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airlineinsights · 1 year

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Fly with Confidence: American Airlines Complete Guide

American Airlines is one of the major airlines in the United States and a prominent player in the global aviation industry. Founded in 1930, it has a rich history and has grown into one of the largest airlines in the world. With its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, American Airlines operates an extensive network of domestic and international flights, serving destinations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

American Airlines had a fleet size of over 870 aircraft, consisting of various models from manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. The airline offers a range of services to cater to different travel needs, including first class, business class, premium economy, and economy cabins.

American Airlines is a founding member of the global airline alliance, Oneworld, which allows it to provide seamless connections and reciprocal benefits to passengers traveling with its partner airlines. It also has codeshare agreements with numerous other airlines, further expanding its reach and connectivity.

The airline has faced various challenges over the years, including economic downturns, competition, and the impact of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly affected the aviation industry. However, American Airlines has continuously adapted and innovated to navigate these challenges, implementing initiatives to improve customer experience, enhance operational efficiency, and prioritize safety and sustainability.

Overall, American Airlines has established itself as a prominent player in the airline industry, offering a wide range of services and connectivity options to travelers across the globe. With a focus on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement, it continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of air travel.

How to make Reservations for American Airlines?

When it comes to making easy American Airlines reservations, there are a few key points to keep in mind. Here are the main aspects to consider:

Booking Options: American Airlines provides multiple channels for making reservations. You can book flights online through their official website or mobile app, by calling their customer service hotline, or by visiting one of their ticket offices or airport counters.

Flight Selection: American Airlines offers a vast network of domestic and international destinations, allowing you to choose from a wide range of flight options. They operate numerous daily flights to popular destinations, ensuring flexibility in scheduling.

Fare Classes: American Airlines offers different fare classes to suit various travel needs and budgets. These typically include First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy. Each class comes with its own set of amenities and services.

Additional Services: During the reservation process, American Airlines provides options to select additional services like seat upgrades, preferred seating, checked baggage, in-flight meals, and Wi-Fi access. These services may have associated fees.

Loyalty Program: American Airlines has a frequent flyer program called AAdvantage, which rewards loyal customers with miles that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other benefits. It's worth considering joining the program if you plan to fly frequently with American Airlines.

Flexible Booking Policies: American Airlines has implemented flexible booking policies that allow passengers to make changes or cancel their reservations under certain conditions. It's advisable to review the specific terms and conditions associated with your ticket, as they may vary based on fare type and booking channel.

By considering these main points, you can ensure a smooth reservation process with American Airlines, tailored to your preferences and travel requirements.

What is the American Airlines Cancellation Policy?

Here are the main points of the American Airlines cancellation policy, however, please note that policies and terms may have changed since then, so it's always advisable to check the most up-to-date information on their official website or contact American Airlines directly for the latest details.

24-Hour Cancellation Policy: American Airlines allows passengers to cancel their reservations within 24 hours of booking without incurring any cancellation fees, regardless of the ticket type. This applies to both refundable and non-refundable tickets.

Non-Refundable Tickets: If you cancel a non-refundable ticket after the 24-hour window, you may not receive a refund. However, the value of the ticket may be eligible for future travel credits, subject to certain conditions and fees.

Refundable Tickets: Refundable tickets offer more flexibility. If you hold a refundable ticket and decide to cancel, you can typically receive a full refund of the ticket's value, regardless of the cancellation timeframe.

Cancellation Fees: For non-refundable tickets, if you cancel after the 24-hour window, a cancellation fee will usually apply. The fee amount varies depending on factors such as the fare type, destination, and ticket class.

Basic Economy Tickets: Basic Economy tickets, which typically have more restrictions, may have stricter cancellation policies. It's essential to review the specific terms and conditions associated with Basic Economy tickets before making a purchase.

Elite Status and AAdvantage Members: Passengers with elite status or AAdvantage membership may have additional benefits and flexibility regarding cancellations, such as waived fees or enhanced refund options. These benefits depend on the member's tier and the specific terms of the program.

