Jul 29, 2020, 7:52 pm
Call / calls from AA Executive Office / EXP Liaison / Customer Care (master thd)
Mar 27, 2019, 11:27 am
#1
Original Poster
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
Had a call the other day from the Executive Office.
I've already flown 35-40k miles this year so it wasn't from a travel slowdown.
Wondering if it was because I had a two hour maintenance delay that led to an international missed connection, although they didn't say anything about it until I raised the issue. This is my second international issue in 2019 so I presume my Helix score is through the roof and that they are calling people with high helix scores.
I primarily raised concerns that D0 needed to be applied with common sense -- I didn't appreciate being at the gate 15 minutes before departure and having it locked up when the next flight wasn't for 24 hours -- and that there were another 15-20 people on my flight alone. I also expressed disappointment on the Oasis seating as being uncomfortable.
Otherwise, I commented that I'm happy with AA.
I've already flown 35-40k miles this year so it wasn't from a travel slowdown.
Wondering if it was because I had a two hour maintenance delay that led to an international missed connection, although they didn't say anything about it until I raised the issue. This is my second international issue in 2019 so I presume my Helix score is through the roof and that they are calling people with high helix scores.
I primarily raised concerns that D0 needed to be applied with common sense -- I didn't appreciate being at the gate 15 minutes before departure and having it locked up when the next flight wasn't for 24 hours -- and that there were another 15-20 people on my flight alone. I also expressed disappointment on the Oasis seating as being uncomfortable.
Otherwise, I commented that I'm happy with AA.
Mar 27, 2019, 11:37 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,490
When I checked in for a flight last week, I stopped the GA from stapling the baggage receipt to the BP & asked her to put it on the back. She promptly handed both to me & said, in a somewhat panicked tone, that I had to do it myself & if anyone asked how the receipt got on the back, I had to tell 'them' I did it. Said mgmt. is forbidding them from doing that now on the grounds that it prevents pax from reading the CoCs.
I said to her if this is what Discount Dougie is focusing on, no wonder AA is the mess it is.
Since there was no one around, we ended up chatting for about 15 mins-she's a 30+ year LAA employee who was almost in tears out of frustration for how the airline is being run. Said 'they' make us go to customer service classes, but then tie our hands when it comes to actually providing good customer service, which I have no problem believing. The issue of the 14% profit sharing that DL gave it's employees also came up-lots of frustration around that, which I understand, as well.
Whomever comes in after Discount Dougie & his minions is going to have a heck of time cleaning up the mess he has created.
I said to her if this is what Discount Dougie is focusing on, no wonder AA is the mess it is.
Since there was no one around, we ended up chatting for about 15 mins-she's a 30+ year LAA employee who was almost in tears out of frustration for how the airline is being run. Said 'they' make us go to customer service classes, but then tie our hands when it comes to actually providing good customer service, which I have no problem believing. The issue of the 14% profit sharing that DL gave it's employees also came up-lots of frustration around that, which I understand, as well.
Whomever comes in after Discount Dougie & his minions is going to have a heck of time cleaning up the mess he has created.
Jun 10, 2019, 4:05 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
AA Executive Liaison Team
So I'm sitting here in my home office and my phone rings. AMERICANAIR comes across the display. Hmmmm...why are they calling me I ponder. I immediately answer and it's a Mr Chuck so and so from the ELT. He called me to ask me how my experiences has been as an EXP and what would I like to see changed. He asked me if I have a few minutes. I said "certainly". 
1. I told him I have suffered a high amount of mx delays systemwide just about every week. He then was about to tell me a story of why this is happening with the max problems. I told him I know max problems have been an issue with plane availability and this has most likely hampered your efforts on retiring your mad dogs but just about 99% of every delay has been on your 738's.
2. SWU. I indicated we now only get 4 SWU's a year which is down from just not a short while ago. He said "first off I apologize and as we speak have deposited 2 SWU's in your account. Wow! ^^
3. C availability. I told him not even a year ago redemption of SWU at booking was far greater than it is today and with with a few exceptions is very rare. I told him this prevented leisure travel I would have otherwise booked when C was available (last year PEK and BCN trips).
He told me "It is Doug Parker's number one mission is to reduce mechanical delays". For what it's worth he said my comments would be posted to an executive forum to be reviewed. What and if that means of course is uncertain but nonetheless I am impressed of the proactive nature of the call. Nice work AA ^
1. I told him I have suffered a high amount of mx delays systemwide just about every week. He then was about to tell me a story of why this is happening with the max problems. I told him I know max problems have been an issue with plane availability and this has most likely hampered your efforts on retiring your mad dogs but just about 99% of every delay has been on your 738's.
2. SWU. I indicated we now only get 4 SWU's a year which is down from just not a short while ago. He said "first off I apologize and as we speak have deposited 2 SWU's in your account. Wow! ^^
3. C availability. I told him not even a year ago redemption of SWU at booking was far greater than it is today and with with a few exceptions is very rare. I told him this prevented leisure travel I would have otherwise booked when C was available (last year PEK and BCN trips).
