One problem is that American airlines don't do enough to help inconvenienced customers.

I tried flying to Puerto Rico and after the flight left two hours early I was stranded in Atlanta. I knew there would be a short layover before leaving Seattle, but the gate attendant assured me there wouldn't be an issue an urged I get on the plane, even though I placed the warning email directly in front of her face.

The Atlanta airport was full of Puerto Ricans trying to get home to their families and not one of them was offered a free hotel stay, food vouchers, or even a blanket to make sleeping in the airport more comfortable. Children shivered every night while trying to fall asleep. In the EU the airlines are required to offer food and hotel stays to stranded passengers, regardless of whether or not the airline was at fault.

You speak of these budget cuts, but some airline CEOs pay themselves over $20 million a year while paying the other executives seven or eight figure salaries. They should cut money from their own salaries before expecting us to feel sorry for them.