STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I'm usually not critical of airlines, because lots of stuff happens that is out of their control.  But I've had a couple of bad experiences on AW, so I only fly them as a last resort.

- we used to fly from DC - Tucson, via Phoenix several times a year.  They were always cancelling the Phoenix - Tucson connections for random reasons, so we got stuck hanging out in Phoenix for several hours more than once.

- on two different flights, a crew member didn't show up and the flights were delayed for over an hour while they found a replacement

- my favorite was when we got to the gate 1 hour before our flight was scheduled to leave, and the flight attendant SCREAMED at the passengers to get on the plane, otherwise it would be late.  She grabbed my bag from me and shoved me down the ramp.  I was in such shock, I didn't do anything (I wrote a letter later).

So, FWIW, that why I avoid AW!

I've flown many times on AW, but usually between PHX and LA.  It's definitly not my first choice, but the prices are usually right, and I haven't run into too many problems on this short flight.  One time, however, the flight was oversold (which is not unusual, and not specifically a AWA thing- think the flight was LAX-Vegas).  It was running late, and there was an issue w/ a passenger that had already boarded and her companion was denied boarding because he arrived late.  A flight attendant came onto the plane and told her of the situation and said she needed to decide what she wanted to do, and she needed to do it NOW.  She was so rude about it.  I understand the urgency when you have a plane that is full and already late, but this lady was SUCH a bitch.  She kept asking the woman over and over what she wanted to do, barely giving her time to think.  The lady finally left, and then the flight attendant proceeded to talk shit about her to the people in my section.  I was shocked.  She was older, and it was pretty obvious to me that she had been doing her job for many years and was burnt out.

You see all kinds (passengers and employees, I guess) on the low cost airlines.  It's usually worth it to me for the quick hops, but if the fare is not substantially lower with AWA or Southwest (or it's a longer flight), I try to fly another airline.

I don't think I have ever been on an AWA flight that left on time.  There is always a "mechanical difficulty" with the plane... and usually it is the toilets (seriously).  I hate, hate, hate this airline and am so glad that I no longer support my company's account with the Bank of America, because I no longer have to fly to Phoenix which means I rarely am on AWA!! Woohoo!!

If the rate is even remotely close on any other airline, I would skip AWA.