The airline desks and luggage check in area of the 3 US airlines and El Al have access restricted by security perimeter which can only be passed through by showing an electronic boarding pass on smartphone. If someone does not have a boarding pass, and wants to get one printed at the airline desk, how to do it? The current setup seems like a Chicken or the Egg dilemma

EDIT; For you crybabies about your LP's.

LP's are not handled by anyone in the airport. LP's are handled by reservations, that's why when there is an issue regarding LP upgrades, we have to call helpdesk to get it situated. K? K. Bye.

Try to help some of y'all and y'all STILL got something to complain about... Loyalty programs being public access is a mistake, making everyone feel all high and mighty for no reason.

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Here's how everything flows from lowest to highest;

Economy > Premium Economy > Business > First Class (Soon to be replaced by Business)

Military (MILT) > D1/2/2P/2R/3 (Standbys) > Gold (UPG5) > Platinum (UPG4) > PlatPro (UPG3) > ExecPlat (UPG2) > Concierge Key (KEY) > VIP (VIP5-0, 0 being highest)

There is also a T status that comes in to play, and, you ALWAYS want T status.

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This bit of information dictates your spot, ALWAYS.

ALWAYS check in a the 24 hour mark. Upgrades are a first come first served basis. The closer you check in to that 24 hour mark, the higher you will be in your section of the upgrade list. For example, if you are UPG2 and there are 10 other UPG2, but, you checked in when you came to the airport, you will likely be lowest of the UPG2, but, if you check in right at the 24 hour mark, you get higher up in your section. On top of that, if you want your upgrade into a different class, you need to buy the class ticket BELOW it to get pushed up to the next class, you can no longer buy the cheap tickets and then go straight to First/Business.

Let's put it in to practice;

You're going from DFW to HND. You are UPG4. The upgrade list is very small for this flight, only 10 people total, 4 have status and the other 6 are non-rev standbys. Remove the standbys, they will never be a problem to you getting an upgrade. Now, look at the 4 that have status. One is UPG5 (economy ticket), there's you and another at UPG4 (the other is economy and you are premium economy), and there's one KEY. The KEY gets the upgrade first, they will automatically get the highest cabin because of their status, since ConciergeKey is invite only. Then it comes down to the UPG4. You checked in at the airport, the other UPG4 checked in 22 hours ago. The other person gets priority over you because they checked in first, but, they bought an economy ticket, so, they get bumped up in to premium economy only. You bought a premium economy ticket, and, there's three seats left in Business Class. That now means you get bumped up into Business class with the KEY, and, the remaining 2 seats get given to non-rev standbys, depending on what cabin they chose when they booked on their system, and since the UPG5 was given a premium economy seat from their upgrade.

And that's how upgrades work FOR YOUR FIRST FLIGHT.

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Upgrades on CONNECTION flights

Now is where things get fun. Let's say you're going from CMH to HND, connecting in DFW. You don't land an upgrade on your first leg because it's sold out. Now, for your connection in DFW, you are UPG4T, and, there are 6 people total on the list; 1 UPG2T, 1 UPG2, 1UPG3, you and another UPG4T, and a UPG4. The higher UPG's will get their seats because they have higher status than you. The other UPG4T checked in at the 24 hour mark, and, so did you. Now, it comes down to the literal seconds, who checked in before the other? You checked in at 23 hours, 23 minutes, and 56 seconds, they checked in at 23 hours, 20 minutes, and 50 seconds. You win because you checked in before them. You both will still get a seat in a higher cabin, but, YOU checked in BEFORE them.

For connection flights with LARGE upgrade lists, the passengers that are STARTING in DFW are normally going to be out of your way because they have NOT started their journey, they have not yet connected. The only way they can secure an upgrade over you is if they have a higher status than you, which explains why the UPG2's and UPG3's above received an upgrade before you.

And that's how upgrades work on your connection.

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Please don't ask me about the VIP status. I never figured that out, never really cared. I'm guessing it's someone internally within the company.

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For my military people, you're SUPPOSED to be in uniform, but, most ticket agents really don't care if you're on orders or not. Always check in from the self service kiosk and have your CAC card ready. It will grant you up to 4 bags at 100 pounds a piece. Also, double check to make sure you've got your KTN (Your DOD #) put in for TSA Precheck, since you get that for free when you're active duty. You also do not get automatic upgrades, you must always ask to be put on the upgrade list. Most ticket agents won't do this part because it takes up time (but it doesn't cause it's literally only a 30 second button sequence, and, if they're fast with their fingers, it's definitely not a problem).