He told me "It is Doug Parker's number one mission is to reduce mechanical delays". For what it's worth he said my comments would be posted to an executive forum to be reviewed. What and if that means of course is uncertain but nonetheless I am impressed of the proactive nature of the call. Nice work AA ^
Jun 10, 2019, 4:33 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
So I'm sitting here in my home office and my phone rings. AMERICANAIR comes across the display. Hmmmm...why are they calling me I ponder. I immediately answer and it's a Mr Chuck so and so from the ELT. He called me to ask me how my experiences has been as an EXP and what would I like to see changed. He asked me if I have a few minutes. I said "certainly".
1. I told him I have suffered a high amount of mx delays systemwide just about every week. He then was about to tell me a story of why this is happening with the max problems. I told him I know max problems have been an issue with plane availability and this has most likely hampered your efforts on retiring your mad dogs but just about 99% of every delay has been on your 738's.
2. SWU. I indicated we now only get 4 SWU's a year which is down from just not a short while ago. He said "first off I apologize and as we speak have deposited 2 SWU's in your account. Wow! ^^
3. C availability. I told him not even a year ago redemption of SWU at booking was far greater than it is today and with with a few exceptions is very rare. I told him this prevented leisure travel I would have otherwise booked when C was available (last year PEK and BCN trips).
He told me "It is Doug Parker's number one mission is to reduce mechanical delays". For what it's worth he said my comments would be posted to an executive forum to be reviewed. What and if that means of course is uncertain but nonetheless I am impressed of the proactive nature of the call. Nice work AA ^
1. I told him I have suffered a high amount of mx delays systemwide just about every week. He then was about to tell me a story of why this is happening with the max problems. I told him I know max problems have been an issue with plane availability and this has most likely hampered your efforts on retiring your mad dogs but just about 99% of every delay has been on your 738's.
2. SWU. I indicated we now only get 4 SWU's a year which is down from just not a short while ago. He said "first off I apologize and as we speak have deposited 2 SWU's in your account. Wow! ^^
3. C availability. I told him not even a year ago redemption of SWU at booking was far greater than it is today and with with a few exceptions is very rare. I told him this prevented leisure travel I would have otherwise booked when C was available (last year PEK and BCN trips).
He told me "It is Doug Parker's number one mission is to reduce mechanical delays". For what it's worth he said my comments would be posted to an executive forum to be reviewed. What and if that means of course is uncertain but nonetheless I am impressed of the proactive nature of the call. Nice work AA ^
Jun 10, 2019, 6:01 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
I hope he takes the C availability stingyness with serious concern up the chain. Unlike mx problems, this seems like to be a relatively quick and easy fix.
Jun 10, 2019, 6:56 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
I was floored with the SWU deposit. I want to make sure people know here I didn't ask for any nor was this remotely expected.
I hope he takes the C availability stingyness with serious concern up the chain. Unlike mx problems, this seems like to be a relatively quick and easy fix.
I hope he takes the C availability stingyness with serious concern up the chain. Unlike mx problems, this seems like to be a relatively quick and easy fix.
Jun 11, 2019, 5:46 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I got this call too and gave feedback on the LA summer of hell a couple of years ago.....apparently the LUS geniuses in AA HDQ still cant figure out their operational issues which cause us customers nightmare travel issues.
Can someone please tell them that their awful operations coupled with awful customer service and gutting of EXP FF benefits only drives us away to Delta et al?
AA basically isn’t doing anything right these days. At least DL and even UA are getting business travelers where they need to be relatively on time.
Can someone please tell them that their awful operations coupled with awful customer service and gutting of EXP FF benefits only drives us away to Delta et al?
AA basically isn’t doing anything right these days. At least DL and even UA are getting business travelers where they need to be relatively on time.
Jun 11, 2019, 11:00 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Since I've not received one of these can I ask if someone does can you please bring up the deceptive sale of "first"/"business" class tickets on domestic flights that are in reality "economy fares with an instant upgrade"? Both UA and DL did away with this nonsense and file these fares as first class and not "upgrades", only AA does this anymore and its not only deceptive but really the question should be asked "why do you want to screw over the people who pay for FC"
Jun 12, 2019, 12:15 am
#11
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
If I get called ...
Or: Letterman's Top 10 on "Why I have gone agnostic".
1. AAdvantage is no longer a loyalty program. Loyalty goes both ways, and AA is showing us none
2. CK has gutted EXP. I understand it, I don't have to like it
3. Reduced SWU "grants" 8 to 4. Seriously?
4. Zero C availability when you try to use SWU. Maybe that's why we get 4 now?
5. "Moving target" awards chart-Copy cat management thinking, again
6. Most TATL/TPAC and many domestic FA's are ROAD-Retired On Active Duty. Service is a crap shoot, and management is a slave to to its unions at PAX expense.
