OAKLAND – So I knew I was in for it when I saw Google news widget blowing up on Monday night: “Hundreds of flights cancelled as American Airlines…”

Did I mention I had not an hour before stepped off an American flight from Dallas to San Antonio? Well I was hopeful that by the time I had to fly back home yesterday all would be well. It wasn’t. Wednesday morning, the feared became reality…the SnackBerry buzzed away with an SMS from aa@aaflightinfo.com. All I needed to see was the word “CANCELLED.” Yeah. All American flights out of San Antone…shut. After a quick call to the Platinum Desk, Plan B was in effect; I was off to Austin.

Easy drive to Austin and I was feeling pretty good. Until I left my stunna shades in the rental – I know, complete rookie maneuver. (After the Avis crew had a good laugh on me, they located my sunnies and kindly dropped in the FedEx) Meanwhile, the AA counter at AUS was complete bedlam – upset and stranded passengers everywhere. All was well and arrived at DFW without delay. Now the fun begins: three-hour layover…no worries. If I said the plane was a dead-ringer for a sardine can it would be a gross understatement. (Seventy people on the waiting list, people. Seventy.) So we’re about to taxi away and what? “This is the captain speaking. The FAA has just inspected our plane (which I later learned was the SECOND time that day) and did find a problem with…” Uh-huh. “…so it’ll be at least two hours before we can…”

Long story bit shorter, the stellar A-club folks snuck me on to the next flight (on unaffected equipment) and we arrived safely in SFO around Midnight-thirty. Even with all of that, I’m still an AA loyalist (700,000 miles and counting); they’ve treated me really well over the years and I will continue to give them my business for the people alone…(almost) always service with a smile. (Note to Mr. Arpey: FIRE YOUR EFFING CHIEF MECHANIC!)