Peter

Three weeks ago my wife and I encountered a problem with American Airlines. We were set to fly to Paris on a rainy, miserable evening, and getting to the airport took longer than expected. We arrived 55 minutes before departure; the airlines people told us we had missed the 1-hour-before-flight check in window. They had given away our seats and the flight was full. They booked us on a flight for the next day and we went home. We were frazzled and dazed and realized, only when we got home, that we had been bumped and probably deserved compensation. The next day when we tried to reason with a manager, the woman yelled at us and told us that we should have read our ticket envelopes regarding the security related 1-hour-check-in minimum. We had e-tickets and no envelopes. With our boarding passes, we received an envelope that clearly stated that the drop-dead time was 30 minutes not 1 hour. This is the first time we’ve flown since Sep 11 and were unsure of what changes had occurred – outside the well-documented policies. The manager was using printed regulation as reference and the only printed info we were able find contradicts her. Can anyone suggest if we have a case for compensation? If yes, what can we expect to receive?

lynn

we travelled from UK to Orlando via JFK with Delta - our family group was 7 including our 90 year old gran. we were first people to check-in at JFK and because of long flight and age of gran we sat for over 3 hours (for our connection) - now you would think that would guarantee our seats - not so! we were never called and it was close to boarding when we went to desk to ask if we'd been overlooked - we had been bumped - we were horrified at this treatment, no-one had been asked to give up seats as it customary first, we know for sure cause we didn't move from desk - the treatment just got worse from there on, the way a 90 and two 60 year old were treat was disgraceful. It took the whole two weeks of our holiday with me on the phone daily to Delta to get some form of compensation - as it turned out it was down to one generous guy at the check-in on our way home, who listened sympathetically to our story, he up-graded all 7 of us for the journey back to UK - it was worth it in the end. I would say to you, don't give up - I'm sure you should be given some form of compensation (monetary or otherwise. What I detest is when you've had bad experience and they offer you money off future flight - do you really want to fly them again? Good Luck I hope you sort it.

Floyd

You were not bumped, you forfeited your seats by not checking in within the proper time period. Compensation is not owed in such cases.

xxx

You did not comply with airline policy and probably will not be compensated. The 30 minute rule on the jacket is for domestic flights and not international flights.

ex airline employee

You did not arrive on time.<BR>How is that American's fault.<BR>Any travel agent would have told you check in 2-3 hours prior to departure.<BR>Your confirmation probably said check in 2-3 hours prior to departure.<BR>Trust me you deserved NO COMPENSATION.<BR>You were not bumped.

kkj

Sorry Peter that you didn't arrive in time for your flight. Despite a weather problem it is still your fault. The airline owes you nothing. Since 9/11 we've been told to get there 2 to 3 hours early. You didn't even get there one hour early. International checkin has never been 30 minutes.<BR><BR>As to the other complaint about the seven family members, I don't even understand the problem. Were you at the gate and your seats were given up? If you made your final destination why would you spend every day of your vacation looking for compensation. You would have had a much better time if you let it go.

ccc

please retittle this post to: we failed to allot enough time to get to the airport and they gave are seats up when we failed to show up. You were not bumped and you are just mad and want someone else to accept responsibility for your poor planning....loser...

jay

Advice on being bumped off flight.<BR><BR>GET THERE ON TIME.<BR><BR>You weren't bumped, you GAVE UP the right to your seats.<BR><BR>Odd that others on the flight managed to make their way to the airport on time.<BR><BR>But don't take the blame yourself. Blame the airlines. I understand this. You have to be an adult to accept responsibility. Clearly you don't qualify.