Someone doesn't like AA………….

The service is occasionally sloppy but give credit where it is due. On the two occasions I have booked long-haul flights with the airline and many other occasions where I have just been browsing, they do offer some excellent fares compared to rival airlines. When I am booking flights, I am shopping for the best deal around. I’m not fussed about the airline (within reason), I’m not fussed about a little TV all to myself (just like their 767 on my Dallas to London flight in July) and I am certainly not fussed about the type of aircraft I get to travel on.

If it’s only the price you care about, choose American every time.

I have flown on American countless times for work and leisure. My problems have been with the cabin crews. Don’t get me wrong, most have been just fine, but a significant number have been something approaching miserable. Here’s one example, in particular.

I remember flying on American from JFK to San Juan, Puerto Rico for work (I know, “rough” assignment) and at this time AA was still flying A300-600s down to San Juan. I am looking out the window looking out at the ocean some 37,000+ feet below when I hear a stern “What do you want?” Thinking it is someone else, especially given the tone of the question, I continued to look out the window. Only to hear “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” again. This time I turn toward the Flight Attendant glaring at me with a scowl. Now, I am pretty much stunned. I think to myself “What have I done? Did I hit the overhead service button by accident?” Glancing overhead, I see I didn’t. I then look at the FA, and with a slight bit of annoyance and surprise I say to her “Excuse me?” She says “WHAT … DO… YOU… WANT?!“

Now, I am extremely slow to anger, and I will be the first to assume I am in the wrong if there is any such possibility, but this was beyond the pale for even me. I said, “‘What do you want?’ What are you talking about?” She says “What do you want to drink?” I then said, “That’s what this is about? Is ‘What do you want?‘ the standard form and tone of question during in-flight service now? Ma’am, I apologize for not responding to your first inquiry, but the tone you used wasn’t exactly what one would expect to hear without provocation. I’ll have a Coca-Cola, please. Thank you.”

Now, I am not alone in this criticism of some of the FAs on American. A buddy of mine said it best “When we were kids stewardesses were young, pretty, friendly and accommodating. Now, we’re adults flying for work and someone went and replaced those stewardesses with DMV clerks (Department of Motor Vehicle employees here in the States who you go to to renew your driver’s license and such, who are well renown for being less than friendly or customer service oriented, to say the least.)”

I know the labor atmosphere at American has been anything but great, and no doubt management is just as much to blame, but, don’t take out your misery or frustrations with management out on the customers that are the sole reason for your job’s existence.

In their defence, I had no problems last October, but those stewardesses, I think they had all their mothers substituting for them on my flights!:rolleyes:

I traveled from LAX to STL and back on TWA before they were bought out, and I can say the same thing for their stewardesses, and the food must have been that old as well:dev2:

In their defence, I had no problems last October, but those stewardesses, I think they had all their mothers substituting for them on my flights!:rolleyes:

So, next time I fly to the US, would it be better to fly BA or Virgin?

Link is back:
Air John Dillinger

American Airlinies: World’s Worst Airline

November 6, 2009

American Airlines is the only penitentiary I know that doesn’t just sit there stolidly on the ground. No. It has to fly around and inflict itself on the innocent everywhere. It’s every bit as dismal as Sing Sing, though, combining the elegance of a wrestler’s armpit with the curiosity of having the thieves on the outside, at corporate, and the prison matrons on the inside. I’d rather fly in a Dempster Dumpster piloted by a drunk, since dumpsters usually leave on time and are not owned by pickpockets.

It’s the world’s worst airline. And I’ve flown Aeroflot during the days of the Soviet Union. American has the morals of a Wall Street gangster….

Yup, sorry, link has gone and I had it for a couple of weeks, will try looking for it somewhere else.:o

Link doesnt work.

I didn’t fly with them since 1989…. My opinion may be a little outdated.;)

He isn’t the only one who holds that opinion.
My late sister-in-law had previously flown to the USA from the UK on several occasions with other airlines including BA, Virgin and Delta. She later told me her next trip was about to be booked using AA.
Having seen an article somewhere in which, at that time, it was claimed that you were statistically more likely to lose your bag on American Airlines, I advised her against making that booking. Due to time/date constraints, she booked AA: yes, you’ve guessed – they lost her bag.