It's always recommended to consult the official American Airlines website or contact their customer service directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their cancellation policy.

American Airlines Manage Booking with the Official Website

When it comes to managing your booking with American Airlines, there are several key points to be aware of. Here are the main aspects of American Airlines manage booking feature:

Online Access: American Airlines provides an online platform where you can conveniently manage your booking details. Visit their official website or mobile app and navigate to the "Manage Reservations" section.

Retrieve Booking: To access your booking, you will typically need to provide relevant information such as your last name and booking confirmation number. Alternatively, you may log in to your AAdvantage account if you have one.

Itinerary Review: Once you have accessed your booking, you can review the details of your itinerary, including flight dates, times, routes, and passenger information. Ensure that all the information is accurate and up to date.

Seat Selection: American Airlines' manage booking feature allows you to select or change your seats, subject to availability. You can choose seats that suit your preferences, such as extra legroom or seats together with your travel companions.

Upgrades: If you are interested in upgrading your seat to a higher class, such as upgrading from Economy to Business or First Class, the manage booking feature may provide options to explore and request upgrades. However, availability and eligibility for upgrades may vary.

Special Requests: You can use the manage booking feature to make special requests, such as dietary requirements, wheelchair assistance, or other specific accommodations. Ensure to provide the necessary details well in advance to allow the airline to make suitable arrangements.

Flight Changes: Depending on the fare type and specific conditions associated with your ticket, you may be able to make changes to your flight details through the manage booking feature. This includes modifying travel dates, routes, or even canceling and rebooking flights.

Baggage Additions: If you need to add checked baggage to your booking or modify your existing baggage allowance, the manage booking feature often provides options to do so. Note that additional fees may apply for excess or overweight baggage.

Check-in: Some manage booking features also allow you to check in for your flight online, saving time at the airport. You can select seats, receive electronic boarding passes, and complete the necessary check-in process ahead of your departure.

Payment and Refunds: In certain situations, you may be able to process payments for outstanding amounts or request refunds through the manage booking feature. However, refund eligibility and processes may vary based on fare type and specific circumstances.

It's important to note that the available options in the manage booking feature can vary depending on factors such as ticket type, fare rules, and the specific services offered by American Airlines. Therefore, it's always advisable to review the details and instructions provided on their official website or contact their customer service directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding managing your booking.

How to Rebook American Airlines?

When it comes to rebooking your flight with American Airlines, here are the main points to consider:

Flight Changes: If you need to modify your travel plans, American Airlines allows you to rebook your flight. You can change your flight date, time, or even the destination, subject to availability and fare rules.

Change Fees: Depending on the fare type and the specific conditions associated with your ticket, rebooking may incur change fees. Non-refundable tickets generally require payment of a change fee in addition to any fare difference.

Fare Differences: When rebook American Airlines, fare differences may apply if the new flight has a higher fare than your original booking. Conversely, if the new fare is lower, you may be eligible for a refund or travel credit for the price difference, depending on the fare rules.

Flexibility Policies: American Airlines has implemented flexible policies, particularly during unforeseen circumstances or exceptional events. These policies may provide additional flexibility for rebooking without change fees, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or severe weather conditions. It's essential to review the current policies and any associated timeframes or limitations.

Booking Channels: You can rebook your flight through various channels, including the American Airlines website, mobile app, or by contacting their customer service. The specific options available may depend on the fare type and the original booking channel.

Elite Status and AAdvantage Members: Passengers with elite status or AAdvantage membership may have additional rebooking benefits, such as waived change fees or enhanced flexibility. These benefits vary depending on the member's tier and the specific terms of the program.

Timeframes and Restrictions: It's important to be aware of any timeframes or restrictions associated with rebooking. Some fare types may have limitations on how far in advance or close to departure you can make changes. Additionally, certain promotional fares or discounted tickets may have specific rules and restrictions regarding rebooking.

