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AA no more

My flight was due on Sunday at 11,30 AM, I arrived at the airport at 7,30 am I wanted to avoid the long queues at the tax exception office, when i went to the check in of American Airlines i was told that the flight was canceled so we have to take the 3:00pm flight, I didn't mind as I still have time for my connecting flight to London in Miami with Virgin Atlantic at 9:15 pm. At 3:00pm we were called to go to gate number six, as I arrived I noticed that the plane was not at the gate, an hour pass and the plane appears, I was getting worried, the later I leave the less time i would have for my connecting flight. We boarded at 5pm, i told the check in lady to put me on the first row so i could get off the plane as fast as i could and not miss my next flight, after boarding the plane the pilot made an announcement, there was something wrong with the plane so we would had to wait for 15 minutes, next announcement, we have to wait for another 35 minutes, then the last announcement the problem was serious so we had to wait for two hours!! we were allowed to leave the plane, they gave us an AA Transit card so were able to leave the gates and wondered around the airport again, and with our boarding card we could eat at any restaurant at the airport, we had to be back at the gate by 6,35pm, we did! But the plane was not ready yet, they even move the plane from the gate, I new I lost my connection so i went to the check in and told them what shall i do, they offered me to stay in Bogotá in the Charleston and go the next day at 11,30 flight again so i could get the Virgin flight at 9,15 like before, or i could go to Miami, they offered me a hotel there for the night,and next day i will take the 2,20pm flight to New York from there I will take the 6,45pm to London, i didn't know what to do, a passenger who was listening told me to go to Miami and stay the night there, he said he is been trying to get to Miami since two days ago and all his flights has been cancel, that there was not guaranteed that my tomorrow flight wouldn't be cancel and i would miss my connection again, so i decided to go to Miami, we left Bogotá at 9.pm arrived to Miami about 12.30pm, i did all the check in in Miami pick up my luggage, the AA staff sent us outside the airport to wait for the bus who was taken us to the hotel, to my surprise was a mini-bus, driven by a lady who has to do three rounds to pick up us, I arrived at the hotel at 2am!!!.

Next day i left the hotel at 10AM i wanted to arrived early to see if i can get a direct flight to London, i went to the check in and the lady told me that there was only one direct flight and it was at 8.pm, so i decided to go through New York, as i was checking my bags, she said one was few kilos over the limit and i have to pay 50 dollars!! i told her “you must be joking, you (the airline) should be the ones paying me, you put me in this mess, my bags were fine in Bogotá, i am not going to pay 50 dollars and i haven't got any dollars because i didn't plan to stay here in the first place, she went and talked to her supervisor and didn't paid a penny, sod them!!

I took my flight to New York and i prayed i would not missed it, I arrive on time and everything was fine, i could have kiss British soil when i got here, i was supposed to be on Monday back home but here I am, a day later very annoyed and with a massive complaint n the way..

... On the way to Bogotá, American Airlines made me miss my connecting flight to Bogotá, they sent me in later flight, i arrived to Bogotá at 11,30pm, they left my luggage which it was delivery 3 days later.

FEW WEIRD THINGS

On the way to Bogotá, i was chatted up by an American to my surprise he was married to a COLOMBIANA, we met at the gate and start talking he was very flirty, he was in a platinum class, what ever that means, because he was sitting by me, and i am not in any platinum class, but because he was platinum class he boarded first so he said come with me and they let me board with him :)) Well i was tired heheheh

then On the way to Miami I was chatted up by one of the flight crew a very handsome Argentino, on the way to New York i was chatted up by another of Cabin crew this time , he even after i left the plane went I look for me, i don't know if it was an excuse by he said if i left a beautiful brand new vase on the plane i said not he said well though it was you and he said to take the vase anyway i said if he could try and find the owner he said the tried but couldn't uhmmm he also gave me some chocolates and stay with me until i boarded my flight to London, he invited for a coffee but i refused, he said he wished he could have offered me a better seat as i was sitting near a crying baby and that he wanted to talk to me but i was sleep most of the time, well i told him thanks to your airline i am shattered. And on the London flight i was again chatted up by another of the crew, this time a black guy, good looking after talking a few minutes he noticed my wedding ring oh i see now he said, yep he saw. I was starting to wonder if this was a plot from AA so i wouldn't complaint uhmm or maybe my tired look made me sexier, i came home with A beautiful vase and chocolates and a nice pen from the Argentinean.. uhmmm

