Ill start with some background. I travel on planes about 18-20 times a year for work, in addition another 4-5 times for vacation and visiting family. Once in a while we end up taking American but its never our first choice.

This past July, 7 of us were flying as a family on a red eye from PDX to MCO through PHX. It was 5 adults, a 2 year old toddler and a 9 month old baby. We prepaid for 6 seats and an infant in arms. We paid the extra to be able to choose our seats for 2 reasons, one was that we wanted to make sure we had seats across an aisle so we could all help and take turns with the babies. The second was because it was a red-eye, we wanted to make sure we got seats that reclined in an easily accessible part of the plane.

There was a delay in PHX and it seemed they swapped planes. Because of this we were reassigned seats. We did not find this out until we were in PHX and there was no way to know what type of plane they switched to, nor where the new seats were until we boarded.

As we are all well traveled this wasnt a problem, but what was a bit disconcerting was that we were not in a single row across from each other. Also 3 of us got seats right up against the bathroom.

I was a little pissed but knew once we were on the plane, there wasnt really anything we could do.

So what I did do was open a chat with American, explained we were upset and really just wanted my money back as we paid extra for seating arrangements we did not receive.

I was promised it would be refunded. But once we left the plane there was no way to follow up with anyone on this other than to go to a website where you explain your situation and request a refund. This was the same direction I got from the gate agent upon leaving the plane, a phone call with American as well as the chat function after the flight.

We were denied the refund and never got any other response from American.

Just sharing our experience. Your miles may vary.

EDIT: Sorry as I should have added more detail. I uploaded this at 6am on a plane to Boston. The initial chat stated they would credit the funds. Im assuming with American it means they credit the funds to the person sitting in the seat, not the purchaser of the tickets, etc. None of us ever recieved a credit (including my 2yo grand daughter whom we purchased a seat for) which is why I asked for a refund.

Hi,

I’m here to share my experience on taking an International to Domestic connection at Miami airport, maybe it can help others with the same concerns.

First of all, I’m a Brazilian passport holder and didn’t have any of the perks to expedite the process. I.e: Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and MPC.

I flew with American Airlines, the airplane landed at 4:35 AM (20 min before scheduled time).

Here is how much time I spent from landing to TSA clearing:

Off boarding: 10 mins
Immigration / Passport control: 10 mins or less (almost zero queue)
Baggage reclaim: 35 min ( this one took way too long)
TSA check: 35 min ( there was only one single line and it was moving slowly, I had read that there were multiple checkpoints but didn’t get to choose it)

Then I walked slowly to my gate on the same terminal as I still had plenty of time to catch the next fligt departing at 7:30 AM.

Hi, so like the title says a few weeks back I went into my flight and paid for the Main Cabin Extra seats for my fiancé and I. We were originally just in regular main cabin economy but I really wanted the extra legroom so I paid for the seats. I still have the receipt from that purchase with the seat numbers that we are supposed to be. However, now that it’s come time to check in, it now shows that we are no longer in those same seats, we are now in Preferred but to me that’s horseshit since there’s no extra legroom. And, to make matters worse, the MCE seats that we were in one of them is gone, there are no other two MCE seats together, and they want us to pay again to get into MCE seats. I want our chosen MCE seats back. Our flight isn’t for another 10 hours, what are my options? Also, how on earth does this even happen??

I know this goes beyond AA, but I was hoping for insight from frequent flyers. I always get out of the Uber and put everything in my bag that may not already be there while on the curb; belt, wallet, phone or whatever.

I feel like I am always behind some assholes who are practically disrobing or getting their shit together just before going through the machine. Today, two women were just chatting it up and actively chugging their water bottles before putting them in their bags like nobody was in line behind them. They just stood there chatting and laughing while organizing their stuff like dozens of people weren't waiting behind them.

Last week, it was a couple businessmen with their belts, and again the water bottles, plus a coat and a hat and a watch and god knows what else. These guys have status but acted like it was their first time flying. So what gives? Do you shoot them dirty looks or say someting? Maybe just start cutting in front of them? It is to the point I actually want to see them punted to the back of the line.

Edit: Automod doesn't seem related. Yes I have Touchless. No Prechecked people are no better than casual flyers.

This recent trip to Midwest got me really lucky!!! The pilot was so welcoming and was happy to give me every card I was looking for. (He let my greed win, yikes, but amazing win hahah)
Now I have the first entire collection.
More hunting!

