For the first time in my traveling life, I've had a flight cancelled on me. THANKFULLY, American airlines called and caught me at home. The flight I was to take early morning was put "out of service." I"m taking the subsequent one in the afternoon.

HOw often do airlines say they are taking flights "out of service" due to mechanical problems when it's really b/c they didn't sell enough tix. I just found out that the afternoon flight is not booked at all. I had two alternative..take a connecting flight or an afternoon non stop.

Any thoughts?? I just got the distinct impression it had nothing to do with "mechanical" problems. thank you.

iF i WERE YOU, I'd keep calling them all the way up to the time you leave. This is one of the reasons airlines under such attack by people.

As for the other flights not being full, did you just get the call now? Maybe they haven't reached the others who might want to get on that flight.

Also, check your rental car now. If you are getting there later, you rates may go up.
www.aa.com is the site for American airlines.

I agree with you, it is my experience that the flight did not sell enough tickets and mechanical problem was an excuse. I got called the night before I was leaving for London-they offered to fly me to Frankfort then to London. This was not an inexpensive ticket, my company paid for business class.
Since this happened before, I just had them book me on another airline,non stop and they did!

Keep your eye on the afternoon flight, they might try to pull another fast one.

IMO, it is DEPLORABLE that the airlines are allowed to do this. The inconvenience, stress and cost to the CUSTOMER is NOT BEING taken into consideration;while the FAA does NOTHING.

American is synonymous with stuff like that. Ask for a voucher. Get angry. Show them they can't do that to travelers. Put it in writing.

USAir did that to me one morning a couple of years ago flying out of LaGuardia. I was on the first flight out to Cleveland and it was cancelled. I went to the American Club for tea and when I came back to get on the plane they had cancelled the second flight.

I went back to get more tea, but I had explained that I HAD to be in Cleveland by 11:00 and would be back in an hour for the 9:am flight.

Walking back to the gate, I saw the agent take a step back away from the desk when she saw me and I knew they had cancelled the 9am flight too. I was SO MAD, I had now been at the airport since 5am and the next flight did not leave till noon. The noon flight did go but didn't leave till almost 2pm.

That was the last time I will fly USAir.

One thing if you travel quite a bit, I would suggest joining one of the airline "clubs". I am memeber of the Delta Crown Room and it is helpful in getting seating, delayed flights and to unfrazzzzzzzle (lol) your nerves.

This year has been a particularly bad year with flights cancelled and delayed. Partly because of weather and partly air traffic control.

Happy flying

tweedy

America West just pulled this on me in Puerto Vallarta. I showed up at the airport for the trip back to San Diego and was informed that the flight had been cancelled due to mechanical problems. We were transferred to Alaska Airlines. When we boarded, it was obvious that the two Airlines merely pooled the 25 passengers into one flight. Unfortunately, America West screwed up at the desk in Puerto Vallarta and stranded me in LAX in the middle of the night. Had to take a ground shuttle to San Diego.

American Airlines is notorious for cancelling flights because of occupany level being too low. You are lucky that they notified you. I have arrived at the airport only to discover that the flight was cancelled. They always use the mechanical problem excuse but don't believe it. Other airlines also do this but none are as bad as American.

Continental canceled my 8 am flight, called me at home to let me know. Fortunately, I was apparently among the first they called -- I told them I'd specifically booked this flight for XY reasons and XY seating arrangement, and they booked me First Class on the next flight. It was only a 50 min. flight, but that's the first time I've ever been in First Class, so I had no complaints about Continental that day.

I've had a Delta flight "indefinately postponed" (we left on the next flight 3hrs later) and a Northwest flight from Minneapolis to Dulles (DC) that didn't get me in until 3AM. An Air West flight to Seattle via Phoenix was cancelled and I learned about that while standing in line to check in. I didn't feel as badly for myself as for the family of 5 in line with 2 cats in containers who were MOVING from Maryland to Phoenix. But they (Continental does all the tough customer service for Air Worst) put me on an American flight that got me to Seattle about 5 hours late, and then flew me home 1st class. Lately I've been using biztravel.com to book flights, because of their guarantee. My boss and his wife were refunded $200 on flights to the West Coast that were delayed over 1/2 an hour. My daughter was on a flight (USAirways) to Raleigh that was cancelled due to fog. They flew her Greensboro and then in a cab to Raleigh. Her ticket was completely reimbursed by biztravel. I've routinely had delayed/cancelled flights out of LaGuardia -- usually due to high winds. US Airways is pretty good about providing real reasons.