[Susan]

That's it. I'm done. I've had it. All airlines have their faults, but American has hit strike three with me.

American cancelled their direct flight between San Diego and Boston. This flight was the main reason that American has been my preferred airline for years. It is their prerogative to cancel flights. However, I have three reservations already booked for that flight through the end of the year. The alternative scheduling gets me into Boston 4 hours later than the previous schedule, not to mention the hassles of connecting during the winter and holiday season. Then they tried to connect me through Chicago - in December. Why don't I just book a hotel room in Chicago now...

It does not seem fair that they can simply change their minds regarding schedules when customers have already purchased that flight. If you buy a 60" TV at Best Buy, then put it on hold until you can transport it, Best Buy doesn't then give you a 42" TV when you get back simply because they didn't feel like carrying the 60" TV anymore. So how can the airlines essentially renege on a contract bound by purchase?

If airline consumers change their flights even in the slightest, we are penalized, yet the airlines can once again do what they want without impunity. Why am I not allowed to demand a "change-fee" like the airlines do?

I was affected by they MD80/Dallas fiasco - they cancelled all flights to San Diego 5 minutes prior to our scheduled boarding time. Then I discovered the policy regarding charges for all checked baggage (I am exempt since I'm a Gold member, but it still infuriates me). Since then, I have booked a flight on Southwest that I would have previously used American for. I will keep my flights that are already booked for the year, but I will no longer use American Airlines for travel. At this point, I'd rather pay more money on a different airline.