For those of you flying American Airlines

captainjay · Post by **captainjay** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:23 pm

We had a good friend fly out on American Airlines last weekend and she had some serious issues with checking in, long story short she nearly missed her flight and they wouldn't let her check her bags. You can read that part on our blog herehttp://livedelifeusvi.blogspot.com/2009 ... urity.html

The really crazy part is she got back this evening and when they were getting off of the plane they announced that all AA passangers leaving St Thomas should be at the ticket counter four hours prior to departure or risk missing their flights.

Customer Service Rules.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:08 pm

DELETED

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:28 pm

I fired AA as my primary airline 10 or 12 years ago. I fly 125-150 segments a year. They didn't care. Because I am a million miler, they have to carry me as a Gold member every year whether I fly 59 sements or no segments during the previous year.

Their professionalism has dropped dramatically. They pay people $7-8 per hour and they get staff whose last employer was in the fast food industry. You get what you pay for.

JIM

designbyroe · Post by **designbyroe** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:37 pm

that is so sad.......why would they need 4 hrs and why does that kiosk not work?
someone in VI tourism NEEDS to look at this BEFORE season starts!! This is UNacceptable......

Thank goodness Jay you could come and get the gifts so all was not lost....that just stinks

Do you know if this would be a concern flying out on a Wed? I have a friend who is flying back on a Wed at 12:15p, I wonder should I make sure she gets to the airport by 9a. I guess a 8a ferry from STJ?
My flight does not go out til 4:15p and it is SPIRIT.
We can print boarding passes at Connections the night before

bchbum82 · Post by **bchbum82** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:14 am

Well I am unfortunately flying AA this go around. I have a 9:15AM depart from STT. I am staying on STJ, what would be the best option with this???

bchbum82 · Post by **bchbum82** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:15 am

Forgot to add that depart from STT is on a Tuesday.

Post by **Anthony** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:09 am

That four hour thing has been in effect for awhile (years). It sounds ridiculous, I know - but it isn't new!

Maggy · Post by **Maggy** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:24 am

I have flown AA from STT several times, and been there about two hours before departure and made it with no problems.

Last time, I got boardingpasses for all my legs, from STT-JFK-LHR and even from London to Stockholm. Baggage checked through all the way also.

Not saying anything about their service. I have very low expectations on them (or any US carrier, without being disrespectful). I think there's a difference between European and US carriers. In Europe there are laws for passenger rights when flights are cancelled, delayed etc. Only the extreme low cost carriers seems to neglect them and get sued for it. The network carriers are more reliable when it comes to passenger service.

With that said, I also think 4 hours sounds rediculous. How is that even possible with an early departure?

Maggy · Post by **Maggy** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:34 am

Forgot so say sorry captainjay, for what happened to your friend. I would be really upset too.

It's really important that those kiosks are working. They should have more of those, to reduce the lines.

captainjay · Post by **captainjay** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:37 am

bchbum82 wrote:Well I am unfortunately flying AA this go around. I have a 9:15AM depart from STT. I am staying on STJ, what would be the best option with this???

As far as I know 6:AM is the first ferry from St John. With a good cab ride that is going to put you at the airport a Little after 7:AM if everything goes perfect. That doesn't leave much margin for error. I don't think the airport even opens until around 6:AM.

As for AA we don't fly them from here. We use US Air through Charlotte most of the time and if we happen to find a better deal on Delta it's through DC. I posted this because I know AA is a major player coming down here. Hope it's been hopefully. As for the tourism department stepping in to help, I would hold your breath they aren't' going to do anything to rock the boat with the airlines as there primary concern is keeping the number of flights up.
Jay

Post by **Anthony** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:38 am

A user has passed on a good idea - <a href="http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/url ... s"><b>tell AA customer service about it</b></a>. I am going to email them the link to this thread right now.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:55 am

I flew out on Thursday on the 9:07am AA flight - I caught the 7am ferry and was at the check in counter at 8:04am where was informed I had 3 mins to complete check in, the policy that I was fully aware of. I had 2 bags to check but if I only had carry on it would not have been a problem at all there was no line at check in or for Customs and I would have avoided the counter all together.

I knew their policy was all bags must be checked 60 mins to departure but I also knew the "large" AA flight to Miami would have already gone through Customs and the only people at the desk would have been for the 9:07am flight and it was a risk I was willing to take.

Would I do this (the 7am ferry for a 9:07 departure) again with checked bags - maybe, but I will use Rachel and not go the regular taxi way as we had one of the slower drivers and one drop off on the way. I will still continue to be there no earlier than 90 mins before departure and if it is busy I will use the porter service.

Pia

designbyroe · Post by **designbyroe** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:29 pm

Pia wrote:I flew out on Thursday on the 9:07am AA flight - I caught the 7am ferry and was at the check in counter at 8:04am where was informed I had 3 mins to complete check in, the policy that I was fully aware of. I had 2 bags to check but if I only had carry on it would not have been a problem at all there was no line at check in or for Customs and I would have avoided the counter all together.

I knew their policy was all bags must be checked 60 mins to departure but I also knew the "large" AA flight to Miami would have already gone through Customs and the only people at the desk would have been for the 9:07am flight and it was a risk I was willing to take.

Would I do this (the 7am ferry for a 9:07 departure) again with checked bags - maybe, but I will use Rachel and not go the regular taxi way as we had one of the slower drivers and one drop off on the way. I will still continue to be there no earlier than 90 mins before departure and if it is busy I will use the porter service.

Pia

Pia,
My friend is just flying to San Juan and then on to Boston. If the flight is 12:15p on a wed, would you suggest the downtown ferry then? What is the earliest one of those in Nov going to be?
If she gets to the airport by 10:30a at the latest on a weekday that is good?
I have never taken AA just SPIRIT or US Air or Eastern when I was younger and they were in business...

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:43 pm

I'm thinking if we're cutting it close, porter service may be the way to go.

pipanale · Post by **pipanale** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:21 pm

Man....makes me happy that, for whatever reason, Delta put us in 1st class for next summer's trip. While the wait once you enter the building is awful, you skip all the crap out at the counters.

The whole process is such a downer at the end of vacation...

usvi-on-line

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For those of you flying American Airlines

For those of you flying American Airlines