kfusto

<What do you expect the DOT to do? They did everything they're legally bound to do. All you're doing at this point is wasting everyone's time.>

No one is forcing you to participate in this discussion so please move on and stop wasting your time.

AA did absolutely nothing. They had the option to protect me on other flights and refused. Whether or not they did all they were bound to do will be determined by someone who actually knows that answer, and not some CS rep at AA.

I was introduced to someone who has been with AA for 35 years last week. The steps I have taken in the past few days are exactly as he advised, especially the DOT.

The DOT handles consumer complaints and if they find AA in the wrong, this will go against their record. If that is all I accomplish, then at least it is something.

Kathie

Good luck to you. Do keep us posted.

mowmow

I would take them to small claims.
Won't cost you much, and if they don't send someone to defend themselves, you'll win by default.
Plus, it might make the news.
Have you submitted this to any of the travel ombudsmen at various travel magazines/newspapers?

kfusto

ombudsman is next then small claims. I wanted to give management time to respond but I will not be at all surprised if they never do.

Sal9001

My experience with American Airlines last year was and is the same. I will never fly on American Airlines again - ever.

If USAirways succeeds in acquiring American that would be a different situation, but the American Airlines of today is the worst airline I have ever dealt with.

kfusto

Update to my AA saga:

I just had an email from Mr. Kreegers office and they have issued each of us a $300 per person travel voucher, as a gesture of goodwill.

I am satisfied that they did something but wish it did not involve flying AA again.

Thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions.

Seamus

Glad you got a response of some sort, though I also find it infuriating that a company which has shown itself to be well worth avoiding expects that one will see any value in a voucher redeemable only with them. Strongly suggest you follow through with referral to Conde Nast ombudsman, Christopher Elliott, and/or other such.

I tried giving AA a second chance after years of avoiding them, and within months they showed themselves to be the same smarmy, slimy bunch with lousy infrastructure and an aging product. I will burn the FF miles I accumulated but not give them another dime.

mowmow

They must have finally realized how much bad karma they were getting on the travel boards.

$300 voucher is OK, but cash would have been better.

sparkchaser

Glad to hear that you got something out of them but too bad it requires that you fly with them (maybe use it on a codeshare flight?). I wasn't so lucky with US Air.

kfusto

That is the only negative. I would have much preferred never having to fly with them again. I suspect they give vouchers because many go unused for that very reason.

bettyk

It's unfortunate that you had this problem with AA. We have always had good customer service with them and they have helped me out on several occasions.

We live near Houston but chose not to fly on Continental (now United) to Europe because I didn't want to go through New York. And I have never been a fan of UA. So we choose to fly from Houston to DFW then we can fly non stop to Frankfurt, LHR, etc.

Hopefully, you will give them another chance using your vouchers and all will go well.

sparkchaser

Vouchers are typically transferable so you should be able to sell them or trade them if you wish. I sold a $300 Delta voucher for $275 last year.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

That is not true. Most airline vouchers are not transferable -- AA's are not -- and they definitely cannot be sold. The voucher will have your name on it. It's useless to another person.

You can buy a ticket for somebody else, but you have to make the purchase and present the voucher.

sparkchaser

Weird. All of the US Air ones I have ever gotten were transferable.

I stand corrected then.

kfusto

Definitely not transferable or I will sell them for 1/2 their value just to be done with them forever.

Songdoc

I do understand your feelings, and after a horrible experience with two other airlines, I went a very long time before I was willing to give either of them my business.

Sadly, I think there are probably nightmares every day with EVERY airline. Sometimes, our only recourse is to take our business elsewhere--and do our best to spread the word. But I fly a lot, and I don't think AA is any worse than the rest. I actually had a surprisingly good experience with them after I missed a recent flight. Personally, I'd use the voucher. You earned it! And the chances are that you won't have a problem next time.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

It depends on how you define "transferable." Someone else can travel, but you have to redeem the voucher for them. At least that's the case with AA. You definitely cannot sell them. Anyone foolish enough to buy the voucher from you risks being stranded with a worthless piece of paper.

Skiergirl

Put it on TWITTER!!!! They will see it for sure.