Michael
Indianapolis,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, December 23, 2005
Please read, My name is Michael. I have been the head of security for years at the most prestigous nightclub in Indianapolis. Most clubs would kill to have the business we have. I have dealt with every situation any of you could possibly imagine. Including having guns and various other weapons of choice thrown at me and my crew. First of all, "the airline security is stupid, moronic and retarded!! Also, if I paid for a ticket to a football game and they said, "sorry, but we over sold our seats", I'd be pretty pissed! "Maybe we can book you for next weeks game"! If we remember correctly, 9/11 was a tragedy. But, all of us intelligent individuals know that the business that shuts down for a few days does not file bankruptcy and ask the government and american people to bail them out! Our business shuts down for a few days through the holidays! We don't ask the government to save us! If I was the CEO of a multi-billion dollar industry and had to close shop for a couple of days..... should I file chapter 7? What would I be thinking as I drove my new yacht? We'll dupe the government and lay off everyone? File bankruptcy and oh s**t, "I have a golf game tomorrow"!!!I want everyone to think about this carefully... This is a corporate giant supported by our government who can afford to pay U.S. Marshall salaries but cannot afford to put bullet proof doors on a plane! I know this because my brother in-law is a supervisor! We have to ask ourselves, which hand strokes the other? Sincerely, Pissed
Alice
Cupertino,#3Author of original report
Wed, June 01, 2005
THEY CLOSED THE SELF-SERVICE CHECK-IN 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. I WENT TO AN AA REP RIGHT AWAY AT THAT POINT AND HE FLAT OUT REFUSED TO HELP ME. THEN I PROCEEDED TO WAIT IN LINE FOR 20 MINUTES TO GET STANDBY ON THE NEXT FLIGHT. BTW AA "RECOMMENDS" ARRIVING 60 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS W/O BAGGAGE CHECK, NOT 2 HOURS. SO BASICALLY YOU HAVE A 15 MINUTE WINDOW OF ERROR BEFORE THEY SLAM THE DOORS ON YOU FOR GOOD. SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO KNOW IF I LEARNED MY LESSON, SURE I LEARNED MY LESSON, LET'S SHOW THE CUSTOMER WHO'S BOSS IN THE AIRLINE BUSINESS. I'M SURE THEY'LL GET A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME BACK THAT WAY. I ARRIVED AS A PASSENGER FOR A DOMESTIC FLIGHT WITH NO BAGGAGE TO CHECK IN, OF WHICH THE RECOMMENDED TIME IS 60 MINUTES. IF THEY CLOSE CHECK-IN 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO FLIGHTS AND THEY SAY THAT'S POLICY THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE BY ME. ANY BUSINESS' POLICY, IF THEY PUT IT IN WRITING AND MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SHOULD BE RESPECTED. IF THEY DON'T DO THAT I'M SURE THAT DOESN'T VIOLATE ANY LAWS BUT IT WON'T EARN ANYBODY'S RESPECT EITHER WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. TO HAVE THAT "WE CLOSE CHECK-IN AT 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME POLICY ONLY FOR JFK ON CERTAIN OVERSOLD FLIGHTS" AND NOT ANYWHERE ELSE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY AND THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU DEFINE AS "POLICY." IT'S AN ARBITRARY THING THEY DO, AND THAT KIND OF INCONSISTENCY IS GOING AGAINST PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME AND YOU'D GET DISGRUNTLED PASSENGERS LIKE ME AS A RESULT. ANYWAYS NONE OF THIS FEEDBACK IS GOING TO MAKE ME BELIEVE I DID ANYTHING WRONG. I HAD CLEAR EXPECTATIONS TO BOARD THE FLIGHT AND BELIEVED I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. I ARRIVED WITH ENOUGH TIME TO NOT CONVENIENCE ANY AA EMPLOYEES OR DELAY ANYTHING. I KNOW THEY SHUT THE DOOR AT THE GATE 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE FLIGHT AND HAVE A HEAD COUNT. BUT AGAIN, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET THERE ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR, WHEN THEY FIRST START BOARDING. THEY JUST DECIDED IT WAS NECESSARY TO CLOSE CHECK-IN AT AN EARLIER TIME THAN MOST OTHER AIRLINE CARRIERS AND EVEN FOR THEMSELVES, BECAUSE I ARRIVED FOR MY FLIGHT TO NEW YORK 30 MINUTES BEFORE TO CHECK IN AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T ENFORCE THAT POLICY SINCE I GOT ON WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THIS KIND OF PRACTICE COMPLETELY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND TO SUM IT UP, SCREWED ME OVER ROYALLY. SO..... THANKS......
