Does complaining ever work?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 14
Does complaining ever work?
The last 5 segments I've been on, there has been a delay of at least one hour. Very disappointing. A friend of mine (Exec Plat) claims he's gotten quite a few consolation points by submitting complaints to Customer Care. So I've sent off a few messages to them myself, but I have yet to receive a reply. Can I expect any points from these efforts? Note: I'm a lowly Platinum (as of today!).
#2
The last 5 segments I've been on, there has been a delay of at least one hour. Very disappointing. A friend of mine (Exec Plat) claims he's gotten quite a few consolation points by submitting complaints to Customer Care. So I've sent off a few messages to them myself, but I have yet to receive a reply. Can I expect any points from these efforts? Note: I'm a lowly Platinum (as of today!).
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,197
The Rabbi Ginsberg found out the hard way when Northwestern fired him for making too many claims. Unfortunatly for him SCOTUS backed the airline.
There are delays and there are delays. Are they annoying? Yes they are but many delays aren't the airlines fault such as weather.
Being a serial complainer over minor issues means when you really have a serious complaint you might find the airline is less than sympathetic.
There are delays and there are delays. Are they annoying? Yes they are but many delays aren't the airlines fault such as weather.
Being a serial complainer over minor issues means when you really have a serious complaint you might find the airline is less than sympathetic.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dallas/Orlando
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 2,716
The only way AA gets my feedback is when they send a survey following a flight.
I also don’t want to be flagged as a serial complainer. In addition, 5000 - 10,000 miles is worthless to me. I value my time more than anything and unfortunately no amount of compensation gets that back.
Operationally AA was stellar a year ago (in my experience). Now they’re back to mediocrity. Yesterday I thought I was so clever when I changed to an earlier flight. Only to be delayed due to crew availability and not arriving until AFTER my originally scheduled flight.
I also don’t want to be flagged as a serial complainer. In addition, 5000 - 10,000 miles is worthless to me. I value my time more than anything and unfortunately no amount of compensation gets that back.
Operationally AA was stellar a year ago (in my experience). Now they’re back to mediocrity. Yesterday I thought I was so clever when I changed to an earlier flight. Only to be delayed due to crew availability and not arriving until AFTER my originally scheduled flight.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 14
The only way AA gets my feedback is when they send a survey following a flight.
I also don’t want to be flagged as a serial complainer. In addition, 5000 - 10,000 miles is worthless to me. I value my time more than anything and unfortunately no amount of compensation gets that back.
Operationally AA was stellar a year ago (in my experience). Now they’re back to mediocrity. Yesterday I thought I was so clever when I changed to an earlier flight. Only to be delayed due to crew availability and not arriving until AFTER my originally scheduled flight.
I also don’t want to be flagged as a serial complainer. In addition, 5000 - 10,000 miles is worthless to me. I value my time more than anything and unfortunately no amount of compensation gets that back.
Operationally AA was stellar a year ago (in my experience). Now they’re back to mediocrity. Yesterday I thought I was so clever when I changed to an earlier flight. Only to be delayed due to crew availability and not arriving until AFTER my originally scheduled flight.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,197
Because if you do it too much for what they perceive as minor issues they can and will just shut your account down with the loss of your miles and status.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Does complaining ever work? It depends on your purpose.
If you complain in hope for actual improvement, it rarely works or takes a long time. But if the sole purpose is goodwill gesture, then depending on the airline's policy, it usually works.
However goodwill gesture is not without its limitation. So if the issue is trivia, don't bother.
Actually, SCOTUS did not rule on Ginsberg's problem with pmNW. Instead, SCOTUS ruled that Ginberg's contractual claim must be dismissed by the ADA preemption.
If you complain in hope for actual improvement, it rarely works or takes a long time. But if the sole purpose is goodwill gesture, then depending on the airline's policy, it usually works.
However goodwill gesture is not without its limitation. So if the issue is trivia, don't bother.
Actually, SCOTUS did not rule on Ginsberg's problem with pmNW. Instead, SCOTUS ruled that Ginberg's contractual claim must be dismissed by the ADA preemption.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,248
Also for context for other readers who may have taken a second for it to click - ADA is the Airline Deregulation Act (1978) and not the common parlance ADA relating to disability.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
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#10
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 371
It does work. I just don't over do it. I normally fill out the surveys but once I did complain to AA about my seat in F not able to recline it back to a normal position as it was a safety Hazzard. The FA tried to help me when we were going to take off and it didn't work. They gave me 12k miles.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Wow, it sure didn't work for me recently, and I thought I had a valid complaint. I had to have surgery just before I had AA airfare already booked. I followed AA guidelines and provided them with an explanation and a letter from my physician stating that I shouldn't be flying during that time. Just got the word this morning that they are declining my request, so my $3,000 first class airfare just went out the window. Will never set foot on AA again. (Oh...and I've never filed a complaint before)
Last edited by Sharklovers; Aug 1, 2021 at 9:23 am Reason: Wording
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
AA does carefully track complaints submitted by each passenger. If you are CK or EXP, unless you are complaining left and right for no reason, AA will listen and issue compensation accordingly. All other tiers are going to get canned responses once they are flagged as chronic complainers.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AA LP pleb, QR Plat., Bonvoy Ti, IHG Diamond Amb, Foolish Hoarder of Miles, Fid. Def.
Posts: 125
YMMV but generally legitimate gripes will be met with some form of compensation. I've certainly let AA hear it when an issue within their control resulted in some significant inconvenience for me--I recall once a TPAC flight went MX and left me with a day's delay, and on another occasion an arrival got parked at a gate without deboarding for well over an hour because someone on ground ops had taken the jetway key home with them (it was the last arrival of the day). Both got 10k miles compensation, if I recall. Granted, I was EXP at the time, but I reckon if AA's bungles cost you a measurable chunk of your life, you'll probably be taken seriously; persistently complaining about the amount of ice in the drinks or weather delays wouldn't be a winning strategy.
[Aside--got a very puzzled response from a phone agent when I joked that my Helix score must've been pretty high after another cancellation followed closely on the heels of the TPAC mentioned above.]
[Aside--got a very puzzled response from a phone agent when I joked that my Helix score must've been pretty high after another cancellation followed closely on the heels of the TPAC mentioned above.]
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: AA LT Platinum
Posts: 103
Wow, it sure didn't work for me recently, and I thought I had a valid complaint. I had to have surgery just before I had AA airfare already booked. I followed AA guidelines and provided them with an explanation and a letter from my physician stating that I shouldn't be flying during that time. Just got the word this morning that they are declining my request, so my $3,000 first class airfare just went out the window. Will never set foot on AA again. (Oh...and I've never filed a complaint before)