AAmerican Changes Schedules - kills STX

are they trying to cut us off from the mainland

It looks like the cuts are only for a few months, for the peak of hurricane season. At aa.com, I see more daily flights available again starting around November.

Our schedule was changed for our flight on August 28th to STT. Originally, we were supposed to arrive on STT at 2:35. Then I got AA's email and they had changed my flight from departing Boston at 7:30 am and I was supposed to get to STT at 8:10 pm with a six hour layover in Miami. I'm heading to STJ and I called this morning and told them there was no way I could do that with our 7 year old. They changed my flight with no hassles and now I arrive on STT at 12:35!

STXBob is right. The two flights start up again at the very end of Nov.

I received an e-mail from American Airlines last night, completely changing an itinerary I had set up to attend my college reunion in September.

Effective August 21st there will be only one American flight per day from STX to Miami - at 4:30 PM. Also beginning August 21st, American Eagle will drop two of its three daily flights from STX to SJU. Unfortunately, the remaining STX - SJU flight will depart STX at 6:55 PM.

The only way to get anywhere from STX without having to spend the night in an airport hotel somewhere -- because the flights from STX depart so late -- will be catch the early morning Cape Air flights -- with their only-one-checked-bag policy -- to SJU or STT and catch a flight from there. This is really going to create problems with scuba divers and anyone else who travels with one bag of equipment and one bag of clothes and stuff.

Slight correction here...

It will still be possible to fly to Miami on the afternoon flight and make connections to a number of US cities. An overnight stay is not necessary if there us a late connection to your final destination.

Uhhhhhh what?!? I have our PMV flights for July and haven't gotten an email. It was booked through my credit card company. Our flits a from Az to Mia to SJU to STX. I better check into it or is it only for direct from Mia to STX?

Yeah, I had a reservation in August to Boston and now I get there at midnight. Transportation to Maine will be a challenge.

I was shocked when I heard it, but the rumor is that American is working toward pulling out of the Caribbean market entirely. I guess the competition from JetBlue and Southwest/AirTran is having an effect.

Uhhhhhh what?!? I have our PMV flights for July and haven't gotten an email. It was booked through my credit card company. Our flits a from Az to Mia to SJU to STX. I better check into it or is it only for direct from Mia to STX?

The cutback is effective August 21st. It's normal for them to do this every year during the peak of hurricane season.

jefgar: Thanks for the heads up. I just discovered that my August flight from MIA to STX was canceled, and not because the airline or agent told me. I had to look it up based on your report! The replacement flight is impossible to connect with, since it leaves 3 hours before I land in MIA.

I realize it does not offer the flexibility of American but Jet Blue has a daily jet to STX from SJU for $76.50 roundtrip with one free checked bag. I looked at several random flights in July and Sept and the flight typically leaves SJU at 2:35 to 2:50 and leaves STX around 4:00. If you can get to SJU on American it does not cost much more, other than the baggage recheck issue, to get to STX. And Jet Blue does fly direct to Boston from SJU...

STX travellers also have the option of flyint to STT and getting a connection on Cape Air or Seaborne at the airport.

We have a flight booked on Nov 16th that leaves at 8:20 am to Miami on AA. As of right now, it has not been changed.

I was shocked when I heard it, but the rumor is that American is working toward pulling out of the Caribbean market entirely. I guess the competition from JetBlue and Southwest/AirTran is having an effect.

As part of their financial restructuring, American is planning to curtail flight availability to the Caribbean. However, the flights will continue to be unexpected cancelled and luggage will be frequently lost, points will be impossible to redeem, as usual.

jefgar: Thanks for the heads up. I just discovered that my August flight from MIA to STX was canceled, and not because the airline or agent told me. I had to look it up based on your report! The replacement flight is impossible to connect with, since it leaves 3 hours before I land in MIA.

Re-route through JFK. JFK is the better hub for August travel anyway. Flying Virgin American allot these days--love them!! Maybe VA see an opportunity.

Have yet to have a problem with redeeming my points. In fact when they first declared Chapter 11 I got a email saying all my points would be honored. That could still change in the future.

IMO, all airlines are basically the same. I use to fly worldwide over 400,000 miles a year to 15 years and have been on all of them and other than a couple of the Asian carriers, they could all use the same name. Face it, no one wants to pay for good service, just cheap tickets so it baffles me as to why everyone always complains about the airlines. Most of the airlines are in the red, year after year.

American Airlines is a business and like all businesses, they have to adjust schedules based on load and demand. They can't fly here with 30 people on a 737 and that's what it is like in Aug/Sept/Oct. I have frequently been on the AE flights from SJU and I was the ONLY passenger in mid afternoon. That doesn't make good business or practical sense. Maybe we should just have our efficient government subsidize all the routes and charge the taxpayers? The way STX is headed, we are fortunate to have any airlines service us.

I have reservations booked on both Sept 18th and October 6th on AA flight 1297 leaving Miami at 12:55PM arriving STX 3:35 PM.

No notification from either AA or Expedia that my flight on either of these dates has been canceled or changed. Even went to the web sites and reviewed my reservations. Again no indication that there is a problem.

I have reservations booked on both Sept 18th and October 6th on AA flight 1297 leaving Miami at 12:55PM arriving STX 3:35 PM.

No notification from either AA or Expedia that my flight on either of these dates has been canceled or changed. Even went to the web sites and reviewed my reservations. Again no indication that there is a problem.

Your flight is not changed. The late Miami-STX flight and the early STX-Miami flights are gone for 3 months during slow season.

IMO, all airlines are basically the same.

Have you flown Virgin Atlantic domestically? Prices are the same or better than American. The seats more comfortabe--more leg room. The "service" is "ala carte--food entertainment, baggage. . The broad selection of movies to view on the personal seat back screen sold me.

blu4u

Can't say that I have. My point is that buying a coach ticket on nearly any airlines is akin to riding a local bus in a large city. When was the last time you received a meal or any service on a bus? Granted, the airline ticket cost more but if someone really wants good service then opt for a business class seat. Nearly every airline I have flown provides exemplary service in business class, right down to the hot nuts!

I had an AA 9/14 flight out of STX to Miami at 7:45 a.m. heading from there on Delta to Detroit, then back on 10/1 from Miami at 12:55 to STX. Booked through Expedia. Got an Email that first flight on 9/14 was cancelled. Expedia tried to get AA to change me going out of STT but AA said that was not possible either since they couldnt change the departure airport. So now we have to leave 9/13 at 4:30, then spend the night in the airport to get the Delta flight on the 14th.

Welcome to paradise...just don't plan on leaving anytime soon. :@)

jefgar - As others have said you shouldn't be surprised because AA does this every year. They only operate the second MIA-STX & back flight during season (usually late NOV through May or June). Plan accordingly. I've never had a problem connecting in MIA with the regular afternoon flight.

I travel back and forth to MIA from STX at least twice a month. I have been able to get some great pricing lately on AA.com, not sure if it is JetBlue competition or what. I have seen / booked $99.00 each way (before taxes and fees) on several occasions. I also see the 2:30pm STX / MIA showing up again, this gives plenty of time for most connections.