admirals Clubs compared to the ones we visited in Miami. I was surprised at the food for purchase in the lounge. If you are in a premium class on an international ticket you can request free certificates for booze. I had to try something so we picked the soup of the day, Chicken Noodle, which was sub par. The front desk agents notified us when the flight was boarding and we headed for the gate.

Admirals Club Bar

Club View

American Airlines First Class ATL To MIA

Boarding was quick. We selected seats 2A and 2B for the ride down to Miami and it paid off with great views all the way down. The leg room felt slightly larger than Delta’s domestic first class. We were served pre-departure drinks and were on our way.

We had great views from the window on the ride down to Florida. We passed Cedar Key, Tampa then headed east somewhere south of Sarasota. On the approach we could see the Everglades out of the window.

AA Domestic First

Pre-Departure Drinks

Cedar Key

TPA Airport

AA Arrival MIA

Everglades

American Airlines MIA Business Class Lounge

Since we were in First Class we had access to the premium lounge. Our arrival gate was next to the business class lounge and the premium lounge only had about an hour left before closing. So we settled into the Business class lounge for our 2+ hour layover. I took a shower and Mrs. Weekly Flyer caught up on some reading. I could have sworn I took more pictures, but the only one I ended up finding was one from the shower room. Overall this lounge was in pretty good shape.

AA MIA Business Admirals Club

American Airlines First Class From MIA To EZE

This trip was our first experience with American Airlines international First Class product. We flew on the 777 in seats 2D and 2G. I normally fly Delta or Air France in Business Class and have flown Lufthansa First Class, so I can only compare those products. AA’s First Class positives included the lie flat seats, the ability to turn and face Mrs. Weekly Flyer during meal service, and the arm rests could be lowered for sleeping. Negatives included the small in flight entertainment screens, older seat appearance and the lack of privacy with no wall dividers.

The week or two before we departed American Airlines announced that they would soon offer First Class turn down service. We did not receive the service on this flight but it would have been a nice touch.

AA First Class Seat

AA First Class Seat

AA First Class Seat

My Seat

After we settled into our seats they served pre-departure Pommery champagne and menus were delivered. The amenity kit included standard items such as ear plugs, eye mask, lotion and other personal care items. Next time I’ll create an amenity kit review in more detail like FrequentlyFlying does in his series. The AA First Class entertainment screens were very small and seemed difficult to select items off of the screen.

AA First Amenity Kit

AA First In Flight Entertainment

AA First Nuts

American Airlines First Class wine options included Pommery Brut Champagne, two white wine options, two red wine options and Graham’s vintage port.

AA First Champagne

Val do Sosego Albarino

Groom Lenswood Sauvignon Blanc

Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino

Salentein Reserve Malbec

Graham

Due to the late departure from Miami to Buenos Aires a late night supper menu was offered. The appetizer salmon plate was not very good. I passed on the soup and went with chicken for the main course. The chicken was a bit hard and very buttery. The potatoes au gratin were tasty and so was the ice cream sundae desert.

AA First Dinner Menu

Salmon Appetizer

AA First Chicken Plate

Ice Cream Sundae

The breakfast menu was delivered about an hour before arrival. We passed on breakfast because we planned to eat breakfast at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires upon arrival. Below is the breakfast menu from the flight.

Breakfast Menu

Bottom Line

Overall we were pleased with the value for this flight by using 240,000 British Airways miles and $170 USD. I would place AA’s first class product above Delta’s regular Business Elite product. I still favor Delta’s 777 Business Elite seats and service over American Airlines any day of the week.

In the next report our share a review from our stay at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires.

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