AA1476 DFW-SAT 22nd Sept 2009 Coach

Having arrive about an hour late to DFW on the BA flight, I had less time at DFW airport. Off the BA plane fairly quickly and through immigration fairly quickly - my bag certainly wasn't priority tagged and the customs queue took quite a while. Once through, it was off to the AA baggage check in - not too long and bag dropped and boardin pass issued. Flight was from the C terminal, so a shortish transit ride to the gates. Decided to have a peek at the Admirals Club there as I was coming in on a Club World flight I was entitled to use it on a coach ticket. Was also offered a free 'cocktail'. Nice space to relax, but few flight screens to check on flight. Freshened up and had my free cocktail before it was time to head off to the gate.

Not many people there when I got there at boarding time, but soon it got busier. I was in Group 6 (last to board), but at least you have an allocated seat. Boarding was on time, and the plane doors shut on time. Pushed back and then we just sat there.....captain came on and said that the volt meter wasn't working, so we had to go back to the gate. We ended up being an hour late leaving - annoying after the transatlantic bit of the flight to DFW as well, as was starting to get tired! The flight was on an MD80 - the room wasn't too bad for what should have been a short flight.

Pushed back and the safety demo had to be redone, even though we had been done when we originally left the gate (apparently an FAA rule). A rather long taxi before we took off - the flight was only about 40 minutes once we were up, but was bumpy (there were lots of storms around that day, which probably explained it). There was a free non-alcoholic drink service on the flight - not sure why they bother on such a short flight. Luckily it was very rapidly time for the descent and arrival into a desserted San Antonio airport.

After we landed, the FA came on and said that over a third of the plane were 'youngsters going off to boot camp before going off to fight for our country' and asked everyone to give them a round of applause for their dedication for fighting for our country - strange for me as it is not 'my country'. Bags off quickly and then it was out into the grey, overcast and chilly San Antonio (I heard that today the record lowest temperature in the nearby Austin was broken from the previous low record from over 50 years ago!).

A pleasant short flight, but so annoying that the 'overall' flight time was almost three times what it should have been due to a fautly gauge!

Thank you for the TR[y], shame about the delay.[n]

Thanks for your TR. It is a normal practice that if more than a hour has elapsed since the first safety demo (excluding taxi delays - ie. JFK) then the safety demo is repeated.