Sad, yes. Shattering, no.
AA ticketing snafus have left me with no seat at all in Calcutta and Bombay, and travelling companion in Kuala Lumpur over the last three years. It was only when they actually refused to help in the final case, even after admitting it was their fault, that I finally stopped flying them.
If it really was shattering, one should vote with one's feet and dollars. Just stop flying them.