American First Class to London
By the time we arrived back at Gate 41, boarding was well under way. We used the Priority Lane to jump the gate queue...
... but not much one can do about the jet bridge queue.
We originally had seats 1A and 2A but for the 2nd time this year, I was bounced from 2A and reassigned to 1D. Not sure why this keeps happening as Mr. 2A definitely wasn't a Federal Air Marshall.
My 1D. The adjacent 1F was available but with Mrs. SFO777 in the best seat on the place, no reason to give that one up. Plus we were able to communicate across the aisle. Service today started very well especially when our lead flight attendant Barbara brought out the good champagne at the gate. She had initially come around with a tray of champagne or water. When I asked when the champagne was Laurent-Perrier, she laughed and admitted that it was indeed the cheaper pre-departure champagne. After some pleasant banter, she asked me to give her a moment and she'd pop the good stuff. Which she did first bringing out the bottle to show. Not the Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle from my last flight, but the equally delicious and expensive Philipponant Clos des Goisses which Mrs. SFO777 professed to be "the best she's ever tasted". Wow. What a great start to our flight.
The new Casper sleepwear. The slippers were nice but the PJs not so much. The old PJs were amazingly comfortable and I'd actually taken some home. These were not nearly as comfy.
Unfortunately, inside was the more of the same old crAAppy stuff.
While American's domestic catering is so bad as to be virtually inedible, their international First Class food and wine, especially to London has been very good. Tonight's menu...
The Philipponnat was excellent and retails for over $150.
The Latour Chassagne was spectacular.
And Silver Oak Cab? Wow. And a Paul Hobbs Pinot.
Once in the air, another glass of the Philipponnat.
And then showtime, AA style.
OMG, proper salt and pepper shakers.
Unfortunately, it was downhill from there with the most disorganized and disjointed service in quite a while. No drink refills or wine orders before Barbara delivered the soup. It took another 10 minutes to get a glass of Chassagne and for a 2nd flight attendant to offer bread. By that time the soup had pretty much cooled down.
Tasty, but cold.
Next up was the salad or basically a bunch of greens.
Much better after I sliced up the lettuce and mixed in the balsamic.
At the point, Barbara brought the goat cheese starter, apologizing that she had forgot it earlier. It wasn't very good so forgetting it might have been doing me a favor.
By now, I'd kind of figured Barbara out and made sure to ask for a refill or my next wine well in advance. And she'd kind of figured me out by bringing me full glasses of wine. That way, we're both happy. I have my wine and she doesn't have to work harder and keep topping me up.
And my full glass of Silver Oak. OMG, what a stunning cab.
We both pre-ordered the Beef Short Rib Rendang, which was fabulous.
Yum.
Ah yes, the old annoying lights from the galley. Not that the wafer thin curtain would help but at least make an attempt.
For dessert, I had the Warm Upside Down Toffe Jackfruit Cake and a glass of the Nederberg Late Harvest.
Sensational!
Still no curtain.
While I went to the lav to change into my PJs, Barbara made up my bed.
And finally, the curtain, like it made any difference. LOL. I slept pretty well for close to 5 hours and passed on breakfast.
Service on AA is hit or miss and while tonight was mostly a miss, the food was good and the wines spectacular. It's not AF or EK, but a reasonably pleasant way to fly to London.