As some of you already know, I have a new job since February, still in Miami but the headquarters of the company are in Medellin - Colombia, which requires me to travel there frequently.
Well, this was a sudden trip which also means expensive tickets. After checking rates in AV and AA I found out coach prices around US$ 700 which was amazingly expensive for a 3 hour trip, and after a quick search, I found a discounted J class rate on AA for just extra US$ 300. Purchased everything through Expedia and that was it:




American Airlines
Boeing 737-800
MIA - MDE
J-Class
Load factor: Approx. 70%

I went to MIA about two hours before ETD, check in was very quick and in 5 minutes I was already on the preferred line for the security check, which took me another 5 and on my way to the Admirals Club. After being comfortably seated



and checking the terminal below,

I realized that my gate was on the E-Concourse which I never use (I usually depart in AA from D) so the train to the remote E terminal was needed; on my way to the E Admirals Club I always love to see the presence of AA in MIA

It was also my first time in the "new" club in concourse E (Nov. 2007). So these are new pics for me:



Checking the internet comfortably...




In a while I have to take that train...


kids lounge:




OK, on my way to catch the train to my gate:










And after a while, boarding started:








The plane was clean but a little old and run down as you will see on these pics.

Pitch was OK for J class on a 738:





























The usual champagne (but this time in a plastic cup   )










And takeoff:






See you in a couple of days Miami..


OK, about half an hour in flight, the captain announced that a passenger was having medical issues and that we have to go back to MIA to check him out and make a decision... I read about these incidents all the time but it was the first time it happened to me.

About to land again in MIA:








Paramedics waiting at the gate:


Paramedics entered and after a few minutes took the passenger out by his own means. I saw the guy at the boarding room and he was very odd, I remember at a time thinking that he might be under the influence (the big influence..   )






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Question: What happen if the result of the examination is being under the influence? What measures could AA takes against the passenger? Taking into account all the financial implications of this return to the origin airport?

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OK, back to the report.. after about half an hour on the ground, I asked the F/A about her thoughts on how long this could take, so that I could advice my hotel in Medellin for pick up time? I didn't ask for a certain time, because I was pretty sure she didn't know, but it didn't matter, she gave me a very rude answer, so rude that another F/A came and gave me the answer I was expecting: "not sure sr, but this usually takes about 30-40 minutes to remove the passenger's luggage and refuel the plane"... I thanked her and she said something at the galley to the rude F/A who's nationality I won't disclose, I usually don't generalize by country, but it is so typical from them, it is not my first time that an F/A from that country gave a rude answer..

Anyway, about another 30 minutes passed and we were on our way to MDE... finally...





Warm nuts and a glass of red wine arrived


and immediately service started.. which was odd..


No menus or anything, just the F/A giving the two options: Beef or Seafood, I opted for Beef and then an unusual question: " Sr, the salad is not great, do you still want it?", I looked at the F/A and said, "I begged your pardon"? He didn't say anything like still waiting for my answer, so I say, "I don't know ,after such statement from you"... he didn't say anything and just left...

The F/A came with the service with just the beef and bread and I asked for the salad (I am not a fan of salads, I did it just to annoy the F/A for the way he was treating me) and he said, "I though you said that you didn't want a salad", which I answered, "Whaat?".. he looked at the F/A at the galley and out of a hat they got a salad...


Then I realized they were asking every person the same question and everybody was as amazed as I was, all of a sudden the last 3 persons got the answer: "Sorry, we don't have any more salads"...

Everything came into place now, I understood, but that doesn't make up for being so rude and for having this type o service in business class...
So I have my food, also the warm nuts (the ones they gave with the lunch :P ) and no entertainment, yes, the entertainment was just 45 minutes of sitcoms after take off and then the old and small monitors were shot off. Thank god for my IPOD and Bose headphones.

I didn't hold a grudge on these issues and went along with the third class J service they were giving us, sorry AA, I am loyal to you, I am an Admirals member, a gold AAdvantage member, closing to the next level and I am gonna keep using you, but come on....it is just 3 hours, but still a J Class on an International flight.

Want another little proof? Look at the salt and pepper "shakers":



Small details, but we do notice...

Dessert was good though:



This is one of those images that let you know you are in the Andes, don't you agree?





And definitely in Colombia, look at the flower greenhouses:


A very smooth landing and to the gate in MDE:




A beautiful plane:








A beautiful day giving credit to Medellin's slogan: "The city with eternal spring"


Arrived to a nice hotel in "El Poblado" upscale area in Medellin:

And then to the office:


At work some people were having late lunch at the terrace:


The next two days working hard but also enjoying the city, I have the pleasure of working with very cool people and we went for lunch to near shopping malls like "Oviedo" o "El Tesoro"... very nice and modern places:

Here at "El Tesoro" with some of them at delicious "Crepes & Waffles" a very known Colombian chain:


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American Airlines
Boeing 737-800
MDE - MIA
J-Class
Load factor: Approx. 99%


Arriving at MDE:




At the counter I noticed the info on the banner behind:



The lady also told me to go immediately to the gate and to wait at the AA VIP room.. which I didn't know it existed:

I purchased the "turrones" at the Astor bakery (they kill me in the Miami office if I don't bring at least a bag of these) and straight to customs and to the gate:



The passengers from MIA were exiting the plane and MDE has just one corridor for both incoming and outgoing so we were told to wait until the last passenger came off before we can go to our boarding room or VIP in my case.

After 20 minutes, I arrived to the so called "AA VIP room", not much to see to tell you the truth:





But then it came the Colombian hospitality and that made off for the lack of premium services in the room:





Then, to boarding started; after I came out from the AA room, I saw a big line and I went to the front and ask for business class and they let me go immediately to the plane:



From my seat, which was the same as the first leg:








Being the first inside let you see the beautiful women from Medellin entering the plane, I tried to snap pics without being noticed but it was not an easy task:





Half an hour late but we were on our way to Miami:








On this leg, service was much better, I mean the treatment, the procedures and food,




but still lack of movies or entertainment and the fact that the service consist in one big batch service (appetizer, nuts, lunch and dessert all at the same time) and then nothing.

As I say before I am going to keep using AA, but I doubt I will pay for a J class to MDE again. Next time I will try to use J class in AV to MDE just to compare and I will let you know..

About MDE I have use it several times but it was my first time for arrival and deperture for an International flight (usually I go through BOG to have time to visit my family) and I have to say that such a nice airport needs to improve its facilities for international service. Customs are only 6 positions, I was lucky to arrive with just my flight on queue and be one of the first to come out from the plane, but I can't imagine when two or more planes arrive at the same time... same case for security and overall infrastructure as duty free shops, VIP rooms, etc...

It was a nice trip as it is usual when you go to such a great city with such great people, but AA gives a substandard J class service, I have to admit it.