The massive sucktitude of American Airlines is beyond belief

Dammit, Pam!!

What a sucky afternoon, combined with the already sucky service you and Kate received going to NYC...eesh, I would have gone from zero to queen in about two seconds. I'm a US Airways person by nature, but I think when you get down to it, they are all the same. Unfortunately, the airlines are a necessary evil.

Sending good thoughts your way.  

"I like your Christ, but do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." ~Gandhi
"Upon the integrity, wisdom, and independence of the judiciary depend the sacred rights of free men and women."  

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by: keithan81 @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:07:25 PM CDT

Blech

Sorry to hear that, Pam.  Is there any chance of participating remotely?  (Not as much fun as being there, of course.)

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:10:35 PM CDT

I flew...

...about 100,000 miles last year, almost all of it on Delta. I got stuck on AA a few times and I HATED it. They ALWAYS managed to mess me up somehow. HATED IT HATED IT HATED IT.

(This year, it isn't a problem. I was downsized in January...)

So sorry you have so few choices out of RDU. Would Fayetteville be better? I used to use them when I had to go into Ralaigh. Made my life easier. Of course, I almost always did that out of ATL.  

Stormie
Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.

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by: StormWalker @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:17:39 PM CDT

When in Rome

Hi Pam,

Sorry to hear of your continuing bad luck with the airlines.  I posted a few tips when your last trip was screwed up.

Ok, a few more.

Chicago is notorious for flight delays, cancellations, etc. Believe it or not, more so in the summer than in the winter.

So if your terminal (love to hate that word) destination is Chicago, try to fly in as early in the am as possible...or the night before. Thunder storms usually don't pop until 2 or later. Keep in mind your arrival time taking into account the time zone...loss of one hour for you.

Also, as your post states, the United flight left on time. United rules Ohare, not American so if flying into Chicago, fly United or one of their partners and your chance of being cancelled or delayed go down dramatically...God, I thought this was a gay issues blog not a travel tip one...lol.

Lastly, if you can scrape together enough coin, do NOT buy the absolute lowest fare class.  People get bumped from the bottom up.

It sounds as if you fly quite a bit.  Try to stratigize to see if you can fly most of your flights on one airline and/or one of their partners.  AA is skyteam, UA is star alliance.  Personally, I abandoned ST over SA years ago as I feel that they have the better system but it depends on your needs.

I hope some of these tips help. When all else fails, I just chalk it up to fate and believe that if my plane does not take off or if I miss it then perhaps it will save my life....:)

vanhattan

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by: vanhattan @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:47:52 PM CDT

thanks

It sounds like generally, they all suck. But I've never been bumped or canceled on United, USAir, Delta, Continental or Southwest (though I don't like the latter for other reasons). Even AA was decent a couple of years ago. While waiting in line to find out what was going on, everyone was trading horror stories about AA (and not just about Chicago). Apparently its service and cust service have gone south.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:54:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Milwaukee!

I tell people that if they are heading for Chicago, consider flying Midwest or AirTran (yuck) into Milwaukee. There are several Amtrak trains (maybe 6 a day each way) that stop at Milwaukee's Mitchell Field, and then make two more stops before coming into Chicago's Union Station. The train ride is maybe $25, which is less than a cab to downtown Chicago from O'Hare.

Dissent not only welcomed, but encouraged.

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by: newfie53523 @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 22:24:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fate

"When all else fails, I just chalk it up to fate and believe that if my plane does not take off or if I miss it then perhaps it will save my life....:)"

That is exactly what happened to my sister last year. She was schedule to go from her home in West Africa to a conference in Nigeria. Her flight, on a normally reliable airline, was mysteriously canceled without explanation and she consequently missed her connecting flight -- which crashed in the jungle killing all 325 people on board.

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by: Stephanie @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 23:45:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oy freaking vey

My threshold of annoyance is pretty high for airlines these days. I guess I don't expect much anymore. My minimum requirement is: don't crash. All else is negotiable.  

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by: Mr. Larry @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 01:52:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Eh..

I'm probably going to be a lone voice here but I've had better luck with AA than with others. Like you, Pam, however, I did get caught by the storms. The reality is that O'Hare, once it's backlogged or gets ground/departure delays (it had both yesterday), everything else goes to pot for other airports.

