RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1228 times:
Flew with them only 4 times, all domestic, and they were my only experience with US domestic service (except one flight with UA shuttle), so probably that's why they were my worst flying experience ever (compared may be to some - but far from all! - SU domestic flights in 80's). Bad service (if any), dirty and broken interior in 2 flights (MD80 and B757; but rather clean in two others, F100 and MD80). Hope to get better flights with them but so far they are the only airline I have overall negative impression (or will I have more of it when I fly US domestic with other airlines?)
Johnnybgoode From Germany, joined Jan 2001, 2187 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1195 times:
have the same experiences. i don´t like AA´s economy at all, bad seat pitch, bad overall service, bad choice of food, and not the nicest cabin interior.
however, i don´t remember any bad experience with anya cabin attendant or ground staff.
however, i´d like to add my last flight with has been in ´97 (IAH-DFW, DFW-LGA) and things could have certainly changed. in addition, i just could have bad luck.
the times i was upgraded and enjoyed business or even first, service was excellent, but still not comparable to the comfort and choice and quality of food and drinks in LH´s first or business.
nonetheless, AA´s certainly an excellent airline, well, it´s one of the biggest, and it wouldn´t have gotten so far if it was no good.
however, i´d prefer UA for some reasons, although i´m sure they´re both comparable and everyone has its flaws...
rgds
daniel
If only pure sweetness was offered, why's this bitter taste left in my mouth.
EIPremier From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1533 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1186 times:
From a passenger's POV, they are a good airline. They are an average performer operationally speaking, wowever, the enhanced comfort in their First, Business and Coach cabins is a big plus. They have an expansive route system, and the AAdvantage program is excellent. Also, I have never met an AA employee who didn't behave in a professional and courteous manner.
However, they are not a company I particularily admire. Even more so than the other major airlines, they are not a good "corporate citizen." They specialize in using their might to squash the competition, even in situations where the competition posts no real threat.
If I had no experience dealing with American, I would think them to be an impersonal, greed-driven company. However, they have actually responding quite well to my personal needs. They have waived ticket-change fees on multiple occasions, and I've never been overcharged for a ticket, nor found my account statement missing miles.
Che From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 537 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1178 times:
A good airline with great service, decent meals, and nice planes. About there using their size and power to squash other companies, hey thats the American way.
I particulary like the DFW hub and airport-nice airport easy to navigate and goos shops, etc. Also Eagle has some of the best F/As around. Overall and excellent airline. I have flown AA many times but I have never flown on another airline so I would'nt know how there service compares. This is my opinion and it has nothing to do with AA being my favorite airline or that I have a reletive working for them.
che
ILOVEPLANES! From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1156 times:
They are a pretty cool airline, good job AA but i still prefer WN but if i could not fly WN (Southwest) for some reason, I would definetely pick AA even though they only fly MD-80s and maybe a couple 757s into LAS.
I Like To Fly From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 1188 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1148 times:
>>A good airline with great service, decent meals, and nice planes.
Che, I can agree with the service part. They have gone out of their way to help passengers and they hire exceptional employees. I applaud them for that. I don't know what you consider "nice planes" but I can't agree with you there. I usually fly coach for my business travel, but have flown my fair share of first as well. All the domestics, no matter what type of a/c seemed to be very worn and I found many small things not working. Mostly reading lights, armrests, headphone outlets, etc. - I hope they do better on more important systems. They have horrible coach seats, I wouldn't be surprised if they have the worst seat pitch among the major US carriers. First is ok, but nothing special. I would never pay extra for there first class on a domestic though, it would be a waste. My last first class American flight was in December on 757 and my seat cushion was torn, and the others around it didn't look in great shape. My employer probably paid for a new seat with my one ticket so I don't understand why they would let first class start to look like that. As for food, if you have flown any other airline that serves food, I don't see how you can compliment it. I have only flown them twice in 2001 so far and I have yet to see this amazing stuff they are putting on TV about better seat pitch and leg room.
Anyone agree? Disagree?
My $.02
BH346 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3265 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1136 times:
I agree with the part about not being a good citizen. That's my opinion of AA. They seem like they're always using their size to crush smaller airlines.
