With displeasure and annoyance we have to inform our friends and sponsors of a damage to the View e. V. (The View Society) caused by American Airlines.

Until today American Airlines did not bother to send an apology for their disgraceful behaviour, or even refund the outstanding amount of 226 USD, which had to be paid from donation money of the View Society.

Please consider the unbelievable behaving of AmericanAirlines when you book your next flight. Next time it might be you to suffer from the ignorance and sloppy work of American Airlines.

The explaining letter to American Airlines has been attached on our website at: http://www.view-ev.de/aa.html

I was booked on AA flight 133, JFK to LAX, at 3:30. Upon checking in using AA's automatic check in system, I was directed to the 4:30 flight. This flight was delayed, but I was issued a boarding pass and seat assignment. At boarding time, nearly 3 hours delayed, and 4 hours after I had first checked it, I was called to the desk by an agent named Happell. She took my boarding pass, threw it out, and refused to return it. I had been in first position for standby. As a result of her actions, I was not allowed to board the flight, even though I had purchased a ticket, checked in, and received a boarding pass and seat assignment, while other passengers, who arrived after I had, boarded. A full refund with any appropriate penalties for this action would be the only suitable remedy.

During the month of September 08, my wife and mother-in �law purchased two round-trip tickets (TICKET NUMBER 0012146974218, TICKET NUMBER 0012146974217 ) from AA http://www.aa.com for $193 each. On the week of Monday Nov 24 (several days before their flight on Sat, Nov 29, 2008) my wifes Father, my mother-in-laws husband went into the hospital, after having a mild stroke. My wife called AA and explained that they had to cancel their flight, due to a medical emergency and were told that they would lose all of their money with the exception of $43 dollars! each. They were told the 43 dollars had to be used to toward another ticket. Why did AA do this? Could AA not have simply given each of them a $193 CREDIT that they could used toward another flight on AA, within 1 year from the purchase date. AA is a muli-billion dollar company! Are they that hard up for money that they got to take someone elses money? This is a rip off . Why should I ever fly them again? If they need money this bad, then maybe they need a GOVERNEMENT BAILOUT! Whoever wrote this policy should be ashamed!

Please help me understand how a simple weekend trip for a security conference in Vegas could be ruined by the mediocrity of your standard service. Let me preface the following with the fact that the last time I took American your airlines had left me stranded in Chicago for 3 days, and wouldn't let me take a flight to San Fran instead, which I was scheduled to take the Monday after I returned from Chicago.

I had booked a flight to Las Vegas back in April that was scheduled to leave LGA on 8/7/2008 (#785 @ 6:25PM with a Dallas layover for flight #355). Well as usual, I arrived at the airport at 4:30 only to find out the flight was delayed until 7:30.

Upon finally boarding the plane, the pilot began to inform us of inclement weather (which there was none) and we would be taking off shortly... "Shortly" however turned into 3 trips around the airport and the pilot reporting numerous times that we are in queue for takeoff then back again to circling the airport. The last count I believe was 3 times we were in queue. Taking off after 2 1/2 hours of ground time.

As we are in the air, I know there is no way I am making my connection, so I'm fully prepared for more American issues. As we are approaching DFW, the pilot announces the gates for the connections. I ask the flight attendant if the Vegas flight will still be there. He responds by saying "oh yeh thats gate d26 you'll make it, the Oklahoma City folks probably wont".

Once we land at your hub, now we are circling for 15 minutes, because "ground crew" was unavailable. Finally we're off the plane. I ask the desk agent about the Vegas flight and she informs me that yes they are still here and you should be able to make it. So now onto my 20 minute walk to the other gate.

I get to the gate and they are just closing the doors... I immediately ask the agent why did they close the doors.. Only to be told they gave away my seat... Now I'm usually a calm individual but this was ridiculous... American kept me hostage for 2 1/2 hours on the Tarmac, and then gives away my seat on the connection??? I had a conference that started the next morning and now thanks to American I wasn't making it. She had also said we told them not to send you over here.

So I ask the agent about the next flight, and who would cover my room, since I had already spent 300 on a room in Vegas. She said that I am because it was an air traffic control issue (All my buddies that flew Delta got out...) Then she tells me the earliest she can get me out is 2pm the next day.. However when she saw it was a first class seat, she said she would be able to confirm me on the 10:30 flight, and she printed a room voucher for me. She also showed me the room voucher pointing to it, so the irate customer next to me wouldn't say anything because he was requesting a room as well.