Contacting Customer Service: If you encounter any difficulties or have specific requirements for your rebooking, it's recommended to contact American Airlines' customer service directly. Their representatives can provide guidance, assistance, and information regarding available options and any associated fees or requirements.

Remember that the rebooking process and associated policies can vary based on ticket type, fare rules, and the specific circumstances. It's always advisable to review the details and instructions provided by American Airlines on their official website or contact their customer service directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding rebooking your flight.

American Airlines Change Flight Policy

Here are the main points of the American Airlines change flight policy. However, please note that policies and terms may have changed since then, so it's always advisable to check the most up-to-date information on their official website or contact American Airlines directly for the latest details.

Change Fees: American Airlines typically charges change fees for modifying your flight. The amount of the fee depends on factors such as the fare type, destination, and ticket class. Non-refundable tickets generally require payment of a change fee in addition to any fare difference.

Fare Differences: When changing your flight, fare differences may apply if the new flight has a higher fare than your original booking. Conversely, if the new fare is lower, you may be eligible for a refund or travel credit for the price difference, depending on the fare rules.

Change Options: American Airlines offers various channels for changing your flight. You can make changes online through their official website or mobile app, by contacting their customer service, or by visiting their ticket offices or airport counters.

Timeframes and Restrictions: It's important to be aware of any timeframes or restrictions associated with changing your flight. Some fare types may have limitations on how far in advance or close to departure you can make changes. Additionally, certain promotional fares or discounted tickets may have specific rules and restrictions regarding changes.

Flexible Policies: American Airlines has implemented flexible policies, particularly during unforeseen circumstances or exceptional events. These policies may provide additional flexibility for changing your flight without change fees, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or severe weather conditions. It's essential to review the current policies and any associated timeframes or limitations.

Elite Status and AAdvantage Members: Passengers with elite status or AAdvantage membership may have additional benefits when changing their flights, such as waived change fees or enhanced flexibility. These benefits vary depending on the member's tier and the specific terms of the program.

Refundability: The refundability of your ticket depends on the fare type and its associated rules. Non-refundable tickets typically do not qualify for a refund, but the value of the ticket may be eligible for future travel credits, subject to certain conditions and fees.

Booking Channel: The availability of changing your flight through specific channels may vary based on the original booking method. For example, if you booked through a third-party website or travel agency, you may need to contact them directly for changes.

Remember to consult the official American Airlines website or contact their customer service directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their change flight policy.

What is the Change Name Policy on American Airlines Tickets?

American Airlines did not have a specific policy regarding name changes. However, airline policies can evolve over time, so it's best to refer to the most up-to-date information on the American Airlines website or contact their customer service directly for the latest details. That being said, here are some general points to keep in mind regarding American Airlines name change Policy:

Name Correction: Airlines typically allow minor name corrections free of charge, such as fixing a misspelled name or correcting a typographical error. These changes are usually made to ensure that the name on the ticket matches the traveler's identification documents.

Name Change: Most airlines have restrictions or fees associated with changing the name on a ticket. In many cases, name changes are not permitted or are subject to specific conditions. This is primarily to prevent the misuse of tickets or fraudulent activities.

Transferability: Airline tickets are generally non-transferable, meaning they cannot be transferred to another person's name. This policy helps prevent ticket scalping or unauthorized reselling.

Flexibility: Some airlines offer more flexible ticket options that allow for easier name changes, typically at a higher price. These may include refundable tickets or tickets with flexible change policies.

Documentation: When requesting a name change, airlines may require documentation, such as a copy of the passenger's identification or a marriage certificate in the case of a name change due to marriage.

Remember, these points are general guidelines, and specific policies can vary between airlines. It's always advisable to consult the airline directly or refer to their website for their specific name change policy and any associated fees or requirements.

How to Get Help through American Airlines Customer Service?

