[Toy1310]

WARNING TO ALL:

On 12/19/04 I book travel on AA for our upcoming trip to WDW from Dallas. (AA's home is Dallas) The fare for my exact same flights/seats was lowered today by $44.00 per ticket. AA would not let me apply the new LOWER rate without applying a $50 per ticket change fee. Thus if I wanted to lower my fare it would cost me $6.00 more per ticket. I would not be changing flight or seats, just lowering the fare.

This is the biggest JOKE of an Airline. They are in jepordy of going out of business and they treat their customers this way.

I spoke to a "Supervisor" about this, who said that AA use to lower the fares without any change fee, but they changed this policy last year.

I assured her that I would be changing my policy on AA for any of my future Business or Pleasure travel plans.

Her only reply was... "Ok."

Anyone have any suggestions other than a ALL OUT BOYCOT of American Airlines?

[jk8]

Hmmm, I did not even know airlines would adjust the ticket price anyway. Seems like you just have to book and take your chances with all of them.

[lopo]

Scott, that is rotten news! Unfortunately, I do not think tha you have any recourse. Since AA is having money problems, I suspect that the company's goal is to stay in business and, as a result, customer service is not the priority (although to meet their goal, they need their customers). I think that each airline can set any type of policy they want regarding tickets (refunds, extra fees, adjustments for lower fares, etc.) There is no need for the terms and conditions to be so dense that even a professional travel agent can't understand them, but in may cases they are a lot of jingo. I am sorry that you have had this bad experience. (I ill not consider AA now for my travel.)

[lopo]

jk8, I do not think that any of the airlines will give you a cash refund if your non-refundable ticket price is lowered after you purchase. However, I do know that several companies will give you a credit for the difference for a future flight. For instance, last year I purchased tix for Jet Blue flights. The cost was actually lowered twice! Each time I noticed the price difference, I just called JetBlue and the rep. credited my account. By the way, they were very pleasant and helpful, too.

I am a loyal JetBlue traveler now. It's not just because of the ticket credit wither. Frankly, I think that their service is the best I've ever experienced (out of at least six other companies); their planes are comfortable; their snacks are good and free . . . etc. Best of all: their prices are right!

[disneyguy]

Actually guys, I know US Airways will allow you to rebook your ticket if you notice the price has gone down, as does JetBlue.

No much you can do now. That is the risk you take with booking airfare. I wish airfare was so rigid. Everything has laxed in the last few years, why can't the airlines. I mean Disney allows me to cancel my reservation really close to the date to arrival. The airlines should too.

[dznygrl]

That's really crappy. I'd be mad too! I am waiting until the last minute to book my airfare, because I've experienced similar problems with other airlines before. The last 2 times I have waited to book, the airfare has dropped by $100 shortly before my trip! I really hope it does it this time, too.

[jodilt]

I've never been too impressed with American. I have done all my flying with Delta, but now that delta has pulled out of it's hub in Dallas, I may have to change airlines. They still fly out of Dallas, but you have to go through Atlanta to get to Orlando...no nonstop flights from Dallas to anywhere I go! Thanks for sharing this info about American...I was considering switching and using them for my next trip.

[Toy1310]

Something even more interesting... The supervisor could have waved the $50.00 change fee, but once again, American Airlines shows it True Colors.

I learned my lesson with AA. They have just become my LAST Resort Airline choice.

[cinderbella]

yuck...that sucks....i dont understand why businesses want to piss off people..

[sydmacsmom]

I agree with Toy1310, American Airlines SUCKS! We are leaving on a trip in 3 days and they have once again moved our seats so that our party of 5 is no longer sitting together. As stated, this is the second time. The first time after many many calls, they changed us back. But this time, they say the person who helped me last time no longer accepts phone calls. If you want to complain, you have to send in a letter or an email. No one in customer relations accepts phone calls. Everyone that I spoke with said that they are not allowed to switch seats, yet someone has been allowed to do it to our party twice. We booked our flight 3 months in advance so that we could all be together only to be moved. I have never heard of an organization or company that will not accept phone calls from its customers, unbelievable.

So beware, choose carefully and consider all the options before flying American, their customer service and the value that they place on their customers is non-existant.

[phayes93]

When AA "merged" with TWA, they proceeded to gut TWA's old St. Louis hub and eventually put about 300 people at the St. Louis airport out of work. Former TWA emplyees with more seniority than AA workers were canned. They cut their number of flights in and out of STL in half and now you can't hardly geta direct flight from STL to anywhere. You're right, AA does suck. More than you probably realized!

[Pooh Fan]

I am sorry to hear such horror stories about AA. I must admit that they are my airline of choice. My dad retired from there after working for them for 25 years and my best friend still works for them. I have never had a problem flying American. Even when I have flown on an employee standby pass (from my Dad), they have always seated me with my children. I can't say the same for Northwest. They gave my seats away and informed me that my daughter would have to fly in a different flight than my son adn I because they were oversold. Anyhow, I am just trying to point out that all of the airlines have crappy customer service people that work for them. I usually buy my tickets through Travelocity because they are usually cheaper for me, I have never been able to change tickets if something cheaper comes up. I look at it as a chance you take when you book your airfare. Just my 2 cents...

[Toy1310]

UPDATE:

I contacted AA again this moring, hoping to get a Professional and not some weekender. Still no help. AA does not care about customer service anymore which is sad. They USE to be one of the "Good Guys".

[Huakai]

I have to say, we have had not the greatest experience with AA recently either. It used to be a very good airline. The flight attendants on our last flight were not the most pleasant people. I know that is petty, but I guess it was just another straw on the back of the camel! One of our recent flights with them we had a long lay over because they wouldn't hold the plane to allow us time to make the connection. If the first flight had been delayed, I might have understood. When we arrived at the gate, the plane was still there but they had already pulled back the gangway. With the computer system, I am sure they could see we made the first flight...and we didn't waste any time getting to our next gate. I know they have rules, but I have seen them hold planes for people even since that time.
Stepping off my soapbox now....

[EmpressJenny]

Honestly, AA can't keep their tin cans of airplanes in the air. They obviously can't screen well enough to keep murdering terrorists off their planes, and then crashed a full flight of Dominicans and Dominican Republic tourists into the ground in a fireball. I wouldn't give AA a dime or allow anyone else I know on their planes if you paid me a million dollars. They're an absolute dirtbag airline which deserves to go under.