Originally Posted by
pinniped
Someone with no knowledge of airline operations will say "AA and DL are both huge airlines. DL found them an airplane. AA could have done the same thing, but refused to do so."
Someone *with* a little bit of knowledge of airline operations might say "AA and DL are both huge airlines. DL found a plane in Atlanta. AA has a hub in Dallas and they maintain airplanes in Tulsa, both of which are closer than Atlanta. Yet still DL found them an airplane, while AA refused to do so."
Someone with intimate knowledge of AA operations could probably speak off the record about how hard AA *tried* to find them an airplane and whether every operational consideration and every internal phone call was made to try. It's quite possible that great efforts were made, meetings were held, scenarios assessed, and there simply wasn't an airworthy spare anywhere within 2,000 miles. But no one is ever going to hear from that guy or listen to him, because to the public it simply appears that AA didn't give a **** whereas DL did.
Woulda, coulda shoulda.
This story has traction because DL employees went out of their way to assist passengers on a competitor's airline. They went above and beyond. Why? Because DL has empowered their employees to do so. AA's relationship with their employees has deteriorated and their employees are, in turn, taking it out on the customers. That little fact aside, AA has become ridiculous with respect to the cancellation rate on their regional carriers during IRROPS. DL is far less likely to cancel flight. Are they delayed hours at times? Yes, but that's better than being cancelled and scrambling to find a solution.
In this instance, regardless of why the cancellation happened, DL came out smelling like a rose and AA like the fertilizer that rose is planted in. Sad think is, I beg Dougie doesn't even care.