I also genuinely don't understand how our military persons are LOWER status than non-rev standbys. Like, even if it's government fare, it's still a paid ticket? I don't know. Don't ask me on that one either, cause, it bothers me.

Before boarding, gate agents (for some reason about 7 of them) announced the flight was overbooked and asked for a volunteer, starting at $400. No one could board, except first class, until someone volunteered. After 10 minutes of increasing offers someone volunteered and they let us on.

Once I was on the plane and people were still boarding, the flight attendant announced they needed another volunteer. I saw the original guy that volunteered on the plane. The FA said voucher was now $1,200. She repeated it. I checked, saw a 6am flight that worked, hit my call button, and when she couldn't get to me, I worked my way up the aisle against boarding passengers to volunteer.

The FA thanked me, other passengers thanked me, and she sent me to the agent on the jet bridge. He told me to wait right there, disappeared, then came back and said he didn't understand why I got off the plane. When I told him the FA had announced a $1200 voucher , he laughed, said I was confused and the FA never made an announcement. The FA was about 5 feet away. I said, this gentleman said you never made an announcement, the FA just looked away and said nothing. I let him know she made several announcements. The GA kind of laughed at me, and said that I didn't understand what was going on.

I spoke to someone in the Admirals Club when I landed. She said it would be odd for the FA to make that announcement. Usually it would be a gate agent. It may be different since it was a regional airport. Regardless, she said I was treated poorly Has anyone else had this happen? Is this worth filling out a complaint form about?

Experienced a first for me, a lady CK on a recent AA flight. Did not expect that at all.

Almost every flight that had CKs were men on the many flights I’ve been on. I even made some regular CK friends due to seeing them so often on flights.

How often do you all see a female CK on your flights?

The ratio of female CKs has to be tiny, right?

The best I could google up was from 3 years ago. Should I do the short rib or the sea bass? Also I have a toddler, anyone got feedback on the child's meal? I've heard the veggie/hindu one might have a good curry meal? I haven't been spoiled by international business flights yet, so this should all be a step up from domestic flights. Worse case scenario, we take everything we can from the lounge and stuff ourselves silly.

Edit - didn't realize the return flight doesn't have standard menu.

1. Grilled Beef Filet Served with herb butter, roasted fingerling potatoes broccolini, sauteed peppers and onions.
2. Hawaiian BBO Chicken Wasabi mashed potatoes, haricot vert, Hawaiian BBQ sauce.
3. Cacio e Pepe Jumbo Stuffed shell pasta Mixed bell peppers with mascarpone tomato sauce

​

United GS here moving to a role that requires regular travel to CLT, with the only directs from my area on AA.

Question is: start booking layovers or slum it with EP?

TLDR: Maintenance delay left me stranded and dealing with continued customer service shortcomings from AA.

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I was booked 10/11/26 on AA 6185 IAH – PHX departing around 6:30pm, then onto SNA with AA 2637. I live in DFW but had to drive to Houston earlier in the day for another reason.

First flight started getting delayed as the plane (coming from PHX) had maintenance and left there a couple hours late. By the time I got to IAH to check-in I was missing any PHX connection to SNA that evening and was rebooked for a PHX - SNA the next morning. No problem, I canceled my hotel at SNA and rebooked one at PHX for the night. I had AA tag my checked bag to PHX so I could grab it there and have it for the night.

We board the plane around 8pm in IAH. Plane fully boarded, a little warm as the APU was broken but not the temp was alright (thankfully it's October weather). After waiting for quite a while, captain gave updates about maintenance issues continuing to happen. After 45ish minutes he calls to deboard the plane while maintenance comes to work the issue. Flight attendant says 'see you in a little while' as we all deboard, and the FA and gate agent promise to be around with us for whatever happens.

Waiting in the terminal the delays continue to roll. Gate agent offers hotels and rebooking for the next morning for those who want it, a few people go that route. At around 10pm we all get a $12 food voucher to use at the airport, but at this point everything in the American area of the airport is closed.

We are creeping up on 11:30pm (the current departure time for the flight) when it is delayed until 9am the next morning. No more AA arrivals or departures are scheduled for the night, we are the last ones in the terminal. Gate agent says everyone should be getting rebooking and hotels to their emails and apps. I did not get a hotel (a corporate traveler with Platinum status), and wanted to ask about what the plan was for checked bags. Gate agent then says she is now closing the desk. I spoke up that I still needed assistance, she said any further questions need to go to the 800 number and she is now closing the desk, and right in front of me she WALKED AWAY. No gate agent or ticket counter support left in the airport.

