American Airlines
Reviews and Complaints

First I will start this letter off by saying I am very dissatisfied with the customer service I received from not 1, not 2, but 3 supervisors at American Advantage and reservations departments. Because of the way I was treated with this situation, I will probably no longer be flying with American Airlines. As a customer, I do have choices in air travel and I will not fly with a company that doesn't stand by what their employees tells their customers.

I am writing you concerning a situation and conversation I had with three Advantage and reservation so called supervisors. I called concerning a award ticket that I had booked for Oct 11th 2009. I ended up canceling this flight back in 2009. When I called up and canceled I was told that I have 1 year from date of travel to use this ticket which would be Oct 11th 2010. When I called up to use this ticket I was told that since it was booked on Oct 5th that I only had up until Oct 5th to use the ticket. I told her that its not my fault your employee gave me miss information, I was told that I had 1 year from the date of travel.

I was then told we will make an exception and give me back the mileage for a $150 fee. I then asked so you want me to pay for your employees mistake.

When I asked for names from all 3 Supervisors, all got was the run around and was treated quite rude. The 3 supervisors in question are Judy (wouldn't give me full name), John Emerson, Denise who was the rudest of them all.

My daughter and her friend, both 15 yrs old, flew from Ottawa, Ont. to Orlando, Florida with a stop over in Chicago with American Airlines. They were flying alone which neither had done before so we paid for them to have a chaperone. We were told that someone would be with them at all times and would help them through everything. It was a day after Chicago was hit with the huge storm and I inquired as to what would happen if the flight from Chicago to Orlando was delayed and was told that they would put them on the next flight available and that in the meantime they would be put in a room for children. They were escorted through customs and got on the plane with a friendly lady. Once on the plane however, the girls were left to themselves. Normally not an issue however there was a problem with the plane not being able to turn so their flight was going to be delayed and they would not make their connection. No one came to talk to the girls who were scared because they had just heard over the speaker all of this! So they had no idea what was going to happen now that they missed their flight and my daughter's friend was on the phone with her mum scared because of the mechanical issues.
The girls land in Chicago and are taken to a security room (not a room for children like we were told)
The next three hours turned into a complete nightmare!
The girls were hungry as with the delay it was almost dinner (our time). My daughter's friend asked her chaperone if they could get something to eat and she said she'd get someone to take them...and proceeded to do nothing but sit there! Her mother at that point called the airlines 1-800 # and was put through to the Chicago desk and demanded that they get taken to eat!
In this "room" there were people swearing, an older gentleman trying to escape and then at one point went and peed with the door open, people were sick (colds) and the staff were busy "hooking up"
My daughter was sending me texts saying she was really creeped out and at this point, angry because we were told that they would be in a kid room
and they clearly were not, I called the 1-800 #.
I was put in touch with a supervisor who was in North Carolina, so he could not see what was going on anymore than I could. I told him what I was being told and we called the girl in charge of the girls. She was told what my daughter was texting me and denied everything. My daughter was then put on the phone and questioned. She admitted to over-exaggerating about the hooking up part but said that the other things had happened. She would not talk about it and then texted me that she just wanted me to drop it because she was worried they were going to freak out. The chaperone continued to deny everything. (I don't know many 15 yr old girls who wouldn't be scared to complain about what the person who is supposed to be taking care of them is doing when they are by themselves in a different country with people they don't know - my opinion). Because my daughter would not say anything the supervisor would not believe what she had said to me and blew me off. Told the chaperone that she "should" report it to her supervisor there. He then told me that my daughter was not being honest and that he would not take her word. My arguement...but you will take what the other girl is saying as the truth...end of conversation with that supervisor.
My daughter then texts me to say that the staff is now laughing and speaking in spanish and staring at them. She's very uncomfortable and just wants to leave. She then texts me to say the chaperone then speaks to her supervisor.
After a few minutes, both myself and the other parent get texts from the girls saying that the chaperone is now agreeing with them and both parties have apologized.
I proceed to call the 1-800 # and get transferred to the same supervisor. I tell him that we have now been told that the chaperone is agreeing that the girls were telling the truth and I want a full refund for their flights home as we do not want them going through that again and what has gone on is unacceptable. He tells me he has no report telling him that she has admitted to it and will not take what my daughter has said. I say fine, then lets get the chaperone back on the phone. He says, he can't do that but if my daughter can get me the chaperones supervisors name then he will follow up. At this point, the girls are on their next flight so I can't get that information. I ask why could he get the girl before but not now. He tells me the airport is shutting down in an hour (it was 9pm Chicago time) and he won't do it, to get the name from my daughter and call him the next day. I had also told him about the other parent having to call about getting them food, he says he sees no report of that call. I said fine, I will have the parent call you immediately. I hang up, the parent calls immediately, asks for him and is placed on hold for 1/2 hr only to be passed on to another supervisor.

