Cristina G.
Yelp
Written along with Yelper Elizabeth M:
From the start of our trip going to Costa Rica by way of Miami, the conditions aboard the plane should be considered unethical. As females of average weight and height (and even smaller actually!), we felt as if we were shoved into a small box. Not to mention the seats provided did not have under-the-chair storage for our personal items (which were within standard acceptable size limits) to appropriately fit, further decreasing the already incredibly limited leg room provided. Neither of us were offered room in an over head bin to accommodate this.
Upon return home to the US not only did travel standards provided prove to be equally unbearable, but American Airlines staff was extremely rude and unempathetic. Our flight from Costa Rica to Miami was delayed almost an hour due to "maintenance". Due to this delay, our plane arrived near Miami at the time where they stated they could not land because of the weather (before Dorian actually hit FL). Our plane circled in the sky for over 30 mins before deciding to land in Ft Myers to refuel. At this point, it became clear we may not make our connecting flight. We were not provided with enough information to possibly even call ahead to attempt to secure seats on other flights to our final destination in New York. The plane sat in Fort Myers for over 2 hours. The temperature was poorly controlled and passengers where not offered additional snacks or drinks. Not even a simple cup of water. When we finally took off and then landed back in Miami, we were not even directed on where to go or how to get new connecting flights. After running through the airport we finally came to rebooking, where we where met with complete lack of empathy or concern for AAs customers. We were told that it was not their problem the weather was bad, that there would be no more flights to NY that night, and the only thing they could give us was a stop over flight the next day to Dallas and then to NY (a completely illogical option considering we would be flying further away from our destination). Additionally, we were told we would not be given ANY HOTEL OR MEALS for the night. We were expected to sleep on airport floors which is completely unacceptable.
The fact that this is AA's 1st course of action is completely deplorable. We were treated as if we are cattle and seen as nothing more than dollar signs. Yes, weather is uncontrollable but is this how you treat customers? What's more disgusting is that we were begging your employee to show some sympathy as at this point in our trip, we were already traveling for over 12 hours and were not even given water. After mentioning that this was unethical, suddenly he was able to provide us with hotel accommodations, meal vouchers and a flight back to NY via ATL. Suddenly after mentioning that we weren't just going to sleep in the airport and that we wouldn't leave without them at least giving us a drop of water, something clicked in him. Something done so easily but was met with complete resistance unnecessarily.
You would think the insults to us via AA would have stopped there but NO. When boarding in Miami the next day, 1 of us was told to check her carry on bag for being to large. Mind you - this is the same bag, packed the same way, that fit TSA/AA's size regulations for carryons for our three previous flights this trip. The carryon was suddenly too big. Instead of giving us an opportunity to reorganize the bag to please your employee who was clearly on a power trip, said employee began to belittle us and insult us as well as clap in her face as if he was on the street. She began to become emotional at the complete disrespect and disregard of these people at this point we have been traveling for over 24 hours. Exhausted and trembling in tears, she handed over her bag. She was now fearful that it may be tampered with because it did not have a lock, or that items inside would be broken because the bag was not not meant to be checked (as we all know luggage IS NOT handled with care when being loaded and unloaded).
When we finally landed in ATL we discovered right outside our gate was another AA flight heading to NY leaving within the hour that had people on standby. This means instead of a 3hr layover we experienced in ATL we could have been placed on this plane and made it home 5 hours sooner. But when rebooking the night before this was not considered.
The excessive take offs and landings, as well as the increase and decrease of pressure caused swelling in ankles and hands, an occurrence that DOES NOT HAPPEN to healthy young women. Since neither of us has experienced this before, it can only be attributed to the unnecessary pressure changes and borderline inhumane seating conditions endured while flying with AA.
36 hours of traveling AND an incredibly rude airline? It was a nightmare, and you better believe we will both be filing formal complaints against their practices.
