American Airlines Reviews

I am 27 years old and my mother is 62. In our combined 89 years of travel neither of us had ever experienced anything like our flight out of Saint Martin yesterday. We booked a direct flight that left at 2:40PM and was to land in Philadelphia at 7:13PM. When we boarded the plane we were told we would arrive in Philadelphia early and were very pleased by this news.

However, after a short time the pilot told us that there was something wrong with the plane. "Something" with no further detail as to what was wrong or how long it would take to repair. After two hours of waiting in the plane, we were told that the plane was finally repaired and would be able to fly. The pilot informed us however that due to "legal issues" we would not be able to fly to Philadelphia as planned, which was an estimated 4 hours and 35 minutes, instead we would be flying to Miami a 3 hour and 15 minute flight. We were not told anything other than that. We were then given the option to leave the plane but were told we would not be provided a room. About 40 minutes later we took off for Miami.

We landed in Miami and waited on the tarmac for over an hour. Were told that we would be greeted by individuals who would tell us where to go and would take us step by step through customs and our return to the 10:30 flight from Miami to PHL. There was no one there to greet us when we arrived and no one to direct us through customs and security. We went through customs and were required to go through TSA security, despite not leaving the airport or having time to purchase ANYTHING. Once we arrived at our flight we were delayed in boarding and did not take off until after 11:30. We arrived in Philadelphia at around 2:00 and there was no one from AA to greet us or speak to. We waited, as a group, for our luggage for over 45 minutes before it began to come out.

I am extremely disappointed with how disorganized and unapologetic this airline was. If I can avoid using AA in the future I intend to.

My car wouldn't start at home. I have AA home start breakdown cover so I rang them up (on a Sunday morning) and within the hour the patrol had reached me, found I had a flat battery, sold me a new one and replaced. The car has been fine since. Furthermore the chap who came round was very pleasant.

Being a U.S. Airways elite member for years, I was used to the great benefits of elite status which included frequent upgrades to first class, priority seating and boarding to name a few. Now that AA has devoured what little was left of America West airlines, the elite membership has just as little left in it (and much to be desired). I kept my status and even paid a $600+ fee to maintain it after the merger thinking it would be just as good (or better)...wrong I was...

For example, in a recent flight I was originally in a window, exit row seat, which I had obtained by checking in early and being an elite member. When I arrived at the gate during priority boarding I was rejected and sent to see a clerk because I no longer had a seat. The clerk, Tisha or "Miss Attitude" for better fit, informed me several minutes later that due to a plane change my original seat was no longer available. Instead of reassigning me a comparable seat I received the very last seat in the plane...yes the one next to the "$#*!-house". I usually understand and forgive but there are simple things that could have been done to prevent this negative experience: 1) email me or text me about the seat change (they have all my info and already use it for plane updates! 2) try to find me a comparable seat 3) have staff who are positive and polite, Ms. attitude shouldn't represent you!

...at last I stopped by customer service before leaving the airport and the clerk there, with a much more professional demeanor, explained that over the next few months and possibly entire year AA will be upgrading planes and those new planes do not have all the seats that are in the old planes (rows 4 - 7 or so, the first few rows after first class). ...now on a positive note: nice to see them adding new planes!

She also confirmed hearing similar complaints and that unfortunately there are very rare seat upgrades or considerations these days to elite members - the elite status doesn't mean much anymore unless you're at the executive platinum level which is about $1200 per year or more for me to upgrade!

Agent scheduled my return trip wrong. I didn't notice right away. AA wanted to charge $100 to change it. It was there error. I scheduled the trip the same time with my mom. Her trip info was correct. I told them they had bad customer service so they reduced fee to $42. I called back talked to manager and they did finally say no charge!

Flight got delayed by 8 hours, spent 2 hours on hold and when I finally got through to someone they said they could do nothing to get my money back or give me any kind of compensation. Totally unacceptable.

You don't have to rip me off twice before I know not to use it again. Ever.

I booked flights through Expedia and paid with American Express. When I went to select seats, none were available at the price I paid, so I had to pay an additional fee for select seats. I called AA customer service and was told that if I wanted the seats guaranteed to be available when I arrived at the airport, I would have to pay the fee or risk having seats not available. Have you seen the Jerry Seinfeld episode when he arrives at the car rental place and is told there is no car available even though he made a reservation? He told the attendant they didn't know the meaning of the word reservation. I would call this offer bait and switch by Expedia and American Airlines.

