So what should I know about American airlines?

[daisyx3]

I booked our spring break trip with American this morning--$1368 for 3 of us, but the Southwest fares I had been waiting for were $2300. In all of our trips I have not ever flown American--we did fly US Air our first trip (which was the last time I was in Charlotte). We flew a lot on Northwest before Delta absorbed them, and have been mostly SW for a few years now.
Anything I should know about AA, with a stop in Charlotte?
Daisyx3

 

[Phillip Williams]

I work at the Charlotte Airport. What kind of connection time do you have between flights? Remember AA and US Airways are the same now since they merged and both use the same concourses at CLT. If you had no problems with US Airways last time you should be OK.

 

[dashofsunshine]

I always seem to get stranded in Charlotte - once with American and once with United. The first time with American, they had literally oversold the flight. I had my ticket in my hand, got to the gate, and the lady basically said "I'm sorry, there's not a seat left"

Uhhhh excuse me? I have a ticket? That I bought months ago? It's here, in my hand?

"There's nothing I can do, you'll have to go talk to the service counter"

There are like 50 irate passengers in line at the customer service counter. I waited, near tears, for them to tell me another flight didn't leave until the next night (it was night at the time), which meant all night plus a whole day in the Charlotte airport. No apology. No offer to set me up in a hotel. Nothing. Just "whelp, we can get you on the flight tomorrow night, even though this wasn't your fault in the slightest. See ya!"

I bought my tickets months in advance. I'd never had that happen before where they just didn't have a seat for a ticket they sold. So weird. Anyway...hopefully this won't happen and you'll be fine!!! Haha

EDIT: it was such a bad experience that I sent them a complaint via email and talked on the phone with the airline. They gave me a $100 flight voucher "for my trouble." I was like, uh thanks? I'm never flying with you again? Lol

 

[OKW Lover]

You should have a comfortable flight. No need to set an alarm to check in 24 hours ahead for a good boarding number since you have assigned seats. Charlotte isn't that big an airport so making your connection shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Phillip Williams]

dashofsunshine - Yeah I have heard that from lots of people flying them. I do not work for the airlines and totally understand where you are coming from.

 

[dashofsunshine]

dashofsunshine - Yeah I have heard that from lots of people flying them. I do not work for the airlines and totally understand where you are coming from.

It was just really bizarre to me. I don't fly constantly or anything, but I fly a handful of times each year and I'd never had that happen before. I couldn't believe it, haha. Anyway, it's all good, I bet OP won't have any troubles!!

 

[OKW Lover]

I always seem to get stranded in Charlotte - once with American and once with United. The first time with American, they had literally oversold the flight. I had my ticket in my hand, got to the gate, and the lady basically said "I'm sorry, there's not a seat left"

Uhhhh excuse me? I have a ticket? That I bought months ago? It's here, in my hand?

"There's nothing I can do, you'll have to go talk to the service counter"

There are like 50 irate passengers in line at the customer service counter. I waited, near tears, for them to tell me another flight didn't leave until the next night (it was night at the time), which meant all night plus a whole day in the Charlotte airport. No apology. No offer to set me up in a hotel. Nothing. Just "whelp, we can get you on the flight tomorrow night, even though this wasn't your fault in the slightest. See ya!"

I bought my tickets months in advance. I'd never had that happen before where they just didn't have a seat for a ticket they sold. So weird. Anyway...hopefully this won't happen and you'll be fine!!! Haha

EDIT: it was such a bad experience that I sent them a complaint via email and talked on the phone with the airline. They gave me a $100 flight voucher "for my trouble." I was like, uh thanks? I'm never flying with you again? Lol

Um, you didn't receive a Denied Boarding credit for the flight that was oversold? You're entitled to it by FAA regulations. You should get something like $400 for each person of your party, plus accommodation on the next available flight. When did this happen?

 

[Phillip Williams]

They will be just fine. Hope they enjoy themselves traveling and at Walt Disney World.

 

[dashofsunshine]

Um, you didn't receive a Denied Boarding credit for the flight that was oversold? You're entitled to it by FAA regulations. You should get something like $400 for each person of your party, plus accommodation on the next available flight. When did this happen?

This was 2 years ago, flying from Nashville to Wilmington, NC with a connection in Charlotte. I've never even heard of a Denied Boarding credit like I said, nothing like that had ever happened to me before. It was my first (and last) time flying American. They didn't offer me anything while I was at the airport, except to get me on the plane the next night to Wilmington. They only offered the $100 "voucher for a future flight" after I emailed/phoned customer service and pitched a fit. I was trying to get to the beach to be with my (now) husband and rather than have me spend the night and a whole day in the airport, he made them fly me to another nearby airport and he drove an hour each way from Wilmington to pick me up from that airport. My bags didn't make it until a day later. It was a mess. Worst experience ever. No one even apologized. Sigh.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Anything I should know about AA, with a stop in Charlotte?