Fine... Already I am going to miss the start of my conference... I wake up the next morning to head to the airport. The flight was supposed to go out of A11 at DFW (Flight# 1811) at 10:30. I had some breakfast, smoked a cigarette go through security and get to the gate at 10:05. No sign on the board... Hmm... Ask the agent and he said it was moved to gate D26. So now I have to go through the entire airport again. Have to recheck in because of change of equipment, only to find out the plane is delayed until 11:30. When I finally get into Vegas it is almost 3PST, and I had lost an entire day of the conference, and 300 for the room...

My flight back was equally as bad... Arrived at airport at 6:00 for a 7:25 flight... Flight was delayed until 8:15. Once we boarded at 7:30, we just sat... No informational announcements... Just sat and sat and sat.. Again 2 1/2 hours on the tarmac at the gate. To top it off the staff on this flight was just as bad.. While I was passed out the flight attendant walked into my shoulder while she was passing out food. Then I woke up and she says. "Oh do you want to eat too". Thats the worst first class service I have ever had...

Then it takes almost 90 minutes to get my luggage at JFK... So all in all I got on the plane at 7:25PST and didn't get out of the airport until 6:45EST for what should of only been a 4 1/2 hour flight.

I'm not looking for an apology... Just want a simple explanation on why you feel you can provide such horrible service. You are not the only airlines. I have cancelled my Citi Advantage mastercard today, and will be transferring my miles as well.. Good Riddance American.

As an American Airlines (AA) frequent flyer of 100K miles, I have to say AA just isn't what it used to be when it comes to customer relations, and they won't be getting another 100K miles out of my family.

While shopping on their Website for flights, I tried to select "infant in lap" for our one year old son, but there was no option available, so I consulted the site on the subject and found a page "Traveling with Children and Infants" page, which informed me the following:

"Infants under 2 years of age who travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may be held in an adult's lap at no charge. For transatlantic/transpacific travel or travel to/from Latin America, children under two years of age are required to have a ticket in their name for 10% of the applicable adult fare for the International portion."

When I called reservations before booking the flight, they said their online system doesn't enable us to select "infant in lap", and I should just call in sometime after we make the reservation to notify AA of the infant in lap.

The fares for my wife and 4 yr old son were quoted at $996.90 each ($1, 993.80 total). When I called in later to notify of the infant in lap, I was told the extra charge is $553 ($154 fare + $399 in taxes). That is a far cry from the 10% of the applicable adult fare for the International portion.

I asked reservations agents to explain it, but they couldn't, so I wrote customer relations with their Web-based form. Their email reply said to just call reservations again. Which I did again and again.

Finally, it was explained to me that the 10% of the fare ($154) was based on a higher rate due to lower inventory of seats available when I called back to inform them of the infant in lap. They couldn't explain why that matters if he is in his Mom's lap and not taking up any seat, nor eating any of the airlines food. But that wasn't the part that bothered me. It was the $399 in fuel surcharge and miscellaneous other fees.

I understand air fares need to go up when fuel costs go up and I don't mind paying a "fuel tax" on my 14 lb. infant. I'd even be happy to pay real taxes (especially if they were used to invest in alternative energy), or get charged some carbon offsets. The bigger issue is with the utter lack of information and support through the whole process of booking our flights:

1. No option to choose "infant in lap" when booking online.

2. No indication anywhere on their site about paying taxes and fees on top of the "10% of the applicable adult fare for the International portion".

3. No hints by agents that I'll be in for a big surprise after I book the flights for mom and big brother.

4. Nobody in reservations able to adequately explain how the fare is calculated, and why the "fuel surcharge" is nearly 3X the fare. They make it sound like the $399 is all going to Uncle Sam.

5. Response from customer relations was to simply call reservations again. No support from the people who supposedly care about their customers...

6. Several calls later, I got an explanation of the charges and how they calculated them, but no reasons why they can't warn their valued customers a little better before they book their non-refundable flights.

7. There is no way to reply to the customer relations email. The only way to contact them is through their online form or via snail mail.

Warning to parents with infants: If you plan to carry your infant in lap on an international flight with AA, make sure you find out how much they are going to charge you before you book your flight. If you can't do that, try another airlines that will cooperate with you better.