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Noviembre 01, 2004
Fun With LAB
“Nunca mas con el LAB,” boasted this little old Bolivian lady in the Miami International Airport. Some twelve hours after departing Cochabamba, the entire trip so far seemed like a trip (different meaning of the word). On Friday morning, less than 24 hours before my flight was scheduled to leave, I received a call from someone at Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) informing me that I must take my suitcases the day before. This unexpected attempt at efficiency came a little too late for my tastes. If passengers were able to receive this information a week before, then I wouldn’t have had to rush to stuff my two suitcases.
The little old lady, waiting for the continuing flight onto Washington, D.C., like me, also had just experienced one of the most surreal LAB flight ever. Fresh off some bad P.R. where a LAB plane almost collided mid-air with competitor Aerosur in Cochabamba (latest word is that it was LAB’s fault and that due to the heroic action of the Aerosur pilot, a horrific tragedy was avoided, the LAB crew was suspended), LAB also finds itself in the midst of financial difficulties. Whether it is incompetent management, the result of a poorly designed capitalization process, or just the sign of the times for airlines, LAB has had some of its planes confiscated for failure to pay taxes. As a result, often they must resort to chartering and renting other planes.
So at the Viru Viru aiport in Santa Cruz, the way the terminal is set up, passengers can see all of the planes lined up due to travel to the United States, Argentina, Brasil and Chile. However, the way that the gate for passengers to Miami was set-up, it looked as if we wouldn’t be setting foot on a LAB plane, instead a jet from generic-looking and fake-sounding airline called North American Airlines. (I did an internet search and was relieved that this airline actually existed, and was not run out of somebody's basement).
As I reluctantly boarded the plane, looking for hidden cameras because I swore it was a joke, I caught my first glimpse at one of the stewards, a black man. I thought it was a sign that Bolivia is progressing, when one of the often discriminated against Afro-Bolivianos from the Yungas region can now get a position as esteemed as working for an airline. However, when he greeted me in a West Indies-type accent, I knew we weren’t in Kansas anymore.
Turns out LAB chartered this plane, without bothering to inform anyone at anytime. My seat assignment was 4c, which placed me smack-dab in the last few rows of first-class. Worried, one of the retired stewardessesesses asked me if I had the correct seat. Since there was no real distinction between first class and coach (no boundary or curtain), she asked me whether I had paid for first-class. I should have played that I couldn’t understand English (all of the flight crew couldn’t speak Spanish, and was only accompanied by one LAB employee who seemed just as puzzled with the whole situation as I was), and I admitted no. So I caught the entire action of first-class catered to foreigners and wealthy Cruceño businessmen (who incidentally I swear all have moustaches).
The entire flight I snooped over the seat in front of me to see the endless supply of sparking wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. Hot towels seemed to be distributed like candy. Hot meals were served, while we were given cold saran-wrapped sandwiches. Thinking that I should have just said that yes, I had bought a first-class ticket and all of its corresponding “luxuries”.
As my seat was near the front, I could only catch the glimpse of the action in front of me. Those passengers were said “gringos” and Cruceño businessmen. The flight seemed like a Little Rock to Tulsa flight on Wal-mart airlines, as most of the flight crew seemed to hail from Midwest U.S.. God knows what they were thinking when they landed in Bolivia. On the bright spot, there were decent movies, “I, Robot” and “The Bourne Supremacy” (without Spanish subtitles especially for its Bolivian passengers).
Leaving two hours late from Santa Cruz and having to wait for all the passengers to clear customs and immigration in Miami, the entire trip nearly 16 hours. The security and formalities upon entering the United States is not a airline specific problem, but let’s go ahead and blame LAB for the it anyway (it's more fun that way).
Posted by eduardo at Noviembre 1, 2004 04:11 PM
Comments
That's too bad. I always liked LAB. I wish I could've flown it up/down on my last trip to Bolivia (but my grant required me to fly by an "American" carrier, meaning only American Airlines). I remember when LAB was an awesome airline. I hope it's not declined?
Posted by: Miguel Centellas at Noviembre 1, 2004 07:05 PM
I flown LAB on every trip to Bolivia (hoping to accumulate the frequent flier miles). Actually, this was one of my few infrequent bad experiences. But my family has been on the receiving end of LAB leaving too late, and even too early! They change flight times at the last minute and mess up connecting flights. I hope Aerosur starts to fly to the U.S., adding competition.
Posted by: eduardo at Noviembre 2, 2004 08:55 AM
that is crazy.
i have never left on time with LAB. i guess that's why American makes you leave Cbba to Santa Cruz the night before so you are sure to catch the connecting flight to the States the next morning.
Posted by: natasha at Noviembre 2, 2004 07:59 PM