My family no longer flies American Airlines; we bought tickets on AA to fly to Oshkosh, and three of our four flights were cancelled by AA. They were not helpful in getting us new flights, and we ended up having to rent a car to get us to our destination. I wrote a letter to American asking for reimbursement, and all they would give us were vouchers on another flight. We will never fly American again, ever.

Try a ******* covered wagon next time.

The last time that I flew AA my luggage was destroyed. It couldn´t have been an accident. I filed a claim but AA denied any responsibility. How strange. It was a direct flight.

Why anyone flies inside the US, when you can rent a vehicle from Enterprise for a fraction of the cost, and get to see this great country on the way, is beyond me.

Airlines treat folks like crap, the TSA is worse, and you have no recousre in the evnet of extended delay,s missed flights, damaged or stolen personal belongings.

Drive ! It´s the American Way !

#4 he was going to new york from switzerland. Hard to do that in a car.

I´m continuously astounded at the continuous whining and crying about how hard and inconvenient it is to travel thousands of miles in less than a day. Air travel is a marvel of science and engineering. Don´t like it? Stay home and stare at the wall. (there´s kerosene around....)

Yes fly just do not fly American. American?

Blodgett isn´t writing for you and me, who are already quite familiar with economy class. He´s writing for his fellow journalists who follow the privileged classes and never deign to mix with the rabble. He was shocked at what he found because he always flies business class or first.

Is American Airlines any worse than any other airline for economy class? My biggest gripe is seat recliners and the lack of leg room. If there is a better choice, I would like to know.

I just took a Boeing 767 to Germany. Most uncomfortable flight ever. I am only 5´9 by my knees hit the seat in front of me, not enough width for both of my feet to rest comfortably on the floor and tv screen in back of seat in front of me was so close it was blurry to watch.

American Airlines is the worst airline in the world. Recently used it for a multi-country international trip. One flight was cancelled because they couldn´t find the maintenance crew for 2 hours. Missed connecting flights. AA refused to help saying it was weather related. Downright lies. The staff are consistently rude and obnoxious. Unfortunately I didn´t book my own tickets. Most business flyers know never to use a US based airlines for international travel. Best airlines for newer planes, great entertainment, amazing customer service and friendly flight crew in my opinion --- Emirates (Dubai), Etihad (Abu Dhabi), British Airways (UK) and Jet Airways (India). I have made sure my peeps know never to book me on a US based airline for international travel ever again.

No. 7 is correct. Most of us are all too familiar with flying economy class.

It´s amusing though to see how insulated these elites are from the real world that most of us live in.

AA destroyed my luggage flying direct from Dallas to Dulles, ripped the wheels off and ripped the zipper completely off. The luggage was new, at first AA wasn´t going to replace the luggage, until I showed them the receipt less than 3 days old. I have luggage that has traveled all over the world on other airlines thats 10 years old and never looked like that after a flight. Never again will I travel AA. Also true about the flight attendents being rude and making you feel like a criminal, if you go to the bathroom or ask for anything.

A quick economics lesson, expanding upon what has been said above----whether it is health care, education, restaurant or anything else, when a third party pays for it, the price goes up and the surplus is sold to those who pay out of their own pocket. For those who don´t travel on expense accounts, this is how the other half lives.

Lots of businesses--including all that I have worked for--do not reimburse their employees for business or first class travel. Those perks are gained by accumulating miles. So it is actually economy class that is being subsidized by third party payers. I think the real reason economy class is so bad is that the majority of travelers are still non-business travelers who don´t care about legroom or room to work. I hate to admit it, but I am dismayed every time an obvious non-business traveler sits in front of me--which is most of the time--because I know they will lean their seat all the way back for the entire trip. There is simply no demand for more comfort if it means higher prices.

This just in: public transportation is less than ideal.

Poor baby. My only problem with flying economy is the fact I can´t sit still. I want to get up and roam. Since my only travel these days is for business I´m always in suit and tie. I´m treated very well. Southwest is the only airline I fly. All the wheat thins you can eat!

I have flown 6-7 times to Ireland and Scotland over the last few years. The difference between first class and economy was about $4,000. On an eight hour flight that´s $500 per hour more. I can stand anything for eight hours.

#15--air travel is private transportation.

I can tell that some here haven´t been on a cross country bus trip in a while (if ever).

Har. Just so #19. I made a few of those when I was away at school. A real education for those of us raised in more genteel circumstances.

If you´re traveling in the northeast, try Amtrak. It´s from downtown to downtown, and you can see some of the country. And, they don´t frisk you, yet.

This analyst made a supreme sacrifice, actually sharing air with the "commoners". /s

It must be nice flying in first class, on the WSJ expense account.

Thank to Muslim Cleric Hussein Obama, air transportation in USSA today is a horrific, humiliating and Godless experience.
My family recent flew to Los Angeles to attend a Christian event. We had the misfortune to buy tickets on an airline that apparently hires only whores and homosexuals.
After having to submit to Obama´s TSA thugs ogling our bodies in the X-ray machine, we had to experience rudeness from every in the airport.
But our problems really started when we boarded the plane...Not only were are seats too small for us, and the "mood" lighting resembled a sleazy discotech, they expected us to pay for food, and would not allow us to use a restroom in the front of the plane because "it´s for first class passengers only." What kind of crap is that? I bet if I were a person of color, a gay, or wearing a veil they would have let me use that restroom. Oh, and did I mention they allowed dogs in first class, but not us! The sodomite flight attendant said they were "service animals". It was sinful!
It was the longest, most uncomfortable experiences of my family´s life. There was urine on the floor of the bathroom and there were no pillows, blankets or magazines available. I refused to order food because I know they would steal my credit card number.
When we got to Los Angeles, we had to wait over 10 minutes for our bags...and they refused to refund the baggage fee!
It took us several days of prayers and disinfection to get over the experience. It was so bad, we drove home. It took us 4 days... But it was worth it.
I will never fly again unless I´m allowed to bring a fire arm!

#23, if you´re not having us on -- yikes! Crazytown, baby.

No, private planes are private. Commercial aircraft are accessible to anyone who buys a ticket, just like the city bus. But thanks for taking the time to correct me.