Every thanksgiving my family travels down to Puerto Rico to relax at the beach and pool of this warm, fun Carribbean island. My family lives near JFK and flies direct JFK-SJU-JFK with multiple choices, this time on AA. I'm in DC and have limited choices. Going there used to be early morning flights on AA and UA from IAD, but AA dropped that. I had the UA flight booked when JetBlue launched their DCA-SJU and even with change fares, was cheaper than my booked trip.

Then coming back my parents flight was at 3:40 so I looked for something around that time and found US via CLT. I've connected many times in CLT and find it easy so with a low fare this was a perfect fit. Onto the report I welcome all comments and questions .

We stay at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan which is a great place and checked in at the hotel lobby to print our boarding passes, was surprised to still see CO as a choice. I was offered a $150 buy-up to first and since this was an international B767 with near lie-flat I took it. The flight was originally an A321 but bumped up to a B767 many months ago.

The hotel provided an Expedition for us to get to the airport. The Ritz is next to the airport but you rarely hear plane noise and it's a short 10-mins drive with Puerto Rico's infamous driving, or lack thereof. It seems red lights are merely a suggestion on the island.


The driver left me first at the main terminal, which contains US checkin. First, all luggage must be scanend by USDA then you make your way to the desk. For first, the check-in was awful. You have to use the normal kiosk and then there was no one at bag drop so F check-in took longer than Y. Not once was I addressed by name and eye contact was never made. Also had to ask for a priority tag


TSA had a priority line but was slowed down by Y passengers mixing into it and not being frequent fliers not having their IDs out or having liquids in their bags. Right after security, this is the view.




SJU is an old airport and not up to standard of a pretty large getaway, the main termianl is packed and the bathrooms not very clean.

Since Thanksgiving November 2011, JetBlue had taken up residence in the new terminal A, which I believe sat vacant for a large time. It's a very nice plate but deserted with next to no shops open yet. But a photo tour of the new Terminal:



B6 has opened a focus city here, not sure if offically yet, but lots of birds. I asked my inbound crew if there were SJU-based, and there answer 'we don't have a crew base there ... yet"


Yet, most shops sit vacant


Empty food court too...


Is this an original on new labels?


Since my parents were on AA, I walked over to meet them for lunch and the AA term which used to be full was empty, AA has really cut back on their SJU former hub/focus city. Here's the flight board (sorry for glare) and their flight to JFK delayed 90mins due to late inbound. Getting to the AA terminal from the B6 one is quite a far walk and the moving sidewalks have all been turned off.


While walking I spotted my ride to CLT, a 16 year old B767



Back in the main terminal, it is always very crowded around thanksgiving


A DL bird to ATL


Now at my gate


Flight time
US Airways #1033
SJU-CLT
3:40pm AST-6:31pm
Load: 100% in Y, 99% in F
Seat: 3E

Was one of the first on and quickly found my seat


A gorgeous tall blonde FA came by to take pre-takeoff drink orders, which for me was Cran-Apple with a splash of Vodka. F had one empty seat, which was next to me and two FAs serving 17 people. They were very friendly and made frequent runs despite one sitting in her seat playing Angry Birds on her iPad often.

Pre-dinner I got an apple juice in a real glass



Dinner was choice of pasta or curry chicken with white rice. I got the pasta which was truly revolting awful. It was catered in SJU if that makes a difference


Was following shortly thereafter by a brownie which was pretty good


Cabin overview


Here's me fully reclined enjoying the seat and upgrade


Arrived in Charlotte, a full minutes late and docked at the international terminal. Our plane was off to MCO next.


I love CLT, it's easy to connect at, has a lot of food choices and today a live pianist.



Grabbed a quick Cinnabon and a small salad for the next flight.

Our next bird was a happy retro jet


The flight CLT-DCA boarded ontime then waited at the gate a little bit for late arriving connecting traffic. It was again 100% full. Did not take photos until arrival in DCA a few minutes late


Luggage was off in about 15mins in a package baggage claim but the prioriy tags were honored and my bag was #5 off. All in all a very nice flight.

Thanks for reading, welcome your feedback/comments.

Nice report. I don't get to travel much with being so busy with school sometimes these reports are the closet I get 

Quoting plateman (Thread starter): I walked over to meet them for lunch and the AA term which used to be full was empty, AA has really cut back on their SJU former hub/focus

Really is sad to see, at the same time it means growth for AA at MIA.

Quoting plateman (Thread starter): Back in the main terminal, it is always very crowded around thanksgiving

Do the people down in PR celebrate thanksgiving like in the actual states?

Quoting plateman (Thread starter): Did not take photos until arrival in DCA a few minutes late

I always get a depressing feeling when arriving into DCA at night, any time after 9:30pm or so. Just planes coming in for the night and shops closing.

Quoting flymia (Reply 1): Nice report. I don't get to travel much with being so busy with school sometimes these reports are the closet I get

Thanks!

Quoting flymia (Reply 1): Do the people down in PR celebrate thanksgiving like in the actual states?

Not as big, but we ate at the hotel and had steak, ha

Quoting flymia (Reply 1): I always get a depressing feeling when arriving into DCA at night, any time after 9:30pm or so. Just planes coming in for the night and shops closing.

Very true, I always arrive late and then once Metro closes taxi lines can be long

Quoting flymia (Reply 1): Do the people down in PR celebrate thanksgiving like in the actual states?

Actully most families do

Quoting plateman (Thread starter):

Yes, it was done around 2007 which (for some reason) was intended for Delta and US Airways( which never happened), and since then it was " to be completed". This past summer Jetblue had it's growth and they took over.

This was a great report. I enjoyed the pictures and your commentary.

Quoting plateman (Thread starter): Dinner was choice of pasta or curry chicken with white rice. I got the pasta which was truly revolting awful. It was catered in SJU if that makes a difference

It really doesn't matter where the flights are catered. Airline food is just awful. Whether your traveling in F or Y, when you get anything in Y that is.

Nice report, thanks for sharing it with us!
Quite impressed by Jetblue's appearance at SJU I must say!
Always nice to buy an upgrade, looks like you enjoyed it! The service looks quite ok..

cheers,

Brendan

Good report. I love our 767's, I have no idea why, but I like them more than our 330's.

Great report! CLT is one of my favorite airports. For a "domestic flight" on US, First is pretty good!

Rahul