AA Meltdown That Started Over the Weekend
Aug 5, 2021, 4:04 pm
#61
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So either the lines in terminal C were really, really long, or you mean the lines in terminal A.
Hate to defend AA but it's always easier for another airline to operate in and out of another's hub when things are bad. The number of flights and complexity at the hub is huge compared to when that airport is just the end of a spoke. No need to worry about crews moving from one flight to another, no shortage of gates when everything slows down, etc. I've been on AA out of ATL during a DL meltdown and was very glad I was.
Hate to defend AA but it's always easier for another airline to operate in and out of another's hub when things are bad. The number of flights and complexity at the hub is huge compared to when that airport is just the end of a spoke. No need to worry about crews moving from one flight to another, no shortage of gates when everything slows down, etc. I've been on AA out of ATL during a DL meltdown and was very glad I was.
Aug 5, 2021, 4:40 pm
#62
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Hate to defend AA but it's always easier for another airline to operate in and out of another's hub when things are bad. The number of flights and complexity at the hub is huge compared to when that airport is just the end of a spoke. No need to worry about crews moving from one flight to another, no shortage of gates when everything slows down, etc. I've been on AA out of ATL during a DL meltdown and was very glad I was.
-FlyerBeek
Aug 5, 2021, 4:42 pm
#63
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Apparently Spirit Airlines management told airport staff to change out of uniform into normal clothes and split, literally run away from the airport as fast as possible. Passengers were getting very aggressive and threatening to riot. I hope AA doesn't ever stoop to that level.
Aug 5, 2021, 4:58 pm
#64
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Aug 5, 2021, 5:05 pm
#65
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Travel Advisory: We are experiencing a high volume of cancellations throughout our network, please check your email and flight status before going to the airport.
Due to long lines at the airport, the fastest way for assistance is to click here and select "Let's Chat"
Aug 5, 2021, 5:32 pm
#66
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This is on their website. Yeah this instills confidence.
Travel Advisory: We are experiencing a high volume of cancellations throughout our network, please check your email and flight status before going to the airport.
Due to long lines at the airport, the fastest way for assistance is to click here and select "Let's Chat"
Travel Advisory: We are experiencing a high volume of cancellations throughout our network, please check your email and flight status before going to the airport.
Due to long lines at the airport, the fastest way for assistance is to click here and select "Let's Chat"
Aug 5, 2021, 6:51 pm
#67
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I'm stuck in Bogota right now. What these cancellation statistics don't know is the flights, like mine, that were subject to rolling delays until the crew finally timed out. So the flight that was supposed to be at 11:45 PM last night, is actually scheduled for 4 PM today. If I can get my checked bad off the cart in BOG I'm bailing on the flight entirely and either switching airlines or getting something through MIA.
Also explain to me why 80% of American Airlines staff in BOG doesn't speak English.
Also explain to me why 80% of American Airlines staff in BOG doesn't speak English.
Aug 5, 2021, 7:31 pm
#68
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If I were running fish, I certainly wouldn't trust an AA timetable!
I'm surprised at the comment that 80% of AA staff at BOG don't speak English. In my experience at that airport, practically all staff assigned to AA and DL (at the time, DL contracted handling to AV but I believe AA had its own Passenger Service employees) spoke English.
Last edited by Herb687; Aug 5, 2021 at 7:36 pm Reason: multi-quote
Aug 6, 2021, 5:31 am
#69
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And they want to build more gates.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/nine-new-gates-coming-to-dfw-offering-expanded-presence-to-american/amp/
All airlines have had some sort of meltdown in the last 5 years or so. It seems like sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. At least AA recovered faster than Spirit is.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/nine-new-gates-coming-to-dfw-offering-expanded-presence-to-american/amp/
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is getting a bit bigger.
The airport’s board approved a $140 million contract on Thursday, Aug. 5, for the construction of nine new gates in terminals A and C, an expansion project to add capacity to the massive airport. The action was first reported by Alan Scaia, a reporter at KRLD in Dallas.
The airport’s board approved a $140 million contract on Thursday, Aug. 5, for the construction of nine new gates in terminals A and C, an expansion project to add capacity to the massive airport. The action was first reported by Alan Scaia, a reporter at KRLD in Dallas.
All airlines have had some sort of meltdown in the last 5 years or so. It seems like sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. At least AA recovered faster than Spirit is.
Last edited by aztimm; Aug 6, 2021 at 10:36 am Reason: FT Rule 7
Aug 6, 2021, 6:55 am
#70
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And perhaps a couple bushels of freshly picked cherries too.
If I were running fish, I certainly wouldn't trust an AA timetable!
