Brian
Tulsa,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, February 04, 2007
I recently took a trip from Cincinnati, Ohio to Guadalajara, Mexico. Many flights had been cancelled and as it turned out I was the only passenger on the flight from Cincinnati to Chicago. And , you guessed it. They forgot to put my luggage aboard the aircraft. I spent nearly a full day waiting for my bags to arrive. The gate agents in GDL were very rude and did not seem to have a clue as to what they were doing. I will think twice before buying another ticket on American. On the return trip my bags arrived and I rechecked them after going through customs. They did not arrive on the flight from Dallas to Cincinnati. I was forced to wait 2 days before my bags finally arrived. American Airlines has very poor service both in the air and on the ground.
Danielle
Champaign,#3Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
And just how much patience was I supposed to have? I checked into my hotel at 5pm on Thursday night. I had to check out of my hotel by 10am Saturday morning. They were supposed to be delivered by 8am on Friday. What if they hadn't shown up at all on Friday? I didn't have the TIME to be patient. I could understand if I was staying in Dublin for a week or two, but I wasn't. What if they had decided to deliver Saturday afternoon to a customer that had checked out? I had a 6am flight to London and then on to Germany. Had I not found my bags that Friday, who knows? I might have gone all 2 weeks that I was travelling around Europe without them. My phone calls were not out of anger-they were out of concern. I only got angry when there was not any follow through on the part of American Airlines.
Danielle
Champaign,#4Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
And just how much patience was I supposed to have? I checked into my hotel at 5pm on Thursday night. I had to check out of my hotel by 10am Saturday morning. They were supposed to be delivered by 8am on Friday. What if they hadn't shown up at all on Friday? I didn't have the TIME to be patient. I could understand if I was staying in Dublin for a week or two, but I wasn't. What if they had decided to deliver Saturday afternoon to a customer that had checked out? I had a 6am flight to London and then on to Germany. Had I not found my bags that Friday, who knows? I might have gone all 2 weeks that I was travelling around Europe without them. My phone calls were not out of anger-they were out of concern. I only got angry when there was not any follow through on the part of American Airlines.
Danielle
Champaign,#5Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
And just how much patience was I supposed to have? I checked into my hotel at 5pm on Thursday night. I had to check out of my hotel by 10am Saturday morning. They were supposed to be delivered by 8am on Friday. What if they hadn't shown up at all on Friday? I didn't have the TIME to be patient. I could understand if I was staying in Dublin for a week or two, but I wasn't. What if they had decided to deliver Saturday afternoon to a customer that had checked out? I had a 6am flight to London and then on to Germany. Had I not found my bags that Friday, who knows? I might have gone all 2 weeks that I was travelling around Europe without them. My phone calls were not out of anger-they were out of concern. I only got angry when there was not any follow through on the part of American Airlines.
Danielle
Champaign,#6Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
My flights originated in Detroit. We were supposed to depart Detroit at 4:43pm and arrive in Chicago at 4:58pm. Depart Chicago at 8:15pm and arrive at London Heathrow at 10:00am. The flight was seriously delayed out of Detroit due to a thunderstorm in Chicago and we didn't arrive in Chicago until around 8:30pm. I literally had to RUN to catch my plane and we didn't arrive in London until around 11:00am. I knew my bags wouldn't be there with me (I've travelled internationally lots of times) so I immediately went to baggage claims in Heathrow. That is where I filed my original lost baggage claim. I flew American the entire time-never once flew Aer Lingus. They were only supposed to transport my baggage to Dublin. I flew to Dublin on BMI. After all the hassle in trying to get my bags before I had to depart Dublin for London, I filed a claim with customer service upon returning to the United States June 1st. I emailed a complaint form outlining my troubles. I was mailed a voucher that specifically stated that the voucher was being issued for my lost baggage. Do you need anything else as far as my itinerary?
Danielle
Champaign,#7Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
My flights originated in Detroit. We were supposed to depart Detroit at 4:43pm and arrive in Chicago at 4:58pm. Depart Chicago at 8:15pm and arrive at London Heathrow at 10:00am. The flight was seriously delayed out of Detroit due to a thunderstorm in Chicago and we didn't arrive in Chicago until around 8:30pm. I literally had to RUN to catch my plane and we didn't arrive in London until around 11:00am. I knew my bags wouldn't be there with me (I've travelled internationally lots of times) so I immediately went to baggage claims in Heathrow. That is where I filed my original lost baggage claim. I flew American the entire time-never once flew Aer Lingus. They were only supposed to transport my baggage to Dublin. I flew to Dublin on BMI. After all the hassle in trying to get my bags before I had to depart Dublin for London, I filed a claim with customer service upon returning to the United States June 1st. I emailed a complaint form outlining my troubles. I was mailed a voucher that specifically stated that the voucher was being issued for my lost baggage. Do you need anything else as far as my itinerary?