But anyway no way i will flight this Airline again!!!!! No even the handsome Argentinean will make change my mind :))

sorry my long post

By kat1 (Moderator) on Feb 19, 2008, 05:42 in Friendly Talkzone.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 05:45:

BTW Sorry to the people i was supposed to meet in Bogotá and I didn't, i was so busy i didn't have much time :((( maybe next time. .

engage brain before opening mouth

tomtom33 says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:07:

Sorry to hear of your misadventures.

The unfortunate thing about travel is that shit happens. Mechanical problems and cancellations belong exclusively to no airline. I still fly AA as my airline of choice even though my 5:00 pm flight from MIA to MDE left one time around 11:30 pm.

Avianca remains as my carrier of last choice because of their surly customer service and inability to keep track of ticketed flights.

dwr says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:15:

I got stuck on the Bogota tarmac for almost 4 hours inside the plane. They didn't let us off. But honestly, other than that incident, I have had great luck with AA. I get first class upgrades 90% of the time on national flights and the frequent flyer program has produced maybe 20 free tickets over the past 10 years. The Bogota-Miami-Bogota flight has been pretty good to me. I usually get the 4-5 seats in the back and lay out. Regardless, travel kind of sucks if you have to do it too much. Sorry you had a bad experience. It is still pretty amazing that you can make a journey that once took months in 2 days under worst case scenario.

Gator says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:20:

Mrs. Gator and I have(had) more problems with AA than COPA, Avianca and Aero Républica combined. Lost or delayed luggage, cancelled flights, rude attendants, etc., etc.
I will grant TomTom 33's post that problems happen on ALL airlines, but the problems just were more on AA.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Plato says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:38:

Get home safe Kat1 - Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:45:

thanks plato, and yes gator I agree with you apart from those flirty boys i found the service in AA very poorly. specially the Latin crew. they are a word apart from Virgin or British airways even continental

engage brain before opening mouth

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 06:47:

I am going to complaint, apart from that my husband canceled a good job yesterday thinking i was coming home, today he couldn't canceled another job so a friend of mine had to go and picked me up, so i won't see my husband until tomorrow night.

engage brain before opening mouth

huskie says on Feb 19, 2008, 07:07:

Yeap, American is the worst airline to Latin America, last time I went to Colombia back in October 2007, I flew Air Panama from Dulles-Washington non-stop to Panama and connected to Barranquilla, I was very impressed with their planes, very clean, punctuality, good service and excellent customer service. I recommend them highly. Never American to Latin America!
Sorry you had problems, but that's so AA
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

Waterdawg says on Feb 19, 2008, 07:09:

I try and avoid AA at all costs .. I stay with Continental .. Sorry to hear about all your Problems Kat . I got hung up in my least favorite Airport ( Newark ) in Feb for six hours . My fault , I knew better than to make a connection there..

Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 08:00:

Hey Kat good to have you back! I wonder if AA is doing the same crap as Iberia is doing: putting their oldest planes and nastiest and sloppiest peronnel on their SA routes. Oh, on a second thought, they had a flirty Argie entertaining female tourists and distracting them...at least you weren't bored out of your mind.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Man Tequila says on Feb 19, 2008, 08:02:

I was sorry to hear abut your problems.

But glad since I assumed from the title AA meant ¨Alcoholics Anonymous¨. Are Alcoholics really anonymous?

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 09:54:

Thanks Desi, the plane was an airbus 300, they canceled the 8.30 and 11:30 flights because there wasn't enough passengers, but they should think in passengers with connecting flights, specially to Europe.