The other parent followed up the next day and after speaking to a supervisor at the same level as the one I dealt with, she was shocked and our chaperone fee will be refunded. The parent was also told that they had read the supervisor's (the one I spoke to) report and he was very condescending. The parent was told however that due to the type of ticket we purchased she did not have the authority to refund the tickets but if she had, she would have gladly done so as she was shocked by the treatment. She told her that we would have to file a complaint via email and said that she would pass on her recommendation to refund us the money for the return airfares.

I have submitted the complaint and will wait to see what happens.

After researching and comparing prices, refunds, cancellations and restrictions. I chose American Airlines. This was a terrible mistake. First off, I made sure, prior to booking this fliight, that the ticket would be refundable. I read their policy and everything. Even the flight details showed that the flight was refundable and if cancelled prior to the departure time, the ticket will be refunded. WRONG! I cancelled this flight within 24 hours, about a week before the departure flight date. Days before my credit card was even charged. I contacted customer service and requested a refund and the lady advised me that I would only be able to reschedule the flight, within one year from that date, as it will be reissued to use later, and no one else, except the person whose name is on the ticket would be able to use the ticket. This is crap, a straight scam and lousy service.

On July 19, 2010, my family went on a very much anticipated family vacation, and returned July 26, 2010. Since our return, we have all continued to be sick and this is the first time we have been able to sit down and put our experience on paper.

After much research, we selected American Airlines and Barcelo Puerto Plata resort. Barcelo was labeled a 3 star resort and we felt confident that because it was a resort sponsored by American Airlines All Inclusive, we would be pretty safe selecting this resort. We could not have been more incorrect.

We arrived at Barcelo on Monday July 19 at approximately 6 p.m. As our flight was delayed over 3 hours. Check in took over 2 hours, even though we checked in by family, not as an entire group. The hold up was not clear as there was only 1 family in front of us. Prior to our arrival, my sister and I had both called the hotel directly to ask if they had adjoining rooms for our families, as we were traveling with young children. They assured us they did. Upon check in, however we were informed that they do not have adjoining rooms and they would just give us rooms side by side to our kids. While this was not our first choice, we accepted. The first room assignments were a disaster, as they rooms were not side by side to our children. I exchanged one of my rooms for another that was available from one of our family assignments and was able to get my 2 rooms side by side, rooms 10208 and 10210.

Our room was NOT a 3 star resort room, the television was very old, the remote did not work, there was mold in the bathrooms. The kids room next door flooded after every shower and the toilet leaked after every flush. We had to use the towels to soak up all the water but thankfully the hotel cleaning staff was nice enough to replenish the towels for us when we asked. But after hearing my sister and niece's room issues, we settled for our room and decided not to change rooms.

We went to Guest Services Tuesday and spoke with Magdalena about making reservations for the restaurants highlighted online at Barcelo.com. We were told that the first available reservation was for Wednesday night and until then we would have to eat at the buffet until then. We broke up the groups into parties of 4, but were still told the first reservation was for Wednesday only for 6 people, Thursday for 6 people and Friday at the brazil restaurant. We were a little baffled, but accepted not knowing that this was only to be the beginning of the 'customer service” we would experience at Barcelo.

