American Airlines - A great online experience!
Written: Jul 26 '01
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The Bottom Line
Well-designed and organized website packed with useful information and needed functionality. Intuitive navigation (information is logically categorized), featured specials, and attractive graphics.
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| Full Review |
American Airlines has a top-notch website that is attractive, easy to navigate, and saves you time. It has won several awards on its design and always seems to be making enhancements that I appreciate as a frequent traveler. Some sites can be painfully slow and loaded down with unnecessary graphics. Although AA has a very nicely designed site with high quality graphics, they do not take forever to load.
Customized to Meet My Needs
As a member of AAdvantage (their frequent flier program), when I go to the American Airlines site I see customized specials, based upon my travel preferences. I keep waiting for that news flash telling me flights to Aruba from Memphis are on sale for $250... I'm still waiting for that one.
Travel Reservations
From the home page I can also easily book reservations. They give you the option of choosing a flight by schedule or by price.
You simply select your destination and departures cities, dates of travel, number of persons, and class of service. Yes, I skip right over first class and business class and go straight to coach. You also have the additional option of finding unrestricted fares. (I've found these to always be more expensive.)
What Else Can You Do on AA.com?
If you're a member you can access these additional travel planning services:
- Check existing reservations
- Look at seat maps -- make sure you really do have that aisle or window seat you prefer.
Flight Status
You can also determine the status of a flight, as well as find out the arrival gate. In fact, you don't even have to know the flight number in order to do this (great for the person who's picking you up and has lost your flight number, but knows the approximate times -- and, of course, the city you're flying in from).
You can request flight notification status be sent to your cell phone,PDA, pager or email. You can setup this option in the Travel Planning section of the site.
Hot News
News and special information is featured throughout the site, depending on the section you are visiting. You may see travel hints, mileage specials, travel-related articles, or other helpful information.
AAdvantage Account Management
You can almost completely manage your AAdvantage account online. Yes, you can do everything except the most important function -- booking award travel online. (They do say it's coming soon!) You can check out specials, send email to AA, request award certificates, purchase upgrades, update your account information, and register for bonus offers.
NetSAAver and Special Offers
This is my favorite section. It includes their weekend getaways at greatly discounted prices. I recommend that you sign up for the weekly emails outlining the specials. (I get an email every Wednesday morning.) You'll also find bonus offers, contests, and other goodies for members.
Programs and Services Area
Get all the details about self-service check-in, learn about fleet upgrades and changes -- first more leg room, now more overhead storage space. I love getting that kind of news!
Travel Profile and Preferences
Be sure to complete a travel profile, listing your home airport, favorite destinations, hotel and rental car preferences, usual traveling companions, and notification information. This allows them to customize the information you see and will save you time when booking reservations.
Corporate Information
You can also view all the American Airlines programs and services, such as cargo, merchandise, fleet information,and career opportunities.
Overall Recommendation
American Airlines has a very helpful, easy to use web site. Once they get award booking online, it will be everything I would look for in an airline site. If you haven't checked it out lately, I recommend you do so before planning your next trip.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Pam
Location: My Sailboat -- in transit to Caribbean
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 343 members
About Me: ~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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