JDiver

That's how it should be at American. Unfortunately, imo, the focus is not customer centered at this AA.

Most here are not making excuses for AA, merely pointing out the sad reality of an airline that doesn't see being customer focused as useful.

FWAAA

<redacted>

Absolutely false. Double-check that reading comprehension. I cited the requirement that you be at the gate 30 minutes prior to departure or risk losing your confirmed reservation. You cut it very close.

I couldn't care less when you checked in - wouldn't matter if you checked in the day before departure. If you aren't at the gate 30 minutes prior to departure (for departures outside the US), then someone else may get your seat.

nrr

I haven't been through CDG in a while, but the last time I had to clear security you did NOT have to use the security area closest to AA, ANY security line in that area of CDG is OK; so look for a security line 3 or 4 areas away with the shortest line.

enviroian

I have no choice but to agree with you fully

babypuwet

One thing I don't see anyone mentioning is what is the boarding time printed on the BP? Its a pointless argument to have when the OP can simply look at his boarding pass and see if he was there at the specified time of boarding. In my experience, AA almost never boards on time based on the specified time on the BP, so the fact that the OP arrived when his group was called probably means he was at least a few minutes later than the time specified on the BP. Point number 2, I've never heard of the need to be at the gate for an upgrade either. I've been upgraded after I boarded and when I refresh my app just informed the FA and take my new seat. Although, a previous poster mentioned something about a tax needing to be paid at CDG for which I have no experience in.

bacampbe

On my last CDG-DFW flight, I cleared in the Admiral's Club. The AC agent was actively coordinating with the gate. In fact, she _was_ a gate agent. I have no clue how she got from the AC to the gate faster than I did. (The gate was in the flying saucer, of course. Back when the AC was in the saucer, my gate always seemed to be at the other end of the terminal.)

laagima

Again, CDG requires that a credit card payment be processed to pay for the "luxury tax" when the SWU clears. The ticket then has to be reissued. This combination takes at least 30 minutes at CDG.

Fly2Where

I was thinking the similar point. Boarding time! If i recall correctly, last time i flew CDG-JFK was Jan 2017, boarding time was 40 mins (if not 50 mins) before departure time. I remember it was not 30 mins for sure.
On a side note , usually no need to worry about the tax processing, since they should had asked you to provide a credit card # when you request the upgrade.so they do have your credit card # on file.

laagima

Except that it is not that easy at CDG. They send you to different counters to process the credit card payment with your physical card in hand, another one to check you in and ask you security questions, and yet another one to process the ticket re-issue. And back to the first counter to re-issue a boarding pass. So no automatic processing of credit card for payment of the tax.
And then when i got to JFK, the screen showed "cleared" with a check mark for the upgrade on my connecting flight but the gate agent in JFK said "I don't know why it is showing as "cleared" but your upgrade will not clear" and I flew coach.
So, CDG is special and getting to the gate 30 minutes before your flight will not be enough...

alien

For what it's worth, the current boarding time stated on BP's at CDG is T-50.

nutwpinut

^ This is how I feel.

I am surprised with how many people believe we as airline consumers are expected to just accept it and not set a higher standard of service from the airlines and hold them accountable if they don't meet those expectations.

Always Flyin

Did you miss that I was at the gate BEFORE the cut-off time AA requires?

Before is BEFORE.

Since you were not there, you don't know how my attitude was. I can tell you being nice didn't matter one bit to the agent.

Thank you, American Airlines Customer Service Department.

So you have proof the agent acted properly?

I will feel free to speculate on anything I see fit.

Thanks for yet [another] snarky post. You are on a roll.

Care to point out where I was NOT at the gate on time?

That was never mentioned.

Actually, it seems to me there are several who are blaming ME for not showing up at the gate on time, even though I arrived within the timeframe established by AA and there is no guidance on when waitlisted upgrades clear.

30-minutes means 30-minutes doesn't it?

I was there before the cut-off. That is all the is relevant.

I don't make it a habit of hanging out at gates.

Since you seemed to have missed it [again], I was at the gate 35-minutes before departure.

Perhaps AA should post some guidance on this then.

Seem to be a lot of people here accepting it.

wetrat0

Is this 2017 or 1997? Upgrades should be pushed to the app and the mobile boarding pass updated regardless of whether the passenger is standing at the gate. That is how domestic upgrades are processed, right down to the last minute before boarding starts. I have never had a 500-mile upgrade "lost" or rejected because I was not at the gate. It is an IT and/or process failure if SWU cannot be issued the same way.

The fact that the OP almost missed the 30-minute gate show up deadline is immaterial. If he had missed that deadline he would have been offloaded entirely, and that didn't happen.

Always Flyin

I have been on FlyerTalk for a very long time. During that time, FlyerTalk has changed dramatically, and most certainly not for the better.

Originally, FlyerTalk was a community that helped other fliers navigate the complex morass of travel issues.

Now, as evidenced by this thread, it is more of an opportunity for posters to bash people who encounter problems. I am amazed of the number of people here who have chosen to blame me and see nothing wrong with how AA handled this.

I checked-in on time. I was at the gate on time. I did everything AA said I should do.

No one has been able to cite any guidance from AA on acting differently when waitlisted for an international upgrade.

Yet some are gleefully and snarkily blaming me.

Welcome to the new FlyerTalk.

Always Flyin

On this flight, which I find to be the norm, boarding continued until 10-minutes before departure, so AA wouldn't have known whether I was there or not until they closed boarding.

AA wants you at the gate 30-minutes before departure, but the doors don't [officially] close until 10-minutes before departure.