America west airlines. Flying from Atlanta to lax stopping in Phoenix. Flight 656 leaving 5.25pm July 5th. I'm over 50 years old, I've flown all over the world, this was the most dismal travelling experience of my life. We received 15 minute reports for 11/2 hours about mechanical failure. The flight was then officially cancelled, this was initially a relief as the plane looked about 50 years old!

One staff member then proceeded to announce that he was trying to re-route all the passengers to different flights by destination. At 10.30pm I went downstairs to the am- west desk, to be told I had already been re -scheduled to fly on the red-eye in six hours time but first I would be flying to Las Vegas then Denver then finally Lax. I was also told the flight was oversold so I'd better be early!

All this was done with an Attitude, I put down to understaffing and having to deal with so many complaints.( or do people really wake up that nasty?).Our luggage was not returned. We were told there were NO HOTEL VOUCHERS. Nothing was offered. Many people slept the few hours in the airport. There comes a point where you're too worn out to argue. Fortunately my son contacted Am-West to re-route me to Burbank from Phoenix. I was assured at the Atlanta gate my luggage would go to Burbank. I had 30 minutes to make the connecting flight in Phoenix and guess what? No gate number. I asked the Am-West desk in Phoenix for the gate number and was told "he was busy with someone else's ticket". Found another of their staff in the airport(amazing 2 staff!) and made it to the gate with 10 mins, to spare.

Guess what... no luggage in Burbank. We found an Am-West agent to tell us the luggage was in Lax. This was 9am. Her computer wouldn't print out so we got hand written numbers. By 7pm the luggage hadn't arrived.2 days in the same clothes-sweet! Finally got thru on the phone to be told I would have to call the luggage carriers myself. It arrived at 9pm. The nightmare was finally over. The greatest act of customer service Am-West/U.S.Airlines can do is to go out of business!
Don't buy a ticket if they're giving them away.