Probably the worst review I have seen of an airline was of a travel writer who arrives at the airport to find the USAirways computer was not working. In desperation he offered to pay cash for a new First Class ticket if he could just get on the scheduled flight he had already paid for.

The reason I remember this is something similar happened to me.

As a long time Frequent Flier on American you could see the quality of the planes and of service drop with the merger. They started using 757s on flights to Europe that flew at speeds less than 600mph.

For the same money you could be in business class in a new 777 going much faster and sleeping on a bed and eating gourmet food (Air France, BA, even Aeroflot).

I have nothing but excellent service from American Airlines. Their staff goes the extra mile to make you experience with them great.

American Airlines, is selling tickets on Ghost planes and no seats..A ticket purchased in August 2015 for a flight in Dec for the holiday so early purchace should be no issue.. Flight 1442 going departs 10:15 12/19 round trip DFW. So dropped off passenger at 8:30, as I was going returning and just went back through toll, call came in flight was missed ??? How can you miss a flight that according to the AA 800 number that morning was still logged as being ontime. Swung back around to pick up passenger and they had been put on a stand by flight. Due to age I went back into the airport and spoke with the ticket agent, who informed me the process was policy to be put on stand by. So here is the million dollare question ?? Is there a seat available ? Oh no it is sold out and over booked.. WOW !! Customer service at its best! So I requested we try a novel route since the flight was book and paid for 90+ days earlier, lets look for a flight 12/19 or 12/20, that actually has a seat available. She (Ami) requested that I add a PLEASE, after that, awesome service. She hcame up with a flight at 3 pm 12/19, with a seat I verified, yes she put them on it. So on the 19th 10:00 going through the parking an all day event two round trips to DFW.. Fun Day.On the way back to the garage I pointed out the cots in the area that apparently this issue was larger than just this one. Now DFW is AA's hub, but I don't think it is their palyground! To sell bogus ticket on flights that do not exist, and to actually have the recording verify the flight.. I think that is fraud, and Delta as I understand from a co-worker does the exact same thing. FAA and DOT need to look into these practices looking for attorney for class action the idea of this being acceptable is insanity, causing undue stress and anxiety. As if Holiday stress is not high enough, AA your Dallas home needs to be be treated with respect, and courtesy to your customers..

Beware - if you fly American either pay for a checked bag OR pay for priority boarding.. On a crowded flight you will not get to keep your bag with you unless you have priority boarding (extra cost). All non priority flyers get a "Group 3" status boarding pass and they even warn you that you will need to give the agent your bag (no cost though) if the flight is crowded. Uninitiated passengers don't realize that having a "Group three" boarding pass is anyone who has not paid extra (not the usual front 1/3 of plane) so by the time you are called the bins are mostly full AND some attendants are angry that you haven't heeded the call to give them your bag and are very hostile. Possibly it was just our attendants on our return flight who were on the lazy side and didn't want to get into the "stuffing" bags into crowded bins which is an unpleasant but normal part of their duties. The attendants were very helpful on the out bound flight.

Once we boarded our flight an attendant told us the bins were full (we had not paid extra for priority boarding) and our bags were taken from us without even a proof of the bags being removed from our care. We were in the last seats on the plane and saw at least 8 places in bins which would have accommodated our bags and saw other flyers with the same style bags entering after us use these spaces. Once seated I remembered my purse with a large sum of money , checks, car keys laptops etc. were in the bags taken but I couldn't get back up to the front of plane to get the items. At no point did the attendant give us an opportunity to remove valuables. Usually attendants work to help passengers find storage for their bags as long as the bin is open with space available. Exactly how the agent decided to take our bags and not the later flyers (not flyers arriving late from connections) I'll never know. By the time I could get the attendant's attention the bags were gone. All ended well as the bags were delivered with the checked bags but not before I had spent a very angry several hours during the flight..

In truth I would have gladly paid the priority boarding fee if I had understood what the scam was. I travel frequently but usually on Delta or other airlines and had not traveled on AA in a number of years - believe me I won't travel on AA again.

