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

Anonymous wrote:Next time bring your own seats, always.

Yes. Even when we didn't use them on the flight, we would bring our own carseats. Most US airlines (including AA) will check car seats and strollers for free.

The car seats that you rent from airlines are not guaranteed to be safe. The employees do not check the expiration dates and do not take car seats out of service if a rental driver was in a car accident with a car seat. They just return the car seats to the rental pool.

American cancelled our return from vacation trip at 10pm the night before. Made for a miserable last night trying to get another flight.

I just went to to see if I could reschedule our July flight with American to LA. It would be $1900 more if I reschedule to earlier in the day, for all 4 of us. Flight prices are insane. I only booked in March.

We have no mileage status I am totally expecting to get stranded or screwed on this vacation. So scared.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Not a defense of AA, but it sounds like everyone is having crazy delays and cancellations this summer from severe weather and being short staffed. I have seen multiple WaPo articles on it (citing AA, SW, Delta, UA, etc).

No, my dad works for a competing airline and while yes they’re all having travel woes, the genesis of it is American. People are scrambling everyday for last minute flights that American cancelled on them, which bumps standby and delayed people which upsets the whole system.

All the airlines have had some operational issues with getting back to a full schedule, but American in particular has had the most problems. If you have other options, probably better to go on another airline at least until the fall when they get their pilots fully re-certified.

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/22/1008968725/american-airlines-passengers-could-be-in-for-a-summer-of-delays-and-cancellation

Next time bring your own seats, always.

American cancelled my flight 2 hours before departure today because of “maintenance” issues. I have spoken to several friends who had the same thing happen to them on American. Never again.

Not a defense of AA, but it sounds like everyone is having crazy delays and cancellations this summer from severe weather and being short staffed. I have seen multiple WaPo articles on it (citing AA, SW, Delta, UA, etc).

Somehow Americans put up with this while Europe imposes real compensation rules on airlines

Our United flight was delayed by 7 1/2 hours last night. All the US airlines are crappy.

We recently had American cancel a flight on us 12 hours before we were supposed to leave for our 20th anniversary trip to Cabo. We had to scramble to find another flight on another airline, pay out of pocket for that flight and then apply to get reimbursed through American so we didn't lose a day of our vacation. Super stressful when you're going to check in to your flight (that's supposed to leave 1st thing in the morning) around 5pm the night before, and BOOM....cancelled.

What a nightmare!!
Where were you stuck? What was your final destination?

We have had six American flights this summer between various family members and every single one of them has had a significant delay or cancellation. Most recently we got to our layover destination only to find out they’d cancelled our connection while in the air - can’t get us on another flight for TWO DAYS. No other airlines have flights available because everyone from American is switching. I asked for a refund so we could drive, conveniently they’re only charging $17 for the cancelled portion of the flight. So we’re still out almost the entire cost of the ticket and only made it halfway, now have to drive with toddlers and pay for a rental car and rental car seats.

I almost cancelled this flight and rebooked with another airline because of what other family has been through, and am severely regretting that decision. Don’t make the same mistake. American is now worse than any budget airline out there.