During my most recent trip to Mexico City, I flew American Airlines and was pleased to learn that I got upgraded on part of the return trip. It’s been a while since I’ve done an airline service review, but travelers seem to really like knowing what to expect when they fly, so here’s my latest report!
In this report, I’ll share details about the Mexico City airport check-in process, the American Airlines boarding process for business class passengers, airline seating layout, inflight entertainment and airline meals, to help you get an idea of whether it’s worth an upgrade.
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As a free upgrade like I got, it’s definitely worth it! So if you’re an American Airlines AAdvantage member and have elite status, you should be especially interested in this flight review since you’re more likely to be bumped to the front of the cabin.
Here are the highlights of American Airlines business class service aboard the Airbus A319.
THE ROUTE: Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) Terminal 1 to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Flight time: 3 hours, 9 minutes.
THE AIRCRAFT: American Airlines Airbus A319EOW.
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WORTH THE UPGRADE? American Airlines First Class, Boeing 777 (VIDEO)
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THE DEPARTURE: I learned a new lesson about how to avoid crowds at Mexico City airport: fly on Good Friday. Apparently, most vacationers who are going to leave Mexico City have already taken off earlier in the week and are relaxing in their chosen destination. That means that the Mexico City airport, which is usually bursting at the seams, is a bit more peaceful than usual.
To save time, before I even arrived at the airport, I uploaded my COVID-19 test results via the American Airlines app, which allowed me to check in and get my boarding pass on my cell. That’s a big time saver, and I’ve had multiple experiences with airlines that haven’t let me obtain my boarding pass via an app for flights originating in Mexico.
Even though I had my boarding passes and had no bags to check, I decided to stop at the check-in kiosks when I got to the airport, just to print hard copies of my boarding passes. Yes, I know some of you will think this is horribly old school to carry a paper boarding pass, but this was going to be a long travel day, with a connection in Charlotte — and I’ve had times when my the battery on my cell phone runs dangerously low. Having a paper boarding pass can be a lifesaver if your phone passes out from lack of energy.
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There was no line at all at any of the kiosks at the American Airlines ticket counter at Mexico City International Airport, so I got my passes quickly and had time to wander over to the shops operated by former Mexicana Airlines personnel (the stores are right in the space where the defunct airline’s ticket counter used to be; so strange).
By the way, the Mexico City airport has onsite COVID-19 testing facilities, in case you need to get tested before boarding and haven’t already done so. I’ve always gotten tested before arriving at the airport, since I’m paranoid that it might be more stressful to test and await results on the day of departure. But I know other people who’ve been tested just three hours before departure and had no problems or delays. (On this trip, I got tested the day before my flight at the Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City, where I was staying, and got results within an hour.)
When I headed to the gate, it took me about seven minutes to pass through the security screening area. The American Airlines gates, along with those for most other U.S. carriers at this airport, are a bit of a hike, but there are moving sidewalks to whisk you part of the way.
If you’re flying business class on a two-cabin plane from Mexico, you board in Group 1, so I was one of the first to board the plane.
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THE AIRCRAFT: The American Airlines Airbus A319EOW is a narrow-body, twin-engine aircraft. There is no first class cabin, so the business class is located at the front of the plane, with two seats on both sides of the aisle.
The airline seating in American Airlines business class on the A319EOW offers a comfortable amount of legroom and extra storage areas that economy-class seating doesn’t offer. One thing I didn’t like, however, was that on this type of aircraft, the charging outlet is in a cramped location inside the central armrest, and my charger didn’t fit, so I couldn’t charge my phone or laptop during the flight (now you see why I print a paper boarding pass?).
The inflight entertainment is also a bit limited. Or rather, the format of the entertainment. American Airlines has a robust selection of movies, TV shows, music and other programming. But the airline has not seatback screens, so you’ve got to use the American Airlines app on your own device if you want to partake in the entertainment.
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INFLIGHT MEAL: A flight attendant offered business class passengers drinks while we were still at the gate, which is always a nice touch.
The airline food for lunch was actually quite tasty. We had a choice of three-cheese ravioli or chicken with mushroom sauce with rice. While I wanted the ravioli, I decided to behave and choose the slightly healthier chicken option. It was accompanied by a salad, which made me feel even more like a responsible adult.
Dessert was my chance to be bad again. There was a choice of a fruit and cheese plate or a Mexican chocolate cake. Federal law requires me to choose chocolate. And it was delicious.
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THE ARRIVAL: We arrived on time. Charlotte Douglass International Airport is, in fact, one of my favorite airports in which to make connections, and it’s especially good for international connections. There was no line at customs and immigration so I passed through quickly. And since distances between gates are much shorter than at many other hub airports, I had plenty of time to stop for food — my favorite restaurant at the Charlotte airport is Carolina BBQ, where I savored pulled pork and a fried pickle (OK, so maybe I wasn’t so well behaved on this trip, from a culinary perspective).
THE BOTTOM LINE: American Airlines business class on the Airbus A319EOW is a pleasant experience, with good service, above-average meal service and comfortable seats. My wish list would be for the airline to place outlets in a more accessible place, and for them to bring back those setback screens.
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. I also have a new memoir coming out this year: Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles. Pre-publication sales start in May 2022 and the book publishes in July 2022.
Please feel free to share your comments, experiences and questions about Mexico travel and Latin America travel and vacations!
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