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robt65

Nov 29, 2011, 7:25 AM

Post #1 of 11 (1184 views)

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Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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Be aware that American Airlines and their parent company AMR have filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. As the story says . . . . . . . . "It should not affect any passengers for now". So just keep an eye out when booking any flights with returns over the next few months. This may well have some effect on any expats who are on American Airlines Pensions.

See here for full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...7Csec1_lnk2%7C116187

robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Nov 29, 2011, 7:26 AM)

chinagringo

Nov 29, 2011, 7:42 AM

Post #2 of 11 (1175 views)

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Re: [robt65] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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One analyst stated that they might be: "pushed into a merger with US Airways". If that happens, it will be the largest horrible airline on the face of the planet! Customer service is a foreign concept on US Airways as the following article proves:

http://articles.businessinsider.com/...airline-horror-story
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

joaquinx

Nov 29, 2011, 7:47 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1171 views)

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Re: [robt65] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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You' re making it worse than it is. AMR, like United and Delta before them, is using Chapter 11 to re-negotiate labor contracts involving salaries and pension funding. They, like United and Delta, will come out smelling like a rose with the only injured parties being the employees.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

RickS

Nov 29, 2011, 10:54 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1117 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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" with the only injured parties being the employees"

Yes, well of course the employees will take it in the shorts.... what else is new. But they will not be the 'only injured parties'. Although AA has more than $4 billion in cash, the term 'restructuring debt and other cost structures' can be summed up in the statement "if you thought we owed you money, think again'! Current stockholders will be wiped out.

It is a wonder that this (Chapter 11) didn't happen years ago.... they have been playing on an uneven playing field vis-a-vie the other carriers.

(This post was edited by RickS on Nov 29, 2011, 11:03 AM)

joaquinx

Nov 29, 2011, 11:18 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1104 views)

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Re: [RickS] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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It is a chapter 11, so the court will take a stand on what gets dumped and what gets paid. Still, robbery is too nice a term to describe what will happen.

p.s.: I was once a contractor to Sabre Systems, the software arm of AMR. I reported to no one, had no duties nor deadlines, and spend Friday afternoons finding someone to sign my time-sheet. After six months my conscience got to me and I quit. If that was an example of management, it' s a wonder that it took them this long to file.
_______
My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.

jrpierce

Nov 29, 2011, 2:34 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1070 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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From what I've read in several newspapers on line, and from the emails received from American today regarding our frequent flyer miles, it sounds as though this will all be orderly and should pose no immediate threat to the flying public. That said, I always purchase travel insurance when I'm booking expensive airline tickets.

Jim

robt65

Nov 29, 2011, 4:16 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1047 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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Hello Joaquinx,

I am not “making it worse than it seems” . . . . I have only passed on this information for those who fly and have ever been caught in a faraway place without a seat home!!!! I have and believe me it is not fun to say the least. I also posted for those expats who may be on an AMR pension as (you yourself said) it will most probably affect their pensions . . . . . . and the article backs that up.

Please do not make it as though I am the one making these decisions. I will agree that Chinagringo is right. Merging these two airlines should really put the stops to two of the worst customer service airlines in existence today. IMHO

robt65

robt65

Nov 29, 2011, 5:26 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1022 views)

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Re: [jrpierce] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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Hello Mr. Pierce

I agree with buying such insurance against such problems. I always did and when it came time to use it under just such circumstances, it really only was a pay back. I still had some expenses that were not covered. So unless it has changed dramatically since I stopped flying several years ago, you still have to find another flight home at your expense and get (or try) to get reimbursed at a later date from the insurance company. Pop a few more BP medications and so on in an unfamiliar city airport that was supposed to be a carrier transfer in Europe and hope for the best. Everyone at the company counter at the airport seemed to have disappeared at the time (can't say as I blame them) but that still didn't resolve my problem at the time being several thousand miles from home, and on a different continent.

Now if there was a real flight insurance that kicked in immediately, to get you on board another flight with little wasted time, and immediately covered additional hotel expenses out of pocket before getting reimbursed, now that would be effective insurance.

If I was thirty years younger and with a bunch of T. Boon Pickens money, I would start up just such a company! What we have all read in "the papers' or "on line" or from "e mails" we have received and believing it, is a bit like leaving the fox, to watch the fox, to watch the chickens!!! (smiling)

robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Nov 29, 2011, 5:29 PM)

jrpierce

Nov 30, 2011, 5:56 AM

Post #9 of 11 (968 views)

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Re: [robt65] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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I know what you mean. It would be nice if travel insurance would just rebook you on another flight. Still though, I think it is better than nothing. As with most insurance, it is best for catastrophic losses where for example a last minute health emergency could cost you thousands of dollars.

Jim

chinagringo

Nov 30, 2011, 6:41 AM

Post #10 of 11 (958 views)

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Re: [jrpierce] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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Jim:

Here is a classic story on exactly what you are talking about:

http://wusa9.com/...irline-Ticket-Refund

What many travelers don't understand is just how to press an issue with an airline to get them to fulfill their obligations. Earlier this month, Kathy was flying US Airways Guadalajara to Albuquerque through Phoenix. While her flight was late departing GDL due to ground fog, they also cancelled her connecting flight due to mechanical. When she landed in Phoenix, they tried to dodge their responsibilities for a connecting flight because her's had been delayed by weather. It took a major show on her part at the main counter to finally get them to get her a flight on Southwest. Southwest won't accept vouchers from US Airways, so it required a US Air ticket agent physically purchasing a ticket in cash.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

robt65

Nov 30, 2011, 9:55 AM

Post #11 of 11 (927 views)

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Re: [jrpierce] Be Aware of Booking Tickets or Flying American Airlines - Chapter 11 Filed

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Your absolutely right on Jim, although I was saved a considerable amount in my flight cost alone, I still had a couple of grand that was not reimursed for hotel, food, airport transfers, etc. Still as you say better than nothing.

robt65