The author had been a frequent flyer of Southwest Airlines due to their cheaper, direct flights between New York and Kansas City, where most of her family resided. However, after a recent disappointing experience with Southwest, the author decided to try out American Airlines for a work trip to Austin, Texas. Despite the higher fare of around $550 for a round trip from New York’s LaGuardia airport to Austin, the author ultimately chose American Airlines for the reliability and the ability to choose seats ahead of time. However, the experience was not as stress-free as expected.
The author initially noticed the difference in fares between American and Southwest, with Southwest being significantly cheaper by around $100 or more. But because of the author’s previous disappointing experience with Southwest, she believed that American would be worth the slightly higher cost for a less stressful experience. Additionally, the ability to choose seats ahead of time and not have to check-in early for a spot in the front of the plane was also appealing.
However, after boarding her American Airlines flight, the author noticed several issues. The first was the seat, which was uncomfortable and lacked a headrest. The second issue was the flight delay of over an hour due to mechanical issues, causing the author to almost miss her connection flight. Finally, upon arrival in Austin, the author’s luggage was not on the same flight and only arrived the next day.
Despite these issues, the author still found some aspects of the American Airlines experience to be positive, such as the in-flight entertainment and wifi, as well as the friendly flight attendants. However, the overall experience was not as good as expected, and the author concluded that there was no guarantee that a more expensive airline would provide a better experience.
In summary, the author tried American Airlines for a work trip to Austin, Texas, after a disappointing experience with Southwest Airlines. Despite the higher fare, the author believed that American would provide a less stressful experience with the ability to choose seats ahead of time. However, issues with uncomfortable seats, flight delays, and missing luggage proved troublesome. The author still found some positive aspects of the American Airlines experience, but concluded that price does not guarantee a better experience.