BH346
Northwest Airlines - Some People Just Know How to Fly
Hugo From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1110 times:
I know that UA fan's will not like this, but I think AA is a far better carrier. I used to be a loyal Premier member for several years, but I just had it with UA's declining service standards. AA may not have the service levels of the best international carriers, and I may disagree with their predatory practices, but they do provide a consistently acceptable product. Similarly, their efforts to improve the comfort for Coach passengers systemwide is an indication that management is genuinely trying to improve the travel experience. I really like "more room throughout coach". It sure beats UA's half-baked, misleading "economy plus", which I am sure has duped people into buying UA only to find out that there are two classes in economy. Overall, AA is not perfect, but a reasonably good airline with savvy management.
Contrails From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 1818 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1092 times:
I started flying AA back in the 70's out of TUL, where AA has had a big maintanance base for many years.
I have flown AA all across the US, to Europe, and to Hawaii. IMO, they have their good points and their bad points. FAs can be charming or obnoxious. Flights can be on-time or hours late. Flying with them can be a good experience, or a bad one. But I could say that about any airline I have flown, and that is a good many - some of which no longer exist.
In short, IMO, how good an airline is depends on what you expect from it. I quit flying an airline some time back because they didn't live up to my expectations. So far, AA lives up to mine, but my expectations are much, much lower than they were in the 70's. As long as they get me where I want to go in a reasonably efficient manner, and give me all the miles I have coming, I guess I'll stick with them.
PHLFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 851 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1066 times:
I have only flown AA a handful of times. UVF-MIA, PHL-MIA-PHL and PHL-ORD-PHL. The service IMHO was good, nothing noteworthy. They could get rid of the light blue seats on their 727's.
My only gripe is with the cabin crew. On 2 of the 3 flights, the cabin crew would only speak English when speaking to a passenger. All conversations amongst themselves was in Spanish. Now please do not think I am racist or bear any grudge against people of Spanish orgin. I feel as Americans we do not make enough of an effort to learn other languages. My gripe is that for an American carrier, English should be the language spoken between its employees.
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7419 posts, RR: 65 Reply 15, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
"they specialize in using their might to squash the
competition, even in situations where the competition posts no real threat."
"About there using their size and
power to squash other companies, hey thats the American way. "
I couldnt agree more. they just mimic what this country does worldwide.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
Logos From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 768 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1049 times:
I've flown AA quite a bit domestically and in January from ZRH-DFW-ZRH (connecting on both ends from/to Berlin on Swissair) and appreciated the extra room in coach for the 11 hour flight to DFW. On the way back they messed up and didn't have their insurance certificate, causing a 2.5 hour delay. I was miffed as I barely made my connection but checked my AAdvantage account several days later to see that they had given me 7,000 bonus miles without me even asking for my trouble. I don't know of too many airlines that would do that and it wasn't the first time AA had made up for a blunder with me.
As for their "smashing smaller carriers" the only one that comes to mind is Legend and they had a poor business plan. Of course AA was going to respond to Legend cherry picking their business passengers. As for Reno Air, they were already a quasi subsidiary and TWA would go under without AA bailing them out. At least this way most of the TWA employees keep their jobs. Did Southwest "smash a smaller carrier" when they bought Morris Air?
AA is a tough and smart competitor. This is business - it's not charity. They take care of their customers fairly well and their employees at least as well as anyone else in the industry today. They're okay in my book.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1028 times:
I think AA's smartest move recently with their More Room Throughout Coach policy that was implemented first on their domestic flights.
And it is very well-received by AA customers; they no longer dread flying the 737-800, MD-80, or 757 on long flights in Economy class. No wonder AA took over a lot of the business that formerly went to UA.
Wolfpacker From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 353 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1020 times:
They are a good airline, not great. Being on-time is more important to me than food, and they have been on-time most of the time. The more legroom through coach is great, although I still ask for an exit row at checkin. The crews and ground personel have always been professional, although several times some have been curt to me, but everyone can have a bad day.
My idea of a Great airline would be:
1. Fly when I want to fly.
2. Nonstop service whereever I want to go.
3. Great food
4. Nice professional crews.
Soku39 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1797 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1011 times:
American Airlines is great AA Eagle is excellent. F/As allways nice and so our ticket agents. One time stuck at ORD they even gave us this thingy to eat free at any restaurant in the concourse, also gave my parents more miles because they had a full 757 in Miami my parents opted to get off to my delight. I don't know how that compares to United but I thought it was great. Excelent service.