One of the guys from the crew told me they have a shortening of planes, so then they should reduced the amount of destination or flights.

engage brain before opening mouth

Lowell says on Feb 19, 2008, 10:04:

I can accept an occasional problem. But, when a problem occurs and you're treated poorly, along with a I'm not interested in your peoblem/bad attitude, as was in my case, they (AA) forever lose me as a customer. The same thing goes for Aero Republic. Only if no other options are available, will I use them. Been real happy so far with Delta, Copa and Avianca. Avianca even did a real good job transporting our households from Panama to Colombia.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

miamimike says on Feb 19, 2008, 10:28:

TomTom, I'm with you. AA or Lanchile is my first choice, Avianca last choice and then only unless I couldn't rent a Rowboat,,,LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

borat says on Feb 19, 2008, 10:53:

I had a similar experience on the only flight I've ever taken with AA which was to Bogota. Except your experience with the cabin crew, they were as misserable as the rest of the service, I think they're definitly the worst airline that I've ever flown with.

what you believe is not important, it's what you do that counts

toneloc24 says on Feb 19, 2008, 11:16:

Kat1 - Sorry to hear about your experience. Glad that you were able to finally make it home.

I stopped flying AA approx. 5 years ago. The absolute worst service airline that I've ever flown, and that would include approx. 10-15 airlines over the years. Not much, but enough to be able to make a reasonable comparison.

On my flights to Europe, there was a very very noticeable different service level, including coach. The flight attendants were respectful, attentive and responsive. Flight cancellations and delays weren't as prevalent nor unexplained.

On my flights to the Caribbean and Latin America, service was atrocious at best. Cancelled and delayed flights without notice. Flight attendants being rude to passengers, even when completely unwarranted.

On a flight to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, I witnessed them verbally chastising passengers, AFTER a four hour unexplained delay. Several times, I've personally witnessed AA inexplicably abandoning flights in the DR. I'm not talking about mechanical excuses either.

On a flight from St. Kitts back to NYC in the 1990s, we got stuck in San Juan, PR since they decided to cancel the final flight, again, without notice. Think they'd put us up in a hotel at 11:00 pm??? Hell no. The whole flight of connecting passengers had to wait in the airport until 6:00 am the next morning.

Jamaica??? Let's not even go there. There are other situations, but I'll stop there.

Yeah, I stopped using AA years ago. I'm even letting my miles expire or be used for magazines or whatever. I may even donate them. I sincerely doubt that I'll ever step foot aboard another of their planes. I'd rather spend money on another airline.

In my current situation, Delta suits me fine, esp. to Latin America. Not perfect, doesn't work for everyone, but I haven't had any issues with them.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

Dan says on Feb 19, 2008, 12:19:

HI KAT!!
Sorry to hear that things didn't go your way. At least you finally made it to your destination.

I'm sure everyone misses you here!

Take care!

God Bless America!

Simon says on Feb 19, 2008, 12:33:

Fok AA, fly Avianca!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

miamimike says on Feb 19, 2008, 13:01:

Simon says on Tuesday February 19th, 2008 12:33:

Fok AA, fly Avianca!
----------------------------------

I agree with you Simon, that is if they were out of Rowboats,,,LOL

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

tomtom33 says on Feb 19, 2008, 14:11:

Guess you and I just don't know any better, MM.

CatGirl says on Feb 19, 2008, 14:27:

Nice to hear from you Kat!

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

ronaldo says on Feb 19, 2008, 14:40:

I used to fly once a month to Colombia and once a month to Honduras, at liest 24 flights a year to Latin America alone so I have seen and done it all with airline problems. An airline is a tough business to be in even if it pisses you off when there is a problem. Weather problems 5,000 miles away can screw up your connections very easily. Overall I have had a good experience with airlines trying to do it right. You have to let it roll off your back like water on a ducks back or you get all upset. Your mickey mouse problems were nothing and you need to try running a business and see what it's all about. I have had lost luggage, not temporarly lost but never seen again in this lifetime, luggage left behind in Houston travelling to Honduras from Houston and have it delivered to Honduras by a freight airline that I was sure that they had dragged it on a rope all the way to Honduras, luggage and all its contents lost and paid for by airline only to have it delivered to me four months after the flight, luggage contents stolen by airline employees (I got a check from the airline for more than I had filed a claim for and a letter from the CEO with a free ticket cupon anywhere they fly) and I could go on and on about the problems because they never end. Some months I would rack up over 35,000 frequent flyer miles. But I still fly because it is the best way to get from A to B.