American Airlines customer service can be contacted through phone, online support, social media, or at airport service desks. For specific contact information and assistance, visit the American Airlines website or refer to their social media accounts, here are some general ways to contact American Airlines customer service:

Phone: You can reach American Airlines customer service by phone. The specific phone numbers may vary depending on your location and the nature of your inquiry. Visit the American Airlines website and navigate to the "Contact Us" or "Customer Service" section to find the appropriate phone number for your region.

Online Support: American Airlines provides an online support portal where you can find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and submit specific inquiries. Visit the American Airlines website and look for the "Contact Us" or "Customer Service" section. There, you may find options to submit a form, start a live chat, or access self-service tools.

Social Media: American Airlines maintains an active presence on various social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. You can try reaching out to their customer service team through these channels by sending them a direct message or tagging them in a public post. However, keep in mind that social media responses may not be as prompt or comprehensive as other customer service channels.

Airport Customer Service: If you're already at an airport, you can visit an American Airlines customer service desk or counter for assistance. The staff there should be able to address your concerns or provide you with relevant information.

Remember that these methods are subject to change, and it's always a good idea to check the American Airlines website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information on how to reach them.

#American Airlines Reservations #American Airlines Cancellation Policy #American Airlines Manage Booking #Rebook American Airlines #American Airlines Change Flight Policy #American Airlines Name Change Policy #American Airlines Customer Service

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johnold · 1 year

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How Do I Book Multi City Flights at American Airlines?

Normally, people plan a round trip with the family for vacations, but sometimes they intend to travel the world at a minimum cost. However, reserving the seats with American Airlines Multi City makes this possible.

Here, you get a wonderful opportunity to cover all the major destinations at a time.

It’s a great legacy carrier & is introduced as the world’s oldest airline, which is still in operation. Perhaps, it’s among the biggest names in the aviation industry & offers high-end on-air services. Whenever you choose to fly here, you get a different experience.

What is the procedure for booking a multi-trip?

There are some important steps that you need to follow:

Visit the official website of the American airlines

Here, you’ll get to see three options round trip, single & multi city

Choose the multi city option

You need to select the number of travellers, details about the departure & the destinations.

Then you need to select the date for the first flight and choose the connecting airport.

You need to repeat the same process.

For more carriers, you need to click on the add flight link & provide the other details.

People also need to select the fare type as per their preference

Now hit the red button & look at the budget that suits you.

Mention the traveller’s details

The above points refer to How do I book a multi city Flight on American?

Will it be a cheaper option to book a multi-city or round trip?

Generally, the passengers wrongly assume this is more expensive than a round trip. But, booking a multicity itinerary is much more affordable than approaching a round trip.

How to get the best deals?

Now, if you want the best offers with American multi-city flights, you need to be a flexible traveller. You can also look for the cheapest days to get the reservation on the multi city flights & save the maximum amount.

On the other hand, you can also wait for the last-minute deals to get a better discount. You can also check Sun country last minute flights. It is also an easy and affordable flight option.

What is the benefit of making a multicity booking?

The first thing is you don’t need to book a separate flight & get a common carrier to fly. Save your time & money.

#american airlines flight booking #book american airlines #cheap american airlines flight booking

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vaspider · 2 months

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IT outages are hitting airlines, banks and media across the world, with many flights grounded American Airlines says none of its flights are taking off and the problems are due to an issue with Crowdstrike cybersecurity software Microsoft says it is taking mitigation action, but the cause of the outage hasn't been confirmed In the UK, train companies report delays and say they're experiencing "widespread IT issues" Some GP surgeries in England are having issues with booking appointments Sky News has not been able to broadcast live, its executive chairman says

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luveline · 8 months

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hi honey!! i have a request of sad spencer comforted by bombshell reader. maybe hes the one on the brink of tears and really shes just there for him please

thanks for your request!!! fem, 1k

Spencer Reid can't stop frowning.

“You know what I've been reading lately?” you ask him.

“Cosmopolitan?”

“That's just sexist.”

Spencer points at the copy of Cosmopolitan hidden between papers and an open book where it lies on the desk in front of you, a smile interrupting his frown momentarily. “Sorry,” he says.

