Times used to be, airlines were so busy fighting each other for passengers, they ended up losing money instead of making it. But American Airlines CEO Doug Parker says things are different now that many of the major carriers have merged: huge losses are a thing of the past, Parker thinks, predicting smooth skies for the big airlines from here on out. [More]
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Why Did American Airlines Make Me Move My Child’s Safety Seat So Someone Could Recline?
By 6.13.16
Planning ahead can go a long way when it comes to reducing the amount of stress parents face when flying with their young children. At least that was Becca’s thought when she researched and decided to pay extra so her 7-month-old son could travel rear-facing in his safety seat on a recent American Airlines flight. Despite Federal Aviation Administration rules — and American’s own policies — things didn’t go as planned when a flight attendant ordered Becca to move the child seat so the passenger in the row in front of her could recline. [More]
American Airlines Flight Attendant Tells Passenger To “Shut Up” In Spat Over Service
By 6.9.16
We’ve seen passengers and airline workers exchange heated words before, often over things like seating assignments or attire. But a fight between an American Airlines flight attendant and a passenger on a recent flight all boiled down to one thing: pasta. [More]
American Airlines’ Rewards Will Be Based On Ticket Price, Not Miles
By 6.6.16
American Airlines loyalty members looking to rack up points based on the length of their trip have two months left to do so. Starting in August, the carrier will be joining the likes of rivals United and Delta by rewarding loyalty members with miles based on how much they pay for their ticket. [More]
Want Extra Legroom Or To Sit With Your Kids? Airlines Say ‘Pay Up’
By 5.25.16
If you’ve booked airline seats for your family or for another group that wants to sit together recently, you might have noticed how few seats were available to you if you’re not an elite member of a loyalty program. It’s not just you: airlines are making changes so that the privilege of deciding where to sit is reserved only for big-spending customers, or travelers willing to pay up for the privilege. [More]
Airlines Have Spent More Than $12M To Cut Airport Security Lines
By 5.25.16
The unofficial start of the busy summer travel season kicks off this weekend, with more than 231 million passengers expected to crowd the nation’s airports. That is, if they don’t miss their flight because of long security lines. In a bid to ensure that doesn’t happen, the country’s largest domestic airlines are shelling out big bucks — think $12 million and up — to alleviate congestion at security checkpoints. [More]
American Airlines Waives Sick Traveler’s $200 Cancellation Fee After He Sends Sweet Note & Family Photos
By 5.24.16
The next time you need to ask an airline to make an exception for you, think about following the example set by a traveler whose witty letter — complete with photos of his family — convinced American Airlines to waive its $200 cancelation fee. [More]
450 American Airlines Passengers Stranded At O’Hare Airport Overnight Because Of Long TSA Lines
By 5.16.16
The Transportation Safety Administration has been taking quite a beating lately over exceedingly long wait times at screening checkpoints in the nation’s airports. American Airlines now says its employees will be pitching in to help speed things up, after security delays stranded 450 of the carrier’s passengers overnight at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. [More]
American Airlines Stops Announcing Gate Info During Flights, Because You’re Not Listening Anyway
By 5.16.16
When was the last time you were flying and actually listened to the pilot or cabin crew member rattle off the information about arrival and transfer gates. These days, you probably have that gate info anyway because your phone, laptop, tablet, watch, garter belt, and pinky ring are all connected to the internet. Even if you didn’t have the foresight to sort out this info on your own, you’re probably not listening because you’ve got your headphones on and don’t want to be bothered. [More]
American Airlines Apologizes For Preventing Musician From Bringing Violin On Board
By 4.29.16
American Airlines has apologized to a concert musician who wasn’t allowed to board a flight carrying her 18th-century violin, despite the airline’s policy that says small musical instruments can be treated as a traveler’s carry-on. [More]
American Airlines Flight Turns Around After Bird Strike Leaves 2-Foot Dent In Plane
By 4.28.16
A bird might be small compared to a jetliner, but get a whole bunch of them together and they can do some pretty serious damage. Passengers on an American Airlines flight out of Seattle found that out yesterday, when the plane was forced to turn around after a bird strike left a two-foot dent in the nose of the aircraft. [More]
An Improved Spirit Airlines Still Comes In Last In Customer Satisfaction Survey
By 4.26.16
A year ago, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines made its debut in the American Customer Satisfaction Index with a thud, coming in dead last among airlines in the annual survey. But even with a 15% improvement over last year’s score, Spirit still couldn’t escape the cellar. [More]
Travel Agents Accuse United, American & Delta Airlines Of Price Conspiracy
By 4.21.16
Last summer, the Department of Justice announced that it had opened an investigation into alleged collusion between major airlines to keep ticket prices high. Now, a group of travel agents are accusing three major airlines of also conspiring to raise prices for trips with multiple stops. [More]
American Airlines Calls Out TSA For “Unacceptable” Lines At Airport Checkpoints
By 4.14.16
Not a fan of lengthy lines at airport security checkpoints? You aren’t alone: American Airlines is putting the Transportation Security Administration on blast for the kind of “unacceptable” long wait times that caused 6,800 customers to miss their flights during spring break week this year. [More]
American Airlines Pilot Removed From Flight, Arrested After Failing Breathalyzer
By 3.28.16
Travelers on an American Airlines flight to Philadelphia encountered an unusual delay on Saturday, when the co-pilot of the plane was arrested after failing a breathalyzer test, resulting in the cancellation of the flight. [More]
U.S. Airlines Providing Travel Waivers To Some Passengers After Brussels Attack
By 3.22.16
In light of today’s attacks in Belgium, several U.S.-based airlines are waiving their typical rebooking penalties and fees for travelers flying from, to, or through Brussels and several other European cities. [More]
U.S. Airlines Competing To Nab One Of 20 New Scheduled Routes To Havana
By 3.3.16
Now that the United States and Cuba have decided to let bygones be bygones and relations are thawing between the two countries, more Americans will soon have the chance to visit the nearby island nation by air. There will be 110 new scheduled routes to Cuba, with 20 of those flying daily to the country’s capital of Havana, and major U.S. airlines are stepping up to the plate to bid for the first regularly scheduled, non-charter flights. [More]
Following American Airlines Lawsuit, GoGo To Upgrade In-Flight WiFi
By 3.1.16
Just days after American Airlines dropped its lawsuit accusing GoGo of providing unacceptably slow service, the in-flight WiFi provider said it would upgrade its systems to offer faster connections for customers flying with its contracted airlines. [More]