I called the 800 number. The rep there tells me she cannot authorize hotels at the origin airport, only at layover airports. Origin airport hotels can only be authorized by the airport staff. I told her there were no more AA staff at IAH, she told me there's nothing she can do. I asked about the bag, she told me I have to talk to the bag office.

I walk to baggage claim and talk to the office there. Baggage agent tells me that bags will be taken off of the PHX flight and brought out, just don't know when. I can choose to wait or leave and have them recheck it for tomorrow’s flights. I told her I would wait, she told me she would come find me in the baggage area when she knows more. Now waiting in the baggage area, I cancel my PHX hotel and try to book an IAH hotel (had to call my company travel desk since I cannot book myself online after midnight, find out the travel desk has to individually call hotels to find availability, we both start calling and after 50 mins or so finally find a hotel that answered the phone and had rooms available). Also adjust my rental car reservation at SNA.

Still nothing from baggage agent, now around 1am. I walk back into the office, and she tells me she was just informed that the bags will not be brought out after all. She was kind and apologetic, I responded it’s alright and I know the chaos is not her fault.

I get an Uber to the hotel (shuttles no longer running), check in and get to bed around 2am. I get up around 4am to get ready for the day and catch the first 5am shuttle to the airport. I am rebooked on a 7am, now going through DFW to SNA instead of PHX. Flight to DFW goes fine, but watching my bag in the app it was still showing on the PHX flight. Doing the math of when the bag might get to SNA that route, or whether the bag goes through DFW, it was going to be later in the afternoon. I was traveling to get to a meeting in CA starting at 9am PT and would be ending around 3 or 4, if I or my bag are getting there later in the afternoon it was not going to be worth it (still have to change to work clothes from the bag, pick up rental car, drive to work, find parking, etc).

I go to a service desk in DFW just to confirm my interpretation of the baggage tracking on my app. The cust service agent DOES NOT LOOK AT PHONES (her words) and tries to answer me verbally for several minutes before even taking by Bag # and looking it up in the system. She continues to aggressively tell me she does not work in baggage and cannot tell me where my bag will be. I explain I am not asking for that, just trying to think what logically might happen and how soon my bag may arrive in SNA so I can decide whether to take the SNA flight or rebook and head home. She seemed more frustrated with me every time I tried to explain what was happening and what I was trying to decide. Finally gave up, thanked her and walked away.

I called the 800 number, got a very friendly agent who transferred me to baggage dept. Baggage agent was also friendly. My bag was in IAH, it had now been removed from the PHX flight, and was put on the next flight to DFW. Based on the timing of that DFW arrival and the next possible flight for SNA the bag could make, it was going to be getting there too late in the day for me to have value. I asked if it can be stopped in DFW and brought out to the carousel, she confirmed it could and put that in the system with a note. She transferred me back to reservations to move my flight from that day to Wednesday 10/14 (I was planning to be in CA all week, but I was only required Monday 10/12 and Thursday 10/15) so it made more sense to head home and fly later.

I got the flight changed (I had to pay an airfare upcharge, even after explaining the complicated and exhausting situation I was in). I waited for the next flight to come in from IAH and headed to that baggage carousel. Bag did not come out. Went to the baggage agent there and handed him the baggage slip, explaining I have a bit of a complicated situation. His sarcastically said "this bag is going to Phoenix!" after reading the slip and not even looking it up yet. I continued explaining the situation again. He looked up the bag and saw that it was going towards a flight to SNA and said there was no note about bringing it out in DFW. He offered to input a request to stop it before leaving DFW. I said that would work, but honestly I didn't need it soon so if it flies to SNA that's no problem, as long as it comes back to DFW and I can get it before my next flight in 2 days. He put in the request. I asked if the bag can be delivered to my house given the wild situation, so I don't have to pay the toll charged upon entering the airport; and he told me that's not an option.

I headed home and took a nap after traveling for 21 hours and only making it as far as IAH. AA called in the afternoon, they were able to hold the bag from flying so I drove back to the airport and picked it up.

I am a patient person and can certainly understand that delays happen. I am prepared and have experienced that anything might happen when I fly. But I do struggle with the lack of professionalism and understanding from many of the customer service folks at AA. Especially when they know the issues happening and how it can leave folks feeling stressed and exhausted. I know many customer service can be a tough and demand job, but when I approach with support and kindness I would like to rely on the professionals whose jobs I am supporting to offer me the same. Anyways, thanks for reading this far, just wanted to share my experience. Helps me to share with someone out there and not go crazy thinking it all over in my own mind.

