As this was a domestic flight initially, check-in was only 30 minutes before departure, so we didn't head out too early. Boarding passes collected (no on the day upgrade offered but probably not worth it for what you get on board - alcohol and bags of pretzels) and bags tagged for Miami (priority only for the two of us with status even though the third passenger was on the same booking). Headed through fast-track security....well as usual in the US this is only fast-track until you have passed through the manual security / boarding pass check and then you join the same queue for the baggage search. First part really quick, and the second part was really slow indeed! Once through, we wandered through to the gate area that American Airlines use - no Admirals Club here (although you can buy an Admirals Club lounge pass at the automated check-in!), and the only lounge at MSY is in a different terminal area. However, we didn't have much time and soon we were boarding.
Again this was a B737-800, and we were in the exit row seats. And again, not a repainted AA plane, so still in the same bare metal make-up. Unlike the flight to MSY, this one was really busy and I think it was pretty much full. We finally pushed back and left around 10 minutes late for this flight.
Inflight service was the same as on the flight over - free soft drinks and alcohol to buy, with no food for purchase as it was too short a flight. Again there was a movie / TV showing on the overhead TV monitors, although on this flight the headsets were $5 to buy!! Opted for my spicy bloody mary mix without alcohol again; really like this and having a whole can is so much better. Service was pleasant and efficient throughout the flight, and we opted for iPads and reading again on this shortish flight to Miami.
Arrived in a sunny Miami nearly 25 minutes early and were on stand around 15 minutes early. We were soon off and heading to baggage reclaim to collect our bags and start our 5.5 hour wait for our flight back to LHR on VS.
Overall a pleasant short flight and nice to be in somewhere cool for a period of time after the heat and humidity of New Orleans!