"AA with a stop in Charlotte" is most likely the airline that's currently called US Airways.

American Airlines and US Airways are already the same company, but are currently still operating as two different brands. The US Airways brand is going away in October. The experience should be very similar to your US Airways experience. Same aircraft. Same interiors. Maybe a repainted exterior, but maybe not.

 

[Yellowjj]

I always seem to get stranded in Charlotte - once with American and once with United. The first time with American, they had literally oversold the flight. I had my ticket in my hand, got to the gate, and the lady basically said "I'm sorry, there's not a seat left"

Uhhhh excuse me? I have a ticket? That I bought months ago? It's here, in my hand?

"There's nothing I can do, you'll have to go talk to the service counter"

There are like 50 irate passengers in line at the customer service counter. I waited, near tears, for them to tell me another flight didn't leave until the next night (it was night at the time), which meant all night plus a whole day in the Charlotte airport. No apology. No offer to set me up in a hotel. Nothing. Just "whelp, we can get you on the flight tomorrow night, even though this wasn't your fault in the slightest. See ya!"

I bought my tickets months in advance. I'd never had that happen before where they just didn't have a seat for a ticket they sold. So weird. Anyway...hopefully this won't happen and you'll be fine!!! Haha

EDIT: it was such a bad experience that I sent them a complaint via email and talked on the phone with the airline. They gave me a $100 flight voucher "for my trouble." I was like, uh thanks? I'm never flying with you again? Lol

Err, that story is very odd. You are entitled to Involuntary Denied Boarding when you can't be accommodated despite having a booked ticket. This is US Airways policy who you were undoubtedly flying two years ago

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/aboutus/customersfirst/customerserviceplan2.html

"If the passenger's arrival at their final destination is four hours or more past their original scheduled arrival, involuntary compensation is 400 percent of the sum of the values of the remaining flight coupons of the ticket to the next stopover, but not to exceed $1,300" So basically 400% of your ticket value. Plus they are suppose to accommodate you with a hotel for the night. Hope you filed a complaint with DoT.

 

[dashofsunshine]

Err, that story is very odd. You are entitled to Involuntary Denied Boarding when you can't be accommodated despite having a booked ticket. This is US Airways policy who you were undoubtedly flying two years ago

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/aboutus/customersfirst/customerserviceplan2.html

"If the passenger's arrival at their final destination is four hours or more past their original scheduled arrival, involuntary compensation is 400 percent of the sum of the values of the remaining flight coupons of the ticket to the next stopover, but not to exceed $1,300" So basically 400% of your ticket value. Plus they are suppose to accommodate you with a hotel for the night. Hope you filed a complaint with DoT.

I already noted that I didn't file any kind of complaint other than the one with American Airlines because I did not know that I was supposed to. I don't fly a lot, and like I've said twice, nothing like this had ever happened to me. No one told me anything or offered any kind of compensation. I just didn't know what I was supposed to do. I didn't realize there was a rule that they were supposed to (and did not) follow. I complained to the airline specifically and I'm pretty sure I could still find the emails if I dug through my starred folder. I assure you, "odd" or not...that story is what happened

EDIT: I did think it was weird and that the whole situation was terrible, especially because they didn't even offer me a place to stay (and I was told that is pretty universally offered across the board), but I was unaware that there was any kind of law about it. I guess now I know, if it ever happens again....?

 

[dashofsunshine]

I literally just told my husband about this and he's livid it was a bad experience and knowing all of this makes it even crappier. I'm sure the time period to file a complaint has passed, but thank you guys for letting me know anyway. To the OP, good luck and may you fare better than I!

 

[supersnoop]

I literally just told my husband about this and he's livid it was a bad experience and knowing all of this makes it even crappier. I'm sure the time period to file a complaint has passed, but thank you guys for letting me know anyway. To the OP, good luck and may you fare better than I!

Any time you're denied boarding, they have to compensate you and, unless it's weather related, provide you with meals, lodging, and any personal items you may need. They will try to get you to take a voucher and "volunteer." If you refuse, then you are entitled to cash. Like real cash, right then and there. The cash payment will be less than they offer as a voucher to get you to volunteer, but it's real cash and they have to report the Incident to the FAA.

 

[supersnoop]

Anything I should know about AA, with a stop in Charlotte?

