Has anyone had probelms on AA this past week?

[Cinderellee]

Delayed or canceled flights and such? Especially from the DFW area? We leave later this week and I am so anxious about it. I have heard of many flights from DFW to MCO being cancelled as well as baggage issues. Any stories? TIA

 

[OKW Lover]

Well, if you really want something to worry about....

AA is having some labor issues as it attempts to work through bankruptcy. At random times they will not have enough crew to operate every flight that day so they have had to cancel some flights. There is no way to know ahead of time if your flight will be affected.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And this is the fourth (I think) thread about the AA issues in the last few days .

 

[Cinderellee]

And this is the fourth (I think) thread about the AA issues in the last few days .

Sorry. I tried to do a search and didn't have time to read every single thread. :/

 

[kaytieeldr]

It was a comment, not a criticism . But since you say you searched, could I ask how? Only because when I typed AA into the "Search this forum" box using 'search threads', the results were:
This thread
Sept car rental thread
AA delays/cancellations
What are airlines thinking
American Airlines flight delays/cancels
Flying American - watch those flights
So even without the search function, if you just look at a couple of pages of threads you should see the pertinent ones.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

And this is the fourth (I think) thread about the AA issues in the last few days .

Also, this issue has been all over the news. Try doing a Google search.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see anything wrong with someone asking if anyone has had problems lately. I'm concerned about this too because it has apparently caused some locals big problems with travel. DFW is after all AA's hub.

Cinderellee, some people on a local forum have said that the slowdowns have caused them big issues but they can usually catch another flight. I would suggest getting to the airport even earlier than usual just to be sure. I'm mulling over booking a flight on AA soon but only because they have the lowest prices right now. It might be a gamble but....

 

[kaytieeldr]

But the lowest price isn't always the best value. Given the situation at American Airlines, it would be reasonable to purchase tickets on an airline that isn't having daily flight cancellation issues and will actually get the passenger to the destination on the agreed-upon date.

I mean, I'm all for gambling - once I arrive at a location where it's legal. Actually getting there and back? Not so much .

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I took Cinderellee's question to be one about the actual experiences of DISboards participants, not about the national news articles about AA. I think that's a legitimate topic for a thread.

AA has had to cancel flights and juggle crews because some pilots are "calling in sick" and others are filing frivolous maintenance reports.

According to a new article by Peter Greenberg:

Going into the weekend, the airline saw high flight cancellations and a significant number of delayed flights. Almost half of the airline’s flights were canceled on Monday and Tuesday. Then on Thursday, 281 flights were canceled and only 53 percent arrived on time.

As of late Friday there was some improvement. Only 39 flights, just 2 percent of the schedule, were canceled. Still the airline announced that it planned to reduce its flight schedule by 1 to 2 percent going into October.​

I think Greenberg is WRONG about almost half of the airline's flights being cancelled on Monday and Tuesday last week. Other reports put the percentage at about 3% to 5%. That's still bad. Even 1% is bad if you're supposed to be on one of those flights. I would take all of Greenberg's numbers and percentages with a grain of salt.

This still raises the question of how AA is meeting its commitments to as many passengers as possible. Is AA cutting full, but low-yielding, tourist flights to places like Orlando? Or is AA juggling flights on business routes with frequent service and more opportunity to move passengers to other AA flights and to other airlines?

I too would be interested to know the actual, recent experiences of DISboards participants with AA.

 

[Cinderellee]

I took Cinderellee's question to be one about the actual experiences of DISboards participants, not about the national news articles about AA. I think that's a legitimate topic for a thread.

AA has had to cancel flights and juggle crews because some pilots are "calling in sick" and others are filing frivolous maintenance reports.

According to a new article by Peter Greenberg:

Going into the weekend, the airline saw high flight cancellations and a significant number of delayed flights. Almost half of the airline’s flights were canceled on Monday and Tuesday. Then on Thursday, 281 flights were canceled and only 53 percent arrived on time.

As of late Friday there was some improvement. Only 39 flights, just 2 percent of the schedule, were canceled. Still the airline announced that it planned to reduce its flight schedule by 1 to 2 percent going into October.​

I think Greenberg is WRONG about almost half of the airline's flights being cancelled on Monday and Tuesday last week. Other reports put the percentage at about 3% to 5%. That's still bad. Even 1% is bad if you're supposed to be on one of those flights. I would take all of Greenberg's numbers and percentages with a grain of salt.