On Tuesday, my daughter became ill, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. I went to the main buffet hall to get her something to eat and was told that I was not allowed to leave the restaurant with any food even though I explained it was for a sick child in the room unable to leave. I paid for an all inclusive resort, only to be told that I could only eat in the dining area! So I put the food in my beach bag and took it back to my daughter.

On Thursday, most of the family took an excursion to go horseback riding, we returned around 2:30, we went straight to the buffet and were told that some of the party had to change into appropriate attire before entering, so 3 went back to their rooms to change, while 5 others were in the dining room eating. When they returned to the restaurant, the Buffet Gestapo at the front door told them the buffet was closed and they could not enter. I went up to the door and pointed to the family and she did still did not allow them entry. At this point, due to the issues we had encountered with the room assignments and the reservation plus the poor service rec'd by the many different staff members at Barcelo, I was enraged and the manager of the buffet overhead me and tried to accommodate. He very graciously explained that the buffet was being shut down in preparation for dinner but he would allow me to fix a plate for the remaining guests in case they returned and he would make sure they would be allowed entry. However, after the gestapo at the front door turned them away, not once, but twice, they returned to their room not very happy.

We realized at this point, it made no difference if we voiced our complaints to the staff, and the general manager never contacted us and was not available the week of our “vacation”.

On Friday, my husband went to upstairs to the Pizzeria to get some sodas, the lady waiting tables was busy so my husband went to the counter and asked the server behind the counter for a coke and a seven up. The guy fixing drinks has 2 glasses with soda in them, he poured them out, rinsed the glass with water and poured 2 fresh drinks. My husband asked for the drinks in clean unused glasses, then he changed his mind and asked for the drinks in plastic cups since it was apparent that cleanliness was not part of the regimen at Barcelo. We were no longer surprised that our daughter and the rest of our group could not fight this illness, imagine the bacteria being shared by the many many guests at Barcelo, especially since the hotel was at capacity after the locals checked in for the weekend. It seems obvious, people expect to be served with clean sterilized dishes and glasses, but it seems maybe at this resort, this is considered a special request?

Needless to say, our experience was not what we had anticipated after saving for this family vacation and spending over $2800 for our family alone. The total for the family vacation for all of our party traveling together was near $10000.

Besides the apparent lack of customer service from the hotel staff, we were appalled at the entertainment offered to the guests here. Barcelo was stated as a family friendly hotel but the entertainment was definitely equivalent to an adult only establishment, dirty dancing, transvestites and during one evening a man wore a backless dress with his buttocks exposed to the audience. This is not the entertainment suitable for children. The following evenings entertainment involved young girls from the crowd who were encouraged to dirty dance on the stage for the grand prize of Ms. Puerto Plata.

We are requesting a full refund of this trip, we have no fond memories and certainly will NOT recommend Barcelo Puerto Plata to anyone considering a trip to the Dominican Republic, and while we have traveled with American Airlines, I would not recommend an all inclusive trip using American Airlines as this hotel clearly is not a 3 star resort.

We met again a fellow traveler we met initially on the flight over to Puerto Plata and her experience in Puerto Plata was much different. When she heard the problems we experienced she was as shocked to hear about it as we were to experience it.

One would assume that given the business environment, airlines would be looking for opportunities to drive business. American airlines apparently has enough business that they are willing to turn away customers.

I used to fly a fair amount, and had attained a priority status with aa. Unfortunately, last year I was unable to fly as much as I used to, and thus lost my status. I don’t have a problem with that. What I am offended by is the way that aa has treated me since then, even though I am once again travelling. Although I had earned and not gotten around to using over 20 upgrades, aa will not honor them. Their policy is that I can only use those if I retain a priority status. Never mind that I earned them by flying aa a great deal. Because I haven’t recently, I cannot use my earned perks. Interestingly, even when travelling with my husband, who is lifetime platinum with aa (has flown over 3m miles with them), we cannot use them – because they are in my name.

