Don't count on American Airlines

[urbantchr]

If you need to fly, and can possibly help it, do not fly American. As a SCUBA diver I fly often, and much of the time I meet up with groups from a local MD shop. The "bait and switch" is alive and well at AA. Every group trip some divers with the misfortune of flyimg with AA miss all inclusive lodging and paid dives because direct, or short layover flights are cancelled, requiring 24hr, 36hr, and this last trip even 2 day rescheduling. I thought I would never buy another ticket from AA after I got a cancellation email 2min before the confirmation email, indicating to me that they sold me a ticket they didn't even have.
I just returned from Bonaire flying with AA bacause nothing else was available. Aparently, an 11hr layover at JFK didn't give them enough time to get my bag on to the Baltimore leg. Took them 3 days to get the bag to BWI (a 45min flight), but the best part is that the email informing me that my bag was being delivered tonight said "Remember to tip the delivery driver". How precious is that? A tip for terrible service? I hope this post saves someone's trip.

 

[gwchem]

Every airline is garbage these days.

If we bail those thieving bastards out again, I'm going to start the revolution.

 

[Mondial]

If you need to fly, and can possibly help it, do not fly American. As a SCUBA diver I fly often, and much of the time I meet up with groups from a local MD shop. The "bait and switch" is alive and well at AA. Every group trip some divers with the misfortune of flyimg with AA miss all inclusive lodging and paid dives because direct, or short layover flights are cancelled, requiring 24hr, 36hr, and this last trip even 2 day rescheduling. I thought I would never buy another ticket from AA after I got a cancellation email 2min before the confirmation email, indicating to me that they sold me a ticket they didn't even have.
I just returned from Bonaire flying with AA bacause nothing else was available. Aparently, an 11hr layover at JFK didn't give them enough time to get my bag on to the Baltimore leg. Took them 3 days to get the bag to BWI (a 45min flight), but the best part is that the email informing me that my bag was being delivered tonight said "Remember to tip the delivery driver". How precious is that? A tip for terrible service? I hope this post saves someone's trip.

Oh Great, I just booked two legs of my flights for next week on AA:-(

 

[legendindisguise]

I've had the most issues with AA (travel roughly 50% a year for work). I had the hardest time at the counter trying to reschedule once. Since then I've stayed away from them.

 

[shootin the breeze]

Flew to Houston late June and came back early July. Flew Southwest. Didn’t check bags but only problem we had was about 20-25 minutes at the gate at BWI waiting for paperwork so we could push back. Otherwise everything went smoothly.

 

[rseymorejr]

You lost my bags, how about you tip the driver!

 

[Huckleberry]

The best airline was TWA because they had the best Flight Attendants. They served the best coffee but was even better was their Tea.

There was nothing better than getting some hot TWA Tea from a pretty flight attendant.

TWA Tea always put a smile on my face.

 

[ToolAA]

This is not a problem unique to AA. My business partner, my daughter and myself have all had southwest flights canceled. The number of cancellations do to insufficient ground crew coverage is something new but happens a lot lately.

 

[toppkatt]

We just used Delta and out of 5 flights we only had one issue. Unfortunately that one was on our last flight home which we were really looking forward to sleep. Seems 3 flight attendants were late and then when they started boarding passengers the computer started giving problems so everything had to be done by 'hand'. About 2 hours later (just short) we finally pulled away from the gate.
Other than that no issues. Some 3 hour layovers, but that seems par for the course. We don't fly much so our experience is small. My wife however will NEVER fly Spirit airline again.

 

[Vile Shadow]

Aint a place in the world I need to go that I cant drive to. Thank God

 

[Abuck]

There was nothing better than getting some hot TWA flight attendant.

Fixed it for you.

I kept mine 20 years.

 

[Huckleberry]

Fixed it for you.

I kept mine 20 years.

No you didn't and you should have gotten that old joke

 

[Abuck]

No you didn't and you should have gotten that old joke

Coffee, tea, or me? Kinda like breakfast in bed? Yea, actually I did, LTR with an 800 flight attendant.

Crap, just as I typed that my next travel assignment came in. Yup, you guessed it, flying on AA. F me!

Edit: Between the AA buying out and putting the screws to the TWA employees, and then 9/11, that was the end of that era. Sadly.

 

[Pinecone]

1) Delivery driver does not work for AA. They work for some delivery company.

2) A lot of baggage handling these days are not the actual airline, but the airport management personnel. I think at Dulles it is SwissPort.

 

[hobiecat590]

If you need to fly, and can possibly help it, do not fly American. As a SCUBA diver I fly often, and much of the time I meet up with groups from a local MD shop. The "bait and switch" is alive and well at AA. Every group trip some divers with the misfortune of flyimg with AA miss all inclusive lodging and paid dives because direct, or short layover flights are cancelled, requiring 24hr, 36hr, and this last trip even 2 day rescheduling. I thought I would never buy another ticket from AA after I got a cancellation email 2min before the confirmation email, indicating to me that they sold me a ticket they didn't even have.
I just returned from Bonaire flying with AA bacause nothing else was available. Aparently, an 11hr layover at JFK didn't give them enough time to get my bag on to the Baltimore leg. Took them 3 days to get the bag to BWI (a 45min flight), but the best part is that the email informing me that my bag was being delivered tonight said "Remember to tip the delivery driver". How precious is that? A tip for terrible service? I hope this post saves someone's trip.

OP. DAN (Divers Alert Network) has travel insurance along w/ dive accident insurance that you might want to look into for your next dive trip.

Travel Insurance Benefits

The Best Travel Insurance Benefits for Leisure or Business Trips With DAN’s trip and annual travel protection plans, you have coverage for a range of certain unforeseen events such as […]

dan.org

We were lucky getting in and out of Bonaire a few years ago on AA but really needed to hussle to the gate at Miami on the way back.

 

[Boats]

The best airline was TWA because they had the best Flight Attendants. They served the best coffee but was even better was their Tea.

There was nothing better than getting some hot TWA Tea from a pretty flight attendant.

TWA Tea always put a smile on my face.

I see what you did there.

To the OP:. First world problems, much?

 

[Afrikeber]

OP. DAN (Divers Alert Network) has travel insurance along w/ dive accident insurance that you might want to look into for your next dive trip.

Travel Insurance Benefits

The Best Travel Insurance Benefits for Leisure or Business Trips With DAN’s trip and annual travel protection plans, you have coverage for a range of certain unforeseen events such as […]

dan.org

We were lucky getting in and out of Bonaire a few years ago on AA but really needed to hussle to the gate at Miami on the way back.

Yup, make sure you get the DAN coverage for the hypobaric chamber and medical flight back to states in addition to coverage of trip and your gear it's well worth the cost if you ever need the services.

 

[eruby]

Skip to 1:02 for the coffee, tea, or milk ad.