Danielle
Champaign,#8Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
My flights originated in Detroit. We were supposed to depart Detroit at 4:43pm and arrive in Chicago at 4:58pm. Depart Chicago at 8:15pm and arrive at London Heathrow at 10:00am. The flight was seriously delayed out of Detroit due to a thunderstorm in Chicago and we didn't arrive in Chicago until around 8:30pm. I literally had to RUN to catch my plane and we didn't arrive in London until around 11:00am. I knew my bags wouldn't be there with me (I've travelled internationally lots of times) so I immediately went to baggage claims in Heathrow. That is where I filed my original lost baggage claim. I flew American the entire time-never once flew Aer Lingus. They were only supposed to transport my baggage to Dublin. I flew to Dublin on BMI. After all the hassle in trying to get my bags before I had to depart Dublin for London, I filed a claim with customer service upon returning to the United States June 1st. I emailed a complaint form outlining my troubles. I was mailed a voucher that specifically stated that the voucher was being issued for my lost baggage. Do you need anything else as far as my itinerary?
Danielle
Champaign,#9Author of original report
Fri, December 22, 2006
My flights originated in Detroit. We were supposed to depart Detroit at 4:43pm and arrive in Chicago at 4:58pm. Depart Chicago at 8:15pm and arrive at London Heathrow at 10:00am. The flight was seriously delayed out of Detroit due to a thunderstorm in Chicago and we didn't arrive in Chicago until around 8:30pm. I literally had to RUN to catch my plane and we didn't arrive in London until around 11:00am. I knew my bags wouldn't be there with me (I've travelled internationally lots of times) so I immediately went to baggage claims in Heathrow. That is where I filed my original lost baggage claim. I flew American the entire time-never once flew Aer Lingus. They were only supposed to transport my baggage to Dublin. I flew to Dublin on BMI. After all the hassle in trying to get my bags before I had to depart Dublin for London, I filed a claim with customer service upon returning to the United States June 1st. I emailed a complaint form outlining my troubles. I was mailed a voucher that specifically stated that the voucher was being issued for my lost baggage. Do you need anything else as far as my itinerary?
Marc
Makaha,#10Consumer Comment
Fri, December 22, 2006
Your baggage would have caught up, but you chose to run up ridiculous phone bills because you were mad, and they weren't stopping the world to help just you. You've got the right idea though, don't fly American again.
Bob
Las Veags,#11Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 21, 2006
Danielle I need more information. Did you file a claim in DUB ? But without Getting too much info form you. What time did you board your flight in ORD, DTW, and the dates and I'll try to bring more light to this. You did start you trip in ORD didnt you?
Danielle
Champaign,#12Author of original report
Wed, December 20, 2006
That voucher was mailed to me two months AFTER I returned from Europe. It was not given to me while I was in London. I had to purchase all the necesseties with my own money. Basic hygiene items, suitable clothing, and phone calls to locate my baggage totalled $247.36 when you convert Euro into American money.
Danielle
Champaign,#13Author of original report
Wed, December 20, 2006
Due to other baggage I was carrying (valuables that could not be packed-i.e. an instrument) I could not pack a separate carry-on bag. The voucher was NOT issued to replace hygiene items-for those American told me I was alloted $20 per day. The voucher was issued for my time and effort in attempting to locate the bags, as well as the horrible customer service I received. AS you can see, I spent over $100 on phone calls ALONE. I'm not asking for a shopping spree. As for the voucher-it is NOT the same as cash. Get your facts straight before saying that. It specifically states on the voucher that it is valid only for TRAVEL on American Airlines/American Eagle. It cannot be used as cash and has an expiration date on it. Great suggestion though-I'll take a $100 voucher in AMERICAN currency and use it in a country that uses the Euro. I understand that booking a ticket over the phone incurs a $10 fee. However, American Airlines told me that this is the ONLY way to use my voucher. I originally attempted to book via the internet. Now, do you have any other productive suggestions for me?
Bob
Las Veags,#14Consumer Suggestion
Tue, December 19, 2006
Working in las vegas and in the baggage claim I see a lot people with missing bags. And yes, people comming from Aer Lingus from Ireland. But what I dont see is people with carry on bags with a days worth of clothing just to get them by. The Voucher to had is exactly what you should recive. That Voucher (money) you recived is to be used to get thing for hygene items and basic of the basic things till you recive your bags. Just bacause your bags where delayed, you get to go on a spending spree. And American has been charging for phone reservations for a long time. What you should have done is booked on-line and used the voucher (money) in dublin. Next time think and plan for the worst. And that goes for any airline in any part of the world.
Danielle
champaign,#15Author of original report
Fri, December 15, 2006
Yesterday, I attempted to use the voucher that American had given me for my baggage troubles. I was informed that you cannot use these vouchers online. Instead, you have to pay a $10 fee and reserve tickets via telephone. This is the biggest scam I have ever heard of. On top of that, you have to pay the full price for the ticket, and when you get to the airport, give the voucher to a counter agent and only then will it be credited back. So basically, the $100 voucher I was given is only worth $90. What a ripoff. I have written a letter to the customer service department and will keep you updated as to the outcome. However, if they insist I pay their $10 fee, I will destroy the voucher and will NEVER fly their airline again. No matter how good any of their deals are.