“Oh, don't be sorry.” You squint at him ever so slightly as you cross one leg over the other and sink back into your borrowed seat. “That's on me. But, you know… this isn't my desk. That could be anybody's magazine.”

He laughs politely and turns back to his work.

“You don't wanna know what I'm actually reading?” you ask.

He stares at his keyboard. “Mm.”

He's not listening. That's alright. You don't really want to tell him about what you've been reading; it's just a book.

You slide your chair closer to his and peek at the computer. He's on a page for American Airlines, flights to Las Vegas, but he hasn't clicked anything. Spencer grew up in Las Vegas, and his mom still lives there alone in a sanitorium for the mentally ill. She can get really sick at a moment's notice. You know he’s been thinking about that more lately.

“Is everything okay, Spencer?” you ask quietly.

You incline your head to his. He looks up, at first surprised by your attention, and then abashed. “Yeah.”

“You don't seem yourself,” you say, putting your hand on his arm. You feel up to the crook of his elbow, waiting for him to shrug you off. He doesn't move. You stroke his skin with your thumb. “You can talk to me, you know? I hope you know that, anyways.”

“Yeah, I know, it's…” His voice wobbles. You lean in closer. “It's nothing.”

The first time you saw Spencer cry, he was in a hospital room being weaned off of a terrible thing, and it was sudden but expected all the same. He was suffering, recovering but in pain, and you would've cried if the roles were reversed. That was a long time ago. Seeing him upset doesn't get easier.

“Spencer,” you murmur, “What's wrong? You look like you could burst into tears. Do you need me to get you a glass of water?”

He shakes his head. You stay right there by his side waiting for the inevitable, the tears gathering in his eyes that he blinks away, and his painful swallowing. You have two hands —the one that isn't squeezing his arm jumps to his back to hold his stiff shoulder.

“Do you want me to get Morgan?” you ask, unsure.

It's a busy office, and you and Spencer sit on the outskirts closest to the offices upstairs and furthest from the hubbub. Nobody notices your closeness. You speak too quietly to be overheard.

“Spencer,” you implore.

He ducks his head, putting his hand to his brow.

“I'm okay,” he says, his voice stronger now, “it's just my mom doesn't sound right in her letters lately, and I'm tired, and I wasn't expecting you to ask me.”

“No?” you ask, giving his arm another tender rub. “Sorry if I'm upsetting you, Spencer. I was worried. You don't have to talk about it.” He winces. “But if you do want to, I'm right here.”

He needs a hug, you decide (unsurely). You stand and he immediately lifts his head with worry in his eyes, but you're not going anywhere, the opposite. You cover up his head and shoulders as your chin rests gently atop his soft hair, a gravel to your tone as you say, “It's okay.”

Spencer is silent. Slowly, tentatively, he wraps his arms around you in turn, and then he's squeezing you tight enough to feel it in your spine.

“It's okay, Spencer. We can talk about it, huh? We can work something out. It wouldn't be terrible for you to take a vacation every once in a while, maybe that's what you need.”

He breathes out against your sleeve. “Sorry,” he says.

“It's okay.” You kiss his head. He likely doesn't feel it. “I promise, it's fine.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to ask.”

“I know, you said that already.” You don’t tell him with any malice, just reaffirmation. “But I’ll always ask. I care about you, I need you to be okay, Dr. Reid. You’re my pillar of strength.” He laughs with self-deprecation, but you mean it. “You are. You’re always there for me. You’re always looking after me.”

“Since when do you need looking after?”

“That’s one of the best and worst things about you. You don’t realise what you are to people.”

Spencer screws his hands into your blouse and grows still in your arms. You consider scolding him about wrinkles to lighten the mood, but he’ll take you too seriously, and stop hugging you, and that’s not what you want. You try to be subtle about the comfort you’re giving him as you wrap your arms behind his head to close him in, hiding him from any prying eyes, but the longer you stay holding him the more attention you recieve, until even your stoic unit chief can't pretend this is appropriate for the workplace.

