Can AA get any worse? (Charging nonstatus pax $75 standby complaint)
Jun 18, 2018, 6:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1
Can AA get any worse? (Charging nonstatus pax $75 standby complaint)
AA is now even lower than low. Granted I’ve never been an AA or USAir fan (loved Piedmont until USAir destroyed that one - so I’m aging myself). Having traveled for the past 20+ years on multiple airlines for business, I’ve recently been spoiled with the SWA model having lived in the BWI area for the past three years. Also having million mile status on DL and UAL may also influence my feelings about AA. I arrived at the airport early and thought I could get on an earlier flights (they leave every hour). I asked the gate agent if there are any seats and she mentions that the flight is 3/4 full. Then she checks my status and informed me that it will be an additional $75 to go standby. Great for AA’s bottom line, but not for building any form of loyalty with me! They can take that fee structure and go pound sand! They will still be a last resort airline for me. One other note, when I was flying them last week there was a soiled diaper in the seat back. Maybe they could use that $75 that others are paying to improve their sanitation on the airline. How low can AA go?
Jun 18, 2018, 7:03 am
#2
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
so you turned up, wanted to take an early flight and AA had the gall to charge the price listed for the facility?
Jun 18, 2018, 7:04 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
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So lets see here, unless you have higher level elite status in some cases, Delta and United charge similar fees to go confirmed on earlier flights and Southwest requires an upfare. So whats the problem?!?!
Jun 18, 2018, 7:26 am
#4
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Jun 18, 2018, 7:30 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Lesson learned - in the age of unbundling, never assume you'll be able to get on an earlier flight, check a bag, select a seat, eat a meal onboard, or receive any other perk at no charge. Most airlines make tables of these fees available on their websites. It's a terrific deal for those of us who rarely or never want these extras, but some people unfortunately get taken by surprise.
Jun 18, 2018, 7:33 am
#7
Join Date: May 2011
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There are many sound reasons to criticize American Airlines. This one falls toward the bottom of that list.
Jun 18, 2018, 8:06 am
#8
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Try standby on Southwest - they would require you to upgrade to Anytime fare which could be more than $75. And I don't think Southwest refunds the fare difference if you don't clear, whereas American refunds the $75 fee if you don't get on the flight.
Jun 18, 2018, 9:06 am
#9
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Also: A-list and A-list Preferred can stand by for free, so you’re a bit out of date on that.
https://www.southwest.com/html/gener...tiers_faq.html
Jun 18, 2018, 9:09 am
#10
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Jun 18, 2018, 9:39 am
#11
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Of course, the same argument doesn't apply for wanting to switch to a later flight.
Come now.....FT wouldn't be FT without people griping about how the airline didn't give them something for free.
Jun 18, 2018, 9:46 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2017
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American actually has one of the more generous same day change options out there. United and Delta both charge their lowest elites for standby, but American doesn’t.
Jun 18, 2018, 9:54 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
AA is now even lower than low. Granted I’ve never been an AA or USAir fan (loved Piedmont until USAir destroyed that one - so I’m aging myself). Having traveled for the past 20+ years on multiple airlines for business, I’ve recently been spoiled with the SWA model having lived in the BWI area for the past three years. Also having million mile status on DL and UAL may also influence my feelings about AA. I arrived at the airport early and thought I could get on an earlier flights (they leave every hour). I asked the gate agent if there are any seats and she mentions that the flight is 3/4 full. Then she checks my status and informed me that it will be an additional $75 to go standby. Great for AA’s bottom line, but not for building any form of loyalty with me! They can take that fee structure and go pound sand! They will still be a last resort airline for me. One other note, when I was flying them last week there was a soiled diaper in the seat back. Maybe they could use that $75 that others are paying to improve their sanitation on the airline. How low can AA go?
The WN model? You mean the model that offers absolutely NOTHING? No F, no lounges, almost no Intl', no code share with One World or Star Alliance, no advanced seating reservations, no food..and an ff program that offers little more than marginally better odds at a COACH seat? That WN? The McDonalds of the sky with the undignified cornball schtick?
It seems you were mad about wanting something that the airline charges for and having to pay for it. That's the way things work...you want something, you pay for it. Even WN makes you pay the fare diff. That is ,if you bought higher than a WGA fare.
Jun 18, 2018, 9:59 am
#14
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With the thread title, I can picture Doug Parker somewhere saying "hold my beer....".