Ronaldo

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 14:47:

thanks catgirl i finally home, with AA i though i would have to spend Christmas somewhere but England :)))

engage brain before opening mouth

msaucey says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:25:

Geez... Talk about an airline adventure... It's a good thing you have charm and good looks to boot, if not, you'd still be getting the runaround like that other fella who's plane to Miami was cancelled 2 days in a row....

Welcome back!.... British Airways from now on for you!...

I agree that many times things go wrong on airplanes/flights... part of the course... I think the main issue with AA and not just on international flights, is that for the most part if you have questions or problems they have a piss ass attitude about resolving it... Kind of like Kat's experience when they wanted to charge her $50 for excess luggage...

Fortunately, you are now home in one piece...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

muchacho_escondido says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:25:

Ok, since almost everyone has an AA horror story, here's mine.

Flew from Bogota to the States with a connection in Miami. Had one and a half hour of layover time (yes, that was cutting it too close, I knew even then). We arrived in MIA ahead of schedule but guess what? The jetway broke. So the plane spent about an hour just parked by the airport-- first, while they were trying to fix the jetway and then while they were looking for another parking spot having decided that the jetway could not be fixed. The staff was nice and kept informing us about the lack of progress every 10 minutes.

I got to the AA connecting flight lounge 20 minutes before my scheduled connection. The woman at the counter was evidently not having such a good day. She immediately told me that I was late for my connecting flight but in the end did the right thing by setting me up with a hotel and a flight next morning, all free of charge. She looked irritated and wasn't talkative but probably she just had a bad day.

I had a rather relaxing evening at the hotel and next morning I got to the airport bright and early. I did make it home without adventures but I noted two funny things. First, the baggage mover wasn't working and the baggage had to be dropped off in some service area by passengers themselves. A non-English speaking guy reluctuntly led the way to the drop off area with ambiguous gestures and quickly disappeared. Second, when we got on the plane, we were politely informed that Miami airport ran out of headphones so there was no entertainment unless passengers had their own headphones.

I'm basically a city person and I do speak and understand some Spanish so I didn't take this too badly. However, I can see how a suburbanite who's always lived in a structured environment surrounded by polite people, would feel threatened and deeply uncomfortable.

Yes, I realize that the above is not really the fault of American Airlines but rather that of Miami airport. It seemed like a real zoo when I was there, and it was especially hard on the English-only speakers. However, if you fly American to Colombia, you can only connect in Miami...
So I wouldn't fly American again unless their fare was exceedingly attractive. But they aren't-- I've consitently been able to find better deals with better connections. So what's the point of flying AA then, except if you live in Miami?

Colombiche says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:31:

I honestly have never had any negative experiences with American Airlines, except for the one flight down to Miami where I had to sit beside a 49 year old teenager who kept talking to me about electronica music and how we should hit the clubs in south beach after we land. He said he had colombian friends who could score us some blow.

BUT ... it wasn't the airlines's fault... oh wait, yes it was, you shouldn't let a middle aged guy with green hair and 90's style houser jeans get on the plane, they should have the anti-terror squad escort him out of the plane, the airport... the galaxy.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

msaucey says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:34:

CB, you lucky devil... sometimes I envy you... what's hotter then a 49 year old teenage boy with green hair?... if that's not, then I don't know what is....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

Colombiche says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:40:

He looked like an age-enhanced vanilla ice LOL.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:47:

I agree with you muchacho escondido about Miami airport, the staff there are the most arrogant unhelpful and clueless people and i am sorry to say they were all latinos....

engage brain before opening mouth

msaucey says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:51:

CB... All I have to say is.... Ice, Ice baby.... LOL....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

jonas says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:53:

been living in London for a while aeh? I am always so impressed with the Colombians when flights are being rescheduled, canceled or come in late everybody just stands around for hours and chats with the fellow travelers. The only ones getting mad and loud at ground staff are the gringos.

