UPDATE: The follow up by customer care earned an additional two stars. Although I would have preferred a trip that went as scheduled and got me to my destination and clients on time, there was an effort made by customer care to compensate me through points on my account. Therefore, I am adding two stars. That does not change the actual experience of my flight day.
Well, they've done it again. I'm having a difficult time justifying flying out of my favorite airport SWF, Stewart airport in Newburgh New York. American Airlines has left me stranded again. Important business meeting and function for a client in Philadelphia. Should be simple to get there from Stewart since all flights go through Philly or Detroit. Why did I think this flight was going to be uneventful? Arrived before the recommended time: company driver drop me off right in front of the airport, just as I walked through the revolving doors, I received back to back text messages from American telling me my flight was delayed, my flight was delayed again, my flight was delayed again, and my flight was canceled all within one minute. So I was stranded. The staff levels at Stewart are always skeleton especially in the morning. Nice as they are, they could not manage the complaints. I was made to wait another two hours before a "taxi " was to take me to Albany so that I could salvage what was left of my Businesstrip. The taxi. Van was very late, thenpacked to the gills with other passengers who couldn't decide where to sit and it reeked of cigarette smoke. As if we weren't late enough, the driver had to stop for gas along the way leaving me just enough time to run to my gate.
Another disaster. Of the last 10 trips I've taken this year with American, only to have gone well. Most of the time it seems to be mechanical failure. This was no different. Mechanical trouble in Philadelphia resulted in my missing important business functions. read more