Hi Mike,

I had very similar exeprience with American very recently. My husband booked 3 tickets to NY and back for me and my kids from Expedia. The kids were in NY and I was just flying to pick them up, but it was easier to book the flights this way to ensure we get the same flight back.

When I came to LaGuardia and started to check it, they told me, that since the kids didn't use the flight to NY, the tickets are cancelled and I have to buy two tickets for almost $600. Trying to speak with them, asking for manager, etc. didn't lead to anything.

Also I was trying to call Expedia to explain the situation and of course it took more than 30 minutes before I could talk to the agent, that didn't help much anyway.

So, finally when I was almost missing the flight they told me I can pay $200 (+, of course, 30 for two luggage places) to get together on this flight - and I was relieved to at least get there.



>This was the most unbelievable customer service experience I ever had. Down-the-rabbit-hole mind boggling.
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>As I mentioned in another thread, I missed my return flight from New Orleans to Chicago last evening. (Helpful travel hint: don't try to get cute and cut it too close, not in Friday rush hour traffic into New Orleans). I called American Airlines, where I had a flight booked tomorrow, to let them know I would not be on that flight and want to make sure the return to Chicago next Friday stays alive.
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>Whoops. Not so fast.
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>The first aggravation was reaching an American agent to speak to. If the phone number is anywhere on their web site, I couldn't find it. I finally got it by googling. Then there was a new obstacle course to reach a person from the automated phone answering system. It tried about 10 different ways to steer me to automated options, including threats of additional fees to do it in person. Somehow I stumbled onto an option about three levels deep to speak to an agent about wheelchair needs or other unusual needs. I didn't think my needs were so unusual, missing a flight, but whatever works.
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>The woman who took my call was a moron. I'm sorry but there is really no other way to put it. I kept giving her my name, spelling it out, and flight details. She kept insisting it wasn't in the system. The flight yesterday, the one tomorrow, the one last Sunday -- all vanished. Finally it emerged that she thought I was in Huntsville, Alabama. She finally found my reservation. And as it turned out, she had at least two unpleasant surprises for me.
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>The first was that there would be no refund or credit for the flight I missed last night. None, zero. With all the empathy of a government worker with a month to go before retirement, she said if you do not cancel a non-refundable reservation prior to departure there is no refund. Have a nice life, thank you very much.
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>The second was that it was not possible for her to cancel my flight tomorrow on American. This is an American agent, remember. She said since the return flight is on United, you have to talk to them. Have a nice life.
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>So I called United, going through the same obstacle course to reach an agent. I got a guy with an impenetrably thick Irish accent, but at least he seemed to have a functioning brain. The news, unfortunately, was no better. I told him I just wanted to make sure my reservation from New Orleans to Chicago next Friday remains intact, even though I will not be on the originating flight tomorrow. He said no, it will be automatically cancelled when you miss the flight tomorrow. I said there must be some way you can keep the reservation. He said I'm sorry but I cannot. This is a United agent. Long story short, I had to pay a $115 change fee. So taking one flight instead of three winds up costing more. Unbelievable.
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>He reminded me to be sure to have cash or a credit card if I planned to check any baggage. That's $15 per bag now.
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>My advice: don't fly if at all possible.