Need Oxygen on an American Airlines Flight
June 9, 2008 · Print This Article
I had a nightmare experience flying on an American Airlines flight in July of 2003 from San Antonio to Dallas and then from Dallas to Phoenix. I am on oxygen. I can’t be off of it at all, not for 5 minutes. I paid the extra money to have their tanks for the flight since they wouldn’t let me bring my own. They assured me they would include extra tanks in case the flight was delayed for some reason.
Problem #1 - they would not supply oxygen to be used in the terminal during layover in Dallas. I had to arrange for a company to bring oxygen tanks for the airport for me to use. When we landed in Dallas the company I had made the arrangements with was not at the gate like they were supposed to be - because the airlines hadn’t let them through! The airlines wouldn’t let me leave the plane with the tank I was using even though the departure gate was very close and I had very little time to make my connection. They held up the flight and finally found the oxygen company guy, I hooked up to his tank and then was rushed to the departure gate for Phoenix.
Problem #2 - when I got to the door of the airplane I asked to see the oxygen tanks that were going on the plane with me. They only had two - which was barely enough to get me to Phoenix, no backup. I refused to get on the plane without at least one tank for backup. The “representatives” of the airline became very agitated with me and threatened to leave me. I told them they would have to take the consequences of leaving a disabled person stranded in an airport. Finally when they saw I wasn’t going to budge, they hustled around and came up with another tank.
Problem #3 - at this point I requested that each tank be checked to make sure it was full. The flight attendant roughly grabbed the first tank and while opening the regulator broke it so the tank was unusable! I insisted that they replace it. Now everyone was fuming and the flight was almost 45 minutes late. They had to come up with yet another tank and finally got it right and we took off.
The blessing - I don’t know who the pilot was. For some reason, I got the feeling that he was retiring and this may have been his last flight. I know for sure it was my last flight. I made myself a promise if I survived this I would never fly again. The flight was a breeze and the landing was as gentle as putting a baby to bed. I have flown in all kinds of planes in all kinds of weather and this was the best flying I have ever experienced.
I should also say that the landing into Dallas from San Antonio was very difficult for me because of the steep descent and that because airplane cabins are only pressurized to about 7,000 ft altitude (no matter what they tell you) I needed more oxygen than I normally would throughout the flight. They also said I was forbidden to change the setting on the tank (can you believe that!) but I stuck my fingers through the metal guard they put around the regulator and adjusted it anyway.
The solution is to let people who are on oxygen bring their own equipment. And to treat them with respect!
Sent by Rebecca Swan
I HAVE TRAVELED DEC,MARCH,AND ANOTHER SCHEDULED FOR JULY 3 2008. I TRAVELED WITH MY MOTHER WHO IS 89 , . A SMALL CARRY ON PET. WE HAVE BEEN DELAYED AS MUCH AS 4 HRS LEAVING FROM DENVER AND DALLAS. ON THE DEC 22,2007 I HAD TO CHANGE DATE DUE TO BEING IN THE HOSPITAL IN LONETREE. CO, SKYRIDGE MEDICAL FOR PNEMONIA, BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA. I HAD A MEDICAL CONFIRMATION FROM MY DR THERE AS TO WHEN I COULD SAFELY FLY BACK BECAUSE OF LUNG FUNCTIONS AND THAT ALL WENT PRETTY WELL. I ONLY EXPECDED TO BE GONE FOR 10 DAYS SO I LEFT MY AUTO AT THE AIRPORT AT MOBILE AL IN LONG TERM PARKING. I NOTIFIED THE ADMINSTRATORS OFFICE AT MOBILE AIRPORT OF THE SITUATION AND PROVIDED MEDICAL INFORMATION THE $OVER 200.00 THAT I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR OUT BECAUE OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION.. I WAS ASSURED THAT THERE WOULD BE A REFUND OR SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION. MY DAUGHTER KIA PIELE FOLLOWED UP WITHTHE ADMINISTRATIVE SEC AT THE MOBILE AIRPORT OFFICE AND THEY SAID WOULD FOLLOW UP BY PHONE OR EMAIL. A S OF JUNE 19TH 2008I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. PLEASE CONTACT THE ADM OFFICE FOR ME AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PROCESS. I WAS ALEADY STRESSES DUE TO THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND ON DEC 5, 2007 FROM TERMINAL CANCER
AND REALLY DID NOT THE STRESS OF THIS MATTER.