“L/N,” Hotch says in concern. “Reid. Is everything okay?”

Spencer seizes up and tries to push you away.

You lift your chin above his head and give Hotch your stickiest smile, arms moving to a more amicable position behind his shoulders. “No, everything is not okay, Hotch. You realise I only joined the unit to be with Spencer, right? And you punish me by sitting me halfway across the office!”

Everyone watching either laughs or rolls their eyes, used to your dramatic favouritism. Even Hotch seems tired of it.

“I’d be sorry if I thought that were true. Can you go back to suffocating Reid on your own time? We have some consults to look over.”

You widen the gap between you and Spencer, allowing him the space to collect himself. “If you insist,” you say, grinning brightly.

You stand in front of Spencer, heart aching as he sniffs quietly. He stands, and for a moment you think he won’t be alright after all, that your comfort was useless and he’ll need to excuse himself, but he draws a ghost of a line into your side with his knuckle and squares his expression. “Let’s get back to work,” he says to you with a small smile. You’ll talk more later.

“Wanna hold hands?” you ask.

“Maybe when everyone’s stopped looking at me?” he says under his breath, starting toward the steps to the conference room.

“Wait, really?”

He hurries up the stairs. You follow.

#spencer and bombshell!reader #spencer reid #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x fem!reader #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid oneshot #spencer reid scenario #spencer reid drabble #spencer reid fic #spencer reid fanfiction

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7qasearchh · 2 years

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how to contact american airlines phone number?

American Airlines is US based significant airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within Dallas. It makes everything possible when you reserve your flight ticket on its official booking website. It is the largest airline in the world when measured by fleet size; scheduled passengers are securely carried to various destinations on time. If you find some trouble or cannot manage your booking, you will contact an American Airlines phone number that is available to assist you at a specific time in a decent manner. You will be a lucky person to manage your flight when you wish to change and cancel your flight to a particular time with the help of the customer representative team available to assist you at the right time.

How to contact American Airlines phone number?

When you wish to book your low fare airline and wiling to get complete guidance of the booking, you must share your queries with a live person. You will find a major guide to contact a representative using a phone call that you easily get from a booking website is available to assist you at the right time suitably. You will earn miles that you can use to upgrade your seat for the class of booking. You can connect with a live person by just making a phone call at and share your queries with a live person who is free to assist you at a certain time easily. You can check with the cancellation and ensure you can find a compensation after the flight cancellation and use it for the next trip at a certain time specially.

Following are the ways to contact American Airlines phone number:

· First, open an internet browser, visit the booking website of American Airlines, and go to the booking page.

· Ensure you can check with the contact section, select the contact mode section, and select the phone number.

· You can dial the phone number you will find on the booking website with different services to connect with a live person.

· Check with the IVR command that prompts you to select your language after pressing one and select the available language by pressing two keys.

· Press 3 for the new and existing booking, press 4 to change and cancel a flight ticket, and press 5 to get a refund and voucher.

· You must press 6 for deals and offers and 7 for the other services, and press * to share your queries with a live person from American Airlines.

· You will check with the other important information after contacting the phone number of American Airlines and share your queries to get the answer at the right time in a decent manner.

Use other contact resources to get the phone number:

American Airlines makes you always active in connecting with a live person when you need help finding the phone number. You will find an email service, social media services, phone call, and live chat to share your queries and get the answer related to flight booking at a specific time securely. The American Airlines customer service team is always actively assisting you with direct guidance for flight booking service at a particular time securely.

#american airlines #airlines #flights #air #airbus #booking #american airlines customer service

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smarttravelling12 · 2 years

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Manage Your Flight Booking on American Airlines

+1 (888) 218-4647 Want to manage your flight reservation on american airlines quickly and easily then you can do it by avail a service which is american airline manage my booking. This service is provided by the airlines so that there traveler can make modification in there booking without facing any hindrances. And if you want to read more about that then you can visit Flyersdesk.