I never knew how good my Spanish was until I got in an argument with AeroRepública staff at ADZ... and won!
I'm surprised at the comment that 80% of AA staff at BOG don't speak English. In my experience at that airport, practically all staff assigned to AA and DL (at the time, DL contracted handling to AV but I believe AA had its own Passenger Service employees) spoke English.
If I were running fish, I certainly wouldn't trust an AA timetable!
I never knew how good my Spanish was until I got in an argument with AeroRepública staff at ADZ... and won!
I'm surprised at the comment that 80% of AA staff at BOG don't speak English. In my experience at that airport, practically all staff assigned to AA and DL (at the time, DL contracted handling to AV but I believe AA had its own Passenger Service employees) spoke English.
Aug 6, 2021, 9:41 am
#71
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Let's face it "meltdowns" are the new normal because:
1. Even more packed planes
2. More flights concentrated into fewer banks to save money
3. Less resources (TAs, GAs, etc.) because $49 fares don't support adequate resources
4. Infrequent flyers that haven't a clue what to do but stand in line with the other 500 passengers trying to get rebooked into seats that do not exist.
Since our government decided to bail out the industry there was no rationalization of the industry. Just airlines executives offering more cheap flights, cutting costs and when that doesn't work going to Uncle Sam and demanding a bailout.
1. Even more packed planes
2. More flights concentrated into fewer banks to save money
3. Less resources (TAs, GAs, etc.) because $49 fares don't support adequate resources
4. Infrequent flyers that haven't a clue what to do but stand in line with the other 500 passengers trying to get rebooked into seats that do not exist.
Since our government decided to bail out the industry there was no rationalization of the industry. Just airlines executives offering more cheap flights, cutting costs and when that doesn't work going to Uncle Sam and demanding a bailout.
I wish my business could get continually bailed out. Gotta privatize those profits and socialize the losses, but I digress...
Aug 6, 2021, 10:22 am
#72
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In any event, even back in the good old days when AA flew to such 'exotic' locations as VVI, LPB, and ASU, more often than not AA agents would either just talk to me in English (due to my being an obvious gringo) or ask me if I preferred Spanish or English. (My Spanish is ok though, so I always prefer to go that route.)
Overall though, I have always been impressed with AA's attention to the language skills of their staff, both in-flight and at the airport.
Aug 6, 2021, 11:25 am
#73
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Seriously? How sanctimonious is that. I've been to over 50 countries... do you expect me to learn every one of their languages?
In any event, even back in the good old days when AA flew to such 'exotic' locations as VVI, LPB, and ASU, more often than not AA agents would either just talk to me in English (due to my being an obvious gringo) or ask me if I preferred Spanish or English. (My Spanish is ok though, so I always prefer to go that route.)
Overall though, I have always been impressed with AA's attention to the language skills of their staff, both in-flight and at the airport.
In any event, even back in the good old days when AA flew to such 'exotic' locations as VVI, LPB, and ASU, more often than not AA agents would either just talk to me in English (due to my being an obvious gringo) or ask me if I preferred Spanish or English. (My Spanish is ok though, so I always prefer to go that route.)
Overall though, I have always been impressed with AA's attention to the language skills of their staff, both in-flight and at the airport.
Aug 6, 2021, 1:37 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2003
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My anecdotal evidence is there’s definitely operational issues completely unrelated to weather, and issues which have worsened over the past few months.
Last week my flight out of DFW was delayed three hours due to crew availability (non-weather) related. Then when we had crew they didn’t have a “push back” team.
Today out of DFW (good weather) we closed the door early but they don’t have enough “wing walkers” for us to push back.
Perhaps I’ve been lucky, but with weekly DFW flights for months now ground crew availability has never been an issue.
Surely staff is running thin like in many industries, and AA can’t keep up.
Last week my flight out of DFW was delayed three hours due to crew availability (non-weather) related. Then when we had crew they didn’t have a “push back” team.
Today out of DFW (good weather) we closed the door early but they don’t have enough “wing walkers” for us to push back.
Perhaps I’ve been lucky, but with weekly DFW flights for months now ground crew availability has never been an issue.
Surely staff is running thin like in many industries, and AA can’t keep up.
Aug 6, 2021, 2:39 pm
#75
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To add to the AA misfortune I'm supposed to go to Boston from DCA tonight. Flight was supposed to go at 8pm. I've been getting updates throughout the day and they finally seem to have settled on delaying it until 11:15pm with a change of aircraft. Nothing like getting constant emails saying your flight is further and further delayed. I tried to switch earlier, but those are all sold out. I can't imagine this is just weather, but am certainly frustrated with them.