Travel Terrors: Never Fly with American Airlines!

As a professional speaker and writer, I frequently travel. Never have I endured a hellish flight as the one from New Mexico to Ohio on American Airlines.

Reservations made months prior apparently meant little to American. They rearranged my flight times as if they were rolling dice and taking bets on how much passengers will tolerate. After the third change, I phoned to explain that I'd made my reservations with the point of being at a particular location at a specific time. I can be flexible, but if I agreed to their third change, I'd miss my speaking engagement. Exhaustive time on the telephone eventually rolled me back at my original reservation.

In the New Mexico airport, mechanical problems delayed departure to Texas where I connected with a flight to Ohio. Sitting in the crowded, noisy boarding area I overheard, "Attention. If you're on flight #462, departing in 20 minutes to Dallas/Fort Worth, there will be a delay. If you have a connecting flight you might want to reschedule at this time."

I scrambled, along with others, to the long line forming at the ticket counter. After waiting like cattle to load onto the slaughter ramp, an indifferent agent shoved paper into our hands. "You'll have to call to make your own rescheduled reservation," she said. I looked down at the scrawled 1-800 number and began the call.

The voice on the other end of the phone said, "You'll miss your connection and it was the last out of Dallas. I can book you tomorrow."

"I'm to be in Ohio tonight."

"I can book you on a flight tomorrow."

"I'll miss an appointment plus accrue other expenses."

"I can book you tomorrow," she flatly repeated.

"Well, if that's my only option, go ahead." Then I explained the change to the apathetic agent.

"You might be able to make that connection," she said as she hastily typed on her computer. "Oh, too late I can't put you back now, your spot's filled. Next!"

"Wait. If it's mechanical problems and I can't make my connection, then can the airline put me up overnight?"

"Yes, but not here. Get into Dallas and spend the night there. Next!"

"What about meals, I'm hungry."

"No meals. Next!"

"So when I get into Dallas, where do I go?"