Title: Discriminatory, Unprofessional, and Dishonest - Beware of American Eagle Limousine…read more
On June 27, I booked a Sprinter van with American Eagle Limousine for a family trip scheduled for July 19. This was not just any trip--it was the first time in years my family and I would be together, as I'm an Air Force Captain stationed overseas unaccompanied. My time was limited, and every moment with them mattered.
The company called me on July 16 to "further confirm" my payment details. They requested a photo of my driver's license and my American Express card, which already felt excessive, but I complied to ensure everything was set. I stayed on the phone to ensure everything was good to go and was told just that.
On the afternoon of July 18--one day before the trip--I received a cancellation email with no explanation. Panicked, I drove to their listed office, only to find no such location existed. When I called for answers, I was told the billing department had gone home and wouldn't be back until Monday (two days after my trip).
Desperate to salvage the situation, I spent hours on the phone. I was told--by two different employees--that I could pay via Zelle. This immediately raised red flags: reputable companies don't typically operate this way, and I had never used Zelle for such transactions. Meanwhile, my two original payments still hadn't been refunded.
After wasting 6 hours away from my family, I finally sent $600 via Zelle, hoping the driver would arrive the next morning. The driver did show up, but less than an hour into the trip, I received another call demanding additional payment--still with no proof that my original payments had been refunded. This pulled me away from my family yet again.
When we arrived at our destination, the driver put me on the phone with the owner, Othmane. From the outset, he was combative, dismissive, and utterly lacking in accountability. He openly suggested I was a scammer based solely on my driver's license--something I can only attribute to prejudice based on my skin color. He fixated on the expiration date, unaware that Arizona licenses don't expire until the driver turns 65. His tone and assumptions were offensive and discriminatory.
To avoid being stranded, I reluctantly allowed the driver to photograph my driver's license, military ID, Global Entry card, and Amex card--far more than I was comfortable sharing. I sent another payment via Zelle for the return trip, still without confirmation of any refunds for my earlier payments.
While the transportation ultimately occurred, the experience was one of the most inconvenient, disrespectful, and discriminatory encounters I have ever had with a business. Even after I proved my legitimacy beyond reasonable doubt, there was no goodwill, no apology, and no monetary compensation for the stress and wasted hours they caused.
I will never do business with American Eagle Limousine again and strongly urge others to avoid them. Heed my warning--beware.