Earlier this week, I got an email from American Airlines on the ongoing Boeing 737 MAX aircraft situation.
The email of course stated the good ol’ standard corporate positions of, “we appreciate your patience and understanding with us during this busy travel period, and we apologize for the inconvenience this may cause”, and, “be assured the safety and security of our customers and team members is always our top priority and we will never operate an unsafe aircraft”.
I didn’t think much about it, that is, until I got bumped from my flight.
The American Airlines Update On The Grounding Of The Boeing 737 MAX – And What To Do If You Are Impacted
If you aren’t aware of the full situation, he’s the background on the 737 Max situation from aa.com.
The American Airlines-Provided Frequently Asked Questions And Answers Section
How To Know If You Are Impacted
Obviously, you can pro-actively monitor aa.com or the mobile app for any changes. You should also receive an email if you are effected.
In my case, I received an email from American that stated my flight had changed. Upon closer inspection, I saw my non-stop return flight had been bumped-up, now departing two hours earlier and arriving two hours later. But the worst part was my non-stop flight now had two connections!
What To Do If You Are Impacted
In my case, I called American Airlines customer service right away and explained what had happened to me. I was first offered a non-stop out the next day. That didn’t work.
I asked if there were any other non-stops out the same day, and [luckily] they did have one, but I’d have to cut my vacation a couple hours short. I decided better that than a next day flight or two connecting flights.
Because this was a flight change initiated by American Airlines, I didn’t have to pay anything additional in terms of cash or points.
If you have any flights in the next two weeks, I’d recommend protectively checking for any changes – as the earlier you know, the better.
If you are impacted, I recommend calling customer service ASAP because the “early bird gets the worm” in terms of re-booking what’s left on the flights available.