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

Colombiche says on Feb 19, 2008, 15:54:

Everytime I'm in line to pass through US immigration I pray I don't have a latino official, they give you the third degree, I'd rather be cross examined by a honky from the KKK than be treated like a mule or a wetback by a cubano or peruano americano que se cree gringo. The worst experience I ever had was with an ecuatoriana.... ufff, no me quiero ni acordar.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:02:

well, jonas, in my case, the Colombians were the ones that most complain as there were few gringos on the flight ...
specially a family that came all the way from Cali to catch the 8,30 am flight to find out that the 8,30 and 11,30 flight had been canceled.
CB I agree with you...

engage brain before opening mouth

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:09:

Maybe AA needs to improve its Latinoamerican/Caribean services including the crew.

Because the service between Miami to New York and New York to London was Ok, not excellent but ok, except the staff at Miami Airport.,

engage brain before opening mouth

sloopskipper says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:13:

Do Colombians applaude a safe landing like the Boricuas?

msaucey says on Feb 19, 2008, 16:17:

Sloopskipper.... simple answer is yes...

But, I've seen that on National US flights too.... except really short trips...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

houstongal says on Feb 19, 2008, 20:22:

Welcome home Kat! Glad to hear you made it back, although your flight sounded like the trip from hell. Here's to a speedy recovery from your nightmare!

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

Lisa Zee says on Feb 19, 2008, 20:43:

I feel for you Kat, I know what nightmare trips are.
I drove from Los Angeles to S. Florida, in a very comfortable, luxurious 40 foot motor home with my dear, but it took for ever,(that $# at *& Texas is huge) and I did not feel well. I did that trip because I could not get in a flight on Dec.25, I waited for 5 hours at the airport!, my suitcase arrive in Forth lauderdale very promptly but not me!!!.

miamimike says on Feb 19, 2008, 21:45:

kat1 says on Tuesday February 19th, 2008 15:47:

I agree with you muchacho escondido about Miami airport, the staff there are the most arrogant unhelpful and clueless people and i am sorry to say they were all latinos....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kat--you should Help out your Fellow Latinas(os) by putting out the disclaimer that most of these Arrogant unhelpful "Miami Airport Latinos(as) are Cubanos(as),,,,Distinctly different from other Latinos,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

Frank Rizzo says on Feb 19, 2008, 22:00:

Most, if not all, colombians i've met in colombia with big flow are very arrogant. Same for gringos in the US that are in a mid-class of wealth. (not middle class)... probably the nature of the beast

jonas says on Feb 19, 2008, 22:58:

so who´s going for the 12 step AA program now?

Mario says on Feb 19, 2008, 23:18:

Aside from my last AA experience which was seriously annoying because I arrived an hour and a half before the scheduled flight and then being denied access to the flight even though the plane had not yet arrived at the gate, I'll still prefer them over Continental, and especially over D.E.L.T.A. (Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport).

Glad you finally made it Kat! I'm glad they took measures to protect you from a possibly harmful or deadly situation, rather than just taking off.

There are two sides to the coin ;-)

Mario says on Feb 19, 2008, 23:46:

Things can be missed, obviously, but they were protecting her and all of her fellow passengers in delaying her flight. Actually, that last flight out of Bogota I was on was held for about 40 minutes at the gate, and they mentioned moving the plane from the gate but never did. We just waited there and then took off for that cesspool. First delay with AA like that, (trouble with aircraft) after numerous flights that I can't count. "Aging fleets" is impertinent as all airlines have them.