I flew from Dallas to Cleveland to JFK (or was supposed to). I had 25 min in Cleveland to switch planes but then I didn't have to worry about it since it first was delayed and then canceled (btw, flightstats.com is the only way I check and once I know it's listed as canceled there I call my travel agent). I eventually made it into LaGuardia (part of AAs problem is that they have planes come in from other routes to do the routes that one needs).

A few thoughts:

1. Since it claimed technical difficulties at processing I would have called the main AA line to indicate that you had issues and could someone confirm that you had travel insurance.

2. Write to AA about what happened. As a points collector on AA (I prefer AA over other airlines since they have fewer domestic triple seaters and they tend to have wider seats --- yes, I admit to being a fat ass), they have on two separate occasions given me points -- once 10,000 points for a flight they canceled at the last minute and once 3,000 for a flight that got screwed over by weather (I accept weather issues but other issues came into play).

3. No matter what airline I've flown in the US, I have found the quality sub-par. It's a weird contrast to my experience as a Canadian back home. I used to fly WestJet all over. They are friendly, they do the safety message in a fun way so you will listen (I've heard it done as if written by Dr. Seuss) and never had a flight canceled except for extreme weather.  

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by: linus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 06:58:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

WestJet

I love WestJet. I fly with them frequently and even when going to visit relatives in the eastern US, I prefer to fly WestJet to Toronto and then drive across the border.

It probably helps that the employees are part owners of the airline so they have a personal interest in its success. I have also been on flights where they have announced that "the Boss", airline president Clive Beddoe, is on board and give out his seat number and encourage passengers to talk to him if they have any comments or concerns. I wonder if the AA president would dare to do that?

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by: Stephanie @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 15:46:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Alliances

AA is a member of OneWorld, not Skyteam. I still wouldn't fly it.

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by: figfest @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 07:24:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Trip Insurance

Thanks for mentioning trip insurance Pam.  Whenever I travelled, I wasn't in the habit of buying it.  But, after hearing about your debacles, I think I'll get it from now on.

BTW, Peter didn't invite you to have dinner with him out in Naperville on Saturday evening while you were there did he?  LOL

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by: Jon Michaels @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:59:45 PM CDT

Skyway robbery

If an airline cancels a flight, even if it is for something beyond their control, like weather, I am mystified as to why they get to keep your money. You paid for a service and they failed to provide it so you should get your money back. They even just saved themselves the expensive of putting a fully fueled plane in the air, so keeping your full fare is all just gravy for them.

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by: Stephanie @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 23:35:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The reason in a single word: Lobbying

Back when the industry was flush with cash, airline lobbyists bribed Congress into passing a whole bunch of excusions from standard service contracts, specifically for the airline industry. Very little of traditional contract law applies to airline tickets.

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by: TechBear @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 10:39:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I HATE flying NOW

It was never my favorite activity, I'm kinda white knuckle at landings, and the air pressure is really hard on my sinuses and ear drums. As a smoker, who has to wear a nicotine patch to make it through 2 hr at non smoking airports pre flight, then the flight, then another hour geting luggage,(when they haven't lost it.)
My absolute worst flight was returning from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis in a white-out blizzard, scared me sh*tless, and the plane skided on the landing.
I also hate flying with procrastinators, I flew back from CT with a friend who's wife got us to the airport exactly at the time the flight was to leave, we ran about 6  blocks through the airport nearly giving me heart failure, and we had drive about 100 miles an hour to get to the airport....I was not a happy passenger.

Sorry you missed the conference you were looking forward to.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 00:03:26 AM CDT

I'd be so much happier with high speed rail, especially with a smoking car

Life is really gotten uncivilized

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 00:08:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sinus pressure

It's worse on the descent. Take a sudafed about a half hour before the plane starts to descend. It's helped me.  

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by: Mr. Larry @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 01:54:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

2 words

Southwest airlines  

Pain is Inevitable .
Suffering is Optional  

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by: Ana @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 00:04:39 AM CDT

I've also taken a crappy cheap charter flight from MPLS to SF

In one of those wide jets with 8 seats in the middle and 4 on either side. In a tight coach seat smack in the middle of the row of eight. I felt like a sardine

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 00:12:16 AM CDT

Pam that sucks!

It WAS pretty bad here in Chicago.  There was a confirmed tornado on the ground in Kenosha WI around 6:30pm which is just right on the other side of the border.  

AA has always been sucky when it comes to keeping their customers informed, especially if your flight has been canceled due to weather.  You'd think that they'd work to get you here instead of just dropping the ball and shrugging their shoulders.