AA767400 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 2271 posts, RR: 25 Reply 20, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 991 times:
i agree with logos. TWA would have gone down
anyway, and renoair was a horrible airline. TWA
is not what it was, now i do believe that AA should
look at its problems with its own, before it goes and takes others. if it can't deal with its problems how
is it going to deal with TWA's! and if it treated and
gave its employees a decent check, then they whould
be alot more commited to there job!
Bigmikenice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 980 times:
I've flown AA about 9 RT since I got hired by them last June and 2 times before that in my entire life. I always thought that they sucked because the had a bad CEO and constant labor problems, they bought poor Reno Air, and what really took the cake was fighting the Jetstream one afternoon on a ORD-SFO Super 80 back in 1994 which lasted about 5.5 hours. That hurt. So I always ascociated them with bad things. Pretty easily to manage...it's all psychology. But after working with them and seeing first hand how many hundreds of AA personnel I know of, and that we all share the same common thread...make this the best damn flight for our passengers, and if they got bumped from UA's CXL ORD flight, we really have to stick it to them. No, but seriously, AA is really trying hard these days to wow all the doubters from the 90s. Every single one of my non-rev flights to date have been suberb. Flights into and out of ORD have always been early...the outstations i've been to have a similar track record. Even LaGarbage has been good to me the 3 times I have been there (once during the summer...and we all know how the summer was there, and twice over the Christmas holiday). I've flown postive space only once since June 2000, and unfortunately is was a pretty horrifying experience. But AA was in no way, to blame.
We were on our A300 from JFK-SDQ (Santo Domingo, D.R.) back in August, and the plane was late getting to the gate...it showed up about 45 minutes after posted departure time cuz it was in the MX hangar. So we boarded, blah blah blah. The crew was finishing up there pre-departure checks when a problem arose with the climate control system. One of the valves wouldn't open. They said it wasn't a flight-threatening situation, but we wouldn't have any A/C when we landed in the hot-ass Caribbean. The Captain said that they would fix it, and 45 minutes later we were ready to shut the main cabin doors again. We pushed back, and started No.1, this time, the engine bleed valve which sucks in a sufficient amount of air to get the turbines going, which then turns the bypass fan and compressors, would not close. This was more sensitive to the safety of the flight, so we deplaned because they didn't know how long it would take to fix. So there we were, about 270 angry Dominicans (-1, which was me) at gate 40-something at the first port of entry in the United States in the height of the travel season with no plane to take us on our vacation. To make a long story short, we had to suffer 14 hours at that airport because sometimes, airplanes have bad days and don't feel like working for you. AA was very courteous even in dealing with some of the most trifling behavior I have seen from an aircraft full of adults. In the end we each got vouchers and several coupons to eat whatever was in the concourse.
Basically it's like this: don't hate the player, hate the game. Understand that consequences suck, and be prepared to be inconvienced. AA's aircraft have Pratt and Whitney, Rollys Royce, and GE engines, not Carnot engines...they are not 100% efficient. The weather is the biggest reason for delays in the entire world. Flight attendants, gate agents, and flight crews are humans, not robots. We have feelings too. And of course, something that should not even need to be said....AA is in it for the MONEY! They are an airline, and every airline who is any airline makes money their top priority no matter what they say. All you corporate america people who work on the 50th floor have to have SOME idea of economics. The whole industry is a gritty and grimy one, and AA is just making sure it doesn't fall behind on the power curve.
Tan flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1847 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (12 years 2 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 966 times:
I have been a customer of AA for 25 yrs, thru Great times, not so great, and actually some tough times. Yes, Crandall was a tough CEO. His problem was that airlines( all & AA) are highly visable companies compared to an industrial firm. He made some tough calls, some good, some bad..oh well, he is retired and the company survives, and even thrives because of some of the decisions of made on his watch. That said, Mr. Carty seems to be cut from finer fabric we will see how he wears it. All, that now said, AA has the some of the most professional employees in the industry, great route system, "more room in coach" is an excellent idea.( I wish the Delta flights I was on last week had had it!)
All in all, they work the best for me most of the time and thats why they get 85% of my annual 40-50,000 miles.
25 N202PA: There's a very fine line between corporate success (i.e., winning via competition and offering a superior product) and being a corporate bully. Americ
26 DL Widget Head: Are you saying AA's service level is lower than that of WN? What does WN offer that makes their service better than AA say for example on a flight fro
27 Logos: I have to agree. I'll admit that American plays tough but, I would say, within the rules (with the exception of Crandall trying to fix prices with Bra
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