This still raises the question of how AA is meeting its commitments to as many passengers as possible. Is AA cutting full, but low-yielding, tourist flights to places like Orlando? Or is AA juggling flights on business routes with frequent service and more opportunity to move passengers to other AA flights and to other airlines?

I too would be interested to know the actual, recent experiences of DISboards participants with AA.

Thank you....As I live in DFW, I am well aware of the issues, they are all over the news. I was hoping to hear some live feedback from people that have flown in the past week or so. Nothing like having your vacation plans being messed up. I thought maybe some of you could relate. Thanks.

 

[Cinderellee]

It was a comment, not a criticism . But since you say you searched, could I ask how? Only because when I typed AA into the "Search this forum" box using 'search threads', the results were:
This thread
Sept car rental thread
AA delays/cancellations
What are airlines thinking
American Airlines flight delays/cancels
Flying American - watch those flights
So even without the search function, if you just look at a couple of pages of threads you should see the pertinent ones.

As for this, I did a search on just that and didn't find the exact information I was looking for. Hence my question. Sorry.

 

[Aggiegrl]

We flew out of DFW last week, as did one of my friends. I was never so happy to be on Spirit instead of AA.

One friend was delayed for 2 hours because of a burnt out emergency exit light. Apparently, they loaded the plane and just before closing the door the pilot came out to do one more cabin check, where he "found" the burnt out light bulb. My friend said it was very odd and very staged. Have you ever seen a pilot come out and check the cabin after everyone is in their seats? Now, I'm not saying that bulb isn't important, but 1) it should have been "discovered" earlier and 2) it shouldn't take 2 hours to replace a freaking light bulb.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

2) it shouldn't take 2 hours to replace a freaking light bulb.

And an airline shouldn't toss the pensions of hardworking men and women without whom they would be unable to operate... but yes, I hear what you're saying.

I don't agree with the tactics but I 100% support Mr. ExPirateShopGirl and the combined efforts of his fellow rank and file captains and first officers who have worked tirelessly for a decade or more to get a livable contract from AA.

 

[goofy4tink]

And an airline shouldn't toss the pensions of hardworking men and women without whom they would be unable to operate... but yes, I hear what you're saying.

I don't agree with the tactics but I 100% support Mr. ExPirateShopGirl and the combined efforts of his fellow rank and file captains and first officers who have worked tirelessly for a decade or more to get a livable contract from AA.

It's always hard to try and get what's due you without impacting others...especially in this type of situation. I'm sure that those affected are not happy that passengers are paying the price as well. I do know that I was very glad to have decided to book JB for my flights vs AA. I've flown AA before, and had no issues. But, I needed an airline that would refund me the most money if I had to cancel at the last minute due to my mother-in-laws health issues. And I have to say, that based on what I saw, and am seeing still, I'm glad I had to make that choice.
I hate to see so many people, both passengers and company people, negatively impacted. This is turning into a lose/lose situation. And now three planes with broken seats??? Seriously?? That's not going to help the situation. I'm glad I'm not working for AA at the moment. All I can say is that I hope the situation gets rectified soon, to everyone's mutual agreement!!!!!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Agreed!

It's always hard to try and get what's due you without impacting others...especially in this type of situation. I'm sure that those affected are not happy that passengers are paying the price as well. I do know that I was very glad to have decided to book JB for my flights vs AA. I've flown AA before, and had no issues. But, I needed an airline that would refund me the most money if I had to cancel at the last minute due to my mother-in-laws health issues. And I have to say, that based on what I saw, and am seeing still, I'm glad I had to make that choice.
I hate to see so many people, both passengers and company people, negatively impacted. This is turning into a lose/lose situation. And now three planes with broken seats??? Seriously?? That's not going to help the situation. I'm glad I'm not working for AA at the moment. All I can say is that I hope the situation gets rectified soon, to everyone's mutual agreement!!!!!

 

[RSHale]

I sure hope they are able to settle things soon. I'm booked on AA for an Aulani trip and leaving on October 21. This is my first trip to Hawaii, and I'm only going to be there for five nights. I will be flying from Nashville to Honolulu with a layover of about an hour and a half in Dallas.

I booked the flight through Disney Travel. I called yesterday to see if I had any options for an alternate flight. The AA ticket was "refundable", but there is a $150 cancelation fee. I'm not sure how long it would take to get the refund, and I would have to buy a ticket through another airline. I think I'm going to stick it out on AA and hope for the best, but I am definitely nervous despite the fact that I purchased trip insurance.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I booked the flight through Disney Travel. I called yesterday to see if I had any options for an alternate flight. The AA ticket was "refundable", but there is a $150 cancelation fee. I'm not sure how long it would take to get the refund, and I would have to buy a ticket through another airline. I think I'm going to stick it out on AA and hope for the best, but I am definitely nervous despite the fact that I purchased trip insurance.

