Satellite Parking:

Sorry about your lousy check-in experience. I agree - reinforcing the wrong behavior makes me mad.

Having had status on AA for many years, it's been a long time since I waited in any substantial check-in lines. And really long counter lines are NOT a function of September 11, as are the Security Checkpoint lines.

Really long no-status check-in lines (at least on AA) have been a staple of early morning travel for many years.

I'm sure that you realize the realities of flying during the last six months - you're not Mr. Never Travel who needs to get to the airport hours and hours ahead of flight time.

But what got into you to allow about 100 People to get in line ahead of you?? The No-Status Never-Travel line?? What were you thinking??

The reason I bring this up is that AA makes it very clear that they want all passengers at the gate 30 minutes before scheduled departure.

Having arrived at the airport about 5:35, that left you all of 67 minutes to check your bag and clear thru the random wanding and groping gauntlet. Since last September, I've spent upwards of 45 minutes in security checkpoint lines in similar airports (after having spent no time out front, of course).

You were doomed from the moment you entered the terminal and saw about 100 people ahead of you. I'm amazed you made it to the gate in time to wave bye-bye to the plane as it taxied away, let alone in time to actually get on board.