Travel, Airlines - American Airlines reneged on itinerary

Reneged on itinerary

American Airlines

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Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 06:48 PM Like so many people and businesses the airlines were profoundly affected by the terrorist attacks in September. However, they have the unique and happy distinction of having been bailed out with billions of taxpayers’ money. Therefore, I am unsympathetic with American Airlines and the stunt they have pulled on me.

In early September I purchased a round trip ticket from Chicago to Birmingham (UK), for travel end of October. At the beginning of this month they told me they had canceled this route and had put me on a Chicago to London flight. OK, I said, but how do I get to Birmingham? Well, there’s a good train service, was the reply…the fare of course would be on me. (That’s over $100.) In other words, I am out of luck and American is reneging on its contract to transport me to Birmingham. And they would be very happy to cancel my booking and refund my credit card.

Since time was short and I had only 21 days left to get an alternative flight at a reasonable cost, I agreed to the cancellation and refund, and scrambled to get a flight on Continental. American knew they had an obligation to me, but were counting on my not being able to afford the time and energy to force them to perform or provide a reasonable alternative.

It galls me that it’s quite different when the traveler changes his plans. I had had to cancel an American Airlines flight to England in the summer and it cost me $150. My frequent flier account shows I’ve traveled hundreds of thousands of miles with American. However, I have had a much happier time with United, Northwest and Continental since September, and so will look there first in the future. Oh—I had to shell out for the Continental flight of course, but I have yet to see my credit card being credited by American. I hope they’re not thinking of holding on to my money as well!