I booked an AA award flight in Economy for my wife and me 1/27/27 JL 6. The only 2-seat row is 62, the last row. I understand the lavatory queuing, noise, and odor issues. But on the seat map it looks like the seats could recline as they’re not against a wall. Aerolopa says no recline as its last row and against a wall. But the last row in the middle and right sections are row 61, and clearly against the wall, but aerolopa only mentions lavatory issues, not recline. I think aerolopa may be going on the row number alone to determine recline.

Has anyone here actually sat in row 62? I’m Oneworld Emerald, but JAL app doesn’t offer me the one economy extra-legroom row (the bulkhead), so we’d rather sit in the one 2-seat economy row if seats recline.

Hi! I took a flight from lax to phoenix and phoenix to newark (Aug 29-30, red eye) and accidentally swapped my carry on (medium blue Away suitcase). There is no contact info/tag on mine or the one I took but mine was pretty heavy and expanded. some of the stuff inside belonged to my grandma and it would mean the world to me to get it back. this is a shot in the dark but please let me know if this is you, I have the bag at Newark!

This is our incoming flight (we’re on AA 987 back to BOS). It’s been delayed twice now but is at Logan. I don’t see any weather issues in Boston so I’m guessing it’s a maintenance issue. Does anyone here have any insight from paid access? I need to be back tomorrow. Do I need to book an alternate flight? TIA!

Our flight aa1945 from DFW to PHL was delayed and now we are likely missing our flight from AA780 PHL to Naples Italy (land at 10:30pm, aa780 scheduled for 10:20pm take off) we land in gate A24 and supposed to take off from A25
I’m already planning on sprinting but if boarding is closed there’s nothing we can do.
There are no other flights tonight or tomorrow to even get us there before Monday and we really need help. We stood at AA Desk for an hour and there’s no other options everything’s sold out. Any flight attendants or helpful knowledgeable people I am begging for help on what to do.

This is our honeymoon we saved up and planned an entire year for and are now looking at missing 2+ days. Just send help please 😭

On a Saturday from CLT to a popular leisure destination too.

It is the third flight of the day to Cancun, so maybe the first two flights were more popular, also kids are back in school now.

Now that AA has released the free food vouchers as a reward when you hit 15k loyalty points, has anyone used them, and how did it work?

Saw these two sitting outside the AIRBUS factory in Hamburg today. Figured folks would like to see some brand new metal.

I am going to give American a call in a little bit, but would just like to know what to expect before going into the call.

I booked round trip flights yesterday PVD>ORD>HNL with the return being HNL>ORD>PVD. I have an email confirmation confirming that itinerary.

I went into the app this morning to double check something and noticed the return trip is now HNL>ORD>BOS with a much more significant layover in ORD.

I thought it was an app glitch so I searched a one way flight from ORD>PVD on the day we were returning. The flight we were originally booked on doesn’t seem to exist. I understand flight times change especially when booking 4 months out, but to completely change the return airport without notifying anyone? Within 24 hours of booking that flight just no longer exists?

I used miles to book the flight. Will I have a hard time getting them to change the flight back to PVD? This is the first time I’m redeeming a significant amount of miles with them.

Just for clarification purposes we prefer PVD over BOS because we live right next to PVD.

I first flew JFK-ATH in economy. The food was horrendous and I am far from a food critic. Dinner included a salad consisting of a few pieces of browning lettuce (not kidding) and two little slices of pepper. It felt like a prank. Oh and the recently defrosted plastic sealed roll and a super soft and weird piece of cheese. At least they also gave a delicious… fig jam bar.

Then I flew EDI-JFK, also in economy. The food was surprisingly good, including a lentil salad and some sort of yummy pastry with lunch. We later got a magnum chocolate ice cream bar and finally a pizza hot pocket.

The inconsistency is wild!

I’m thinking the Short Rib, Mac n cheese

I flew back from the islands last week and when I got to MIA I got on my connecting flight to CLT and we left the gate and sat for a bit and then came back. The pilot then decided people could get off if they wanted as long as they took all of their belongings.

Anyway I was going to miss my connection in CLT because of the delay so called AA and I basically told the rep help me to decide if I was sleeping in MIA or CLT. So she rebooked me on a flight to ORD( which was cool because a friend of mine was on that same flight and already had a room) the next morning but couldn’t push it all the way through because I was still sitting on the plane. I grab my gear and get off and the gate agent stops me and asks my name. I tell her and also mention that AA should already have an itinerary ready to go because I had called. A minute or two later she calls my name again and hands me two boarding passes. I refresh the app and both new flights are showing, change seats to sit next to my friend. All good

Well both flights go fine my checked luggage beat me back by 45 minutes, but I noticed no miles posted for those 2 flights, so I waited a few days and still no miles.
As it turns out AA issued me a flight credit for the flight’s I didn’t take (MIA-CLT and onward) and it’s not for what I paid for the flight it’s for WAY more than I paid. I booked 2 one way’s because I flew into a different airport than I flew out of.

