Perspective during tough times

Some folks seem to have a broader perspective: Expressing compassion for the airline and its employees and noting its importance to U.S. airline competition.

"Whether you wish to fly them or not, you don't want them to go out of business or merge. Bad for the consumer!" wrote Jhaza2k. "They are definitely not worst airline though, just disgruntled employees at a trying time for this airline."

"It's so sad to see so many people making accusatory and nasty comments about AA employees when it's clear that they know nothing about what's really going on at the airline," wrote cyansky.

"This past weekend, I was on two AA flights that were delayed; the first because the oxygen bottles that the pilots rely on in case of a decompression were found to be EMPTY and had to be replaced; the second because the altimeter was broken. (Kind of important stuff to fix before takeoff, I think.)," continued cyansky. "These flights were manned with a crew whose captain and two flight attendants all lost their homes to foreclosure within the same time frame that AA executives awarded themselves millions of dollars in bonuses."

An apology from an employee

A couple of posters claiming to work for American tried to offer some perspective.

"I work for AA, on the ramp," wrote bbrooks1963. "And I would like to tell all of you: Sorry! Some of us really do all we can to provide the best service this airline can provide. I'm one of those unfortunate ones that just might be out of a job soon, but I still and will till the end, do my job to the best of my ability and without fail."

That comment got more than 100 "likes" from our readers.

Better airline food could help

"Things would turn around, if they served 'special brownies' ... made by the California Pot Growers Association," wrote Hermes96.

"The service would still stink, but you would not care anymore."

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments area of this story.