Flight 0232 out of ATI-DFW Oct 27th absolutely full but no problems
Flight 1487 out of DFW-ATL Oct 28th badly handled by staff.

George M Raines
Ann Bowers

No Stars...I have a US Airways credit card in which I have spent $100's of dollars in order to gain points for travel. 1st you can never us the points. Yes we have all hear this one always just shy a few points. So I purchased tickets yes paid for them. A medical situation occurred and I needed to change my flight, not cancel simple change. Well I might as well take out a loan. A $200.00 yeas you heard me in this day and age of airlines wanting passengers a $200.00 fee. I had spent enough money to have a companion pass. We all know what this means someone is able to ride with you. This is usually a courtesy for people who buy enough or fly enough. A fee to change this as well. Yes I am serious. And when you speak to the "customer service" and then a supervisor all you get is there is nothing we can do as sweetly as sugar. Sorry we take your money and will not give it bak but also charge you to change. Another interesting point put in one way flight and then a round trip, yes the one way is $30 more. The flights that are considered refundable are double. They take your money any way they can.

I purchased round-trip airline tickets through Expedia and their travel insurance. When I tried to change the last leg of the trip, I was told by U.S. Airways that it would cost me $759 up front and then file the claim through Expedia's insurance. Really? When I became upset and, yes, sarcastic, I was disconnected.

Useful and informative website.

i was on a plane from us to the uk. i asked for one extra beer and the answer from the idiot was "i don't like you sir, so no" . i think that must be a joke. really bad customer service and seriously unfriendly staff. never flying with you again, do not care what is costs or what route i might have to take.

BAD service. if you do want to do yourself a favour do not fly with them.

This website has info about travel. It is a safe site to browse.

I make all my flight reservations for American on aa.com and it is the best of the airlines websites. It also has the best service for flight notification texting you when there are changes. Mobile app is also very very good

I booked a vacation package through a third party company. That company was not that great also, but the worst part of the trip was only one flight with American Airlines. I had a flight from Chicago to LA, first, I was not able to choose my seats for the flights. I had a ticket for my wife and me, but the available seats (even a month before the flight) were in the middle of three seats only. I tried to change it during check-in, the very unpleasing, annoying, stressed woman at the O'hare airport told me it is impossible and she was very rude. (We ended up sitting separately) Since I was trying to catch the plane, I did not argue with her. But the awful service did not cease. When I was on the line for security check, another annoying woman came and told me in a very rude way that I needed to check in my carry on baggage. I said to her that I have to run for the flight and might not catch the plane, she continued her rude attitude and forced me to leave the line and check-in the carry on baggage. (I took the same baggage with all other airlines to other flights with no problem, because it was in allowed sizes) I found out that the first woman actually sent the latter one to force me to check in the baggage just to make me pay $25. I had a similar problem earlier with this company for an international flight, when I had to use this airline as a part of my overseas trip. They charged me for the second luggage, even the actual airline (THY) that had an agreement with AA for domestic flights clearly allowed for two pieces. I came to the conclusion that AA would do anything to steal $25 or $50 from every passenger. After first experience, I had been determined not to use this airline, but since it was only one flight of my vacation package I thought it would be OK. But I was clearly wrong. I had two flights with this company, and I will never use it again. I would not recommend this airline to anyone who do not like stingy companies that do not value their customers. Awful service, awful employees.

I have flown with AA for perhaps 20 years now, on a recent flight from Denver to San Francisco I was appalled at the cleanliness of the aircraft. Standards are certainly slipping over the years which is a shame.

Easy to search for prices.

i try to find cheap tickets overseas . and all site, i use before have big price, and not comfortable connection. so i go from kayak to AA.com
and find ticket $300 less that minimum in all sites. on a site it option to live # and in 20 seconds they recall me an help me all time. in this time site machine start to work and i with agent help find ticket. interesting, that price from site was lower like 20% from agent price. so i buy it direct, and after they help me with special(kosher) meals and place. for unknown reason it impossible to do on site, as most airlines. but they help by phone

sehr gute seite

Good site with good service.

I just love how they utilize technology both on their website and at the airport. They and SWA are OUR local airlines and I, for one, cannot imagine either carrier EVER leaving the DFW area. BUY LOCAL.

Not a good airline to travel for people who like little bit more room and also who desire cleanliness