Patrick
Gilbert,#4Consumer Comment
Tue, May 31, 2005
Alice, Here's the real reason why AA would not let you board your scheduled flight. Did you know that they closed the doors to the aircraft up to 10 minutes prior to departure time? The reason they do this is so they can get an accurate head count, and the pilots can make the appropriate calculations to ensure a safe flight. I did not miss the fact that you said you arrived 40 minutes prior to departure, but that since you couldn't use the self check-in (what was the reason?), you had to then wait in line at the ticket counter for 30 minutes. This then put you at the ticket counter 10 minutes prior to departure. There is no way you could have made it to the gate in time. That's why AA refused to give you a boarding pass (and rightly so). This is why the airlines have a suggested arrival time at the airport up to 2 hours before departure. This is to ensure that you have enough time to check in and get to the gate prior to boarding time. They used to suggest 1 to 1 1/2 hours, but since 9/11, they have suggested 2 hours due to increased security. Rarely has it taken my family (myself, wife and toddler) longer than 30 minutes to get from the curb to the gate. However, I still always arrive 2 hours prior to departure to allow for any snags along the way. The only requirement airlines have regarding check-in is that you be at the gate prior to the doors being closed (about 10 minutes as I said). So I don't see where AA was wrong in this situation. You were late as they stated. I'm sorry, but your demands for a refund will surely fall on deaf ears.
Alice
Cupertino,#5Author of original report
Tue, May 31, 2005
THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL UNABUSIVE FEEDBACK EVERYBODY! LIKE I WASN'T THERE DURING 9/11 AND DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE FLYING IN THE PAST 10 YEARS TO KNOW WHAT'S ENOUGH TIME BEFORE DURING AND AFTER THAT EVENT. FOR YOUR INFO EVEN AT JFK I WALKED THROUGH SECURITY ABOUT 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME TOOK AT MOST 5 MINUTES EVEN WHEN I GOT SELECTED FOR A SEARCH. IT TAKES 10 MINUTES TO GET TO MY BOARDING GATE, EVERY TIME, EVERY AIRPORT I'VE BEEN IN. YOU GUYS EITHER TAKE 2 HOURS TO WALK THROUGH SECURITY TO YOUR BOARDING GATES AND A THOUSAND PIECES OF LUGGAGE OR YOU'RE JUST LITTLE HYPOCRITES WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT TO READ PEOPLE'S POSTS AND TRY TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF BASHING THEM. IN MY PAST EXPERIENCE EVEN THOUGH I'M RUNNING LATE MOST AIRLINES WILL TRY TO ACCOMODATE SOMEONE IF THEY CAN PHYSICALLY MAKE THEIR FLIGHT WITHOUT ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THE AIRLINE EMPLOYEES. BUT THIS TIME THEY MADE ME MISS MY FLIGHT WHEN I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO EVERYTHING. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELPFUL FEEDBACK THOUGH IT REALLY MADE ME LEARN MY LESSON LOSERS~!! ~~~
Stacey
Dallas,#6Consumer Comment
Mon, May 30, 2005
Guess 9/11 taught you nothing - American Airlines is one of the biggest carriers in the United States - they could care less about your disregard for company policy AND for the safety of all individuals who fly - Get a life and from now on learn to follow the rules Hey Cory!
Cory
San Antonio,#7Consumer Comment
Sun, May 29, 2005
Alice is special. The rules and regulations everyone else lives by don't apply to Alice. "NEGLECTFUL"=Failure to arrive at the airport in a timely manner. I like the part where you write "AA suggests(for the common folk) a 60 minute check-in...but nowhere does it REQUIRE". Special Alice has determined that "40 minutes is more than sufficient, for Special Alice to go through security and arrive at the gate to be boarded on "MY PRE-DETERMINED SEAT". Your time frame doesn't add up. If your attitude at the airport was anything like your post, AA's reaction doesn't surprise me in the least. They have to deal with pompous asses all the time. Watch "Airline" on A&E on Monday nights, they show people like you all the time.
Rob
Royal Oak,#8Consumer Comment
Sat, May 28, 2005
Yeah, this historical event took place a few years back...it's called 9/11...ever hear of it? 40 minutes is not enough time, especially in New York...duhhh. Moron.