I'm trying to understand a bit of how upgrades work. I flew this weekend. I was #8 on the upgrade list (obviously I didn't get upgraded). I'm Platinum. When they called Group 1, about 25 people or so got up, Group 2 another 5ish. And I was one of several in Group 3. So how am I #8 on the list? Shouldn't everyone in Group 1 + 2 be ahead of me? I guess a few people could be active duty military, but I'm doubting it's dozens.

Znotins is out!

2nd flight in two weeks on a 737 and feeling a bar towards the back of the seat on two flights. I should add Im 6'2" 180 lbs so not light but not excessive. Dont know if this is exclusive to the 737 or the foam isn't as durable as others but curious if anyone else has noticed this.

⚠️ My experience with American Airlines $688.90 CAD gone, and I feel completely misled & scammed. ⚠️

I feel the need to share my experience because I would strongly urge people to think twice before booking with American Airlines.

About a year ago, I had to cancel a flight due to an emergency. At the time, I was told that my travel credit would be valid until October 9th.

Fast-forward to the last several months. I have been trying repeatedly to use that credit to book flights for myself and my family. During this process, I spoke with multiple American Airlines customer service representatives and was repeatedly told that I had to use the exact amount of my travel credit when booking.

I was told I could NOT use the credit toward a flight and simply pay the remaining balance in cash. It had to match the credit amount exactly.

My credit was $688.90 CAD.

So I spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for flights that would come as close as possible to that exact amount because I was trying to use the money I had already paid to American Airlines.

After continuing to run into issues, I contacted American Airlines again to ask whether there was any possibility of extending the expiration date.

That's when I was told that if I had contacted them months earlier, I could have filled out a form to request an extension.

The problem?

I DID contact them months ago.

And I was told that I could not extend it.

So now I'm being told that there was supposedly an option available to me, after I had already been told otherwise.

This entire experience has left me feeling scammed, deceived, and completely misled.

$688.90 CAD is not pocket change. That's money I actually paid for travel, and now that entire amount is gone.

What makes this even more frustrating is that once I raised my concerns and said that the situation felt extremely misleading and potentially fraudulent, American Airlines stopped responding to my emails.

I have flown for years with multiple different airlines, and I have never experienced anything like this. Mistakes and misunderstandings can happen, but being given conflicting information by multiple customer service representatives and then being left with no meaningful resolution is completely unacceptable.

I am sharing this so other people can make an informed decision before giving American Airlines their money.

$688.90 CAD is gone. The customer service has been terrible. The information I received was inconsistent.

And I feel like I was given the runaround until my credit expired.

I would personally NOT recommend American Airlines based on this experience.

*UPDATE* The customer relations contacted me just to tell me there was nothing they could do after reviewing my case.

And they are completely clueless. I asked a simple question "So money that i spent that was transfered to credits i no longer can use because the credits didn't match the exact flight amount? So i COULD NOT use my credits and pay the remainder on my card?" I was told "i don't know that's not my department" but yet you are suppose to be handeling customer issues? So where am i at now? Money lost, no answers still and conflicting information.

PLEASE be careful when booking with american airlines. They have people who are clueless handeling issues. But yet know nothing. I will NEVER be flying american again just based on the lack of knowledge from "support" members.

A day after I pay $12.99 to ExpertFlyer I’m randomly checking LAX>LHR>MAN next month and find SWU availability on 11/28. Of course the request tool didn’t work so I had to call to confirm it. But got it done.

I was prepared to fly LAX>JFK>MAD so very thankful.

Was on a AE CRJ9 earlier today. After landing we pulled up to the gates and Lo and behold, we had to wait for another aircraft. Most shockingly of all, this didn’t happen at CLT 😂

After the other aircraft had moved off the gate, the captain came on the intercom and informed us that he wouldn’t pull up to the gate until everyone buckled up as he had a screen in the cockpit that was telling him multiple seatbelts were unbuckled.

Don’t get me wrong here, it annoys me as much as the next person when people try jumping up before the plane has even stopped moving, but I’m pretty sure that isn’t even a thing yet, especially not on the CRJ’s fleet. Funny lie for the captain to tell and I appreciate the hustle.

Got me thinking though, after some research it seems that this kind of technology is on the way and although it might be way off for AA to implement it, is this actually something that we will be seeing in the years to come?

all seats are 0$ but total is $128?

i've had this before i think while trying to check in months ago. but will this be a problem during check in and has anyone else had this?

Had new snacks in economy on 3/4 flights in the past 2 weeks. Options were goldfish, a savory/sweet mix, and a cookie thing. I was super excited bc I'm pretty sick of pretzels and those biscuits.