Bad enough, but now that I no longer have status, I am being punished too. I have discovered that by losing priority status, they didn’t just drop me back to group 1 or 2 – oh no. I dropped back to the very end - group 5. Only standby boards after me now. Nice way to say thank you after years of loyalty. An even more effective way to drive me away permanently.

At the end of the flight, the flight attendant states that “we know you have a choice in airlines…”. Well, yes, as a matter of fact we do. This is one ex-aa frequent flier who will go out of her way to fly any airline other than american.

Dear sir/madam,

Considering your airlines is one of the world’s leading and reliable airlines, I booked the tickets for my self, my wife and my 1.5 years old son from doha (qatar) to new york (jfk) via london.
Boarding pass numbers (london to jfk) : 30c and 30d.
Baggage tag numbers: ba 487155, ba 487286 & ba 487287.

You may very well understand that with the infant, how much would it be difficult when the flight was delayed in bahrain for 2 hours because of the technical snag (and with no air conditioning). After we reached london airport, we were boarded on flight number aa 105 as our scheduled flight aa 115 had already left.

We were astonished to note that on our arrival at jfk none of our three baggages had reached. We were promised that within 24 hours all three baggages will be delivered to us at the following address:
480, main street,
Willows motel, williamstown,
Ma.
Zip: 01267

When we pointed out that we had a small handbag and all the belongings are in the bags and we don’t have even the primary clothes and the required toiletry and the kids life saving drugs which are required due to the change of weather and otherwise also for daily requirement. We were sanctioned $ 200.00 for the first day and $ 100.00 the next day, for the clothes and toiletry. Please find enclosed the receipts of the purchases.

I had planned the trip soon after getting my visa for usa to setup a new motel venture in williamstown, ma and was supposed to attend a very important meeting on 1st september with other six senior executives and could not go for the same in the track suit and without the important documents, which were in the luggage.

On contacting mr. Bob miller (senior supervisor) on 1st september at around 12.20 pm and explaining him the whole scenario of missing the meeting and the inconvenience and harassment to my son who suffered in this undue delay in the absence of his necessary required clothes and medicines. The whole trip has gone to waste and we will have to back again after getting the necessary appiontments.

Appreciating the circumstances, mr. Bob has agreed to give one ticket for me as well as for my son ignoring the fact that how can a infant travel without his mother.

I had to pay for the motel bill for the reserved period of 15 days (31st august to 14th september) to willows motel @ $ 2496.49 apart from unnecessary spending on clothes, toiletry apart from undergoing the mental stress and the wasteage of time on this trip.

After waiting for more than 48 hours, we have received only one bag. And another bag after waiting for another 24 hours. We are still waiting for the third bag to arrive tomorrow.

We hope that the reputation of the airlines, you will not compell us to make complaint to the apprpriate forum, to the press and resort to litigation, the cost of which, you will be responsible for.

Just recently, I have got the information from your website, that one of the last baggage would not be recieved before 7th sept.
My trip lasts only till 15th sept, and this is nothing but sheer harrasment. I never thought a visit to united states of america thorough its prestigious american airlines would result in such a way.