A refundable American Airlines ticket with a $150 cancellation fee would be unusual. I'm not saying that Disney couldn't have worked out an unusual contract with American Airlines, just that I've never heard of such a thing.

Normally, tickets are either fully refundable (in which case they're usually quite expensive) or nonrefundable (but the value of a ticket cancelled at the passenger's request is applicable toward another nonrefundable ticket ON THE SAME AIRLINE, minus a $150 change fee).

However, American Airlines should get you to your destination, and there should be no change fee if AA puts you on different flights to fulfill their obligation to you. It could mean flights on a different airline.

Even on its worst days last week, American only cancelled 4% to 6% of its flights. American moved passenger to other flights and other airlines if necessary.

In the case of a pilot's strike (which American says would be illegal while the airline is in Chapter 11), American will offer full refunds with no cancellation fee.

I've read so much conflicting information about the issue between the pilots and the airline that I don't know what to believe.

All the other legacy airlines have gone through Chapter 11 in recent years. All had to deal with unhappy unions. None had a strike. All survived (or have survived as merger partners). Only American was never in Chapter 11 until now.

Double-check the fine print on your trip insurance. With some trip insurance, airlines operating under Chapter 11 are only covered if you bought the tickets before the airline went into Chapter 11.

 

[RSHale]

A refundable American Airlines ticket with a $150 cancellation fee would be unusual. I'm not saying that Disney couldn't have worked out an unusual contract with American Airlines, just that I've never heard of such a thing.

Normally, tickets are either fully refundable (in which case they're usually quite expensive) or nonrefundable (but the value of a ticket cancelled at the passenger's request is applicable toward another nonrefundable ticket ON THE SAME AIRLINE, minus a $150 change fee).

However, American Airlines should get you to your destination, and there should be no change fee if AA puts you on different flights to fulfill their obligation to you. It could mean flights on a different airline.

Even on its worst days last week, American only cancelled 4% to 6% of its flights. American moved passenger to other flights and other airlines if necessary.

In the case of a pilot's strike (which American says would be illegal while the airline is in Chapter 11), American will offer full refunds with no cancellation fee.

I've read so much conflicting information about the issue between the pilots and the airline that I don't know what to believe.

All the other legacy airlines have gone through Chapter 11 in recent years. All had to deal with unhappy unions. None had a strike. All survived (or have survived as merger partners). Only American was never in Chapter 11 until now.

Double-check the fine print on your trip insurance. With some trip insurance, airlines operating under Chapter 11 are only covered if you bought the tickets before the airline went into Chapter 11.

Thanks for the information. I'm not sure of the specifics on the ticket. I just know that my e-mail confirmation from Disney Travel said "refundable". I assumed that it was not when i purchased it (the ticket was under $900 RT), and didn't even think of calling about my options until I paid close attention to the e-mail yesterday. The cast member put me on hold for a few minutes while she checked a few things and mentioned the $150 cancelation fee when she came back to the phone. She said I could call back if there were any problems within 24 hours of my departure, and they would work with AA to try to rebook if necessary.

The vast majority of my flights are on Southwest, and most of those are Nashville to Orlando. I'm not used to worrying about problems involving air travel.

 

[rmgreenesq]

I don't think this is related to AA's current labor trouble, but I just got a notice of schedule change from AA for my trip for the WDW Marathon in January. Now instead of connecting in DFW and arriving at MCO at 9:30 pm, we are connecting through ORD and arriving at 11:00 pm. I guess we are hauling our own bags. No Disney bag delivery for us.

Rick

 

[Cinderellee]

I don't think this is related to AA's current labor trouble, but I just got a notice of schedule change from AA for my trip for the WDW Marathon in January. Now instead of connecting in DFW and arriving at MCO at 9:30 pm, we are connecting through ORD and arriving at 11:00 pm. I guess we are hauling our own bags. No Disney bag delivery for us.

Rick

You can call them and see if they will change you to something more accomodating (if you wish). They should do it at no charge. We had a "schedule change" for our trip tomorrow and I called and they got us on an earlier flight at no charge. Now whether that flight leaves or not is a different story, but at least they were good about it (I made the change about 2 weeks ago).