{"id":7855,"date":"2013-12-20T03:30:50","date_gmt":"2013-12-20T11:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/pointssummary\/?p=7855"},"modified":"2013-12-20T20:50:50","modified_gmt":"2013-12-21T04:50:50","slug":"behind-scenes-lax-american-airlines-onboard-a321t-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/first2board.com\/pointssummary\/2013\/12\/20\/behind-scenes-lax-american-airlines-onboard-a321t-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Scenes at LAX with American Airlines Onboard the A321T Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I was invited by the American Airlines Social Media Team (@AmericanAir<\/a>) for a tour behind the scenes onboard the A321T at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Six months ago, American Airlines invited me for a behind the scenes tour of Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport<\/a>. This will be a 4 part trip report which will be divided as follows:<\/p>\n

Part 1 – American Flagship Check In and Registration<\/a>
\nPart 2 – Onboard the A321T – First Class, Business Class, Main Cabin Extra and Main Cabin features<\/a>
\nPart 3 – Inside the Cockpit and Galley with an On the Tarmac Experience<\/a>
\nPart 4 – Final Thoughts and Comparisons between the Airbus A321T versus the Boeing 767-200<\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve always wanted to go through the doors of the Flagship Check-In area at LAX, but I’ve never had access. Access is only granted to passengers flying in First Class on a three-cabin flight (LAX-JFK). In addition, customers who pay for 5 Star Services are also able to use it. There is usually an American Airlines agent with a clipboard in front of a podium to let you through the ropes (just like a nightclub). My boarding pass was being held inside the American Flagship Check-In area which has its own separate entryway next to the Premium check-in counters at Terminal 4 LAX.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There is another way to get into the Flagship Lounge and that’s through the Premium Check-In area to the left of the First Class Check-In counter. You will go through an automated sliding glass door and swing a left.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin2\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Upon entering the Flagship Lounge, you will be greeted with red colored sofas and poinsettias. There isn’t much seating, but there won’t be too many people occupying this space.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin4\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There are two automated check-in kiosks inside the LAX Flagship Check-In Lounge, one of which didn’t seem to be on or not working at the moment.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin6\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The American Flagship Check-In counter is small and only has room for two agents. I doubt it would get really busy in here at any given moment.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin7\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After sorting out through fifty boarding passes, the two agents finally found mine.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin8\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin9\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I met up with a fellow Los Angeles based blogger, John Carter<\/a> who runs a Fitness and Travel blog<\/a> and we were ushered upstairs through the front of the Pre-check line (just like if we had paid for American\u2019s Five Star Service or flew in F on a 3 cabin plane).<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin10\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin11\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The beautiful A321T was parked at Gate 40 and we had a glimpse of it through the windows after clearing security. We were anxious to check out the Airbus A321 Transcontinental plane.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin12\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We met the captain and the co-captain at Gate 40 who were one of the very few that has flown the A321T.<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin13\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin14\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin15\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Soon enough, we were off to the jet bridge to board the A321T!<\/p>\n

\"flagshipcheckin16\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin17\"<\/a> \"flagshipcheckin18\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a video of the journey:<\/p>\n