On june 1, 2006, we traveled on aa flight 952 with service from guayaquil to miami, then connecting to sfo on flight 770. Upon arrival into the miami airport, we went to the baggage claim area, to claim our luggage for customs. One of our checked bags (aa 39 38 25) was missing. I located an attendant near the carousel and asked about our missing bag. He asked me to describe it, and then said come with me. We walked over to an open public area on the floor. Their was my hard cover suitcase crushed and wide open. He said that it had got hung up on the conveyor belt, and that he found it split wide open. He said that he picked up all the items that he could see, and put them back inside the suitcase. I noted that all three latching mechanisms had been broken apart, and that a couple of items were missing at that time. He directed me to the aa baggage claim area. We had a connecting flight, so time was of the essence. The baggage claim rep. Examined the bag and said that just a moment. She returned a minute later with a large black suitcase for us to transfer all of the belongings into. A moment later, the aa baggage supervisor came up to us and asked what the problem was, (he was a black male, mid 20's, with short hair). He told the clerk helping us to take the suitcase she had brought out for us to use back. I said look at our bag, it no longer fastens in anyway. He said, "that's not my problem". I said we had a connecting flight, and needed a way to secure our belongings. He said, "you need to contact the baggage claim area at your final destination to file a claim". I asked about our missing items, he repeated that we needed to file a claim at our final destination, and walked away. The clerk offered a roll of saran wrap for us to use, and said that she would enter some date into the computer system for us. My wife and I rolled our crushed suitcase with the saran warp on the floor in front of the baggage claim area, then rechecked the bag for our flight to sfo. Upon arrival into sfo, we contacted the baggage claim rep. He noted the damage, and told us to empty the bag so that he could send it out for repair / replacement. He did not offer a temporary bag for us to use, so we will have to go back to the airport in a few days for the repair.

Wife and I were on aa flight 2457 from dfw to lax; it was delayed for hours and may have been ultimately cancelled due to mechanical problems. Upon discussion with aa agents, it was determined that they could not get us to mry (our ultimate destination) that day, but could get us to sjc. Before

Leaving for sjc, I asked 2 agents at aa whether aa would reimburse the car rental charge I would have since I was

Going to have to drive from sjc to mry. I was told by both agents that the airline would reimburse since it was a

Mechanical problem and they could not get us to mry. They

Informed me where to file the reimbursement. I sent in

Appropriate documentation of the approx $130 car rental

Charge, and exchanged 3 emails stating my argument with aa customer service

Reegarding such. The airlines refuses to refund claiming

They have no such policy. They offered 10k advantage miles

For the overall hassle of the rebooking along with other

Problems they caused during the trip, but miles are not

Cash. Two different employees lied to me or were unaware of

The policies.

Del palmar here, sitting at my timeshare in mazatlan complaining about these continental connections that the airlines force us to take. Don't you see that the continental connections are just a fraud and scam to take our money and time?
I just flew down to my timeshare last week, and boy let me tell you. These airline companies really have us by the you know whats. You mean to tell me I can't get from ny to my timeshare in mexico direct? I can only take a continental connection through some hub airport.
This is 2010 and by now you should think that the airlines would be better serving their customers. I've been coming to my timeshare for about 15 years, and each year the direct flights are fewer and fewer. Now, good luck getting to the timeshare direct.
So marie and I had our continental connection in houston, exchanged our money and paid an awful commission. There's a good business to be in. Just exchange, buy and resell money for large commissions and exchange fees at the airports. Anywhere there's tourists, set up a little kiosk and start to exchange, buy and resell money for large commissions and exchange fees.
I think it's cheaper to exchange, buy and resell money for your vacation in the usa.in mexico, the large commissions and exchange fees are even larger. So we do it before going to the timeshare.
The flights to the timeshare was reasonable. Crap food, and eddie murphy in a fat-suit movie. But marie let me have the window seat and one of her green pills. I only looked up from the view to order a gin and tonic, which I know from past experiences, goes really well with her green pills.
By the time we got to the airport in mazatlan, I was ready to get in a cab and head for my favorite taco stand on the way to the timeshare, but I pressed the red button. For anyone who hasn't been to mexico before, customs has a different system than ours (anyone with a tan).in mexico, you press a button and if the light goes red then you go off to get searched; green and you can proceed. Marie pressed green, but they searched her too.
Of course they didn't find anything because there wasn't anything to find. You can get anything you want in mexico anyway. What would anyone really be smuggling into mexico?
I'd love to see about one of those timeshare jet companies for my continental flights without connections. That would be a worthy investment to get to the timeshare in mexico more often. The grandkids would love that, boy let me tell you. See all their inheritance go to that one purchase. Just think of the look on their faces.
Sorry kids, i'm you wanted to go to college or something, but you know how grandpa hates a connecting flight.