Charley sez ---- Bat sh*t crazies amuse me!

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by: vwboy81 @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 04:03:33 AM CDT

It Wasn't AA But...

I was on a Spirit flight from Detroit to Washington, DC when I had a lovely little experience.

Because of the short length of the flight coupled with new Post-9/11 restrictions on flights coming in or out of DC, there was very little time to use the bathroom and such.

When we were allowed to get up, I immediately got up and went to the back of the plane. The drink cart was barely at the second row from the back but the old troll of a flight attendant indignantly told me that I would have to use the bathroom at the front of the plane because he could not be bothered to move his cart to do drink service. So I go to the front of the plane where there is a good sized line from passengers from my section of the plane and those in the "first class" section.

I noted something while I was up there. The two flight attendants handling were moving at a brisk pace walking back and forth to their cart handing out drinks. By the time I was able to get in the bathroom, which did not take that long including the rude woman who cut in front of me when I stepped aside to let another passenger by, the guy flight attendant and the woman with him had only reached 4 rows past mine. The two women providing drinks to the front of the plane were already more than half way to the back.

As I returned to my seat, the guy flight attendant was giving me lip about how had had to move his cart so I could get back to my seat. I had to bite my lip to keep from telling him that it was his fault in the first place because he did not want to move his precious cart earlier.

Jon aka The Angry Fag
http://www.theangryfag.com/
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TheAngryFag

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by: TheAngryFag @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 04:25:08 AM CDT

Pam, you've got it good

Here in Michigan, Northwest is called Northwest, and they have never inform people what's going on, either at the gate or on flights that are stuck somewhere.  I've seen them close flights early when people have come running from across the airport.  Their staff training is the worst.

But here's an importan trip.  Never rely on waiting on line to rebook.  Always have your airlines number on speed dial and as soon as there's a problem, CALL.  That helped me tremendously flying back from Houston to Lansing from a book fair once. Storms in Chicago threw the entire country off and I waited endless hours.  But I knew I'd miss my flight, I re-booked, and also booked a hotel near the airport because I had to stay overnight before getting home.

It made me moderately less pissed off to have planned ahead.

"In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant."  The Colbert Report

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by: Lev Raphael @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 05:44:01 AM CDT

So sorry to hear about your second bad AA experience in one week

My tips -

If flying in to Chicago, choose a flight into Midway.  Smaller airport, easy to navigate, lots of flight options, NOT dominated by United or AA, good concessions, though sometimes long security lines.

As said before, book your flight earlier in the day.  Storms tend to fire up in the afternoon/early evening.

As for AA, contact them.  Let them know about your two bad experiences in one week.  Don't be afraid to let them know that you aren't happy and you are not afraid to share your experiences with others.  Weather happens, but how they deal with it, and inform their PAYING customers, and take care of their customers is up to the airline.  After two hours of delay, I would have been at the counter asking to be put on another airline.  (Actually I would have been on the phone to my corporate travel agent.)

Each airline differs, but if United was getting planes in and out of O'Hare, AA should have been able to as well.

Give 'em hell Pam!

Sorry that you missed the conference, but at least you are home safe with Kate!

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by: bkmn @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 06:46:33 AM CDT

It is also well-worth it to fly into Milwaukee

and Amtrak down to Chicago and back.  Milwaukee doesn't seem to have as much of a weather problem; different location on the lake, I guess.  Relatively small, efficient, I've never had to wait long in security lines.  And, the Hiawatha runs from Mitchel airport down to Union Station and is one of the most reliably on-time trains Amtrak operates.

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by: aggieric @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:14:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I got arrested at an airport one time, Pam!

In fact it was my only ever arrest, back in 1989.

Drunk boyfriend fell asleep on plane (never physical, just particularly mouthy when drunk- gave stewardess lip about her being a waitress...).

We land, I get off plane and he is whisked away. I get to the terminal, see him being bashed around on the tarmack by 4 cops, and can't find anyone to help.

So I open a door marked "DO NOT OPEN". All lights and sirens go off... I run to the rescue and ended up doing 18 hours in Phoenix jail. Was dead sober, by the way.

It was actually kinda fun- like a captive slumber party- a Friday night when I became the pet of a bunch of regulars. One big scary prostitute took a liking to me and had me tell my little tale of woe to everyone who came in that night; we later got out at the same time and I gave her and her john the rest of my pack of cigarettes. Then went to one of the concerts.