Mario says on Feb 20, 2008, 00:00:

Delta has more delays than any domestic airline in the U.S. That's a fact, and which is also why their name has become an acronym. I'll fly Delta again when a massive CME forces it and no other flight is available.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 20, 2008, 03:06:

Mario, i agree yes responsibility came first, but what i heard was that that plane came with that problem from Miami, it was repaired there but not very well, so the engineers in Bogotá' noticed and they didn't let the plane to take off like that, it didn't comply with the AA regulations.

But a responsible airline won't cancel two flights on the same day!!! remember i was not supposed to go on that 3.00pm flight, my flight was schedule for 11,30am, a responsible airline knowing that i had a connecting flight to Europe, not to any city of the USA, where i can get maybe 3 or 4 flights the same day, could have fixed me on another flight with another airline example Avianca.

engage brain before opening mouth

larumberainglesa says on Feb 20, 2008, 03:52:

My husband arrived at the airport in Bogota last Friday for the 11.30am flight to Miami with AA to connect with Virgin to Heathrow (the same route, Kat). His flight was also cancelled and he had to wait til 4.40pm then they told him they had found a seat for him on an Air France flight via Paris so he arrived, knackered and about 7 hours late. Neither of us had flown AA before and judging by the comments here it is an airline to be avoided. I have flown Continental (that was good), Air Canada via Toronto (nice quick flight). KLM via Amsterdam (great food) and Avianca (SHIT) via Madrid where there had overbooked the flight by 27 people (including us ) and we went the next day. By the way he said Air France was good. Surely would have cost us more if we had booked with them originally. He also couldn't believe all the beaurocracy in Miami on the outward flight. Canada was much more relaxed.

Mario says on Feb 20, 2008, 05:55:

Interesting - CNN reported this morning that two airport screeners and a Delta employee have been indicted for smuggling cocaine through their positions at Atlanta's airport, and flying it to New York.

Now can I have my lighter back?

Robert Jorge says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:24:

The average airport screener that I have encountered doesn't impress me too much. Most look like they are on a prison work release program, or they have second jobs as outlet mall security.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

Robert Jorge says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:24:

No offense intended to any ex-cons.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

msaucey says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:29:

Robert Jorge says... No offense intended to any ex-cons.

None taken!...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

Colombiche says on Feb 20, 2008, 10:57:

Note to self: Be nice to Msaucey.

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

podborski says on Feb 20, 2008, 13:34:

if I had as many hot women hitting on me as kat had men, I don't care how many problems the flight had, I'd say it was the best flight ever!

tomtom33 says on Feb 20, 2008, 15:22:

"On the Colombian side they are much more professional and corteous." Yup, like the soldier/screener at the Cartagena airport who asked if he could have some of my flavored condoms when he saw them in my suitcase. Claro. That's why I bought them.

I have actually been impressed with the improvement in quality of the screeners since they were federalized. But what the hell do I know? I prefer AA.

panthdave says on Feb 20, 2008, 17:12:

Airlines is a tough business...They all have problems...I have had issues with all to Colombia...Now my question came if there is a problem how do they resolve with you as the paying customer..I have found AA has been the best...Hotel,transportation,vouchers...Avianca was the worst and can't tell you Aero Republica or Copa...have not had a problem yet..with them..I fly every two weeks..Trust me I rather sit out and then to fly on a plane that has a problem..So they can delay anytime they want if they see a problem with the plane..I DON'T WANT TO CRASH..THAT WOULD SUCK.

panthdave Miami

honey says on Feb 20, 2008, 17:21:

Rubito, I also prefer Avianca despite what many think of the airline. I don't fly to Colombia as often as a lot of the others here, about 4-5 times a year, with a child. When I first started traveling to Cali I would just look for the best price, but after a few trips and the ability to compare I started to have a preference. The last straw with American was when we left 3 hrs late from JFK and I missed my connection in Miami, which meant I had to stay overnight. It was Christmas Eve, can you imagine?