I had a flight on american airlines going through miami to dallas and aa failed to look at the time between these flights, because of the time for customs and security there was no way for me to make my flight. The counter person told me it was my fault for not checking all the way to seattle. Which I did not know about. I made it from miami on a flight that landed at 9:05 to connect with a flight that left at 9:00. The counter person told me that sometimes the flights are delayed and I might make it. Well I arrived at the gate at 8:53 and the plane had already pulled away from the gate. Aa new my plane made it to dallas at 8:40 and that I was on the flight. Aa decided to send the flight out early anyway. Because of aa I had to spend the night in dfw. The service manager would not even offer to put me up in a room for the night.

I had a flight from dallas to tulsa recently. I use a handicap scooter that always gets checked in the bottom of the plane. When we boarded in dallas I was impressed with the attention to detail that one employee displayed. He was kind enough to bring me the key to my scooter after I was already in my seat on the plane.

When my wife and I disembarked I was taken to the top of the concourse in a wheelchair. When my wife and infant son arrived, with my scooter in tow, the man we sat next to on the plane approached.

"is your scooter alright?" he has a bewildered look on his face.

"it seems to be. Why do you ask?" after a ong day of travel I was ready to get out of the airport.

"well, I saw two american employees throw your scooter about thirty feet as I wasa boarding the plane. They did not load it. They threw it.

The following day I sent american an e-mail explaining what happened and my desire to have the equipment evaluated. Upon learning, a couple of weeks later, that the scooter needs a new engine, american says that they will not reimburse me for the damages. Even though I reported the incident within twenty-four hours, they say that I waited too long to have it evaluated. Never mind the fact that the company that services my scooter was unable to attend to it until yesterday.

American has become greyhound of the sky. Zero consistency. No care or concern for their passengers, you know, the people who pay the bills. I have taken two flights this summer and both times american damaged my scooter. I think that the time has come, no matter how inconvenient, to stop using this airline. Enough is enough!

I traveled from brasil last thursday night and arrived in ny last friday morning by american airlines in a fly number
950 sao paulo guarulh thu 27aug 9:20 pm new york jfk 6:10 am. I brought 9 bags, for what I payed 300 dolares extra because I had 3 m ore bags than I should travel with. Some of my bags were pretty new, I just bought it in sao paulo the day before my fly. I locked all my bags and checked it in sao paulo to ny. When I arrived in ny I found 8 bags, one of my bag was missing, it took to me one hour till I found it. The 9th bag was wrapped in transparent plastic. I was very sick with cold and tired, I got my 2 kids, my 9 bags and went out ot the aeroport without to understand why one of my bags was wrapped in plastic bag if I didnt do it. When I got home, I saw that my 9th bags was violated, the zipper was broke, the lock was gone and some personal itens was gone too. I had no idea what to do, I called to the following in ny: [protected] [protected] and for my surprise all the number asked me to let my name, my phone number and explain my question. Is it not estupid or what? Some employe at the american airlines at the check in opened my bag, stole things and I have to leave a message explaing it? Why there is not someone there to care about it? I payed the ticket, I payed for my bags and this is what I got? After to make my check in, the american airlines must be responsable for all my bags, if they have roubbers working with them, they must know it and fire that person, but they dont care. While it keep going, we have no choices and still will be roubbed without to be able of to complain because the airlines companies just dont care...
At the photo you can see my 9 bags and the blue one wrapped in plastic and then you can see the blu bag with the broke zipper. When I got home and saw it I was really mad. Roubbers, ladroes, criminosos, jail for this people...

I was presented with a string of pearls, I guess they were real! I had worked for the company 23 years, and one of the members presented me with the pearls as a gift for my service in the organization. I just arrived home from the airport and they were missing from the box. So, thank you american airlines for you and the service of your wonderful baggage handlers. I do not have much and apparently not meant too. I do hope that individual that ends up receiving those lovely beads enjoys them and wears them in good health! God bless american airlines and the thief that stole my gift.