#AMERICAN AIRLINES MANAGE MY FLIGHT BOOKING #AMERICAN AIRLINES MANAGE BOOKING #AMERICAN AIRLINES MANAGE MY FLIGHT #AMERICAN AIRLINES MANAGE MY BOOKING

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farearenaflighttickets · 2 months

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Compare American Airlines flights prices with other airlines. See American Airlines flights, routes, maps, prices across month and find cheap flights.

Book your American Airlines flight tickets today! Enjoy exceptional service, comfortable seats, and great deals. Explore new destinations with ease and convenience. Don't wait—secure your American Airlines flights now and start your journey!

Visit:- https://www.farearena.com/p/american-airlines-flight-tickets.html

#American Airlines Flight Tickets #Book American Airlines Flights #American Airlines #Compare Cheap American Airlines Flights #cheap American Airlines flights

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mostlysignssomeportents · 1 year

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How plausible sentence generators are changing the bullshit wars

This Friday (September 8) at 10hPT/17hUK, I'm livestreaming "How To Dismantle the Internet" with Intelligence Squared.

On September 12 at 7pm, I'll be at Toronto's Another Story Bookshop with my new book The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation.

In my latest Locus Magazine column, "Plausible Sentence Generators," I describe how I unwittingly came to use – and even be impressed by – an AI chatbot – and what this means for a specialized, highly salient form of writing, namely, "bullshit":

https://locusmag.com/2023/09/commentary-by-cory-doctorow-plausible-sentence-generators/

Here's what happened: I got stranded at JFK due to heavy weather and an air-traffic control tower fire that locked down every westbound flight on the east coast. The American Airlines agent told me to try going standby the next morning, and advised that if I booked a hotel and saved my taxi receipts, I would get reimbursed when I got home to LA.

But when I got home, the airline's reps told me they would absolutely not reimburse me, that this was their policy, and they didn't care that their representative had promised they'd make me whole. This was so frustrating that I decided to take the airline to small claims court: I'm no lawyer, but I know that a contract takes place when an offer is made and accepted, and so I had a contract, and AA was violating it, and stiffing me for over $400.

The problem was that I didn't know anything about filing a small claim. I've been ripped off by lots of large American businesses, but none had pissed me off enough to sue – until American broke its contract with me.

So I googled it. I found a website that gave step-by-step instructions, starting with sending a "final demand" letter to the airline's business office. They offered to help me write the letter, and so I clicked and I typed and I wrote a pretty stern legal letter.

Now, I'm not a lawyer, but I have worked for a campaigning law-firm for over 20 years, and I've spent the same amount of time writing about the sins of the rich and powerful. I've seen a lot of threats, both those received by our clients and sent to me.

I've been threatened by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Ralph Lauren to the Sacklers. I've been threatened by lawyers representing the billionaire who owned NSOG roup, the notoroious cyber arms-dealer. I even got a series of vicious, baseless threats from lawyers representing LAX's private terminal.

So I know a thing or two about writing a legal threat! I gave it a good effort and then submitted the form, and got a message asking me to wait for a minute or two. A couple minutes later, the form returned a new version of my letter, expanded and augmented. Now, my letter was a little scary – but this version was bowel-looseningly terrifying.

I had unwittingly used a chatbot. The website had fed my letter to a Large Language Model, likely ChatGPT, with a prompt like, "Make this into an aggressive, bullying legal threat." The chatbot obliged.

I don't think much of LLMs. After you get past the initial party trick of getting something like, "instructions for removing a grilled-cheese sandwich from a VCR in the style of the King James Bible," the novelty wears thin:

https://www.emergentmind.com/posts/write-a-biblical-verse-in-the-style-of-the-king-james

Yes, science fiction magazines are inundated with LLM-written short stories, but the problem there isn't merely the overwhelming quantity of machine-generated stories – it's also that they suck. They're bad stories:

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/24/1159286436/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-magazine-clarkesworld-artificial-intelligence

LLMs generate naturalistic prose. This is an impressive technical feat, and the details are genuinely fascinating. This series by Ben Levinstein is a must-read peek under the hood:

https://benlevinstein.substack.com/p/how-to-think-about-large-language

But "naturalistic prose" isn't necessarily good prose. A lot of naturalistic language is awful. In particular, legal documents are fucking terrible. Lawyers affect a stilted, stylized language that is both officious and obfuscated.

