AA.....Where vacation joy goes to die.

[TNT72]

I won't quibble with your choice, greydread. Obviously you are a preferred customer and they don't want to lose your business, so the waived fees for bags and low cost upgrades are perks that keep you coming back. I totally understand that. Having never flown any class above premium economy on a few Asian airlines, I would probably feel the same.


This was just one example that I and hundreds of others experienced and that a flight attendant warned me about that would become more frequent in the near future.


I do remember checking the departure board in front of the gate that we eventually left from and saw at least one fourth of the departures were highlighted in yellow, denoting late takeoffs, a few as much as 4-5 hours, and in a couple of instances, cancellations of flights all together.


AA had a lot of angry customers in Miami last Saturday night.

I wouldn't be suprised if the pilots aren't saying things are wrong with the planes, to try and show corporate who has the power. AA is trying to renegociate union contracts, and I'm sure the pilots aren't happy about that!

[Orange]

While I believe AA may be cutting corners on maintenance and letting their planes fly longer without maintenance, I don't believe pilots are really complaining about maintenance. That's probably a bargaining tool. No pilot (union or no union, commercial or otherwise) worth shit will get on a plane that he suspects may not be mechanically sound. That could tantamount to suicide.

[knotty]

The double decker 380? they flew it to MNL?

I only that was going going to be used for long haul flights, I don't believe MNL is setup to handle them.

Well, that is what I was on. And it was the same plane that came from bkk. It unloaded, the we reloaded. I remember the plane I was on because I was nervous on they type of plane being used.

[Kevy]

Well, that is what I was on. And it was the same plane that came from bkk. It unloaded, the we reloaded. I remember the plane I was on because I was nervous on they type of plane being used.

I guess they are testing it, I heard it was only going to London. I want to fly on one of those beast s yet.

[knotty]

I guess they are testing it, I heard it was only going to London. I want to fly on one of those beast s yet.

The plane was so new that it looked like they just started using it. It had that new plane smell. My worries disappeared after that. That is why I would rather use them then those other budget airlines.

[Skynyrd]

All I'm saying is if JetBlue starts offering Orlando to POP I'm switching from American.

[Mr. Smooth]

Just getting home from work tonight and saw online that American is sending out 11,000 layoff notices to it's employees. Sorry, if I knew how to post a link I would.

Guess that old girl I spoke with knew what she was talking about.

[dquick]

I have a good amount of AA miles right now. I was thinking about using them in November, but with all the problems at American, I am beginning to have second thoughts.

With that said, American has never let me down. (Unlike Delta and Spirit.) I might just roll the dice and trust them. I have always been impressed with American's customer service as well.

[Chief Papi Lindo]

Thursday i was suppose to fly out of POP on AA at 3:10, but the pilot delayed the flight by saying the plane needed an oil change. The pilot did this on purpose knowing there wasn't a mechanic on duty at POP. This delayed the flight by 2 hrs and as a result i missed my connecting flight to SFO at 755. They put me up at the Regency in MIA and the next day they put me on the 810 am flight. I sent an email to AA and they gave me a $500 voucher.

[Mr. Smooth]

So if there wasn't a mechanic on duty to change the oil, who did? At least they offered you a couple of goodies as an apology.

[BlueDevil]

I made up my mind a few years back to avoid booking on AA at all costs. Apparently it has gotten worse, yet... so, I made the right decision.

[Irie]

The oil change thing reminds me of several years ago at the gate in Mobay. Everyone was onboard and it was hot as hell when the pilot announces we'll have a slight delay. They can't get the engines started..........and they're going to have to "jump start the plane." These words would make me pause in a first world country, let alone...... So I'm picturing rhasta dude coming out with jumper cables...

"no worries mon. All's irie mon........."


"...........now was that red to negative......ya mon......."


(Where's seaweed when you need him. )

[TNT72]

I made up my mind a few years back to avoid booking on AA at all costs. Apparently it has gotten worse, yet... so, I made the right decision.

For those of us in the Mid West, that is the ONLY airline that flies into POP for us!

Luckily, the only time I had a delay/cancelation with AA was when their refueling lines in MIA blew up. And I got to stay an extra 3 or 4 days in Happyland! Of course, Lorena and Robert couldn't wait for me to get off "their" Island!!!

[Irie]

For those of us in the Mid West, that is the ONLY airline that flies into POP for us!

Luckily, the only time I had a delay/cancelation with AA was when their refueling lines in MIA blew up. And I got to stay an extra 3 or 4 days in Happyland! Of course, Lorena and Robert couldn't wait for me to get off "their" Island!!!

Same here, hence the three hour drive to ATL now. I hate it, but the money savings is well worth it.

Im surprised there's not more options for you out of Detroit.

[sosuaman]

My last three trips to POP were on AA. Competitive pricing on a regular airline. I have done this July holidays with posted prices of $430 with taxes from YYZ which is unheard of.

this is not an actual depiction of AA flying into POP....

AA flights do NOT land as they are crossing over water - the landing strip does NOT begin at waters edge....
the plane travels over land as it is landing, not water...

[TNT72]

Same here, hence the three hour drive to ATL now. I hate it, but the money savings is well worth it.

Im surprised there's not more options for you out of Detroit.

Continental will get me to POP, but its an overnight layover in Newark.

Spirit gives me a better price, anywhere from a 1/3 to 1/2 the price of AA. But it's a fucked up landing time in STI. 2:30 am, and a 2 hour taxi ride. Or an early afternoon landing time in SDQ, and a 5 or 6 hour bus ride.

[Kevy]

this is not an actual depiction of AA flying into POP....

AA flights do NOT land as they are crossing over water - the landing strip does NOT begin at waters edge....
the plane travels over land as it is landing, not water...

The east side of the runway is at water's edge and I have seen planes land from that side (most fly in from the west)

[Irie]

The east side of the runway is at water's edge and I have seen planes land from that side (most fly in from the west)


Click to see pic

And so have I Kevy and actually did it once.

Its all based on wind direction for the non aviators here. Planes land into the most direct wind the airport allows via its runway directions. For us meteorologists, we know the Caribbean generally has us landing heading east. Those damn trade winds!

[Irie]

Continental will get me to POP, but its an overnight layover in Newark.

Spirit gives me a better price, anywhere from a 1/3 to 1/2 the price of AA. But it's a fucked up landing time in STI. 2:30 am, and a 2 hour taxi ride. Or an early afternoon landing time in SDQ, and a 5 or 6 hour bus ride.

Again, ditto. My options outside of AA from either here or ATL to any DR runway take me to Chicago, Newark, Houston......and the list goes on. The price goes up 50% and the travel time a minimum of 100%. (8 hrs to 16-23 aren't going to work for me).

I'm an AA fan by default. Cono!

[BlueDevil]

For those of us in the Mid West, that is the ONLY airline that flies into POP for us!

Luckily, the only time I had a delay/cancelation with AA was when their refueling lines in MIA blew up. And I got to stay an extra 3 or 4 days in Happyland! Of course, Lorena and Robert couldn't wait for me to get off "their" Island!!!

I feel your pain.
Fortunately, we have a lot of other less expensive options here in Colombia for travel within and between North and South America.