American Airlines, a company that I will never fly again in my life.
Yesterday I had a terrible experience that had traumatized me for the rest of my life.
I was flighing from MUNICH to MEXICO CITY, and had a transfer in Philadelphia. I am an European citizen and Europeans need a Visa to enter the US, this visa can be made in 15 minutes online, with no problem.
So here is the story: I was in the airport two hours before the flight (like it is reccomended for international flights) went directly to the check in, when I arrived in the desk (after making a small interview with on agent of A A) the lady asked my for my passport and than the ESTA, I said that I was not going to the US but to Mexico, and I didn't had an ESTA. The lady said "ah ok, wait there for my colleague that he will explain for you about the ESTA."
This colleague was the same that made the interview with me a few minutes before. He was on the phone and I waited for him. When he finished the call, he looked at me and said: "So you don't have an ESTA? Then unfurtunetly you will not make into this flight!"
I was shocked.
I told him that I was not going to the US, that I already had past Visas and had been many times to the US without problem.
Then he said "well this old VISAs are expired, you will need to get the flight tomorrow, we can rebook it for you, just go to the desk across the room and we will relocate you for tomorrow."
I said: "If you can rebook me without charge I can fly tomorrow."
He: "I didn't said it was without charge."
I asked: "Can I make it online right now?"
He: "The check in is closing now"
I: "but it's more than one hour before the fight! I only have a carry on."
He: "yes but the Check-in is closing, you don't have time."
*personal question: why didn't he asked me if I had the ESTA before, during the interview.*
I went to this desk, couldn't find it immediately, asked other people from the airport where was it. Arrived at the desk an no one was there. Came back to the check-in desk, asked why nobody was there. They said "they will come soon." OK...
Than I looked there was a girl that arrived after me with her phone trying to fill the ESTA. Then I asked the man: "why is she trying to fill the ESTA if you said the check in is closed?"
He: "because she had already started an application (or something like that)."
Then I asked: "so can I also make it?"
He: "It depends how fast you can do it..."
*can you imagine how pissed I was at that moment? Why didn't he said that before?!*
I started doing it, shaking because I was so nervous.
A few minutes after he said: "check-in is closed!"
The girl got in, I didn't.
What makes me angry is the fact that if they had told me from the moment I was at the check-in desk that I had 20 minutes to make the ESTA, I could make it. I was there before the check in was closed, I could clearly make it on time. But they lied to me, they made me waste my time.
I could do the ESTA in 10 minutes.
They could have done so many things to get me in this flight, but they simply didn't.
Long story short, they didn't rebook my flight because I bought it from a travel agency and I lost everything.
Not going to Mexico anymore and lost €680,00 (ticket price) lost hotel reservation and another flight that I had inside Mexico.
All that because they were not willing to let me in, and probably the flight was overbooked.
I cried so much that I had a super strong headacke.
I will never flight with American Airlines again in my life.
My brother also had problems with them, him credit card and he's wife's card were cloned in American Airline official website.
My friend that has a travel agency says he doesn't fly American Airlines, and he was the one that said my flight was overbooked.
Now you can see how much they respect their clients. read more
