reason to avoid American Airlines - charged extra £2500 due to hurricane Irene

[Chilly]

That's disgusting customer service that they wouldn't allow you to talk to a supervisor.

 

[disneyholic family]

That's disgusting customer service that they wouldn't allow you to talk to a supervisor.

i thought so too. i had to hand the phone to my husband as i was about to start crying. I was in such shock and i have a hard time holding my emotions in. I don't yell, i just start to cry. Silly. So i handed the phone to my husband and then we both made the decision to go ahead with the change.

i'm sure we only have a smidgeon of a chance of getting anything back.
but i won't ever fly them again - that's for sure.
even if they have the cheapest fare (which they initially did - which is why i originally bought the tickets from them)..

 

[TinkPirateMom]

That is a crazy amount of money to change flights, no doubt. I am a travel agent but in the US not the UK. Here at least, the catch is this, you can change your flight for a fee (usually $150 but was $250 for the tickets you purchased according to pp) PLUS any difference in fare. So if I were to request a change to travel dates for a ticket I purchased for any reason at all I would have to pay the change fee plus the difference in fare which can definitely add up especially if the change is being made close to travel date and for a weather event when other are trying to rebook flights and therefore increasing fares.

I have been in your shoes with American Airlines myself when I was in Turks and Caicos and Hurricane Tomas came through closing the airport for 3 days. I called and tried to change flights before the hurricane and they had not waived the fees yet. If I proceeded with the change I would have had to pay thousands of dollars so I did not. 12 hours later the flight was cancelled and I was re-booked for free. Traveling during hurricane season is tricky. We had to stay longer and even though we got to change our flights for free we still had to pay the resort which was an unexpected expense. I always tell my clients to purchase insurance. If I had followed my own advice I would have been reimbursed the extra expenses caused by the hurricane. Stupid me!

 

[Bonnie151]

That's absolutely appalling! The whole point of paying extra a flexible ticket is to be able to change it if needed! I flew back to the States when my father was terminally ill and paid extra for a flexible ticket. A couple of days before the return date it was clear I'd need another week. BA switched the ticket without any hassle- they were very apologetic that there was a £50 fee to switch - and I hadn't even mentioned the reason for needing the switch (my father did pass away and I needed it extended to attend the funeral).

 

[disneyholic family]

That is a crazy amount of money to change flights, no doubt. I am a travel agent but in the US not the UK. Here at least, the catch is this, you can change your flight for a fee (usually $150 but was $250 for the tickets you purchased according to pp) PLUS any difference in fare. So if I were to request a change to travel dates for a ticket I purchased for any reason at all I would have to pay the change fee plus the difference in fare which can definitely add up especially if the change is being made close to travel date and for a weather event when other are trying to rebook flights and therefore increasing fares.

I have been in your shoes with American Airlines myself when I was in Turks and Caicos and Hurricane Tomas came through closing the airport for 3 days. I called and tried to change flights before the hurricane and they had not waived the fees yet. If I proceeded with the change I would have had to pay thousands of dollars so I did not. 12 hours later the flight was cancelled and I was re-booked for free. Traveling during hurricane season is tricky. We had to stay longer and even though we got to change our flights for free we still had to pay the resort which was an unexpected expense. I always tell my clients to purchase insurance. If I had followed my own advice I would have been reimbursed the extra expenses caused by the hurricane. Stupid me!

yes, traveling in hurricane season is definitely tricky.
which is the reason i booked DS through new york instead of bringing him in through miami.
when i bought the original tickets i said to myself - no, i better not take him through miami, it's hurricane season and i don't want him delayed by a hurricane.
who knew that it would be new york that was closed by the hurricane rather than miami!!

no one expects the spanish inquisition

 

[alibeau]

Nothing constructive to add I'm afraid but just wanted to wish you luck in getting it sorted

Ali