Alas, I know it is my responsibility to all the consumers in this audience to share my cautionary…read moreyet, enlightening encounter from 2 weeks ago. The irony to this tale is I have flown with American often over the years & am an AA advantage member as well.
Nervous yet giddy, I was scheduled for an on-site interview which was prepaid by the company. Minor mishap of fraudulent charges occurred on my debit credit card, 5 days prior to the trip The bank ascertained me that my new debit card would arrive safely in 2 to 3 days and not to worry! Needless, to say @ day 5 & day of my possibly transformational career driven journey, my card was still in transit.,,,
Rattled, deep breathing, I contacted the bank. They informed me I must withdraw cash or use my Apple Pay or Digital wallet. Deeper inhale, they no longer provide cards at the branch...
Breathless, but an invigorating jaunt with bags in tow, I arrived relieved at the familiar blue, red & white adorned ticket counter. The lady asked for checked bags, ID & payment & I had a rather hefty bag full of illegal improper ounces of face toner liquids, aerosol hairspray etc. Coolly & just thankful I arrived, I pulled the requested 30 dollars from my wristlet and extended it towards her.,,,
You would have thought I had flashed a poisonous dart frog, as she quickly held up her hand & said, Oh no, we do not accept cash. Breathing a little more rapid but yet smiling, I said, "Do you accept Apple Pay or Digital Wallet?" Her response, "No, we do not accept either."
Part two, well let me get my manager as my flight is ever nearing departure.... She has a gorgeous smile & I felt genuine & although it took 10 & I clicked it, for an appearance of the Manager, I was the only customer at the AA ticket counter. He emerged from his seeming, "Wizard of Oz" partition bereft of smile & as crossed. I felt it necessary to explain my sordid plight yet again...
Thus, I am now in a state of borderline panic & he states very plainly with crossed arms; "We do not accept cash & have not in three years." He also added that it was clearly stated on their website.
Beyond my capacity of internal "be a patient little flower", as my flight was leaving in 20 minutes.. Admittedly, I requested as he being the manager to help me as this is a desperate and unusual state & no why would I read the website as I fly with AA 50 plus times a year...
He said, that my only option was to ask another customer to use their credit card to pay ftp check my 30 dollar bag.. WOW!!!!!!! Ok, and I will in all transparency state, "So you are asking me to hustle the customers?" He responded curtly and said, told me he had the right not to serve as he and the lovely first AA employee crossed their arms and watched me practice paced yet spitfire breaths...
I watched two patrons check their bags & truly felt true divinity would emerge and sweep my bag through black rubber veiled sweep... Embarrassed & angry as the onlooking employees continued their voyeur state... I approached a simply lovely lady,, impeccably dressed & repeated for the third time my conundrum as minutes slid & she of course, confused but, genuinely gracious & truly an Angel, paid the 30 for my bag & I handed her my cash and felt humiliated, rushed & disgusted as the employees finally checked my bag. The AA, female employee apologized for the inconvenience but, he showed true disdains & I really cannot comprehend his lack of concern as I boarded right in time due to lack traffic at this particular hour. Appalled & made to beg, I shall avoid AA at all costs because this only part one of my sordid affair with the ticket counter at at American Airlines in a two day span. If this is any representation of you customer service then amend or know this will be widely annotated. No thank you!