An American Airlines flight horror story: Three bags lost in two months
This American Airlines horror story comes courtesy of the comments on the (quite active) American Airlines complaint thread here:
As of last night, American Airlines has managed to lose my bag for the third time in 2 months! Twice in 2 weeks!! Counter people at airport don’t try to help you. They barely even look at you once you get upset. Called 800# last night three times. First lady hung up on me when I stated asking questions. Others sounded like they were reading scripted information. Miami is approximately 120 miles from Ft. Myers. They said next available flight is not until Monday night at 6:pm and then they get a 4 hour window to deliver. Well, this morning I have another trip for business and need contents of the bag. Also, have other business things in there. I understand things can happen. I understand maybe I should not check things. But 3 times in 2 months, and not so much as a sincere apology or offer of any compensation or anyone taking time to help find a solution that would make me feel better?? They could ground transport if theywanted to or re-route bag through a different city to reach Ft. Myers earlier. In the bag claim folder it says that “our baggage service department will contact you periodically to keep you informed of our progressinlocating your baggage.” I landed at 10 pm last night, it is now 9:40 am and nothing from them yet. The three people I spoke with made it very they would not be contacting me until it was ready for delivery tonight. One operator frankly replied to my request that they call me when it is located that”any joe blow out on the tarmac is not going to stop and call me when they find my bag. just not going to happen” I could go on and on. If this is how they treat “Advantage Priority” customers I would hate to see how everyone else is treated. I welcome suggestions on how to get the word out about how this has been treated.
More from Flight Blog
- Share and see complaints about Delta Airlines here
- Complaints about Spirit Airlines? Get in line … er, share them here
- Dear Continental Airlines (great flight horror story)
- Fuck Continental Airlines never got off the ground
- Share your complaints about Southwest Airlines here (and see what other people have to say)
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July 9th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I am sorry to say, this is not at all uncommon with American Airlines. For one year I was travelling at least twice a month to South America for work. The connect times through my Miami were far too slim, usually meaning I made the flight but my luggage didn’t. After the third time, I tried to flight an earlier flight to Miami that would allow me more connect time. I was told by American Airlines that it was “illegal.” the specific word was indeed “illegal”. When I pushed back to speak with a superviser she said yes, its illegal within American Airlines policy, not the actually federal or state laws. Two months later I tried to book another ticket. This time, I was told that my usual flights were no longer considered to have enough “connect” time and were now…you guessed it illegal. I was actually fine with that, since I figured my luggage would get to Peru on time. Unfortunately it seems that even with the larger connect times American Airlines cannot coordinate their luggage system.
Oh and one other thing….in Miami, I expect that an agent will be proficient in the English lanuage. I am a Spanish speaker and yes I understand the cultural dominance of the Spanish language in Miami, however, its inexcusable that an agent of a major airlines, operating in the US, cannot speak English well enough to converse with me.
May 10th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
I purchased tux on AA to go from Monterey Ca to the Kentucky Derby in February. All was well until the return flight from Dallas to LA. The seats I purchased, 9 c and b, were told to me at boarding by the gate agent that there had been an equipment change so the did not exist. Instead we were placed in row 18 seats b and e. My seat, E, was in the middle between two of the fattest people on board. When I phoned advantage gold, I was told that while I possessed boarding passes for the seats I bought, final seat assignments had been turned over to the ground crew and there was nothing I could do about it. If I didn’t like it, I could call customer service. When I asked for the number, I go hung up on. Beware, that’s how AA treats their gold status members.