quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Service minded airline!

WSJ had devoted a lot of ink on this story in today's edition.

I can honestly say I have had a few issues on most major carriers, but I can say with certainty that American Airlines is the worst airline I have ever flown. I will go out of my way to avoid flying AA...

when I saw the thread title, I figured that it would be about American Airlines or
United.

I avoid both!

Saeed
If you keep posting these airline horror stories we will be afraid to fly. Oh wait, AOC and her like are going to ban those evil, carbon spewing planes. I feel better already.

Dave

I once asked an American ticket agent if he ever heard of Cabela's?

he said "sure"...

And I replied "then you should take to heart their customer service, as it puts yours to shame".

Better to live and grip about a 3 day delay than be a name on a list of passengers who died when the plane went down because of mechanical issues.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
Better to live and grip about a 3 day delay than be a name on a list of passengers who died when the plane went down because of mechanical issues.

BH63

When one of the issues that delayed them a day is because they didn't fill out the required pre-flight paperwork, they can't say it was all mechanical issues.

I certainly don’t know the details of the paperwork issue, but it is not uncommon after aircraft maintenance to require higher ups to sign off on the work.

Most require a thorough review of the work performed and an assessment that it resolved the root cause of the maintenance issue.

I doubt that the airline staff deliberately slowed down the process since every extra minute a plane is grounded costs the airline lots of money.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
I certainly don’t know the details of the paperwork issue, but it is not uncommon after aircraft maintenance to require higher ups to sign off on the work.

Most require a thorough review of the work performed and an assessment that it resolved the root cause of the maintenance issue.

I doubt that the airline staff deliberately slowed down the process since every extra minute a plane is grounded costs the airline lots of money.

BH63

The article said that the crew forgot to file the standard weight and balance pre-flight paperwork required for every flight.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
I certainly don’t know the details of the paperwork issue, but it is not uncommon after aircraft maintenance to require higher ups to sign off on the work.

Most require a thorough review of the work performed and an assessment that it resolved the root cause of the maintenance issue.

I doubt that the airline staff deliberately slowed down the process since every extra minute a plane is grounded costs the airline lots of money.

BH63

The article said that the crew forgot to file the standard weight and balance pre-flight paperwork required for every flight.

As a former AA pilot, the fact is the flight crew does not file the standard weight and balance pre-flight paperwork. That would be handled by dispatch. Not the flight crew, if that is indeed the issue, which I strongly doubt. Maybe a small part of it but that's the type of thing that is quickly and easily rectified in a matter of minutes. The flight crew is responsible for checking over the paperwork, not generating it. If errors are found, dispatch is notified and new paperwork is transmitted. It can be received at the gate on a standard printer or via ACARS in the jet.

As usual, the media got it wrong. My guess, without knowing all the details, is there is more to this story than what the media is using to sensationalize it. Again, as usual.

What I suspect is, from experience, once a maintenance item surfaces, it creates a chain reaction as to what back up systems are required for the go / no go decision. If there were certain deferrals in the log book allowing the plane to fly per the Minimum Equipment List, it's not uncommon for an additional system malfunction to negate a series of deferrals creating a real head ache in terms of things that now require repair before the next go decision. If this happens at an offline station, such as Lima, you find yourself at the mercy of contract maintenance and not your own company crew.

No doubt this event is an exceptional example but one I can see happening. How the company handles accommodating the passengers is up for debate. Taking an aircraft into the air that isn't airworthy is not!

Thanks Todd. Appreciate your experienced insight. I've had no trouble flying AA here in the West.