We missed our flight on American Airlines from PR to home a few weeks ago due to checking in late. They put us on the later flight. I didn't think about complaining because I figured it was my own fault.<BR>But if I had depended on outdated info written on my ticket envelope, then I'd be mad and want recompensating.

But what if you got the tickets (and the ticket jackets) nine months ago? Would you still expect the information to be current?

Sue, I understand the history of airport arrival procedures, and have over the years indeed learned to love the monotony of duty free and In-flight magazine. However, the point here is that got there late, we tried not to get there late, but in the end we were. We had reservations, and reconfirmed our seats the day before. The point here is overbooking practices by the airlines. It’s legal, but it’s wrong. When we got to the airport, the check in section was nearly empty, and check in would not have exceeded 25 minutes – more than enough time to meet regulations as written. Same for the next day when actually flew. The woman at the counter was willing to check us in, but could not because the flight was full. The fact that we all know that airlines overbook is irrelevant here. They overbook, they compensate passenger when they overbook, and if they can use security to weasel out of it they will. This is the bottom line.

I think I have to go with the no compensation crowd. To arrive 55 minutes before an international departure is to arrive late. Most flights start boarding about 45 minutes before the scheduled take-off, so if you factor in the time to check-in, get the luggage out to the plane, get you out to the gate (since so many airports have shuttles these days) would make the plane late in departing.<BR><BR>I live in the Washington, DC, area, and traffic is a nightmare all of the time, rain or shine, day or night, so I always leave much more than the time needed to get to the airport--if I need to be there 2 hours ahead, I leave home 4 hours ahead. Simple math.

Peter<BR><BR>My remark about spending more time in airports was meant to encourage you to take such control as you can over your life, given that the bad weather demons and the nasty airline policies ye have always with ye (I think that’s in the Bible somewhere. : - ) ) I at least make a distinction between taking control and taking blame. Admittedly, I’m assuming that your first goal is to get to where you want to go on the date of your preference, as opposed to getting compensation. Whatever, my remark was not meant to imply that you somehow got your just desserts. At this point I don’t know just what it is you got, whether a dessert or an entr&eacute;e.<BR> : - ) <BR><BR>Look, I’m not trying to trivialize the frustration you must have experienced, but let us be clear as to whom your opponent is here. It is not yours truly, messageboard hack extraordinaire. It is your beloved air carrier, AA, and the more you can anticipate in advance such arguments as they might use, or ‘weasels’ as you call them, the better prepared you will be. Is that not the area for which you asked assistance? <BR><BR>To me, our exchange has been useful, in that it has brought out some of the most important facts of your case. Your last remarks clarified for me something I wasn’t certain of before. You did not attempt to check in and then were denied boarding, it was apparent you got bumped before you even attempted to check in, do I have it right? Therefore, that you no longer have the discarded baggage tickets is not as important as emphasizing to AA that their records will show the flight was declared ‘full’ at some point 55 minutes or more in advance of departure. Furthermore, they declared the flight ‘full’ before they even knew whether you had checked baggage, so either way the baggage rule doesn’t apply, but the 30 minute boarding time cutoff promised to you, does. It is not a matter of whether airlines should or should not have the right to bump - as you point out, they do - but for which types of bumps the airline has promised compensation, according to their terms of carriage. Yours, from what I can understand of their terms, does seem to qualify.

I have travelled world-wide and would never, ever get to the airport less than 1-1/2 prior to flight. I have also worked for a major airline (not AA). Arriving at baggage check-in 55 minutes early certainly does NOT insure that you will be at the gate 30 minutes prior...you don't know that you wouldn't have been stopped by security. I'll be very surprised if American gives you a drink chit. Also, I think you should allow a couple months for an answer .. unless they've become more efficient since 9/11. I think that you were lucky that they could get you on the flight the following day!

Peter: Suck it up. It is like missing the boat. The boat (here, the plane) in effect leaves one hour before actual departure. You made it to the pier just to see it sailing away. It isn't the boat's fault. It may not be your fault, directly (though I'm a little curious about how rain prevented you from getting to the airport on time), but it was YOUR responsibility to get to the airport an hour, HECK 2 hours by most accounts) before departure. You got your flight. You are owed nothing. I hope you are valiant not to take the squeaky wheel approach just to get a few dollars in your pocket. Please don't add to our "no one is at fault for their own actions" society. And for all of you encouraging or helping Peter get a few bucks for the inconvenience he directly or indirectly caused himself: The rest of us who arrive 2-3 hours in advance are PAYING for people like Peter (who are trying to put the squeeze on the air carriers) through hirer ticket prices, etc.