7. AA TATL/TPAC fares not competitive if ... one is not held hostage to a mileage program. No explanation needed.
8. Management focused solely on bottom line/profitability/stock price at the expense of self loading cargo (revenue). Perhaps management should actually USE their product, incognito.
9. Y gives one less room than sardines in a can.
10. FA's hawking credit cards like barkers in front of New Orleans "Gentlemen's Clubs".
YMMV, and I truly hope it does.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Jun 12, 2019 at 5:27 am
Jun 13, 2019, 6:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
See above. You don't need to wait for them to call you.
There used to be perennial debates about why AA kept CK as a parallel set of benefits and not its own status tier. I think that was the right choice, because as you say, it has devalued EXP in favor of a tier with no defined criteria. Having CK as a parallel set of benefits seemed to serve the purpose just as well as having it be its own tier, without devaluing EXP.
Even F on an Oasis configuration is super tight, with tiny lavatories that even thin people have trouble using.
Jun 13, 2019, 6:31 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
So I found out the 2 gratis SWU’s must be used by 1/31/20. Well my travel for the year is already budgeted out and planned. So I look at a random weekend in January for a three day weekend trip to any European city. ZERO C availability for any city DFW-XXX or even any other hub—XXX.
This is JANUARY. AA: I want to give you my money to fly somewhere for a weekend but you won’t get it because you don’t release any C inventory. Ugh what a bottom of the barrel airline.
This is JANUARY. AA: I want to give you my money to fly somewhere for a weekend but you won’t get it because you don’t release any C inventory. Ugh what a bottom of the barrel airline.
Jun 14, 2019, 4:19 am
#14
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
So I found out the 2 gratis SWU’s must be used by 1/31/20. Well my travel for the year is already budgeted out and planned. So I look at a random weekend in January for a three day weekend trip to any European city. ZERO C availability for any city DFW-XXX or even any other hub—XXX.
This is JANUARY. AA: I want to give you my money to fly somewhere for a weekend but you won’t get it because you don’t release any C inventory. Ugh what a bottom of the barrel airline.
This is JANUARY. AA: I want to give you my money to fly somewhere for a weekend but you won’t get it because you don’t release any C inventory. Ugh what a bottom of the barrel airline.
or
The thriil of victory and the (immeadiate ) agony of defeat!
Jun 15, 2019, 7:40 am
#15
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
"Goodbye, cruel airline!" Queen of Coach
You don't need to wait for them to call you; you can always send this feedback to Customer Relations via the AA "Contact Us" link on their web site. You can also call AAdvantage Customer Service and ask to have someone on the Executive Liaison team call you.
See above. You don't need to wait for them to call you.
I THINK I WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER DECEMBER 1,2019 at 12:57am WHEN my last revenue AA flight #2484 lands hopefully more or less on time. Unless we are still being slow walked by mechanics, or the lazy FA's union decides to be even more militant/unhappy than they are now, and chose to step up their PAX abuse! Interesting-the pilots are strangely non-militant. Perhaps a world wide oversupply of pilots has caught UNION attention.
There used to be perennial debates about why AA kept CK as a parallel set of benefits and not its own status tier. I think that was the right choice, because as you say, it has devalued EXP in favor of a tier with no defined criteria. Having CK as a parallel set of benefits seemed to serve the purpose just as well as having it be its own tier, without devaluing EXP.
Tried to use a SWU recently? MrsDallas49er (7 year EXP) and I haven't been higher than 7 or 8 on the upgrade list in18 months.
AA management will continue making their product more miserable until revenue drops as a result. AA management believes that with only three legacy carriers, they can be as cheap and nasty as they please without losing business.
+1
Even F on an Oasis configuration is super tight, with tiny lavatories that even thin people have trouble using.
See above. You don't need to wait for them to call you.
I THINK I WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER DECEMBER 1,2019 at 12:57am WHEN my last revenue AA flight #2484 lands hopefully more or less on time. Unless we are still being slow walked by mechanics, or the lazy FA's union decides to be even more militant/unhappy than they are now, and chose to step up their PAX abuse! Interesting-the pilots are strangely non-militant. Perhaps a world wide oversupply of pilots has caught UNION attention.
There used to be perennial debates about why AA kept CK as a parallel set of benefits and not its own status tier. I think that was the right choice, because as you say, it has devalued EXP in favor of a tier with no defined criteria. Having CK as a parallel set of benefits seemed to serve the purpose just as well as having it be its own tier, without devaluing EXP.
Tried to use a SWU recently? MrsDallas49er (7 year EXP) and I haven't been higher than 7 or 8 on the upgrade list in18 months.
AA management will continue making their product more miserable until revenue drops as a result. AA management believes that with only three legacy carriers, they can be as cheap and nasty as they please without losing business.
+1
Even F on an Oasis configuration is super tight, with tiny lavatories that even thin people have trouble using.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Jun 15, 2019 at 7:51 am