American Airlines Hotel Offer: A Misstep?
Okay, I’m not trying to channel my inner tinfoil hat wearer here, but I’ve got a sneaky suspicion about the hotels American Airlines lines up for those of us stranded by missed connections. And I can’t help but wonder, do you have a different angle on this?
American’s Awful Hotel Selection After Misconnect
So, there are these not-so-rare moments when airlines are obliged to foot the bill for your overnight stay due to a missed connection, courtesy of delays that are their fault or due to countries that have a ‘care for the traveler’ rule, no matter the delay’s cause. Sounds fair, right?
Picture this: a blissful jaunt in American’s fancy Boeing 787-9P business class from London to Chicago. But bam, I hit the snag of a missed connection heading back to Miami. I’ll spill the beans on the whole ordeal, but today, let’s dive deep into the hotel fiasco.
American was left holding the hotel bill due to the mess-up with my flight. Once I was rebooked for the next morning’s 5AM slot, the airline’s app nudged me with a hotel selection page. Okay, sitting comfortably? This is where it gets spicy.
The Choices: Not Exactly Five-Star Stays
- The “Premium” Pick: Hilton Orrington
This one is golden! No airport shuttle and tucked away 13 miles from the airport. An adventurous 45-minute drive awaited. How luxurious, right? (Catch the sarcasm there?) - Option Two: Best Western Schaumburg
Well, hello shuttle, nice to see you! This beauty promised a 24/7 service and sat a mere 8 miles away. Not bad, but wait – a star rating of 2.3 and the honor of being the rock-bottom #30 of 30 hotels in Schaumburg? Hard pass, my friends. - And Last (But Also Least): Baymont by Wyndham Addison
Shuttle? Oh sure, but only from 5AM to 11:30PM, minus a curious midday nap from 9:30AM to 5PM. What a joker! It was graced with just 1.9 stars. Not a confidence booster when the TripAdvisor gallery includes some, shall we say, artistic depictions of ceiling decor.
Suddenly, that Hilton’s starting to glisten a bit more, wouldn’t you say?
Is This a Deliberate Strategy on American’s Part?
Given the situation, I didn’t expect a Four Seasons or St. Regis check-in extravaganza, but a spot closer to the runway would be nice, thanks. An Aloft, a Hampton Inn, maybe a Holiday Inn Express… are they really too much to ask for? Just somewhere that doesn’t resemble a scene from a horror flick review.
American wouldn’t subject its staff to these offerings; union contracts ensure better digs. Yet, premium passengers and elite flyers are left to fend off these dive-ish options?
Sure, airlines negotiate with hotels, so you’re not lounging in last room splendor. But fun fact: when I checked, every airport-adjacent lodging had a vacancy, priced quite tolerably.
And why this wild goose chase? Carting flyers so far hits American in the pocket, thanks to taxi tabs bulging at $100 a round trip. Seems counterintuitive if there’s a cozy abode down the street.
So here’s my grand theory—am I off my rocker to suggest American’s cooking up these ghastly options hoping we urban explorers will book our own stays, charge it to our credit card’s travel safety net? And it worked! I grabbed the hotel reigns myself.
Not my first rodeo! Two American Airlines overnighters had me equally gobsmacked. I even scoped the Flagship Lounge for VIP magic options, only to find staff with zero extra privileges in the app game.
Bottom Line
American Airlines seems to redefine scraping-the-barrel with its misconnect offerings. Not aiming for snazzy, but still… a simple airport-side joint, not a whimsical thought, right?
Instead, I navigated the ‘premium’ delight of a Hilton situated at a Highway 43 turn-off, the local embarrassment of Schaumburg’s finest, or the target of playful artistic interpretations.
Have you tangled with American’s regrettable hotel compromise? Is it a crafty ploy to wave passengers off the offer? Or…?
Think this is only affecting your travel plans? Check out our latest escapades at Val Seny ski resort!