Every airline in the World today, has problems - getting passengers to fly.
American Airlines, is the largest airline in the United States, and probably has fewer financial problems than other airlines.
There are two reasons for this. The first is their commercial airlines carry a lot of freight, (and they make more money from a crate than from a person).
The second reason is that they own the Sabre Airline Reservation System, (British Airways uses this), and they make money buy having other Airlines and Travel Agencies use this computer system.
.:Leaving Canada:.
There are only 3 check-in counters open. One for first class passengers and two for the rest of us. It does that a while to get to the front of the line. We had pre-booked our seats on the four flights we would be travelling on.
In the old days before 9/11 we could check-in an hour before departure. These days you have to be there at least 3 hours before you depart.
In the old days, the bags went down to the lower level of the Airport, and put on the cart for the flight you are leaving on. Today, after you check-in you?ll be asked to step behind a black curtain, and you?ll find your bags there. You are asked to open your suitcases and they are checked before you can go through to the terminal where your body, hand luggage and coats with be checked.
.:In Dallas:.
Dallas is an American Airlines hub city. All of the flights seem to arrive and depart within a half hour of each other.
On our return flight we had an hour between flights.
Going to Miami, we had to run to make the next flight.
A warning:
If you are told you don’t have to reconfirm your return flights don’t believe it. Reconfirm your flight, and mark down the date, time, who you talked to and what city were they in.
.:In Miami:.
There were a lot of counters open so we had not problems checking-in. Mrs. Big Ears heard the people at the next check-in counter being told that their flights to Dallas were fine, but they had no reservations from Dallas to Seattle, (even thought their tickets showed they did). That is why I suggest you reconfirm your flights.
.:The People Who Work At The Check-In Counters:.
In Edmonton and Dallas these people were courteous and helpful. In Miami I found that they looked bored, and couldn’t wait to finish working.
.:The Flights:.
All of the food we were served was normal airline food.
We had breakfast on board our flight from Edmonton to Dallas, and lunch from Dallas to the Miami International Airport.
We were in economy class so we had to pay for any beer, wine or liqueur we drank. Pop, juices and water were free.
On our return flight, we had a bag on roasted peanuts, on our flight from Miami to Dallas. They served us dinner on our flight from Dallas to Edmonton.
The staff on all of our flights were helpful, and nice.
.:Arriving Home:.
American Airlines had a representatives, to see we all cleared Canadian Customs, or to take down the information if a suitcase was lost. They couldn’t do much else, because when you are in Canadian Customs area, you are not in Canada, until you are cleared. This means you are in no-mans-land, and no one can help you if you get in trouble.
A Taste of Ft. Lauderdale
We have been to Ft. Lauderdale twice. Both times it was to take a cruise, and we were allowed to stay a few days on either side of the cruise. we decided to stay before the cruise, because our skin was as white, as the snow, we had just left. we should sun tan a bit to get a base, so we wouldn’t burn when we were at sea.
It is a few degrees cooler here than Miami, but it is still very humid. In some parts of the city there are no streets, but there are canals. It’s fun to walk across a bridge to get to the other side of the street.
We stayed at the Irelands Inn and Beach Resort. It is on North Atlantic Ave. We were here for 3 days and 2 nights, and were given the ’’cruise rate’’, of $100.00 USA, per room per night.
The Resort had a small bus to pick us up at the Miami International Airport and take us to the hotel.
Every morning we had breakfast at the hotel’s café, and then took a morning tour.
Unlike Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale did not build any hotels on the beach. This means the beach has not receded and you can walk for miles along a white sandy beach.
We went to see a Seminole Village, (an Native American Tribe). We saw how they use to live and work, and bought a few Seminole crafts in their Gift Shop.
Jungle Green Cruise
We cruises for eight Km through the jungle, and saw the wild life that lives in the water, land and the birds, in this area of Florida. On the cruise they serve a buffet lunch.
The Museum Of Disc And Science
This Museum showed us how computers were first make, (one computer took up an entire room), to how the discs are made for computers, music and movies.
Las Olas Blvd
This is the nicest place to find excellent, bars, discos, night clubs and restaurants.
Sawgrass Mills Mall
This is the largest discount Mall, in the United States.
The Las Olas Riverfront
This is on 1st Ave. We went here a few time to the flea market, eat at the Deli and go to see a movie.
Some Thoughts
The rest of the time we sat under an umbrella, covered our self with sun screen.
We would love to come back to Ft. Lauderdale.
.:My Final Thoughts:.
Would I fly on American Airlines again? Yes, and I have since travelled with them to Dallas and San Juan, in the Virgin Islands.
Thank you for reading my review.
©LL2004