Boyfriend did 4 days in lockup and never did see the Dead- as well as never misbehaved like that AGAIN.
----------------------------------------------------

Anyways, that's my worst flying experience! ;)

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by: Louise @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 07:41:21 AM CDT

What a story! HOOT!

Where is the video??

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

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by: Orion45 @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 10:59:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Stranded in Amarillo

One of the more interesting "strandings" I've had was returning to Denver from Texas, Amarillo airport in particular.

There were two of us traveling together.  We rushed from the little town we were working at to make our flight.  Driving in fast, I turned in the car (Lincoln Continental) to the rental agency and we made it with seconds to spare to the Continental Airlines ticket counter to check in.  Nobody was at the counter.  In fact the only sign that someone had been there was all the flights being cancelled.  

It was the first of Continental's bankruptcies.  

The rental car was gone, all rental cars were gone.  

So we headed to the bar, which eventually ran out of beer. Nice people though, they went out and found more to resupply us for several more hours.

Much later that night a person came around saying an agreement had been worked out between the company and unions to allow a plane to fly the route up to Denver.  

We arrived home about a half day late.  However, those who did not take the flight had to find another way home.  It was a while before any more Continental flights went in or out of Amarillo.

Pam,
J'aime ma Peau

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by: Blonde Pam @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:03:14 AM CDT

Part of this - the weather part - is undeniably true

We've been having horrendous weather in S. Wisc and N. Ill.  For that the airlines can't be blamed - I've learned from experience that the weather screws up O'Hare travel on a regular basis - snow, ice, thunder storms.  It's all part of the lake effect.

That said, the airlines SUCK.  Pretty much all of 'em.  I've had students intentionally stranded in O'Hare by another airline - putting off their 'delayed' flights until after the last flight of the night, forcing them to sleep in the airport.  I've had multiple problems myself.  

The air traveler's bill of rights was a good idea that needs to be brought back.

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by: aggieric @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:08:51 AM CDT

AA USED to be my preferred airline if only for the extra leg room

but that has changed.  When you consider that their partnered with British Airways and the excellent service, cabins, etc you get with this airline, the condition of AA just pisses you off even further.

Five years ago I booked a flight to go to my cousin's funeral.  He had been extremely depressed and committed suicide.  No one in my family had told me this despite the fact that he and I had been best friends growing up.  I was 1,500 miles away and no one thought of it.  So his death was a complete shock to me.

I chose AA because of the leg room as I had said.  The funeral was Friday at 11am CST.  The only flights that would mesh with departures from Logan to O'Hare meant that I would have to fly into Kansas City and drive down to Wichita the night before (the funeral was in Wichita, KS).  I was fine with this and looked forward to the drive.

The connection to my KCMO flight was about 2 hours after we handed in Chicago.

I got to Boston Logan on time, through security fine and sat down to wait.  Then the announcement came over the PA, my flight was can celled.  But the good new is there was another flight leaving directly with a few seats available.  The line formed and by the time I got to the desk that flight was full.

They could book me on another flight that left in a hour.  I told them I had to be at a funeral and they assured me it get there on time and I would be able to get my  connecting flight.

This flight was 3 hours late.  That was annoying but I was then assured that I could change my flight for an early flight out of Chicago for Wichita once I got to Chicago.

We arrived in Chicago so late that there was hardly anyone on the concourse.  I found the "rebooking customer service phones" and began the process of trying to do something simple.... yeah right.

At first they told me they would rebook me on a flight into KCMO that would land about 10am.  That would leave me no time to drive to Wichita.

We argued my telling them my original plans and that the funeral was in Wichita, yes at 11am on a Friday and that there was little point of sending me to KCMO now.  I also told them that I knew there was an early flight into Wichita that would get me there around 10 and with a little luck I wouldn't be too late for the 11am funeral.

No go, I would only be rebooked for KCMO.   We argued some more, I told them that if that's all they could do then they should just book me on a flight to go home to Boston on Friday as there was little point to go further.  We argued some more and I was put on hold, at which time I called my husband from my cell phone and told him the situation.

Finally they allowed me to rebook onto the Wichita flight I had wanted.  Great!  It's now 2am in Chicago, I have a funeral to go to at day break and I need some sleep.  I was even willing to pay for airport hilton hotel rates for just a few hours sleep and a shower.

