Really Bad Problems With Flight Delays?
 

I don't know if I'm just imagining this, or if I've had a spate of bad luck recently. But I've noticed, this year, that I am experiencing an unusual number of flight delays on AA. I had two trips to New York last month, one through Chicago and one through Dallas. In both cases, every flight was delayed. The LAX-DFW flight arrived on time in DFW, but we were then stuck on the plane while they spent 45 minutes trying to line up the jetbridge with the door to get us out. I then had to run to the other side of the airport to reach my next flight. The next flight was delayed on the runway for 2 hours, primarily because they had moved people all over the plane on seating, and then could not get an accurate passenger count. So, we went back to the gate while they called everyone by name (and we were not allowed out of our seats or to go to the bathroom for the whole 2 hours). Arrived very late in NYC and missed my show.

It went that way with both flights back, and with my second trip, as well. The cherry on top was when, on the second trip, our flight out of LGA was delayed for 2 1/2 hours and the captain announced that it was due to oil leaking from an engine, so they had to have a mechanic inspect it and get a clearance. Then, when we landed late at DFW, and almost everyone had missed our connection, the flight crew apologized and said that the delay was "weather related."

I'm just wondering, is everyone else experiencing a higher than normal incidence of flight delays, or was I just lucky?

I think you've just been (un)lucky. Every single one of my flights this year has actually been early- that's both domestic and international. I know that is beating the odds...seems I've just been getting the luck you haven't, knock on wood...

About 1/3 of my flights have been delayed the past 2 years. Many were more than 1 hour late. Recent on time rankings show my experience is the norm for AA.

*****

We're probably about to start seeing alot of delays as the pilots union continues to be a thorn in AA's side.

Wow, you are so unlucky. I have taken ~30 flights with AA since 1/1/16 and I got zero delays :D

About a month ago DFW-LGA [for even mediocre weather LGA is prone to severe delays]. LGA had dense fog (I like window seats, so I can see landmarks), so severe that I couldn't the airport.* My flight (as well as all other DFW-LGAs) arrived 20 minutes early^.
Due to bad weather in ORD, ORD-LGAs were arriving 2+ hours late.
*Prior to landing, pax were required to turn ALL electronic devices off, so as not to interfere with the pilots navigation system.

I think my experience has mirrored the OPs. The last month or so I have noticed a dramatic decrease in reliability. Several LAX<->SFO delays when others were flying on schedule. LAS-LAX recently was delayed 5 hours...I bailed for WN two hours into that one. Most recently, had AUS-LAX that arrived 25 minutes early, but then sat on the tarmac for 80 minutes waiting for a gate. Really poor performance on AA's part...hopefully it gets better soon. I have a busy summer in store.

I think I am going to learn to operate a jetbridge then open a school to teach others, could make a mint I think. I can't remember how many times I have sat on a plane waiting for the bridge to be connected correctly. On one flight this year we sat there about 20 mins while the operator tried to line it up, you could hear it banging against the plane repeatedly, finally they just lowered the stairs, this was in CLT.

My experience has been the opposite. Out of 20 segments so far in 2016, all domestic, none have been delayed and on many occasions we've arrived early.

I always found that pmUS ran a tighter operation that pmAA, and I've found that that still pretty much holds true with respect to the legacy routes. Of course anything can happen anywhere, but I route most of my flying through CLT whenever possible, and I've not had a significant delay in quite some time.

I recently booked two separate trips - OKC-YYZ (via DFW), YYZ-VNO (via LGA, JFK). First trip was canceled pretty much last minute. I had to make my own last minute arrangements to get to YYZ for next morning departure (to avoid missing first leg of the trip and risking canceled reservation). Since there were no suitable flights on AA and United, had to fly on Delta (paid $680 for one-way flight in business, cause economy was only $100 less and I would need to pay for bags, cause have no status with SkyTeam). Next day, flight YYZ - JFK on AA was also canceled after a 3 hour delay and I was going to miss my flight from JFK to HEL. I was scheduled to fly on Lufthansa YYZ-FRA-VNO. I requested an agent to book me specifically in Y class so that I could earn 150% miles on A3. My request was accommodated. All in all, I got to Vilnius on time, but it did cost me an extra $680 which AA refused to reimburse and caused some stress:).

Pretty much the same thing here, 4-5 flights per week each week since the beginning of the year. Only 2 delays, both minor and both were obviously weather related, not much AA, or anyone else could have done about them. AA was great during the IIROPS both times. 👍

In my last ~15 flights I've had two cancellations both due to terrible weather (once here and once at ORD) and in both cases AA was great getting me rebooked even though I have no status with them.