American Eagle Overbooked Flight 5063
 

I was dropped off at the La Crosse airport for a flight leaving at 4pm at 3:30. After a couple quick hugs, I went to check in. La Crosse only has one terminal and I only had one bag to check which I've done in less time before so I thought that everything would go smoothly. I was informed by an agent that I was too late to get on the plane... I checked my phone and the time was 3:33. He had a horrible attitude and told me that had I have been 3 minutes earlier he'd have been able to get me on the plane but it's booked now and I'll have to wait for the next flight... I stood there for 10 minutes before boarding for my flight even started. I believe that the plane was overbooked and I was bumped for their convenience.

I'm in Chicago now waiting for a shuttle to a hotel I had to pay for out of my own pocket because everyone I've spoken to is treating me as if I blatantly missed my flight and won't help me out. The next connecting flight isn't until tomorrow morning so they truly expected me to just be alright with spending the night at the airport but being the single small female I am, I do not feel comfortable doing that.

I don't know what kind of resolution I want because I really don't care to ever fly with this airline again, however, I want other people to know that their seat is not guaranteed just because it's purchased. There are double standards too... My Mom arrived to her flight at the same airport/airline when it was boarding and was allowed on with no problems. Clearly this flight was overbooked and that should never happen. I have a job I'm supposed to be at in the morning but instead my travels will still be ongoing.

Frustration doesn't begin to explain my feelings about this situation!!

It was probably overbooked, but as you passed the deadline for minimum check-in time, you will not be able to get any compensation.


The airport itself recommends arriving at least 60 min before departure.

http://www.cityoflacrosse.org/index.aspx?NID=7

It's a "recommendation"
 

Those times are recommendations... They don't say you will not get your seat if you don't show up by a specific time. Something that is prepaid should not be taken over a 3 minute window because some attendant was having a bad day... and goes to show that the plane was booked solid because they were overbooked. Either way, they lost out of thousands of dollars over their 3 minutes. I travel all the time and have never had such a terrible experience... If they're still going to send me where I need to go anyway (although very inconveniently) it doesn't make any sense that this happened in the first place. At this very airport my cousin had a plane literally held for her as she checked in. There can't be some people who let things go and others that don't... That's really the issue here. I understand there was a cut off, but that IS only a recommendation so that you have enough time to get through security/checked in and ultimately it shows that the plane was overbooked and I'm pretty certain they can't legally do that. Airlines are getting away with far too much crap and people just let it happen.

Overbooking should be illegal, but it's not, so if you don't check in by the airline's time limit, usually 30 minutes at smaller airports, and 45 min to 1 hour at larger ones, the airline owes you nothing. It's an easy excuse not to have to bump someone else, because it's actually your fault for arriving late. Everyone needs to know that every airline is chronically short staffed, there is additional security screening required, and airline personnel are under tremendous pressure not to leave 1 minute late. You cannot simply waltz through the front door at any airport 30 minutes prior to departure and expect to get through the process without hassle. It's especially important to check-in early whenever a flight is overbooked.

Sadly, the days of discretion and employees trying to help you are almost over. Occassionally you can still find a helpful one, but mostly you get stupid, "computer says no" type responses to any given situation. Although the suggested arrival times are just suggestions, in fact the cut off time for check in forms part of your contract, so AA can do this. It is not illegal and you don't have any redress I am afraid.

It is this clause they will use to justify their actions