Strange denial of boarding on MAN-PHL
#151
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
I am of the opinion AA is *possibly* going to send folks into this thread to bash me and my claim, so if you think im going to turn down the volume now you are wrong.
Last edited by dflanagin; Apr 1, 2019 at 6:53 am
#152
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: PBI
Posts: 96
I appreciate you starting this thread. I had asked a similar question to this just last week. basically when is the cut off for getting on the plane. I am worried about a layover being delayed and missing my connection. So thanks for keeping us informed. I always like to learn new and helpful information for my travels.
#153
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
I would pay to watch a lawyer argue that AA's violation of the word REASSIGN in a contract with a passenger is less of an infraction of law than my use of PROBABLY in a thread on flyertalk. If they came after me for libel, the case would be heard in High Court and they would still have to prove me wrong first.
I am of the opinion AA is *possibly* going to send folks into this thread to bash me and my claim, so if you think im going to turn down the volume now you are wrong.
You brought up a really great point and many of us appreciate it. A lot of us don't like following D0 over common sense.
But ....as the volume and shrillness increases,the appearance of wanting to go to law school, the attempts at attention, etc., there is the risk of the focus shifting from the issue to the messenger and those issues clouding judgment. The suggestion of AA sending people here to bash you and "your claim" (it's not actually yours, right?) further increases that risk.
The practical issue is that you've brought up an obvious inconsistency and charging your friend when he was there at the gate before time of departure is troubling. Normally, the gate agent would apply the
"flat tire" rule and book him on the flight the following day. The notion of being escorted away and the lack of the gate agent applying the flat tire rule makes experienced travelers wonder what the interaction was at the gate. The situation is likely complicated that most people wouldn't show up at the gate for a once a day international flight 15 minutes before departure after getting to the airport a couple of hours before. Did your friend wander around SLC for a couple of hours before heading to the gate on the outbound? Did the gate agent page your friend? All these reasons might be why this story won't get a lot of attention beyond what you post.
#154
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
I appreciate you starting this thread. I had asked a similar question to this just last week. basically when is the cut off for getting on the plane. I am worried about a layover being delayed and missing my connection. So thanks for keeping us informed. I always like to learn new and helpful information for my travels.
This situation doesn't involve a delayed connection. The practical issue is that if you show up to FLL on time, AA will get you to FCO, If your outbound flight is delayed, you'll be able to see that before you head to the airport and be able to see other options such as routing through CLT or PHL if you are at risk of missing your connection. Folks on FT are usually happy to help explore options.as well.
#155
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
Extremely unlikely AA is going to send folks into the thread.
You brought up a really great point and many of us appreciate it. A lot of us don't like following D0 over common sense.
But ....as the volume and shrillness increases,the appearance of wanting to go to law school, the attempts at attention, etc., there is the risk of the focus shifting from the issue to the messenger and those issues clouding judgment. The suggestion of AA sending people here to bash you and "your claim" (it's not actually yours, right?) further increases that risk.
The practical issue is that you've brought up an obvious inconsistency and charging your friend when he was there at the gate before time of departure is troubling. Normally, the gate agent would apply the
"flat tire" rule and book him on the flight the following day. The notion of being escorted away and the lack of the gate agent applying the flat tire rule makes experienced travelers wonder what the interaction was at the gate. The situation is likely complicated that most people wouldn't show up at the gate for a once a day international flight 15 minutes before departure after getting to the airport a couple of hours before. Did your friend wander around SLC for a couple of hours before heading to the gate on the outbound? Did the gate agent page your friend? All these reasons might be why this story won't get a lot of attention beyond what you post.
You brought up a really great point and many of us appreciate it. A lot of us don't like following D0 over common sense.
But ....as the volume and shrillness increases,the appearance of wanting to go to law school, the attempts at attention, etc., there is the risk of the focus shifting from the issue to the messenger and those issues clouding judgment. The suggestion of AA sending people here to bash you and "your claim" (it's not actually yours, right?) further increases that risk.
