[meogden]

below is a portion of the letter i sent to AA with our complaint which outline the details of our saga. Today I received an email from AA, they decided fair compensation would be 15,000 advantage miles. Doesn't seem to fair to me, what should I do now???

The purpose of my letter is to file a complaint regarding a recent experience my husband and myself experienced on American Airlines Flight #935 on May 21, 2010, which was scheduled to depart MCO at 9:25 AM and arrive in MIA at 10:25 AM.

The flight was delayed twice due to mechanical problems. We arrived in MIA at approximately 11:10 AM, and by the time the doors were open to exit the plane it was approximately 11:20AM. Upon landing the flight attendant announced that those passengers with a connecting flight to SXM (flight #687) need to go to the rebooking counter. I was appalled and could not believe that American Airlines had not held our connecting flight five minutes, the gates were not far apart and it would not have been more than five minutes.

Upon arriving at the rebooking counter, we were met by an employee who was very unsympathetic to our situation and actually never even offered an apology on behalf of the airlines. We were told that the next available flight was the following day, departing at 4:50 PM and arriving at 7:50 PM. We were originally suppose to arrive at SXM at 2:15 on Friday May 21 and did not arrive until almost 8:00 PM on May 22 a full 30 hours later, all because our flight was not held five minutes.

We not only suffered emotionally from this experience, but also financially. We missed two wonderful evenings in our villa which cost $575 per night because American Airlines did not hold the plane for five minutes. In addition to the loss of use of our villa, the vouchers the airline provided for us to use while staying at the hotel did not even come close to covering the cost to eat there. The voucher for breakfast was $5 per person, the cost of a cup of coffee at the hotel was $3.25, we could not even get a cup of coffee and toast for the value of the voucher. The value of the voucher versus the cost for lunch and dinner was even worse. Not to mention the toiletries we had to purchase as we were not allowed to have our luggage.

I believe at the very least we should each be given a travel voucher for future travel, if not compensated for the cost of our tickets, which will not even cover the additional expenses we incurred nor the loss of paying for accommodations that we were unable to use.

[Gromit801]

That sucks.

That being said, at 15 minutes before departure (usually), the paperwork and manifest has been filed, and weight and balance has been finalized. The flight is closed, and the computers have essentially been locked out from making any further changes.

It's not like catching a bus, hoping it will remain at the curb while you run half a block.

You won't get any satisfaction from the airline. No airline will hold a flight 5 minutes for anyone. I know that Bill Ayers, CEO of Alaska Airlines was late for a flight, and it left without him. He and I can a fun conversation about his boo-boo while we waited in the "Board Room." (Alaska's lounge)

[meogden]

Originally Posted by Gromit801

That sucks.

That being said, at 15 minutes before departure (usually), the paperwork and manifest has been filed, and weight and balance has been finalized. The flight is closed, and the computers have essentially been locked out from making any further changes.

It's not like catching a bus, hoping it will remain at the curb while you run half a block.

You won't get any satisfaction from the airline. No airline will hold a flight 5 minutes for anyone. I know that Bill Ayers, CEO of Alaska Airlines was late for a flight, and it left without him. He and I can a fun conversation about his boo-boo while we waited in the "Board Room." (Alaska's lounge)

I disagree - after we were stuck in Miami we spent many hours in the airport and I saw on numerous occassions where people names were called over the PA system and the flight was being held for them.

[Gromit801]

The flight wasn't being held. I can just about promise you that. Flight crews and ground staff get unadulterated hell for a flight "pushing back" late.

Those were probably the names of passengers on the standby list. Their information is already in for the flight, and they just have to board. But at five minutes till departure, no one gets on a flight who isn't already on board.

[meogden]

Last year we went to BVI and on our connecting flight in SJU our plane was held waiting for passengers coming in on a connecting flight that was late. It does happen.

[The_Judge]

It happens IF there is a large number of passengers, the crew will not be affected too much for time, there is a favorable flight plan to make up time, passenger connections in the downline city, etc. Many many factors go into whether or not a plane will wait for people. It happens but it's rare.