I could then change clothes into funeral attire and after getting my car rental drive directly to the funeral.  Not a problem right? Except there weren't any rooms available.

I spent the rest of the night trying to sleep in AA ticket terminal of O'Hare.  Where I saw 3 different people clean the same patch of floor three different times.

Finally the morning comes, the ticket kiosks open and I am one of the first in line to get my ticket to Wichita.  I hadn't noticed that in retribution for my trying to get to where I had planned to go in the first place, that their airline massively screwed up on and then gave me additional grief over, they had put four S's on my ticket.  Four Ss means the airline thinks the ticket holder needs extra security check and is signaling TSA to really check you over.  

So while my mind in on the funeral and death of my childhood best friend, my cousin, I am going through a more involved security sweep.

The woman doing the sweep started to chat me up to pass the time and make me less uncomfortable/angry.  "So are you going to Wichita for business or pleasure?" she asked

"A funeral, of my best friend, it starts at 11am" I replied.

Her whole tone and demeanor changed it, was now very empathetic and she hurried with what she had to do.

I got to Wichita, fortunately it's a small airport and my hotel was on the frontage road next to it.  I got my car, ran to the hotel, took a quick shower, upended my suitcase to find my clothes, changed, ran to my car and got to the funeral 5 minutes after it started.

And now I avoid AA whenever possible.

Sorry to hear about your experience Pam.  As you can see, I can empathized very much.

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by: clytemnestra @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:35:36 AM CDT

Air France is even worse

I'm sorry you're having such problems, Pam.  

But remember, if you were on Air France and at DeGaulle it would be 10 times worse.

I'm sure that makes you feel a lot better [not]

I hope you can enjoy Chicago a bit while you're there.  If you can just walk through Millenium Park and/or see the Impressionists at the Art Institute, you'll feel a lot better.

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by: Mike in Texas @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 09:55:32 AM CDT

Oops ... Just realized you never made it to Chicago.

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by: Mike in Texas @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 09:58:36 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

In defense of American

As much as I hate to defend any major corporation like that...

Yesterday there were horrendous storms passing through here in Chicago all day.  This alone screwed things up. Moreover, a major expressway near the airport (the Edens) was closed for several hours due to flooding.  Many people sat on the expressway for a long time.  I would have to believe that a lot of flight crew people and other airport workers were very late to work if they got there at all.

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by: westburbswimmer @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 10:25:20 AM CDT

Don't anyone miss LOUISE's story below!

Too funny to be real, ... right?

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.

---

by: Orion45 @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 11:00:11 AM CDT

No Longer Flying AA

Pam,

I stopped using AA a few years ago, especially when they stopped flying out of our regional airport.  My last few flights with them were a disaster, including incredibly rude crew members and poor customer service.  As a company, they treat their employees poorly.  To have flight attendants with many years of service complain to you about the company while they are performing their jobs was very telling.  I used to be a FF on AA, so much so that my partner and I used our miles for a great trip to Saint Maarten and Anguilla, our last experience with AA.  Now, we do not use them at all.  

I was flying back from Rome once to participate in a conference in Manhattan.  My bags never made it and I had to change and get prepared with just two hours before the conference.  I canceled my participation and the hotel room, which would not refund the cost.  That was the third trip in a row during which my bags were lost.  On a previous trip, to FL, the bags were lost, but they called me to say they found them and reported the bags were "intact."  When they were delivered to my hotel, I was missing brand new running shoes.  All they told me was, "Oh well."  Someone actually stole my shoes and the AA customer service reps couldn't care less.

I now flight mostly on Continental but also fly Jet Blue when I can.  The bottom line, thanks to deregulation decades ago, is prices may have fallen, but so has the level of customer service -- big time.

I'm sorry you were inconvenienced.  Vanhattan listed one rule I also try to follow -- leave as early as possible.  O'Hare is a difficult airport, even in good weather.  Still, that does not excuse AA's  notoriously bad communication with its customers and poor customer service.

Timm

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by: Timm @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 11:11:27 AM CDT

Fly for my job

Anywhere from 2 - 5 days per week when I'm busy. I've done things like DC-Philly-SF-Minneapolis-Vegas all in one week. Love the job, but the travel sucks.

I have had my share of bad airline experiences, but I really haven't found one carrier that was better or worse. Southwest does have an edge in that they only use one type of aircraft (Boeing 737s), so all their crews are trained on all their aircraft. Weather and other delays don't impact them as much, because they have greater flexibility with rescheduling crews.

