[veritas01]

My wife and I were traveling with our 1 year old on a flight from New York to Buenos Aires. We brought our Britax car seat which is FAA approved. We were flying in coach in the first row directly behind 1st Class. Weeks before the flight I both emailed and called American to confirm that my wife and I would be able to pre-board to install the car seat in the center seat so we would not be rushed or wind up holding up passengers. I was assured we would be allowed. One person I spoke to even sounded incredulous that I would even ask the question. So it is getting ready to board and I approach the check in area and tell them I have a car seat and I just needed a minute or two before the rush to get it in place. I also mentioned I confirmed it was ok with American reservations. Well...the woman at the gate...literally sneered at me and said...There is no pre-boarding on this flight. I said I was with a small child but he and my wife could wait to actually board but I just need a second to get the seat into place. No way... I was shocked at how snotty and arrogant the woman was. American should be ashamed to have such nasty unfriendly and outright rude employees working with the public at their gates. I know it is a thankless job and working with the public is awful...but hey lady...get another job if you cant behave like a human being. Needless to say when I boarded it took me a good 2-3 minutes to get the seat in and I did indeed hold up the passengers from boarding...not intentionally but that is how it worked out. What a disgrace American is...really...no consideration for the customer at all.