It was my turn to throw one the other day with AA @ LAX or at least try it on, but failed. My EVA flight from TPE was about 40 minutes late and i had a LAX > TUC flight in 70 minutes. The staff was wonderful and got me through customs record time. From there it was all downhill. Got to the international transfer counter finally after PAX in the queue realised what country they were in! Grumpy AA staff directed me to term 5 to check in as "I would be faster" but when i asked for the boarding pass, no way.
Got to term 5 (after the elevator was out of action) and the queue was huge. Tried to queue jump with Pt, but guard was having none of it. Saw there were less PAX at the normal check-in, so switched lanes. Finally got to an agent who could not give a rats a#$%@. Was almost in his element telling me i had missed close and i should have been earlier!!!! He told me he would put me on the 10:30 so i calmed down. Started to go to TSAPre check when I saw i was on the 16:35. Quit the queue, went back down and the guy is leaving the desk. His reply was "take it up at the Admirals Club"!
Up the club it got worse, where do they hire these people???? 15 minutes of explaining and being told bad luck when i was told my original flight was delayed and if i sprint across to terminal 52 by bus i could make it. Across to the satellite terminal, no plane, it had departed! Now fuming, went to that poxy little lounge there and started all over again. While standing there the attendant at the next desk received a phone call and said "yes the PAX is in front of us now". There was absolute no chance to get the plane as my ticket was cancelled on that flight and now on the 16:35! WHAT!!!! They knew that at the Club and sent me out there to get me out of their hair!!!
They were going to waitlist me but if i want to guarantee a seat i needed to pay an extra $200. Whilst all this was going on i went online and booked Southwest, and told them to get my bag off.
Bag collected and i thought i would try one more time at check-in. At last someone went through it and said all the way through was a debacle, sorry sorry sorry, but since "I" have booked at WN nothing they could do. Said id been given the wrong advise and i wasn't waitlisted.
Yes I was late in, and 2 hour connection time at LAX a bit tight, but the old Pt trick just did not play at all! i think i can could about 5 times i tried it but seemed to go back in the queue. Went over to Term 1 WN as a nobody (well, business select) and breezed through. Still on the same trip, but upon return will fire up the complaint to AA, but will not use/mention Pt..........