The practical issue is that you've brought up an obvious inconsistency and charging your friend when he was there at the gate before time of departure is troubling. Normally, the gate agent would apply the
"flat tire" rule and book him on the flight the following day. The notion of being escorted away and the lack of the gate agent applying the flat tire rule makes experienced travelers wonder what the interaction was at the gate. The situation is likely complicated that most people wouldn't show up at the gate for a once a day international flight 15 minutes before departure after getting to the airport a couple of hours before. Did your friend wander around SLC for a couple of hours before heading to the gate on the outbound? Did the gate agent page your friend? All these reasons might be why this story won't get a lot of attention beyond what you post.
#156
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,029
1. Your willingness to go to bat for your friend is commendable; you are clearly a good person
2. Some people have suggested that publicly posting about his episode is a bad strategy, but I disagree because you've clued in many people to the fact that 10 minutes does not mean 10 minutes
-as much as I prefer waiting in the lounge to the gate area, I will now make a more concerted effort to present myself at the gate by T-30 when flying AA
3. On the EU side, I suggest engaging a company that specializes in EU 261 claims; yes, they will take a hefty commission, but this is their bread and butter
4. On the US side, I've had success with AG claims in the past, and they are really easy to file
5. For both 3 and 4, the BP in conjunction with the flightaware data should be sufficient
-while your friend can't prove that he was at the gate x minutes before departure, the fact that the airplane left before T-10 is easy to verify
#157
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
But in all seriousness, thank you to everyone on this thread/board for everything you have contributed here. There's nowhere else on the internet where this conversation could even start, so again, thank you!
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
I think if you can find actual examples of people that were harmed by AA's policies in this regard, as your friend was, then maybe you (and your friend) try and find a class action lawyer willing to take it to the next level. That would get AA's attention. But I really don't know how widespread an issue this is. (The length of the D0 thread suggest it's at minimum pissing a lot of FTers off.) Which is why upthread I suggested at least filing a complaint with the U.S. DOT to get the issue on record. If they get a lot of these, then the regulators take notice. It also counts as one strike against the airline in the annual reporting of DOT complaints by airline, something that they probably take semi-seriously, in aggregate.
#159
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
I think if you can find actual examples of people that were harmed by AA's policies in this regard, as your friend was, then maybe you (and your friend) try and find a class action lawyer willing to take it to the next level. That would get AA's attention. But I really don't know how widespread an issue this is. (The length of the D0 thread suggest it's at minimum pissing a lot of FTers off.) Which is why upthread I suggested at least filing a complaint with the U.S. DOT to get the issue on record. If they get a lot of these, then the regulators take notice. It also counts as one strike against the airline in the annual reporting of DOT complaints by airline, something that they probably take semi-seriously, in aggregate.
#160
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
It's very easy to do also:
https://www.transportation.gov/airco...umer-complaint
And note this:
How Do Consumer Complaints Help DOT?
Complaints from consumers help DOT spot problem areas and trends in the airline industry. Complaints can lead to enforcement action against an airline when a serious violation of the law has occurred. Complaints may also be the basis for rulemaking actions.
https://www.transportation.gov/airco...umer-complaint
And note this:
How Do Consumer Complaints Help DOT?
Complaints from consumers help DOT spot problem areas and trends in the airline industry. Complaints can lead to enforcement action against an airline when a serious violation of the law has occurred. Complaints may also be the basis for rulemaking actions.
#162
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
Just a quick update: the NQ article went viral and has maxed out the server at 500 simultaneous connections, has been impossible to connect to since. Over 75k reads since yesterday!
So, obviously, the NQ immediately got a press response from AA saying “we are sorry and we are investigating the situation.”
👌
So, obviously, the NQ immediately got a press response from AA saying “we are sorry and we are investigating the situation.”
👌
#163
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 1,089
Just a quick update: the NQ article went viral and has maxed out the server at 500 simultaneous connections, has been impossible to connect to since. Over 75k reads since yesterday!
So, obviously, the NQ immediately got a press response from AA saying “we are sorry and we are investigating the situation.”
👌
So, obviously, the NQ immediately got a press response from AA saying “we are sorry and we are investigating the situation.”
👌
#164
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: BOS-LIS-MIA
Programs: DL
Posts: 62
#165
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 1,089