American Airlines question

[auger]

Can anyone give me info on American Airlines?
Going to the Dominican Republic with a church mission group.
Looking into airfare and wondering if AA is a good, safe, and reliable carrier.

Any help or personal experience with the airline would be appreciated.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Did you do a Google search? You can find lots of info doing that. AA is one of the world's largest and oldest airlines. While they have had financial poblems, they are emerging from bankruptcy.

 

[DebbieB]

Can anyone give me info on American Airlines?
Going to the Dominican Republic with a church mission group.
Looking into airfare and wondering if AA is a good, safe, and reliable carrier.

Any help or personal experience with the airline would be appreciated.

All US airlines are safe. It's been over 10 years since there has been a mainline accident where a passenger was killed (not counting prop or regional jets).

 

[auger]

Thank-you.
I am watching flight prices to try and reduce costs for everyone.
The group leader had said the best he'd found was ~$750 rd trip on Spirit.
I don't think he was counting baggage and seat fees in that price.

So I was searching and found a much better price from AA - $665 and no baggage or seat fees, plus a shorter layover time at FLL.

But I did not want to make the suggestion and then find out that AA was known for safety or service issues.

I think I will make the suggestion, as this would be a substantial savings.

 

[disneyag]

AA is a far better airline than Spirit!!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thank-you.
I am watching flight prices to try and reduce costs for everyone.
The group leader had said the best he'd found was ~$750 rd trip on Spirit.
I don't think he was counting baggage and seat fees in that price.

So I was searching and found a much better price from AA - $665 and no baggage or seat fees, plus a shorter layover time at FLL.

One free checked bag since this is an international flight.

 

[auger]

disneyag:

I was hoping someone would say that!!

I don't mind flying Spirit down to MCO. I can put up with them that long.
But I sure don't want to go to the DR on them.
I know they have a great safety record and all, but service is hit or miss and I just hate all those fees.

Ever since the govt required the airlines to show the full fare with taxes, they have used it as an excuse to up the costs of everything.
Then they try to make it look as if the govt suddenly started adding costs that weren't there previously!

We have about 35,000 reward miles with Spirit, but by the time I pay all the extra fees, it's the same or more than SW to fly to MCO!

And for this DR trip, the baggage fees and seat fees would jack the cost up another $100-150 pp!! No thank-you!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

After flying on Spirit, you will love AA!

 

[auger]

One free checked bag since this is an international flight.

I read something in all the baggage info that led me to believe we would be able to do 2 bags free plus a carry-on. Maybe we all have to sign up for the FF program or something like that?
I'll have to go back into the site and read it again.

Or did you mean with Spirit?

I found it.
It said the charge does not apply if you are paying full fare for economy class.
I don't fly enough to know what they mean exactly by full fare.
But even if the second bag has to be paid for, it is $40. Spirit is $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second.
So still way cheaper to go AA.
I think the only way we would have 2d bags is if we are having to take along supplies or tools or stuff like that.
Otherwise, everyone should be able to go in one checked bag, one carry-on, plus a personal item.
I will probably double up with DD14 in the checked bag, leaving a free bag allowance for someone else.

 

[Jestocost]

I read something in all the baggage info that led me to believe we would be able to do 2 bags free plus a carry-on. Maybe we all have to sign up for the FF program or something like that?
I'll have to go back into the site and read it again.

Or did you mean with Spirit?

I found it.
It said the charge does not apply if you are paying full fare for economy class.
I don't fly enough to know what they mean exactly by full fare.
But even if the second bag has to be paid for, it is $40. Spirit is $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second.
So still way cheaper to go AA.
I think the only way we would have 2d bags is if we are having to take along supplies or tools or stuff like that.
Otherwise, everyone should be able to go in one checked bag, one carry-on, plus a personal item.
I will probably double up with DD14 in the checked bag, leaving a free bag allowance for someone else.

Elite AAdvantage members get two free checked bags, but plain old AAdvantage members don't get anything beyond the regular allowance so signing up won't get you a second free checked bag. Here's what AA says about flights to the Caribbean:

Travel to/from Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central And South America

Number of Bags Allowed*
One personal item: No charge
One bag carry-on: No charge

One bag checked: No charge
Size and Weight Per Bag Allowed*
45 in/115 cm (carry-on)
62 in/158 cm (checked)
50 lbs./23 kgs (checked)

Charges may apply for additional bags. Exceptions apply

Maximum number of 5 checked bags allowed per passenger.

 

[auger]

Elite AAdvantage members get two free checked bags, but plain old AAdvantage members don't get anything beyond the regular allowance so signing up won't get you a second free checked bag. Here's what AA says about flights to the Caribbean:

Travel to/from Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central And South America

Number of Bags Allowed*
One personal item: No charge
One bag carry-on: No charge

One bag checked: No charge
Size and Weight Per Bag Allowed*
45 in/115 cm (carry-on)
62 in/158 cm (checked)
50 lbs./23 kgs (checked)

Charges may apply for additional bags. Exceptions apply
Maximum number of 5 checked bags allowed per passenger.

The red phrase is where I clicked and found the exception for passengers paying full fare.
Any clue what that means?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The red phrase is where I clicked and found the exception for passengers paying full fare.
Any clue what that means?

Full fare means you are buying a ticket that is fully refundable. You are probably not doing this based on the fare you quoted. -- Suzanne

 

[mcraige]

If there are 10 or more of you going, you qualify for group travel with AA

http://www.aa.com/i18n/businessPrograms/groupsMeetings/main.jsp

 

[auger]

Full fare means you are buying a ticket that is fully refundable. You are probably not doing this based on the fare you quoted. -- Suzanne

Thanks. No, we are not doing a refundable ticket. So we will pay for 2d bags.

If there are 10 or more of you going, you qualify for group travel with AA

http://www.aa.com/i18n/businessPrograms/groupsMeetings/main.jsp

There will probably be about 15 of us, so I will definitely check into this. Thank-you!

 

[ChristmasElf]

Can anyone give me info on American Airlines?
Going to the Dominican Republic with a church mission group.
Looking into airfare and wondering if AA is a good, safe, and reliable carrier.

Any help or personal experience with the airline would be appreciated.

American Airlines is the only US carrier that does their maintenance in the United States. (In fact the largest commercial aircraft maintenance facility in the world is the American Airlines Tulsa base)

They do have some older planes but, with all the new planes that are arriving weekly, also have the newest planes as well!