[RegulateAirlines]

I made reservations for my son to fly home for Thanksgiving on Thursday morning. After weeks, AA sends me an update saying they decided to cancel that flight and will bring him home 3 hours later than we had planned. Of course, that messes up our entire Thanksgiving day program.

I called them and talked to Sarah Pena of AA's Southern Reservation Office and she says basically tough luck. I explained to her the situation and suggested that they put him on another airline or fly him home on Wednesday afternoon/evening.

Although AA has flights available on Wed but not in the same fare category, they will not make the change. I explained how this will mess up all our Thanksgiving plans and Sarah says, "I dont care".

I think, it is about time there are laws to limit the Airline abuse. Why do we as customers have to $100 to $150 change fee and airlines can get away with a simple - sorry we cant do anything.

Also, one of the things Sarah said is that she has been an agent at AA for 23 years and she knows what should happen...take it or leave it.

Any advice what I can do? I am tired of being bullied by airlines.

[airhead]

File a complaint to the Department of Transportation. Making a complaint to the headquarters of an airline will earn you a travel voucher at best and with American it will cost $30 to use it at a local airport. Here is the link. http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm

Good luck to you.

[pattis]

There is no excuse for bad customer service, and this woman "sarah" should not have said that to you. I know that there are some agents (in any business) that will turn into a bully to get the customer to back down. Not good at all. See should have at least been polite about it.

However, I must say that you claim your son would have been arriving in the am and now is arriving 3 hours later. (11am vs. 2pm) And this ruins your entire Thanksgiving????? Be grateful your son can join you for this holiday. Who eats before 3 or 4 anyway on that day. I wonder how many families have had sons and daughters in the military that won't be with thier families, or how many will spend the holiday grieving the loss of a child killed in this war. If this ruins your whole Thanksgiving....how pathetic.. I feel really sorry for you.

[Eagleguy]

Any of us in the airline industry would say that getting there within 3 hours is actually pretty good...Yet I don't see why if seats in coach were available why not move it to the day before. Well that comes into the fare restrictions and whatnot. Next time go to the airport and talk to an actual agent. They would more apt to breaking the fare fules because you're standing in front of him/her rather than someone on the phone who can just hang up.

[The_Judge]

I would be happy to be with my family at any time during the day on a holiday. As most airline employees know, they don't "close up shop" like lots of businesses. I spent many more holidays working over my career than I did at home with my family. A mere 3 hours less for the OP's son with family is not "ruining" it, IMO. Ruining it is having to work all day long on a holiday taking crap from people who are going home.

[countrynewsman]

If you expect to arrive EXACTLY as the schedule states, dream on. Three hours later is not a tragedy. Frankly, I doubt Sarah said, "I don't care"...unless there was some verbal abuse from your end.