JDiver

A few more:

For a travel companion with those issues, I'd have called AA Special Assistance prior to flying: "We're dedicated to providing a positive travel experience for all customers. If you have questions or want to make special travel arrangements, you can make them online or call 800-433-7300, for hearing or speech impaired assistance, call 800-543-1586."

I'd also call my usual hotel chains (or in the case of DFW, the Hyatts) and request a "distressed traveler rate" for a room (and not count on the airlines, as they're not good with accommodation and are known to have some properties they use for distressed travelers id probably not board my dogs in.

I do believe this was unduly stressful and that AA genuinely screwed up several times. Nonetheless, $1,670 compensation is outstanding.