AA getting worst the day by day...

Folks,

I still fly AA because my work location is Sandiego and my family is in Dallas and I commute weekly. The AA has monopoly in this path and is the only airline who flies these two destination direct and by after 5pm on a work day.

As you see the boarding pass above, it was my regular flight from SAN to DFW on the famous Thursday Sept 8th. All must know about the super power shut down that hit Sandiego for 12 hrs from 3:45 pm...

I was on my way and was at Airport at 4:15 pm. Security check area was blocked due to NO power. I hang on till 5:30 pm. No airline crew was seen at boarding pass check in area. All light where down and the notice boards as well. The airport co-ordination tower was working on Genset for flight controls and the emergency announcement thru speakers

At 5:30 an employee from British airline announces thru speakers that " we will get an update at 6 pm from SDGE electric company". Promptly at 6, see announces that there is no response and the airline will have to wait till they get any and no security check will be done due to security reasons.

I wait till 7 pm and no response what so ever and come back. Power resumes to San Diego at 12 am and I call AA before hitting bed to cancel both my to and return flight at 11th Sept..

Here is the jist....

AA: Thanks for calling aa. can I have the record locator.

ME: here it is P.......

AA: thanks let me look:

ME: Ok. You know about the power shutdown and your flight is cancelled, so i need a refund.

AA: Sir, we cannot give refund, but we can give a ticket and you go to aa.com to get the refund credit...

ME: Why can't you credit back. You cancelled the flight.

AA: let me check. Waits for 2 min. Sir the flight left at 6:45 pm and you where not there. so we cannot issue the refund....

ME: what the..... I was till the airport till 7 PM and you said the flight left...

AA: let me reconfirm. Sir the flight left at 6:45 pm. The only way is me to issue a ticket. Do you want it or not.

ME: Am I a nut!!! Okay I already know what beckons with AA if I call them. No point talking. Let me salvage what I get. so said okay give me the ticket no.

AA: here it is "0012343818242" ( releasing the original tracking no for AA).

ME: gets on to the website and typed it. The response" you have booked a non refundable ticket. Call customer care" .......

I was so furious and I lost sleep for the next 1/2 hr and decided to take them on.

Called AA again.

This lady asks for record reference. I gave it politely and I hear a murmur behind....

and see says are you calling for refund.

I say yes

and she says, sir, it will be refunded to you with 7 business working days to your credit source.

I did want to take it further at the middle of the night and said thank you.

The AA policy is to see a customer who call for refund, claim, support as a rogues....... FLY AA at your risk and if you have any of the above issues you rather forgo the money than calling AA. Calling AA will make you lose your dignity