AA lies to passengers: rolling delays and false departure times
Jan 13, 2017, 8:01 am
#151
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These are all minor annoyances which are part of commercial aviation and sticking to safety over comfort. The EGE connection makes things tough but it sounds as though everyone made it.
I also hope that as a very specific matter you understand that it's fine to use military ID as government-issued ID for purposes of travel but not to gain special benefits unless on orders. Thus, you get the baggage allowance of any other passenger.
I also hope that as a very specific matter you understand that it's fine to use military ID as government-issued ID for purposes of travel but not to gain special benefits unless on orders. Thus, you get the baggage allowance of any other passenger.
Jan 13, 2017, 8:22 am
#152
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
+1
Even if you don't want to rent a car, plenty of private Escalade/SUV type car services to shuttle you between DIA and Vail. If the destination is Vail, I never understood why people would connect to fly into Eagle, especially backtracking to LAX from AUS?? EGE is really only useful if your going to Aspen when the length of your flight excludes flying into ASE airport.
Even if you don't want to rent a car, plenty of private Escalade/SUV type car services to shuttle you between DIA and Vail. If the destination is Vail, I never understood why people would connect to fly into Eagle, especially backtracking to LAX from AUS?? EGE is really only useful if your going to Aspen when the length of your flight excludes flying into ASE airport.
Bottom line - skipping EGE for DEN is foolish, in my opinion.
Jan 13, 2017, 8:57 am
#153
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
As for the ATC delays, its winter time in North America. And as for the mx issues, repairable and we assume repaired. Better than some of the alternatives. Sorry for your delays.
Jan 13, 2017, 9:30 am
#155
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I-70 closures and delays you can see accurately on GPS and some places have alternates.
Jan 13, 2017, 9:44 am
#156
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....agent said "are you first class? No? Then we only allow first class to have up to 70 pounds, you're gonna have to take a couple things out of your bag and put it in another bag". I understand the rules and that military NOT on orders don't get over 50 pounds; I've also loaded bags on a plane before and know that it's hard work, but this was literally one pound over the limit...
Jan 13, 2017, 10:04 am
#157
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
OP - not much to say other than those issues happen. I do agree that there is no reason for ticket counter staff to not be polite, but we know they get their fair share of attitude so chalk it up to a bad day and enjoy your trip.
Regarding the advice to fly to DEN over EGE, that's just silly. EGE is way more reliable than most ski resort airports in my experience and, as mentioned, you could easily find yourself stuck in Denver.
Regarding the advice to fly to DEN over EGE, that's just silly. EGE is way more reliable than most ski resort airports in my experience and, as mentioned, you could easily find yourself stuck in Denver.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:23 am
#158
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
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A terrible sequence of events, no doubt, but the above is definitely -not- part of any legitimate complaint on your part. And, respectfully, the "mixing in" of you being in the military in this context I personally find a bit off-putting in terms of what you were entitled to in this context and what you got vs what you were angling for. Again, with -great- respect for military service.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:51 am
#159
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA LAX
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 116
Speaking from experience losing many people close to me and not having much family left... enjoy your time and let travel frustrations go. Just my .02. Have a good trip.
Jan 13, 2017, 10:54 am
#160
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So you would fly AUS-LAX-EGE and DCA-ORD-EGE over AUS-DEN and DCA-DEN?
Last edited by rufflesinc; Jan 13, 2017 at 11:04 am
Jan 13, 2017, 11:14 am
#162
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YOW
Posts: 1,024
OP - I think because you had a large group travelling multiple routes, the glitches were more apparent to you. No one incident is a "deal-breaker" to me.
edit: I see a couple others also commented on the road situation.
Jan 13, 2017, 11:28 am
#163
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,662
Statistically, stuff happens. If you'd been flying alone and just had your experience, would you ask for compensation? Probably not. You had 11 people flying with connections in the winter, and stuff happened to 7 of the 11, by my count. Each is annoying but relatively inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. But I don't think you're entitled to compensation for simply because you somehow absorbed 7 people's headaches.
Jan 13, 2017, 11:34 am
#164
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,319
Do you even fly AA?
Agree with the other poster, there is no AUS-DEN or DCA-DEN nonstop on AA
You're gonna connect somewhere, might as well fly into Vail if that's where you ultimately need to be.
Plenty reasons to fly directly into Vail.
I've flown into Den and EGE tons. In addition to weather that can close the roads, there's
- hellacious Denver traffic btwn the airport and the foothills. ALL THE TIME. You can be driving in a rental car in 10 mins after landing at EGE. They'll often go out and drive the car up to the curb for you to load your bags. You can be sitting be a fireplace in Vail 30 minutes after you land at EGE vs. creeping up 70 HOPING it's not slow at Idaho Springs.
- rental car prices can be HUGELY different. I've shopped early and found sometimes $100 to $200 PER DAY difference during peak holiday times. Yes that's PER DAY. You want a minivan at Christmas or New Years? Den wants $300 per day if you wait till October or November to reserve. I've gotten them at EGE for $60 at the airport planning in advance.
- lot of people are trying to reach other parts of Colorado to ski, like Aspen. Flying into Den and driving to Aspen is a pain in the butt
My experience with Vail vs Den and other airports, and the check in staff. EGE is the only place I've ever been given a hard time about packing ski and board clothes around my gear. I've had snooty agents say "You're not supposed to have anything in there but equipment" when it's clearly serving as a suitcase for all my clothing for a ski trip. Denver and other non-ski locations the agents don't seem to care. Where I live the agents see golf clubs more than skis, so I never get questioned what's in it, unless I'm checking in at Vail to come home.
BTFU: Bottom Line For You...This is not worth complaining to anyone, even on here let alone AA management. Have fun and enjoy the kick ... amount of snow the West is having.
Last edited by LovePrunes; Jan 13, 2017 at 11:40 am
Jan 13, 2017, 12:14 pm
#165
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Do you even ski?
[*] hellacious Denver traffic btwn the airport and the foothills. ALL THE TIME. You can be driving in a rental car in 10 mins after landing at EGE. They'll often go out and drive the car up to the curb for you to load your bags. You can be sitting be a fireplace in Vail 30 minutes after you land at EGE vs. creeping up 70 HOPING it's not slow at Idaho Springs.
[*]rental car prices can be HUGELY different. I've shopped early and found sometimes $100 to $200 PER DAY difference during peak holiday times. Yes that's PER DAY. You want a minivan at Christmas or New Years? Den wants $300 per day if you wait till October or November to reserve. I've gotten them at EGE for $60 at the airport planning in advance.