American Airlines - Did I make a big mistake?
 

I have R/T tickets on AA for NYC-HNL in November. I have been reading about the issues with cancelled flights, and am wondering if I will have a problem. What does everyone think?

I can't see the "work to rule" game the pilots are currently playing lasting that long. Something's gotta give. I wouldn't be terribly concerned were I in your shoes.

I have tix for January - hope it will "boil over" by then. Some predictions are: October may still be bad, after that should be better.

What can you do now except worrying? Nothing... You may contact the hotel before you leave to warn them you may be late, don't cancel (or do?) your reservation.

AA and the pilot's union have exchanged a request to reopen bargaining and the union board is meeting as I write this. It seems likely that bargaining will reopen no later than the first week in October. One can only hope that will result in a limitation of the sick calls and "work to rule" delays.

I was recently on a flight that was delayed 40 minutes because one of the galley work lights was out.

Any travel on an airline that is having employee issues like American and UAL requires patience and flexibility.

If I had a choice I would not book travel on these airlines even if it cost a few more dollars to fly another carrier. Why chance ruining your travel plans?

If you are in this situation, don't take out your frustration on the employees. Complain to the airline management who have done a fine job putting customers and employees in these unfortunate circumstances.

The union agreed to reopen talks yesterday and then AA sent a letter threatening legal action if the union didn't take action to stop the current job action. (One suspects a "big disconnect" between the AA management and its attorneys.)

The union is presently meeting to determine if it will go ahead with the talks.

Expect much more posturing by all and a delay in negotiations.

Thanks for the updates. I am also wondering about this as we are flying AA SYR-HNL in NOV as well.

We are flying AA next week to Kona. While nervous, I know there's nothing I can do except be prepared. I've got a change of underwear and a clean teeshirt packed in my carryon in case we get stuck somewhere.

Unfortunately, we have 3 segments on AA, so even if we make the first flight to DFW on time, we could still have problems with our other flights.

Not the way to start a vacation!

No matter what American legally does to its pilots or any other work group, AA is going to have morale issues with it employees whose benefits, pay, and work rules AA has negatively impacted through bankruptcy.

It is not rocket science to figure out that any customer service business that has morale issues with its employees is in one way or another going to have those issues affect its operation and customer service.

If you are going to fly AA during the next few months be patient and don't expect smooth sailing :(

We have 3 segments too! I'll be packing a change of clothes too ;-)

Make sure they have your cell phone number if they cancel. Yesterday when our flight was cancelled on AA, they called, a robot call, with new arrangements, unacceptable ones. Clicked NO..They switched us to another carrier and we arrived at our destination three hours late instead of the 11 hours late it would have been if we had accepted the new AA itinerary.

2 of my friends flew AA to Europe from California (separate flights from separate cities) - the delays were from 1 to 3 hours but they both reported from Rome!

I feel better :)

Kinda a double-edged sword...pissed-off pilots delaying/cancelling flights because of technical malfunctions, and YOUR safety! Yea the pilots may be purposely claiming equiptment faults and sickness to screw with AA..but would you rather fly on an unsafe aircraft?

We flew back from Italy yesterday on AA - MXP to JFK, JFK to LAX,. Both flights were business as usual, left on time, good service, no lost bags. I have tix on them to Kauai in February, not going to worry about that trip either. I do understand there are problems with AA right now, and am sorry for anyone caught in a bad situation, but this was our experience.

But what about those sliding seats now? Will more problems turn up?

Underhill,

A lot of passengers often complain about not having enough leg room in coach now at least AA has taken a creative way to solving that issue :)

IMO, things will soon get better at AA. Management and the pilots are going back to bargaining table to work on a new contract.

The problem with airlines during these situation is that they tend to see the employees as part of the problem instead of the solution. Management acts to in essence punish employees for their own (management) incompetence.

For all of the airline managements that have taken this approach few of them have learned anything. Poor treatment of employees usually translates to poor operations and customer service.

Just look at the old Continental history and ask Gordon Bethune how he turned Continental around from worst to first. Part of it happened because he treated his employees with respect.

The CEO's of United, AA, Us Airways and a few others should invest in reading Bethune's or Keller's (SWA) playbook.

DMB....LMAO + you are right!

On the AA website there is a place to click which says click here if AA has caused you any inconvenience with recent concellations or somethinglike that.. So, I did it and filled out their form. Voila.. a voucher for $200. and reimbursement of a rental car to get to our original destination, plus refunds of our upgraded seat choices. AA is trying!