I need your advice on how to deal with an awful flight experience
#31
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For unknown reasons the airline doesn’t have an agreement for discounted rates with any of the hotels or even the closest and thus most convenient hotels.
Hotels generally reported here are usually nothing to write home about, except maybe to say "don't stay here if you can avoid it".
Last edited by jayer; Jan 16, 2017 at 2:14 pm
#32
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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.
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.
#33
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To the OP --
Very rarely does an airline offer compensation of such a large sum. The customer service agent obviously looked at your situation and realized how ridiculous it was. And, no, none of us would have wanted to be in your situation with a 92 year old traveling companion.
Just a recommendation for next time (hoping your mother still wants to travel)...please try to find a nonstop flight from the Washington area to ABQ. And, frankly, I would suggest a different airline in the future. AA's reliability is just terrible right now -- when you are traveling with an elderly person.
Very rarely does an airline offer compensation of such a large sum. The customer service agent obviously looked at your situation and realized how ridiculous it was. And, no, none of us would have wanted to be in your situation with a 92 year old traveling companion.
Just a recommendation for next time (hoping your mother still wants to travel)...please try to find a nonstop flight from the Washington area to ABQ. And, frankly, I would suggest a different airline in the future. AA's reliability is just terrible right now -- when you are traveling with an elderly person.
#34
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,332
Yes, I'm saying that re-regulation regarding basic IRROPS and seating should be considered.
It of course won't be until and unless the American public demands it through Congress; and even then, as we've seen with other populist surges, it might not happen even then.
@:-)
It of course won't be until and unless the American public demands it through Congress; and even then, as we've seen with other populist surges, it might not happen even then.
@:-)
Really? And presumably Congress would also prohibit the airlines from charging more after removing seats to increase space? If not...I suspect you are NOT speaking for the majority of travellers! They want 1. Cheap. 2. Cheap 3. Cheap. They would not thank you for extra seat pitch or width if it cost them more! (as it quite fairly should)
And ...with the fascinating winter weather you have over there.... what... force airlines to accommodate everybody overnight no matter what the reason for the delay? Yep... that wouldn't increase their costs at all......
#35
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It is difficult to figure out how many IDBs occurred, BUT if the $1670 (cash) is due ONLY to IDB rules as stipulated by DOT, then AA didn't do anything specular in their offer.
#36
#37
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really? And presumably congress would also prohibit the airlines from charging more after removing seats to increase space? If not...i suspect you are not speaking for the majority of travellers! They want 1. Cheap. 2. Cheap 3. Cheap. They would not thank you for extra seat pitch or width if it cost them more! (as it quite fairly should)
and ...with the fascinating winter weather you have over there.... What... Force airlines to accommodate everybody overnight no matter what the reason for the delay? Yep... That wouldn't increase their costs at all......
and ...with the fascinating winter weather you have over there.... What... Force airlines to accommodate everybody overnight no matter what the reason for the delay? Yep... That wouldn't increase their costs at all......
#38
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,301
OP: Sorry you had a lengthy delay. I concur with others you got a surprisingly generous and accurate compensation offer without having to do much effort to get it. TAKE IT.
You leaving out the reply and the offer of compensation in your original post was significantly misleading to your situation you described. Instead you translated a generous cash offer into "woe is me" and complaining about corporate America. I realize it really wouldn't have been as impressive if you'd shared that up front, but you should have,
Meanwhile, think about your situation: you were travelling on Dec 22. 3 days later is christmas. AA offers you creative ways to get you close to home, and eventually all the way home, and you turn up your nose? At the busiest travel time all year? And complain about the 3rd party shuttle company not having someone at their desk that AA should have been on top of that? I'd have pushed my 92 yr old myself, pacemaker and all, to try and get home if I was travelling for the holidays. 2AM or not. You come across as being kinda picky in the way you wrote this, but I doubt you meant to sound that way.
Regarding "the airport was open" What your family members or tv crews report doesn't mean the airline can make it happen operationally. THey may have cancelled that plane and reassigned it to replace someone else's mechanical problem, or whatever, and now that the airport seems available again, it's too late to put the flight back on. It's just a logistics issue. I would take the media or a family member saying "it's dry here" with a grain of salt.
Hope your travel next Christmas is better. You can take 4 more trips for 2 with the money you made.
You leaving out the reply and the offer of compensation in your original post was significantly misleading to your situation you described. Instead you translated a generous cash offer into "woe is me" and complaining about corporate America. I realize it really wouldn't have been as impressive if you'd shared that up front, but you should have,
Meanwhile, think about your situation: you were travelling on Dec 22. 3 days later is christmas. AA offers you creative ways to get you close to home, and eventually all the way home, and you turn up your nose? At the busiest travel time all year? And complain about the 3rd party shuttle company not having someone at their desk that AA should have been on top of that? I'd have pushed my 92 yr old myself, pacemaker and all, to try and get home if I was travelling for the holidays. 2AM or not. You come across as being kinda picky in the way you wrote this, but I doubt you meant to sound that way.
Regarding "the airport was open" What your family members or tv crews report doesn't mean the airline can make it happen operationally. THey may have cancelled that plane and reassigned it to replace someone else's mechanical problem, or whatever, and now that the airport seems available again, it's too late to put the flight back on. It's just a logistics issue. I would take the media or a family member saying "it's dry here" with a grain of salt.
Hope your travel next Christmas is better. You can take 4 more trips for 2 with the money you made.
#39
#40
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#41
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#42
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I'm not sure this meets the definition of IDB but AA's offer is very generous to most of us.
As for the weather, airlines have minimum weather requirements at time of departure, en route, at potential diversion airports, and at projected arrival. Those requirements aren't obvious to the person on the ground. And while I certainly understand trying to get directly into SAF, considering it was a peak travel time, ABQ would look pretty attractive to me as an alternative under your circumstances. As for the DFW Hyatts, AA would certainly be happy to if they gave discounted rates to distressed travelers. The Hyatts don't do so, however, because they are able to charge premium rates because of their locations.
As for the weather, airlines have minimum weather requirements at time of departure, en route, at potential diversion airports, and at projected arrival. Those requirements aren't obvious to the person on the ground. And while I certainly understand trying to get directly into SAF, considering it was a peak travel time, ABQ would look pretty attractive to me as an alternative under your circumstances. As for the DFW Hyatts, AA would certainly be happy to if they gave discounted rates to distressed travelers. The Hyatts don't do so, however, because they are able to charge premium rates because of their locations.
#43
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File a complaint with the Department of Transportation
https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escompla...nsumerForm.cfm
https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escompla...nsumerForm.cfm
#44
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File a complaint with the Department of Transportation
https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escompla...nsumerForm.cfm
https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escompla...nsumerForm.cfm
#45
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