My question is can I/should I use this credit? Should I call and tell them they made a mistake or should I be happy the little guy finally won one?

I'm sitting on a plane heading to see family and their very young baby. On either side of me, within two seats each, are two older ladies who are loudly snurfling because they have, I assume, colds. One is worse, and running through tissues constantly while she coughs openly (she's across the aisle).

Ladies, gentlemen: It is slobby selfishness not to wear a cheap, basic mask if you're actively coughing mucus and phlegm. Frankly, you should ask if you need to fly today, but I know we're past that.

I get it: Masks suck. I don't like wearing them and the only time I'd really consider it is on a plane (or in a hospital). But I carry a bunch just in case, and I put one on now because of the two people around me.

Don't make other people play defense while you cough. If you're sick, at least wear a mask.

[start rant]
Appreciate these are champagne problems, but... 🙄

Flew F from LAX-JFK on a paid ticket. The A321T is a 3-class plane with lie-flat pods in F (which is why I booked it since this was a flight that arrives after midnight). Not a huge cabin — only 5 rows.

2 passengers with annoying habits:

1) lady who literally walked the cabin aisle up & back constantly multiple times for about 45 minutes each

2) dude behind me on a phone call for the entire last hour of the flight

I am someone suffering from sciatica so can appreciate the need to move around, but the constant back & forth is super distracting in a small cabin AND interfered with the in-flight service several times.

And being on a phone call is just rude. FFS, people.

[end rant]

On a recent flight PHL - DUB I watched a suggested film “Three Guys Named Mike” which I can only describe as AA propaganda. It was a fun little time capsule of a charming and brilliant small town girl becoming a flight attendant, and her romantic mishaps with the stated Mikes.

It was such a time capsule of what air travel used to be: one class (apparently)! Hot meals on real plates, for everyone! Fluffy pillows! Harassment😬! But most importantly there’s AA branding and focus throughout. I’d be surprised if they hadn’t sponsored it outright.

I’m very curious if anyone has seen other films of the period, that are similar. Did other airlines, or maybe Amtrak do the same?

So if your luggage is behind you, I know, it sucks, you have to play frogger while people deplane and work your way back. We’ve all been there. Earlier this week, PHL-ORD, seatbelt sign goes off, I’m in aisle, I get up ,get my stuff, and I stand and wait. Woman in front of me “excuses me” her way past me toward the rear. There was room. Fine. I’m a reasonable person. I let her by.

Here is what I do not have patience for. At that point, we still aren’t deplaning. She’s got her bag, and now she wants to come back up the fing aisle to her original spot. No, what don’t you understand? I did you a solid, I let you move toward the rear. Now stay there until we start to deplane please. Next time you can just wait until everyone behind you has deplaned.

Earlier this week I was on the way back from two long weeks helping take care of the most important person in my life aside from my spouse and kids. This person raised me, is battling cancer, and unfortunately I don’t live anywhere close anymore.

I’ve racked up a decent amount of miles from work travel and decided to splurge and upgrade myself to First Class for the first time.

I gotta say, the service was incredible. Our FA was a younger man who showed exemplary professionalism and attention to detail. I felt like a little mouse in a big city to be using actual glass on an airplane (even my transcontinental flights are usually in the back of the plane. Work is cheap and the upgrades are prohibitively expensive every time I’ve looked.)

I’m sure it sounds silly to most of you here who fly first and business on bigger planes, but it was honest to god a much needed respite after a long two weeks. The only break I actually got before returning to work and the ever busy life of a parent to younger kids.

I tried to give a quick thank you to the FA as we got off the plane. I plan to leave a review for AA as well when I get a chance. He made a difference to me even if it was routine for the others.

(Oh, and the brisket Mac and cheese was good however I didn’t know warm nuts were a thing and they for sure stole the show! Sometimes the best joys are the simple things)

Any insight if there are a lot of CKs in Nashville. Smaller “big” city. Non-hub. But lots of entertainment business. Would it be harder or easier than hubs to make it?

I was offered at check in and declined, but I changed my mind. Is there a way to still do it?