PSA Don’t fly American

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our flight was canceled and there were zero rental cars available. The next day we got on a flight going the opposite direction we needed so we could connect to one going home. So much fun.

This is OP - not condoning what we did but we had to lie and say we were bringing the car back to the same place in order to get one. I’m sure we’ll get fined like crazy but at this point I don’t care. Hertz wanted $1000 for 12 hours.

For those saying bring your own seats - we have very nice car seats both at home and the destination we came from. Hold your judgment, I was never going to haul three car seats in the off chance our flight got CANCELLED (not delayed). Now I just won’t ever fly American, lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

It is bad. Not enough staff. They are stressed out. I witnessed more gate staff stress last week than I did flier stress.

[Anonymous]

And then y’all wonder why the Delaware beaches are so crowded and expensive! Taking a flight ruins vacations.

[Anonymous]

I just flew American and both ways everything was perfect. My extended family flew Southwest and had delays. YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And then y’all wonder why the Delaware beaches are so crowded and expensive! Taking a flight ruins vacations.

I'm one of those people not flying for a long time. It was awful pre-Covid, can't imagine how awful it would be this summer.

[Anonymous]

so sorry OP - and others experiencing this - not fun

[Anonymous]

Same. Just had direct flight switched to layover at last minute without warning. Then initial flight was delayed causing us to miss the connecting one. Then had to wait 4 hours for next flight. We got lucky but many just got pushed to next day. There was no one around staffing any AA stations and hard to reach anyone on phone. So, 2.5 hour flight turned into over 8 hour ordeal…they need to get it together

[Anonymous]

If I boycotted every airline that screwed me or my family, I'd be driving everywhere. Yes, it Sucks, but no, you cannot win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is partially why we are not flying anywhere for the foreseeable future. Why bother?

Same. Although I really feel awful for those that don't have the choice since they haven't seen family for more than a year.

[Anonymous]

I fly to Europe and Asia on anything except US airlines. Partnerships are fine, usually.

Domestically, here’s the deal: you can gave cheap airfares or good service, but not both. People the cheap flights, every time.

[Anonymous]

American just changed my outbound from 11am to 6:30am and our return now requires a connection getting us back to our home airport at 12:30am. I’m traveling with four children 8 and under! I cancelled the trip and switched to United.

[Anonymous]

I have flown American several times this year but mainly on short commuter routes (which are flown by regionals) so haven't had any issues outside of a couple minor delays.

My advice is always have a plan B and sometimes plan C. Especially these days. Leisure travel has rebounded faster than airlines have been able to get their operations re-staffed to meet the demand..

A lot of airline workers/pilots/FAs were furloughed, took buyouts, early retirements etc. They can't just simply call those people back, they have to get retrained/recertified, etc. So that's why there is a lag. Always have a back up plan just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our flight was canceled and there were zero rental cars available. The next day we got on a flight going the opposite direction we needed so we could connect to one going home. So much fun.

This is OP - not condoning what we did but we had to lie and say we were bringing the car back to the same place in order to get one. I’m sure we’ll get fined like crazy but at this point I don’t care. Hertz wanted $1000 for 12 hours.

For those saying bring your own seats - we have very nice car seats both at home and the destination we came from. Hold your judgment, I was never going to haul three car seats in the off chance our flight got CANCELLED (not delayed). Now I just won’t ever fly American, lesson learned.

You always travel with cheap car seats for this reason. Much safer. We never ever traveled without seats. It can happen on any airline. Why didn't you take the seats that you had at the destination and then use those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have flown American several times this year but mainly on short commuter routes (which are flown by regionals) so haven't had any issues outside of a couple minor delays.

My advice is always have a plan B and sometimes plan C. Especially these days. Leisure travel has rebounded faster than airlines have been able to get their operations re-staffed to meet the demand..

A lot of airline workers/pilots/FAs were furloughed, took buyouts, early retirements etc. They can't just simply call those people back, they have to get retrained/recertified, etc. So that's why there is a lag. Always have a back up plan just in case.

So they shouldn't be taking customers' money and then abusing them if they can't staff their desks, planes and make their planes fit to fly, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our flight was canceled and there were zero rental cars available. The next day we got on a flight going the opposite direction we needed so we could connect to one going home. So much fun.

This is OP - not condoning what we did but we had to lie and say we were bringing the car back to the same place in order to get one. I’m sure we’ll get fined like crazy but at this point I don’t care. Hertz wanted $1000 for 12 hours.

For those saying bring your own seats - we have very nice car seats both at home and the destination we came from. Hold your judgment, I was never going to haul three car seats in the off chance our flight got CANCELLED (not delayed). Now I just won’t ever fly American, lesson learned.

You always travel with cheap car seats for this reason. Much safer. We never ever traveled without seats. It can happen on any airline. Why didn't you take the seats that you had at the destination and then use those.

Or, one parent run out and buy new ones.