I always fly American Airlines. My parents have been gold members since the program went into effect. Never again! I was scheduled to fly American Flight #19 from John F. Kennedy New York to Los Angeles International on the morning of August 3, 2008. I arrived late, ten minutes late, to the airport. My flight departed at 11AM, I arrived at 10:10AM. At the curbside check-in a man pointed out his supervisor inside to assist with my one checked bag. The kind supervisor at the American First Class check-in (I was economy) was able to check this bag on a later noon flight, but not on #19. She told me I probably wouldn't make my flight because I still had to go through security and get to the gate as they were about to board the plane, but that I should tell security my flight was boarding and ask one of the security personal to take me to the front of the line if possible to better my chances of getting on board. Luckily, two very compassionate security agents did rush me through, helped me a lot with my carry-on, and even had someone else use a walkie-talkie to call my gate to tell them not to give away my seat and that I was already through security and running to the gate. They believed I'd made my scheduled flight! However, at the gate #42 an outrageous incident occurred--it shocked my conscience! The first Group number had boarded, others were waiting in line, but I thought I'd arrived just on time. But when I approached the desk at the gate, a woman said, "Sorry. I'm done." I asked what she meant. I let her know I was the one they walkie-talkied her about downstairs. She told me she "closed" the flight. She said, "Can't help you. I don't work for you!" (But aren't I the customer?) I began to cry. I was going to miss my flight and a family event I'd planned for all year. Dismayed, I stepped to the side crying and called my mother to tell her I wouldn't make it home in time. A man wearing a security badge saw me upset and offered to check the flight from another computer. He did and said, "I don't know why she told you that. The flight isn't closed and there are still seats." He told me to go back to the gate and ask her what she meant. I did. She told me I was late and she was done. I asked what she meant by done. I asked if she could move another passenger to business or First Class so I can have a seat. I even asked if I can get on the waiting list with the other people standing about for stand-by. She ignored me. She said a few unchoice words and began talking down to me in a very unkind and patronizing tone. I explained to her that I am not a little girl, that I, too, am a 31-year-old hard-working professional and that I'd appreciate it if she spoke to me using proper language and tone. With this, an African American man, much older and in a suit, approached the desk, pointed his finger 1/4 inch from my nose and yelled, "Don't you talk to this nice lady. Don't ask any more questions!" I was shocked, scared, intimidated, but stood my ground. I told him he can only speak to me if he removed his finger from my nose. With this, he proceeded to wave his hand in front of my face at an intimidating and frightening manner!!! He came so close to hitting me. I blinked and moved backward. A tall woman standing next to me gasped--she thought he was going to hit me! I stopped crying -- my emotion changed to fear. I ran down the hall to see his supervisor at gate 39 (for when I asked for someone, her or security, to be called, she said she was involved in something and couldn't come to my gate). I went to her, spoke to her calmly and told her what happened. This supervisor said she didn't know the African American man who assaulted me or his name, but she said I could get on the noon flight and that I should hurry to that gate #43 and just get on a flight. I was so nervous and anxious to do anything but get far away from that woman and man at the desk of my original Flight # 19, so that's what I did. When I arrived at that gate, the attendant of the noon Fl#3 told me it, like the previous flight (my flight #19) was oversold by 7 people!! That's what happened. They oversold my flight and began giving away seats (mine) before even boarding was completed (even thought they got a call from downstairs that I was on my way). Fortunately, after explaining to the flight #3 attendants at the desk what had happened at my other flight #19, they did help me and I got on the noon flight back to LA. I was able to fly home safely, thank G-d, and surprisingly my bag was on the plane with me, but not after being assaulted by an American Airlines representative who should not be allowed to work with the public. I am never flying American Airlines again since I saw the kind of people they employ--dangerous, scary, physically threatening people! What a horrible experience! Why would they treat their customers like that? When I flew on Virgin Atlantic this month, I had a completely opposite experience. Why would I give my business to such a hateful company like American now that I know better?
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