Why I Still Like Flying American

One of the strangest things that I’ve noticed in conversation over in the USA is how many people raise a questioning eyebrow when they ask who I fly with – and I reply “American [Airlines].” This morning, leaving Austin and SXSW to get to the Bay Area, is a good example of why I stay with AA when I can. I was booked on the 1141 to Chicago, and then onto San Jose landing at 1945. With the time difference, that’s a nine hour travelling day. Checking in at the ‘Frequent Flyer’ desk, I ask if they could juggle any spare seats and cancellations and try to get me to the West Coast any faster?

Turns out that if I grab a puddle jumper to Dallas I can get a direct flight to San Francisco International, landing at 1346 – some six hours earlier. Plus that airport has its own BART (SF Underground) station so onward travel is miles (literally) easier than San Jose. So I’ll get a lazy afternoon in SF, before heading down to Palo Alto for the evening.

My first flight to the US was with American. It went smoothly, and that guaranteed my return business. Every time there’s been a problem or something that needed some common sense customer service, they’ve been there for me. That’s why I continue to fly with them.