American Airlines cancels 900 more flights - DAY 3

[nikkianddean]

I think most of the flights affected are smaller planes. My mom is booked on American next week to go to a wedding in the USVI. I hope this gets cleared up soon!!!!

 

NZ

 

(CNN) -- American Airlines canceled more than 900 flights Thursday as it continues to perform safety inspections on certain jets

It's the third consecutive day of cancellations for American Airlines, which has apologized to customers and offered to make amends with refunds, vouchers, and compensation for overnight stays.

American also canceled several hundred flights for the same reason about two weeks ago.

Roger Frizzell, an airline spokesman, said the inspections involve technical compliance as opposed to flight safety.

Alaska Airlines said it had canceled 11 flights on Thursday for safety checks. Midwest Airlines canceled at least 10 Thursday flights, a spokesman told The Associated Press.

Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines also have canceled a number of flights in recent weeks for safety checks.

American Airlines canceled 1,094 flights on Wednesday -- 43 percent of its total daily flights -- and 460 flights the day before, the company said in a statement. The flights were scrapped so inspectors could make sure the airline complied with a federal directive relating to how wires should be bundled in the wheel well of MD-80 jets, the company said.

"We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our customers," Chief Executive Gerard Arpey said in a statement. "American will do whatever it takes to assist those affected by these flight changes, and our employees are working hard to ensure that we remain their choice for air travel."

Inspectors had checked 179 of the 300 MD-80s in American's fleet by Wednesday afternoon, the company said. It said 60 of the 179 returned to service while 119 were "still undergoing work."

Passengers scheduled to fly on an American Airlines MD-80 between Tuesday and Friday can receive a full refund or apply the value of their ticket to a future flight, the airline said. People who stayed overnight as a result of a canceled flight can contact the company's Web site to inquire about receiving compensation.

The cancellations Wednesday caused long lines in several airports.

Representatives at Chicago O'Hare International Airport said they were doing all they can to "assist passengers affected by the American Airlines cancellations." At Dallas Forth Worth International Airport, representatives provided "cots, baby formula and all-night eateries."

[~Melissa~]

this is horrible.... my co-worker gets married at Valley of Death Vegas on Sunday and her flight just got canceled for tomorrow. She's been trying to call non stop this morning and she keeps on getting hung up on!!!

[Christine]

Melissa did you mean Death Valley or the Valley of Fire?

This is awful, I started looking for my Christmas flights and am so scared to book anything anymore for fear that I will show up at the airport with my husband and baby prepared to go home for the holidays and they will just cancel our flights, or worse we will be stranded halfway there.

[LCBride2007]

well at least this is a known issue, and they're resolving it. it's not like people are at risk, or it's some abstract issue that they're trying to figure out, ya know? you never know what the FAA will pull, but hopefully the rest of the airlines start double-checking the requirements and fixing things before they get caught too.

 

i actually feel pretty bad for AA - they're losing so much business! and of course, all of the people that are stuck somewhere.

[~Melissa~]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christine Melissa did you mean Death Valley or the Valley of Fire? This is awful, I started looking for my Christmas flights and am so scared to book anything anymore for fear that I will show up at the airport with my husband and baby prepared to go home for the holidays and they will just cancel our flights, or worse we will be stranded halfway there.

ROFL yeah that's what I meant Christine

[Christine]

I figured...

[~Melissa~]

I'm awful at making up words or places. hah! DH always bugs me because when i sing, i make up the words to songs I don't know....

[townie princess]

Better to be safe than sorry I guess.

 

I was on a really scary flight one time - NEVER FLY WHEN THE AIRLINE IS ON STRIKE. I thought the plane was going to fall apart in the sky, I kissed the ground once I landed.

 

[cheese_diva]

I'm flying to WI tomorrow on Midwest Express. I didn't realize they were canceling flights too.. crap, I better check into that.

[LCBride2007]

it's the particular type of plane, it just so happens that AA has the most of this particular type. i fly NWA from SFO to MSP today ... hopefully it's not too hectic!