Originally Posted by
LTRS
All I want is accurate and timely information from GA about delays. Don't hide, don't lie, or BS. Just be informative in a timely manner. That is my chief complaint about AA (not unique to them by any means, but the only airline I fly currently).
True story from a few weeks ago.... AE flight was delayed. Asked the GA why -- he said weather (even though skies were clear blue). Weather elsewhere, he said.
He leaves the gate area and the pilot is at the desk. I ask the pilot, why the delay? He says, and I kid you not, "well they are telling people weather, but actually we had a tire blow out on landing at the last airport, so we're running late. It's in the computer as a mechanical, so I don't know why they are telling people weather."
This completely validates my suspicion that they lie about the weather issue in order to avoid being responsible for missed flights, overnight delays, etc. Bad business, bad customer service.
Completely! I have had more bad experiences with GAs than all other parts of AA combined...for just the reasons you cite. In your case, it's hard to tell whether the GA is lying, or being fed inaccurate information (so the airline is lying to them). Small distinction as the company is lying to you in any event. Even beyond this, I've had many experiences where they just don't seem to care. Plane is late, turn is slow, cleaning crew is slow. They don't check to see what's going on. They just parrot "cleaning crew is not done." Hey! People have connections!
I've written AA about this in the past, been called by corporate and received apologies (and even a little sympathy). It's been a little better recently, but I have a feeling that that's just luck and not a real improvement.
Cheers.