Avianca has always offered me ideal itineraries and the staff has always been very helpful with my daughter. Once on an AA flight the flight attendant pointed out that my daughter had dropped a crayon. My daughter had fallen asleep leaning on me and I would have had to move/wake her to get to the crayon. This was all very obvious to the attendant, and when I looked up at her with a helpless expression, she looked away and kept walking.

I've been online pricing NY-CALI for the summer and AA consistently comes up $200 less than Avianca. That's $400 that I could spend on my vacation, but with everything I've read it just confirms my belief that I'm better off with Avianca. Thank KAT!

Life is what happens when you're busy making plans - John Lennon.

rocinante says on Feb 21, 2008, 05:34:

I was just about to post in favor of Avianca (2nd oldest airline on the planet after KLM) and see that Rubi and Honey stepped up. We are in a huge minority here.

People are quick to judge an airline based on one bad experience. Usually the bad experience is airport related but yes old fleets and nasty reps cause crap as well.

I guess I'm lucky with AV042/AV043 MDE/JFK non stop where others are flying through Miami. 042 leaves MDE at 6PM and gets to JFK at midnight - no major traffic at aither airport at those times. 043 leaves JFK at 7AM and hits MDE at 11:30AM. Sometimes a delay getting off the ground in JFK, but always land on time. No connections, no lost luggage, 757.

Knock on wood - never a problem in about 20 RT flights.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

tomtom33 says on Feb 21, 2008, 06:30:

My problems with Avianca relate to their failure to keep track of paid tickets, failure many times to keep their word, and failure to respond at all to customer complaints. Those are things that Avianca controls directly. These things kept happening over and over.

Every airline is going to have delays, canceled flights, delayed/lost luggage, and maintenance issues. But if they cannot track reservations and do not respond to their customers, I will go elsewhere.

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 21, 2008, 06:36:

My complaint with AA are not because the plane was damage, i am glad the Colombian Aviation noticed, but because the following

Cancel flights 2!!! without explanations
Very poor Cabin Service specially the Latinoamerican Crew
poor service in the checking at Miami Airport
and poor service with customer with connections. no help at all....

and leaving my luggage behind and not caring in the world how i was going to manage for 3 days!!!!! I spent money on clothes and toiletries and they didn't refund anything, Airfrance and Continental did.

On the way to Colombia, Letting me missing my flight to Bogotá, when i booked the earlier flight so I could arrived to Bogotá earlier so i could go straight to Villavicencio, but no i arrived at Bogota at 12,30pm.. too late.

engage brain before opening mouth

GregYohn says on Feb 21, 2008, 07:07:

Hola!

You get a FREE AA International ticket, since they missed the flight due to technical problems. You only pay taxes for the ticket.

Avianca messed me up last Valentine´s Day. I received a free international ticket, replacement domestic ticket para mi novia who flew to Cartagena waiting for me, $250 voucher for a $175 hotel room in Brooklyn. We had to pay taxes on the free tickets. I was able to reuse the paper ticket over 1 year later for the flight I missed, but was charged $100 to use another date. They refunded the ticket price on the new ticket, so I just paid $36 more. Right now after adding up the costs I got treated pretty good.

Avianca gave me a free domestic ticket, plus taxes when their flight was cancelled going to Bogota last April also. We will fly to Bogota and use our free ticket and voucher in May.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

LilaM says on Feb 21, 2008, 07:57:

Kat1... if you spent money on clothing bc of their mistake, you can ask refund... with the receipts... takes time but at the end they have to pay your pain...

"Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer." Ed. Cunningham

tomtom33 says on Feb 21, 2008, 08:29:

Gee Greg, you must not be as ugly as I am.

Avianca forced me to buy a second ticket in order to fly because they had lost my reservation. Later they agreed that it was their error but refused to credit the charge for the second ticket. When I tried to use the credit for the second ticket, they lost the credit information.

