AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel don't fly american air thru miami

Taca is gooooooooooood.

If Delta merges with US, things for other airlines will change... we shall see...

Love TACA!!

SJ - All roads don't lead to where we want to go unfortunately.

So, how was Costa Rica????

gela - fantastic!! so glad we went! i sent you pm! how was AC???!!! you girls have pics yet?

SJ - I downloaded a few pictures today and hope to work with them over the weekend. Will just put a link to them when I'm done. Only took 43 photos - "what happens on AC, stays on AC"

Hi Sweet Jane,
I could write a book on the horror stories of flying American Airlines and the Miami airport. Let me give you one quick one; last January three of us were flying to Costa Rica, two days before we were to leave, our lay-over time was shortened by 15 minutes. When we arrived the pilot announced proudly that we arrived early, great you say. No, No, we didn't have an open gate so we set out on the tarmac for nearly an hour. When we finally got off the plane we had missed our connecting flight to San Jose. The plane was actually still on the ground but they had already shut the door and wouldn't let us on. They had the EGGS to then say we should have been there earlier. I went somewhat balistic but that's another story. Anyway they said not to worry they could get us on the next flight.....IN SIX HOURS! Well they did provide us with a meal voucher.....$15.00 FOR THREE PEOPLE AT AN AIRPORT!?!!?! We finally arrived but did loose a full day of our vacation. On the way back going through Miami the times between flights are cut so close you literally have to run all of the way, except of course the time you have to stand and not move at customs. As we finally arrived to drop off our luggage we were told, "Just drop rhem here, you better hurry or you'll miss your flight". We then ran into aN American Airlines emplyee who I am quite sure is a relative of Hitler as we tried to get on the plane. He screamed (and I mean SCREAMED) at everyone to get against the wall and don't ask for any favors. "If you miss your flight, well you miss your flight". We were able to make it but it was no surprise that our bags didn't, well at least not for another week. As you can tell even though that was almost a year ago I am still a little PO'd. One problem that we have here is limited choices. We almost have to fly American for some times and/or dates. That said, wish us luck on our next flight to Belize right after Christmas, we leave Denver, go to Seattle (Yes, Seattle) then Miami and finally Belize City. It should be interesting.

I just flew through Miami last weekend on American. No problems. I must be one of the few people who haven't had trouble there. My flights were either early or on time. Other than a few minutes late leaving Key West.

I'm not a business traveler, so may not have the experience many of you do, but American has been good to us.

Now, don't get started about United.....

I can relate two incidents. Two years ago I bought a new expensive suitcase in Miami whilst on my way to London on American. At London my case emerged totally smashed - the fabric ripped, the plastic spine broken, and the whole thing stuffed into a large plastic bag. I took it to the relevant office to register a complaint, and was told that American (in particular) take no responsibility for damage or loss to baggage however caused. I said that was contrary to UK law and we were now in the UK, and they simply said "so sue us".

Last year I flew into Miami from Belize with an onwards flight to London 3 hours later. American themselves had created the schedule, saying this was plenty of time for a transfer. The airport was packed, and as a non-American I had to go through full immigration and customs even though I was merely transiting out of the country (I've never understood why the US doesn't follow normal transit procedures). Five hours later I still hadn't reached the front of the line for Immigration, and by the time I'd cleared Customs it was 7 hours. I'd missed not only my booked onward flight but all flights to Europe that day. American simply said "not our fault" and refused even to help me find an hotel. They also initially said I'd have to pay for another ticket to London, as mine was a restricted one. I won that battle, but I had to pay for my own taxi and hotel, and I left the airport that night not having a clue when or how I would fly on. I finally left Miami on the last flight the following day, having to make an originally unscheduled stop at New York. Now, I know things can go wrong and it isn't always the airlines fault, but their gratuitously unhelpful, effectively obstructive, attitude was quite an eye opener.

If it weren't for the fact that they're the biggest airline in the world and it's often difficult to avoid them (especially between Miami and Belize) I'd never use them again. They really don't give a damn. I've flown a few times with Singapore Airlines (partnered with United) and how different they are!

i am sorry for you, p2 and larry, as we all have this in common now. my point of posting this thread was not so much to gripe of my own misfortune, but to see if this was a fluke or the norm. i guess i got my answer. (p2, again, try usair charlotte 2 bz, also did that to mexico, both times it was painless.)

my other reason for posting was so that others could read it and a) not give AA their business, b) avoid such possible complications themselves, and c) hoping that somehow if someone googles AA, this info might come up to be seen elsewhere. if i knew how, i would warn everyone in the US and make it public knowledge.

you are both right on: they just didnt give a damn. THAT was what really irked me.