[bunedoggle]

We checked the flight info before we left, everything looked good. My family of five showed up 2 hours before boarding. Our plane was at the gate and still listed as on time.

We waited patiently for 2 hours. At boarding time we were informed the flight crew called in "fatigued" and they were searching for another crew.

Half an hour went by and we were informed they decided to cancel the flight. I brought my tickets to the desk and without looking at the tickets or the computer the employee told me there was no flights for a week.

After begging him to look at some other options he put us on standby on a direct flight. He never mentioned that there were already over 50 people on standby on that flight.

We waited in vein for our standby and gave up. Back to a ticketing agent... She said there was no flights for four days. I asked for my money back so I could find another carrier. She told me the ticket were non-refundable.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but if I buy something and don't like it and return it, then I'm asking for a refund. If someone takes my money and gives me nothing, that's called theft.

American Airlines ruined our vacation and made no attempt to correct their mistake. The people of the U.S. are being forced to pay for the airlines through government bailouts and the airline continue to **** on their passengers without consequences. If people stop flying they simply get more money from OUR TAX DOLLARS.

It's time we let them fail in a free market!!!

[Leatherboy2006]

From where to where, were you going?

[Team_OGG]

It's wrong that you were not given back your money! And I agree with you that it is considered THEFT! If the flight gets cancelled, it's the airline's responsibility to book you on another flight and you should have not begged for it. That agent did not do his/her job!

Even if the ticket was non-refundable, they were still not able to provide you service for the ticket you paid for. So they should given you back your money so that you could have booked a flight with another airline.

By the way, did you just speak with an agent at the counter or did you try to call their reservation hotline?

[bunedoggle]

I spoke with the ticket agent at the counter. When I threatened to back charge my credit card she found us a flight 4 days later. It's a longer flight with a bad connection and they couldn't assign me a seat so I'm hoping my kids, particularly my 5 year old doesn't have to sit by herself.

The best was when she told us she'd waive the normal $100 per ticket fee to re-book us!!

We'll see what happens this Sunday.

[Team_OGG]

Yeah, they get scared if you threaten them (that's always the case!) however (1.) the probability that your daughter will be seating next to you would be less than 50%... for sure! (2.) waiving the $100 ticket fee to rebook is not enough... (3.) why can't they call their partner airlines for re-booking? 'coz that always happen and it's possible... they can do it but they chose not to... (4.) lastly, how about the delay this have caused you on your vacation? it's four days!!! how about your accomodations and travel plans? will they do something about it?

[The_Judge]

bunedoggle......the above poster is way off the mark about the seating but getting close on the other points. You will be seated next to your kids. The gate agents will adjust seating if you don't get to sit by your kids. Just bring it to their attention at the gate and they will try to move people around. This is an everyday occurance and they are used to handling this.

Every airline has what's called a Contract of Carriage. It's like their little bible that they have written to help them in every step of the way. But you can make it work for you, as well. At the very least, AA should be using an alternate airline to get you to where you want to go. If you are not in your domicile, you are entitled to accommodations. Please immediately call AA reservations. explain your situation and ask to be moved to a different airline that has seats available to your destination. If this is the beginning of your trip, make the airline ensure that your return portion is safe and have them document the record saying that you asked and they confirmed this and ask them to note the date and time of the call, which they normally do anyway. Good luck.

[Leatherboy2006]

still curious to see were they were leaving out of and to were they were going? would be interested to see what routing could have been used on another carrier

[wkharris2001]

the flight was cancelled....on ANY carrier that equals automatic refund if the passenger chooses. just think your options through before you get a refund, sometimes taking the airlines reroute or letting them endorse your tickdt to another airline is your better option since last minute fares are expensive usually. or since it was a crew related cancellation, they should have been able to get you on other airlines as well. although with everything that's been happening the last couple days depending on where you are there may not be another carrier with seats open. good luck and i hope you get to your final destination safely.