The main problem, though, with the industry is that it operates on a thin wire - of both profitability and operationally. Most hub airports - like O'Hare - have simply too much traffic going in and out. The only way to meet the schedules the airlines have been allowed to set at these airports is for absolutely no problems of any kind to happen on a given day - and that's an impossibility.

I cannot tell you how many times I have been at airports where the plane I am supposed to fly on is scheduled to land 45 minutes before our departure. That gives the airline staff exactly 15 minutes to empty and clean the plane, inspect the plane for airworthiness (assuming there's a new crew coming on), refuel, empty and load luggage, all before the next set of passengers have to board. Clearly with a schedule like that, even an insignificant problem can throw off the schedule, and the schedules for all the remaining flights for that plane/crew. The airlines are also operating with too few staff and using too few planes (there are a ton of planes currently mothballed in the deserts of the southwest by every airline to save money), so again they have less flexibility.

I have often said airline travel is now like taking the bus - but without the class. I will say that there have already been a lot of good suggestions from other commenters - smaller airports are a dream, flying early minimizes your delays, calling the airline instead of waiting in those ridiculous "Customer Service" lines are all good ideas. If you use a travel agent, for instance for work travel, call them first. They have an inside track to the airlines and can get things done much quicker. Our company travel agent is so good she has re-booked me while I'm in the air on a delayed flight. Many airlines also will provide details on the historical on-time performance of the flight you are booking, when you book. It's worth it to spend a few extra $$ for flights that have 80 - 90% on-time ratings.

I also love two websites - Flytecomm - http://www.flytecomm.com/cgi-b... and Seatguru - http://www.seatguru.com/. The first provides up to the minute FAA information on flights. The give the actual take-off and landing times, not the airlines scheduled ones (most planes have a 5 - 20 minute delay between pushback and take-off, but airlines account for that as part of the scheduled flight time)). If you check out airport websites, you can usually search and figure out which flight is coming into your gate just before you leave - that will be the plane you are on, then you can use Flytecomm to see if that flight is on time - it's a real great early warning system that beats any airline auto-notification.

Seatguru let's you pick the best seat on the airplane on which you'll be flying. When I book a flight, I always have it open in another window, so I can easily check to see where I want to sit.  

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by: CPT_Doom @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 11:38:10 AM CDT

AA Sucks

August 2006: Flight from Baltimore to Austin via Dallas.

AA guy fueling the plane in Baltimore overfills it, spilling fuel on the plane and tarmac. I and other passengers watch AA workers clean up fuel spill which delays flight by an hour as we are stuck on the plane.

I get to Dallas an hour late, but I still have enough time to make my connection to Austin.  The ground temperature in Dallas is 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

I get on the plane to Austin.  The flight takes about 30-35 minutes but probably 45-50 with taxiing.  There is NO AIR CONDITIONING on the plane because the A/C broke and American Airlines chose to fly a BROKEN PLANE!  There wasn't any air coming out the round A/C vents.  No ventilation at all.

It felt like older people and children could actually DIE from heat exhaustion!  Everyone on board was angry, even the flight attendants.  The flight attendants rushed drinks to everyone as fast as they could.  Even back then they normally did not serve drinks on such a short flight.  The guy next to me refused to give his drink back to the flight attendant before landing.  She was pissed but let him disobey flight safety procedures.

I wrote a letter to American Airlines after this horrible sweltering flight.  I got a letter back, obviously written by a computer, apologizing for the delay.  Apparently the computer picked up the one hour delay in Baltimore I described but didn't know anything about flying a broken plane with NO air conditioning.  A couple of other times before that when I had problems with AA, they gave me a voucher to use on a future flight or they gave me free frequent flier miles to compensate for their screwup.  But not anymore.  Just an impersonal form letter.

AA Sucks!

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by: g2k @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 11:47:39 AM CDT

AA Suckitude

I feel your pain; hopefully you've learned 2 good lessons:  don't make flight arrangments through discount travel website (you're purchases are rarely protected) and DON'T FLY ON AMERICAN EVER AGAIN!

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by: Justin Angel @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 13:58:18 PM CDT

maybe we're going about this wrong

When have you flown when you've enjoyed it?

I saw Airwest mentioned as a good airline
we've flown Continental to Vegas and San Diego and that was pleasant, but my hubby insists on first class seats when we travel on business, so that makes them all nicer.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 16:03:36 PM CDT