Airhead, hats off to you for making this admission. Airlines unconscionably cheat passengers in this way. Some say the passenger must be without his luggage for 24 hours before they reimburse expenses, and some say 48 hours. Some put an artificial cap on expenses as $60. Some even say $25.
In November 2007 I was traveling on AA from New York to Port of Spain via Miami. As the flight was arriving in Miami, the pilot said that passengers connecting to Port of Spain should go first to the counter on arrival in Miami for important information about the flight to Port of Spain. At the counter, we met a special line to deal with these passengers, about 40 of us in all on that flight from New York who were on that Miami to Port of Spain flight. There we were told that the airport in Port of Spain was closed because of an Air Traffic controllers strike and they could not fly to Port of Spain that day or very likely the next day either from what the airline was being told. That was a Monday afternoon. I was put on a flight Wednesday Miami to Port of Spain. I telephoned relatives in Port of Spain who confirmed that the airport in Port of Spain was indeed closed because of the ATC problem. So of course the airline can't be faulted for not being able to fly to Port of Spain. In fact no airline was flying to Port of Spain that day. AA gave passengers a distressed passenger voucher to get a hotel room for $62, that was normally priced at $130. So far, fine.
However a number of passengers asked for their bags that had just come in from New York. We were sent downstairs where we were told to wait for the bags. After waiting for an hour and a half, no bags came so an agent re-directed us back to the counter upstairs that had rebooked us.
We were told that the bags were tagged to Port of Spain and not Miami (understandable) and when the flight arrived, baggage handlers had already taken those bags away and secured them for sending them to Port of Spain. The bags would be sent on the first flight to Port of Spain where the passengers would collect them on arrival in Port of Spain even if the passengers arrived on a later flight than their bags. So what were we to do in the meantime? The other passengers appeared to accept this and left. I asked an agent to speak to the supervisor and one Daisy came to me and identified herself as the Supervisor.
What am I to do without my clothes and toiletries for two days, I asked her. There's nothing we can do, she said. The bags have already been secured until they can be sent to Port of Spain, and we don't have the manpower it would need to go back to those bags to get you yours. Will the airline reimburse me for purchase of essential items? Daisy said this was an ATC problem out of the airline's control. It's not our fault. So I told her the ATC problem prevents you from flying to Trinidad, but it does not prevent you from returning my bag to me. Do you know what it would take to go through all the bags to bring you your one bag, she asked. No I don't. I said, "Well I might have to take the airline to Court". With a big broad smile and a shrug of her shoulders she said, "Go right ahead"
So after checking in at my hotel that day, I took a taxi to Walmart and bought all the toiletries and clothes I needed for the two days including: toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, toothbrush holder and soapdish, shaving cream, razor, dental picks, dental floss, antiperspirant, pyjamas, shirts, underwear, T-shirts, bedroom slipper, jeans, socks, handkerchiefs, an adapter for my cellphone. The next morning Tuesday, other stranded passengers told me that the airline had cancelled the Wednesday flights and their first flight out was Thursday. I called the 800 airline number and was told that my Wednesday flight was indeed cancelled and I was put on a flight on Saturday as all earlier flights were full.
I phoned another airline and made a reservation with them to fly to Port of Spain on the Thursday. They would accept my AA ticket, but I would have to get AA to endorse the ticket to them. On Wednesday morning, I went to the airport and told the AA agent at the AA counter that I could get another flight with the other airline on the Thursday, and she indeed endorsed my ticket for use on the other airline.
But on Wednesday I had run out of clean clothes. I took a taxi again to Walmart and bought more shirts, another pair of pyjamas, more underwear as well as a suitcase.
When I got home I wrote to AA customer relations with bills and receipts for over US$400 for purchases in Miami including taxis to and from Walmart twice. They refused to pay anything saying it was an ATC problem. I filed a claim (small claims court), for reimbursement of my items. About a week before the hearing, AA's Attorney wrote to me saying they would pay in full. On the morning of the hearing, the Court made an Order by consent.
Airlines get away with so much that the passengers allow them.
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