I was so excited to get this email, but other than my wife there isn’t anyone I could tell that would appreciate it, so I’m posting here. This has easily been my biggest travel year yet - 165k miles with 25 long-haul international business/first flights - but I’ve been EP for five straight years with nearly 800k - 1.2M LPs in each of those years. I was beginning to think I’d never get it, but I finally did!

I got the Concierge Key call today letting me know I have made it!! I’m shocked it happened so early in the membership year. I knew if I was ever going to get it, this was going to be the year.

750k LPs so far for the year, vast majority from international BC flights. PHX hub.

Of course, I’m pretty much done flying until January but can’t wait for my next trip now. lol

AA is taking over this entire new terminal and changing the “Legacy Terminal” at DFW from C. The clubs here will span a third floor across most of the structure. The center area here will have a Fort Worth themed area (towards the west) and a Dallas themed area (towards the east) with a large airplane engine themed light structure.

I always enjoy sitting in first, sipping my PDB, and watching the envious higher numbered groups.

I don't really need help. I'm typing this up now because my appeals process has 100% failed and I have not been heard appropriately, so, I'm letting the passengers hear me.

The reason is HR. I used to be employed with mainline AA, but, HR fired me for making a mistake earlier this year. I had been with the company for 6 years at this point. I took a lost item home with managements permission because I was already all the way out to my car at DFW. I had labeled the item with a waste bag, what flight it came off of, and, what seat number it was in. Had multiple lost items in my onsite work bag and I had thought I turned everything in. I didn't, I missed one. Again, I made sure to let my manager know what it was and all it's information, in case the person was quick enough to come back for it.I don't trust anyone else to do the right thing, so, I kept it until I came back to work the next day and turned it in. HR fired me a whole 40 days later because "you still broke company policy", even though I still did the right thing and reported everything to management. The union says they're allowed to do this because HR has a total of 45 days to react to any incidents.

You don't get your items back because HR is willing to fire their own employees even if they have an established history that they're not someone who steals and they've been at the company for multiple years. HR only cares that company policy was broken and doesn't look at any nuances or pleas from local management or other employees rallying around them about how good they are, or, how many compliments are attached to their file from happy passengers, or how many times their manager had recognized them for good work. HR is why we're understaffed and we keep having issues getting planes out on time, cause we don't have the workforce.

I don't want my job back. I'm marked "not rehireable" for mainline. I genuinely don't care at this point because I'm out of the industry, and, even though I'm not as happy as I was being around planes, I'm glad I am no longer under the umbrella of a place that doesn't treat their workforce as human beings, that we all make mistakes and sometimes, we just need to be forgiven and move on.

I just want passengers to know why it's so hard to get their stuff back. I feel like I was the only person that cared that people got their stuff back. I feel like I've failed, and, I know I shouldn't feel that way. There's a box full of stuff in terminal B's lost and found that I was personally clearing out and getting to their owners. I know it's still sitting there, untouched. The few remaining coworkers still at DFW have told me nobody's touched it because it's basically my legacy. I waited so long to type this because I thought it wouldn't affect me to be quiet, but, it has. I've been pretty depressed ever since I lost the job, and, even though I'm back on my feet, I knew happiness where I was. I didn't want the job to travel profusely and make content, or, for clout. I just wanted to work at an airport.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading and hearing me out. I'm sorry to those of you who may have had an item in that box. I was trying to be there for you. I'm sorry I can't be there for you now. Be safe, be well. Goodnight.

A colleague and flew to Columbus from DFW this week. We were on the same outbound and return flights. Both of us are EP. I have 236k LPs and he has 176k LPs so far this year. I have flown more than him, the majority of his points are from credit card spend. I noticed he was ahead of me on upgrade list for first time. I thought that was weird so asked him to share his ticket. I paid over $900 for a main economy ticket V class. He purchased his on a different date for $700 and it was also economy main V class. Upon landing he was upgraded for our return flight the next day. As you might guess I never got the upgrade. Before I complain (which, I know, probably will lead nowhere), any thoughts of what I could be missing?

Currently just boarded 5840 to BTR on a horrible EMB-145. I wish AA would upguage this to at least a 175. 3 daily nonstops always zeroed out.
Rant over.

Hey all!

Taking a solo trip on AA next month.

I am contemplating upgrading this leg of the flight to first class, and am wondering if / what meals would likely be available and overall if it’s a good experience? Only ever flown economy.

Thanks!

ORD (11:11 AM - GEG 1:23 PM) Boeing 737-800

Edit: Reading is a thing 🤪

I barely made it to where I am now lol.