Sue, We’re obviously on the same page here. It’s been a little difficult to drive my point across, and I think you’ve got it. It’s not an issue of whether or not we were late, we were. The issue is that the plane was full, and was filled before they even knew we had checked baggage, and they were willing to check our baggage before they knew our seats were not available. Tags were issued, and the bags were all but taken to the plane. Indeed, the printed 30-minute boarding time cutoff is the issue at hand. That is their printed policy, and they should be forced to honor it. Semantics? Yes, but nonetheless worth the try. Ultimately, not having any experience with compensation from airlines, on an assumption that we DO have case, we turned to this forum for advice on would be considered fair compensation?

Peter:<BR><BR>Here is some additional info. I don't know if it will help or not. We flew to Paris two weeks ago on American out of Chicago. The flight was overbooked. They first offered $350 in travel vouchers for volunteers-15 minutes later they upped the ante to $1000 plus hotel and meals.

I’m not sure why the interest it the particular details of why we had gotten to airport late: but here is the explanation. We left our house early, early enough to be at the airport about 2.5 hours before our flight based on past experience with heavy traffic. While on the road a monstrous thunderstorm started. There were at least 2 car accidents on the way there. Very limited visibility, and near standstill traffic otherwise. This was a storm that downed trees and power lines. When finished with the chaos on the highway, we then encountered more delays at the airport. Finally we pulled up to the AA terminal to find the ramp missing, so the taxi had to make another go around in congested traffic as this ramp was cleverly camouflaged by construction. Were we late? Yeah. Was the weather and traffic AA’s fault? NO. They did refer us to printed material describing policy, which contradicted their verbal policy. This is the point.

Claudia, do you remember how close to takeoff these offers were made?

Peter,<BR><BR>I've been reading this thread with increasing disbelief. Here's my view:<BR><BR>YOU ARE RIGHT - AA IS WRONG!<BR><BR>For crying out loud, your ticket jacket and AA's CURRENT web site states the 30 min. MINIMUM check in time. As you state, check in for the flight wasn't closed. They were overbooked and they screwed you! <BR><BR>Believe me, I fly a lot and when a flight is closed, there is nothing someone at check in can do for you (gate agents can sometimes work miracles though). So if they were able to issue the luggage tags, you were obviously ON-TIME by AA's own standards!<BR><BR>I can't believe all these people telling you in such an authoritative tone that it's your fault not to have made the 2 hour "recommended" check in time. That's just ridiculous! Making MINIMUM time is required and RECOMMENDED is just that - recommended!<BR><BR>The culprit here is AA - their minimum check in time is almost classified information: the "what to expect at the airport" section of their website only gives the recommended times. This of course allows them to tell any passengers arriving later that it's their fault no seats are available!<BR><BR>I hope you are successful in getting compensation, although my hopes aren't too high - your chances would have been better if you had insisted on compensation on your original departure date.<BR><BR>Good luck!<BR>Andre

Peter: We get your point. The plane was full because they loaded before you got there (late). If you had been there on time, you would have been on your way to Paris. You weren't there, so you weren't technically bumped. You forfeited your seat! Please go about your business and be on time next time. The rest of us who spend that 2 hours in the airport should be sending in letters against your effort so that there will be squeaky wheels on both sides of the issue. I don't wany my ticket prices to go up because some people can't get to the airport on time (or don't bother to follow the rules).

Peter and Claudia - Those compensation offers were to passengers WHO HAD CHECKED IN ON TIME!<BR>

It seems to me that according to AA's written policy Peter was trying to check in on time.

Well, as I read the section on "oversales" in the AA site, and assuming you weren't on an American Eagle flight, whatever that is, and given that your rebooking was more than 4 hours later than your original scheduled departure, then they promise you a payment equal to the value of the flight coupon in question (i.e. your departure airport to Paris portion), not to exceed $400. Hotel won't apply because you were bumped at point of origin.

Come on people. Since 9/11, it has been discussed and announced ad nausium (sp?) that one should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours, if not 3, before a flight. Even before 9/11, you were supposed to be at the airport at least 2 hours for international flights and 1 hour for domestic. Peter wasn't bumped. He, in effect, missed his flight. But let's not internalize fault; let's lay it on someone else! Isn't that the American way?

Peter, you've obviously already decided that you believe you were bumped and have a case for compensation. In fact, you indicate that you have already written a letter to Customer Relations. Can't you wait until they respond? I guess I'm not really sure what the purpose of your post is, given that you already wrote to them!

Pia, I'm just trying to ascertain what we can consider fair compensation, in the event that AA decides to offer us something. Plain and simple.

Peter: Perhaps you owe AA an apology, or some $$$, for having failed to arrive on time. Perhaps you owe the airline something because you singlehandedly caused a bit of a scheduling problem at the gate, causing the airline to shift its attendance charts and seating arrangements. Perhaps you owe AA the decency of accepting responsibility for your own actions or failures. Perhaps you should move on with your life and get to the airport earlier next time. But, no, you'll go ahead and complain and, perhaps, sue. But, remember what goes around comes around.