In january 2007 I bought 4 tickets to travel to my son's wedding. I paid $1709 in total to american airlines. I needed to book one more seat a week later, so I went to their website and found that the price for the seats I bought dropped 30%. I called the airline to arrange some kind of refund. But no, they said I needed to cancel the tickets, and buy them once again.

That would be fine, but with all the ticket cancellation fees and penalties I would not win much. Plus they would not give me my money but issue me a voucher that I could use for future orders! But wait, I also needed to pay $90 for the voucher to be issued to me!

Prior to the buyout/takeover of twa, I had flown nearly 1, 000, 000 miles... The aa took over and everything went out the window.in september of 2008, my sales promotion department at keller crescent advertising in evansville, indiana was dissolved due to financial issues. I had to move back to saint louis, missouri to make ends meat (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/24/messages/779.html).

After I moved back to saint louis, my aa statements did not get to me in time (according to american airlines) and they expired my miles without notification to me. I had planned to use the miles to travel for a possible job opportunity, but the nice people at american airlines have told me that I am basically sol, unless I play some sort of challenge game. To me it sounds like this airline (that i've been loyal too in it's previous form for many, many years) is making a mockery of my situation and being entirely unreasonable in their requests to get my mileage reinstated.

Loyalty goes both ways.

After many years of loyalty to american airlines, they unceremoniously deleted my entire savings of frequent flyer miles with no forewarning. One day I had 75, 000 miles, the next day american said they expired because of lack of activity. Other airlines give multiple warnings to you before the miles expire. Not american, they just delete the miles without letting you know. I could have done something simple like spend 1000 miles on a magazine subscription if I had been forewarned. There goes 2 tickets to europe. I will never fly them again.

With displeasure and annoyance we have to inform our friends and sponsors of a damage to the view e.V. (the view society) caused by american airlines.

Until today american airlines did not bother to send an apology for their disgraceful behaviour, or even refund the outstanding amount of 226 usd, which had to be paid from donation money of the view society.

Please consider the unbelievable behaving of americanairlines when you book your next flight. Next time it might be you to suffer from the ignorance and sloppy work of american airlines.

The explaining letter to american airlines has been attached on our website at: http://www.view-ev.de/aa.html

On august 21, 2008, I arrived 3 hrs early for my flight from birmingham to phoenix. While packing I placed two boxes of jewelry in the center of my case, wrapped in clothing {note that this jewelry made it to birmingham from phoenix safely 3 days earlier}. I was lucky enough to catch an earlier flight, but my luggage would have to wait. I arrived in phoenix, waited for my luggage to arrive, picked it up and went home. The next morning, while unpacking I noticed both boxes were gone. Unfortunately, one of the boxes was full of heirloom and very expensive jewelry. I contacted my brother, who previously worked for the airline, and he stated when your luggage goes through tsa, they can see exactly whats in your bag. If they see anything good, they alert the baggage handlers in back, who by the way, have no cameras in their area. That is where all the theft occurs. Obviously, they had motive and more than enough time. Much to my suprise, american airlines sub-contracts their baggage handling to a company called "jet stream" located in birmingham, so it's not even aa employees. I did file a complaint with the birmingham police, but i'm sure I am not a top priority with them. I have continued to search for my jewelry on-line, I have sent flyers with descriptions & pictures of my jewelry to pawn shops in birmingham and until thanksgiving, no such luck. I was able to find one ring, my late fathers, on an ebay web site. I called the police on thanksgiving, never heard anything back for days and finally I called the police again on 12/3. I called them again today and was told they needed to fax something to ebay, and that he would do it asap, but the item still remains up for sale.

Beware, nothing is safe. American airlines says that in their ticket cover they state they are not responsible for items such as jewelry in your luggage, so i've got nothing. Not to mention, my homeowners only covers $1500 and the claim was over $20, 000. Adding insult to injury, both my flights to and from birmingham were delayed hours.

I am never flying aa again, and neither should you.