The LLM I accidentally used to rewrite my legal threat transmuted my own prose into something that reads like it was written by a $600/hour paralegal working for a $1500/hour partner at a white-show law-firm. As such, it sends a signal: "The person who commissioned this letter is so angry at you that they are willing to spend $600 to get you to cough up the $400 you owe them. Moreover, they are so well-resourced that they can afford to pursue this claim beyond any rational economic basis."

Let's be clear here: these kinds of lawyer letters aren't good writing; they're a highly specific form of bad writing. The point of this letter isn't to parse the text, it's to send a signal. If the letter was well-written, it wouldn't send the right signal. For the letter to work, it has to read like it was written by someone whose prose-sense was irreparably damaged by a legal education.

Here's the thing: the fact that an LLM can manufacture this once-expensive signal for free means that the signal's meaning will shortly change, forever. Once companies realize that this kind of letter can be generated on demand, it will cease to mean, "You are dealing with a furious, vindictive rich person." It will come to mean, "You are dealing with someone who knows how to type 'generate legal threat' into a search box."

Legal threat letters are in a class of language formally called "bullshit":

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691122946/on-bullshit

LLMs may not be good at generating science fiction short stories, but they're excellent at generating bullshit. For example, a university prof friend of mine admits that they and all their colleagues are now writing grad student recommendation letters by feeding a few bullet points to an LLM, which inflates them with bullshit, adding puffery to swell those bullet points into lengthy paragraphs.

Naturally, the next stage is that profs on the receiving end of these recommendation letters will ask another LLM to summarize them by reducing them to a few bullet points. This is next-level bullshit: a few easily-grasped points are turned into a florid sheet of nonsense, which is then reconverted into a few bullet-points again, though these may only be tangentially related to the original.

What comes next? The reference letter becomes a useless signal. It goes from being a thing that a prof has to really believe in you to produce, whose mere existence is thus significant, to a thing that can be produced with the click of a button, and then it signifies nothing.

We've been through this before. It used to be that sending a letter to your legislative representative meant a lot. Then, automated internet forms produced by activists like me made it far easier to send those letters and lawmakers stopped taking them so seriously. So we created automatic dialers to let you phone your lawmakers, this being another once-powerful signal. Lowering the cost of making the phone call inevitably made the phone call mean less.

Today, we are in a war over signals. The actors and writers who've trudged through the heat-dome up and down the sidewalks in front of the studios in my neighborhood are sending a very powerful signal. The fact that they're fighting to prevent their industry from being enshittified by plausible sentence generators that can produce bullshit on demand makes their fight especially important.

Chatbots are the nuclear weapons of the bullshit wars. Want to generate 2,000 words of nonsense about "the first time I ate an egg," to run overtop of an omelet recipe you're hoping to make the number one Google result? ChatGPT has you covered. Want to generate fake complaints or fake positive reviews? The Stochastic Parrot will produce 'em all day long.

As I wrote for Locus: "None of this prose is good, none of it is really socially useful, but there’s demand for it. Ironically, the more bullshit there is, the more bullshit filters there are, and this requires still more bullshit to overcome it."

Meanwhile, AA still hasn't answered my letter, and to be honest, I'm so sick of bullshit I can't be bothered to sue them anymore. I suppose that's what they were counting on.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/07/govern-yourself-accordingly/#robolawyers

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

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#pluralistic #chatbots #plausible sentence generators #robot lawyers #robolawyers #ai #ml #machine learning #artificial intelligence #stochastic parrots #bullshit #bullshit generators #the bullshit wars #llms #large language models #writing #Ben Levinstein

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