A friend of mine has turned in his Avianca gold card.

orestesdd says on Feb 21, 2008, 16:33:

I had similar experience with AA while traveling from SFO to MIA to BOG. My plane from SFO arrived at MIA on Time around 6 am on a Friday. Then, I was supposed to take a flight to BOG at 10:15 am. Needless to say, the 10:15 am flight to BOG was canceled, and then I was given another flight to leave MIA at almost 5:00 pm. The bad thing about this was the experience that my friends back in Bogota had regarding my flight.

My friend called AA at about 11:00 am at the airport in BOG to find out about my flight. Needless to say, they were told the flight was "on time" even though it was canceled almost an hour earlier since MIA and BOG have the same time. Then, they went to the airport about 12:00 pm (I was feeling misarable since I did not have a way to tell them about my next flight and the cancelation). At this point, my friends were told that the flight was canceled. Anyhow, I was glad to see my friend face when I arrived in Bogota later that night. I don't remember how she figured out what flight I was coming in, but I was very happy to see a familiar face late at night waiting for me.

At any rate, I will still fly with AA, for it has the better conections for me. I don't think the flight was canceled for mechanical troubles. I believe it was canceled because the flight was not full enough and they could combine a flight later in the afternoon which was actually FULL.

jonas says on Feb 22, 2008, 13:40:

Just watched AA with nose gear trouble landing in Miami, it just adds up...their fleet seems to be too old and worn down.

GregYohn says on Feb 23, 2008, 08:20:

Hola!

Cancelling due to empty seats is technical. The airline caused it to happen, while bad weather is not their fault.

I contacted the President of Avianca directly to his Blackberry, so he learned what they did wrong! I even met in person their President 2 times flying back from Bogota to JFK. He was the official greeter 1 time at the Business lounge before one of his flights.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 23, 2008, 11:04:

23/02/2008 TODAY IN THE NEWS

Aircraft makes emergency landing
American Airlines plane
No-one was hurt in the emergency landing
A plane carrying 195 passengers has been forced to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport.

The Chicago-bound American Airlines flight turned back to the airport after engineers spotted a problem with its hydraulics shortly after take-off.

As a result of the high speed landing two tyres burst, but the plane landed safely and no-one was injured.

Some flights were diverted while the runway was closed but the aircraft has now been towed off the taxiway.

A Manchester Airport spokeswoman said it was the captain's decision to turn back and the landing was made at about 1410 GMT.

'Common problem'

About seven incoming flights to Manchester were diverted to other UK airports as a result, while outgoing flights were suspended for about one hour.

"The captain of flight AA55 could have continued to Chicago but decided to return to Manchester," the spokeswoman said.

"As a precaution we implemented full emergency landing procedures and we lined the runway with fire engines.

"But it has to be said this is a fairly routine and common problem.

"The landing gear came down and two tyres on the plane sustained damage and as a result we could not tow the plane from the runway, causing some further delay.

"Operations were suspended for around one hour."

HOW LONG UNTIL SOMETHING SERIOUS REALLY HAPPENED!!!!

engage brain before opening mouth

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 3, 2008, 10:54:

what's going on with this airline not just my plane had trouble but the one above and now this was today on the news

An American Airlines plane bound for the US made an emergency landing at Glasgow Airport after the pilot reported a fire on board.

and on the 22 of February

Miami.-Las autoridades indicaron que un vuelo de American Airlines que se dirigía a Chicago con 133 pasajeros y cinco tripulantes fue desviado a Miami debido a un problema en el tren de aterrizaje delantero. Pasadas las 3 y 15 de la tarde de hoy el avión aterrizó con éxito en la referida entidad.

this Airline is waiting for a serious accident ..

engage brain before opening mouth

juli says on Mar 3, 2008, 10:57:

That is why you should use Avianca

CEO Fajardo´s Fan Club, Medellín, Colombia

sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 12:39:

Sorry you had such a bad experience on AA for I have never had problems with AA. I did have a bad experience on Avianca a few years ago and the Avianca planes were very dirty back in the late 90's.

ACES seemed to be a very good carrier and Avianca has improved. I will stick with AA however.....