Charlotte has the best shoeshine stands. $5 for the best shine I've ever had. I usually tip at least another $5, if not more. Seriously, if you have the time and shoes that need a shine, stop at one. and try not to look too surprised when they bring out the butane torch.

 

[charmed59]

I live in Charlotte, so I fly AA/US all the time. In general they are fine. Charlotte is a huge hub for them, with lots of flights to big places like Orlando, so if you miss your connection they are pretty good at getting you on the next one.

If you have a long layover, head out to the hub in the center between all the concourses. There are some nice restaurants and it's really light and airy, with lots of rocking chairs to relax in. I always think it is such a shame that most travelers through Charlotte don't even see that part of the airport.

 

[daisyx3]

We have two hours on the way down. One other option was only 32 minutes but I took a pass on that one! We have an hour and five minutes coming home.
Daisyx3

 

[jsilvers]

Any time you're denied boarding, they have to compensate you and, unless it's weather related, provide you with meals, lodging, and any personal items you may need. They will try to get you to take a voucher and "volunteer." If you refuse, then you are entitled to cash. Like real cash, right then and there. The cash payment will be less than they offer as a voucher to get you to volunteer, but it's real cash and they have to report the Incident to the FAA.

I'm sorry, but this seriously garbles the requirements of 14 C.F.R. Part 250, the U.S. regulations for airline overbooking.

• If you're denied boarding due to overbooking, and certain other requirements are met (e.g., you checked in on-time), the airline is required to offer compensation to you if it can't get you to your destination within 1 hour of your originally-scheduled arrival time - up to $1300 depending on the ticket price and length of the delay. (Effective August 25, the maximum will be inflation-adjusted to $1350.)

• Although an airline's contract of carriage may provide for meals/lodging/personal items in the event of a delay, there is no obligation under U.S. law to provide them if a passenger is denied boarding due to overbooking.

• If you are entitled to compensation, it is supposed to be paid immediately, but need not be in cash; it can be a check. And there is also a loophole - if the alternate transportation leaves before payment can be arranged, the airline can mail the compensation instead (within 24 hours).

• Finally, the FAA has nothing to do with this. The FAA regulates safety issues. Consumer issues are regulated by the DOT. (And technically the reports about overbooking are submitted to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.)

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I'm sorry, but this seriously garbles the requirements of 14 C.F.R. Part 250, the U.S. regulations for airline overbooking.

• If you're denied boarding due to overbooking, and certain other requirements are met (e.g., you checked in on-time), the airline is required to offer compensation to you if it can't get you to your destination within 1 hour of your originally-scheduled arrival time - up to $1300 depending on the ticket price and length of the delay. (Effective August 25, the maximum will be inflation-adjusted to $1350.)

• Although an airline's contract of carriage may provide for meals/lodging/personal items in the event of a delay, there is no obligation under U.S. law to provide them if a passenger is denied boarding due to overbooking.

• If you are entitled to compensation, it is supposed to be paid immediately, but need not be in cash; it can be a check. And there is also a loophole - if the alternate transportation leaves before payment can be arranged, the airline can mail the compensation instead (within 24 hours).

• Finally, the FAA has nothing to do with this. The FAA regulates safety issues. Consumer issues are regulated by the DOT. (And technically the reports about overbooking are submitted to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.)

I'm wondering if the issue with the PP was a misconduct due to a late incoming flight. If the incoming flight was delayed due to weather and the PP did not make it to the gate in Charlotte by the minimum boarding time (10 minutes prior or 15??), then they are not entitled to denied boarding compensation or paid meals/hotel. -- Suzanne

 

[dashofsunshine]

I'm wondering if the issue with the PP was a misconduct due to a late incoming flight. If the incoming flight was delayed due to weather and the PP did not make it to the gate in Charlotte by the minimum boarding time (10 minutes prior or 15??), then they are not entitled to denied boarding compensation or paid meals/hotel. -- Suzanne

I found the emails from the airline - my original flight was delayed leaving Nashville, but I did get to Charlotte with plenty of time thanks to a larger layover. They had cancelled an earlier flight to Wilmington due to a wheel malfunction, so they put all the passengers from that cancelled flight onto MY flight. Also, even though I was told by both the employees at the gate AND the employees at the customer service counter that the flight was entirely booked and that I "wasn't getting to Wilmington tonight," the email said their records show "the flight left Charlotte with one empty seat." So I'm not real sure how 4 different people told me there was no room on the flight (even though I had a ticket), when apparently...there was one empty seat? According to the customer service rep over email, at least? Like I said, I don't know protocols or laws, I'm simply telling the story as it happened and what the email said.