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM .
POLLY HARDEGREE
I HAVE TRAVELED DEC,MARCH,AND ANOTHER SCHEDULED FOR JULY 3 2008. I TRAVELED WITH MY MOTHER WHO IS 89 , . A SMALL CARRY ON PET. WE HAVE BEEN DELAYED AS MUCH AS 4 HRS LEAVING FROM DENVER AND DALLAS. ON THE DEC 22,2007 I HAD TO CHANGE DATE DUE TO BEING IN THE HOSPITAL IN LONETREE. CO, SKYRIDGE MEDICAL FOR PNEMONIA, BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA. I HAD A MEDICAL CONFIRMATION FROM MY DR THERE AS TO WHEN I COULD SAFELY FLY BACK BECAUSE OF LUNG FUNCTIONS AND THAT ALL WENT PRETTY WELL. I ONLY EXPECDED TO BE GONE FOR 10 DAYS SO I LEFT MY AUTO AT THE AIRPORT AT MOBILE AL IN LONG TERM PARKING. I NOTIFIED THE ADMINSTRATORS OFFICE AT MOBILE AIRPORT OF THE SITUATION AND PROVIDED MEDICAL INFORMATION THE $OVER 200.00 THAT I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR OUT BECAUE OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION.. I WAS ASSURED THAT THERE WOULD BE A REFUND OR SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION. MY DAUGHTER KIA PIELE FOLLOWED UP WITHTHE ADMINISTRATIVE SEC AT THE MOBILE AIRPORT OFFICE AND THEY SAID WOULD FOLLOW UP BY PHONE OR EMAIL. A S OF JUNE 19TH 2008I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. PLEASE CONTACT THE ADM OFFICE FOR ME AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PROCESS. I WAS ALEADY STRESSES DUE TO THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND ON DEC 5, 2007 FROM TERMINAL CANCER
AND REALLY DID NOT THE STRESS OF THIS MATTER.
THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS PROBLEM .
POLLY HARDEGREE
I just made my first and last flight with American Airlines. Traveling to Arkansas on July 15th from Ontario, CA to Fayetteville, AR we arrived to find new personal clothing missing from my sister’s suitcase. We did not complain at the time because she was not positive she hadn’t forgotten the items, but did feel sure she had packed them. Upon our return home the items were not there. They were either stolen or the TSA neglected to repack them.
To return home on July 23rd we arrived at the airport to discover our flight leaving at 11:40 was going to be an hour late due to mechanical problems. This caused us to miss our plane change in Dallas/Ft. Worth. They wanted us to sit in the Dallas airport for 9 hours to get a connection. I refused and they put us up in a motel for the night. This caused me extra costs for meals and parking at Ontario.
That night I tried to check with AA only to find that my sister did not have a seat on the connecting flight. She is 75 years old and has a serious hearing problem. No one at AA would help me. The next morning, the 24th of July, I checked with the agent and found that she was seated many rows away from me. I got no help and had to wait until we got to Dallas to try to get her seat changed so I could aid her.
As we left the Ontario airport I noted that three of my suitcase zippers were left partially unzipped enough to allow an item to fall out.
I travel frequently and have never had such a bad experience with any other airline.
AA then completed making our experience uncomfortable by tagging us for a complete security inspection. My sister 75 and I am 67. Do we really fit the terrorist profile. I believe it was their way of retaliating for having to put us up in a room at the motel.